Getting a  parking ticket can be stressful and, in some cases, costly. And, while the initial cost of a parking ticket may be inconvenient, the fees can rack up quickly if you leave the ticket unpaid. Ignore your parking tickets for long enough and there may even be consequences related to your driver’s license, vehicle or insurance.

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That said, parking tickets generally won’t lead to increased car insurance premiums, at least not immediately. While many variables contribute to your auto insurance rates, non-moving violations, like parking tickets, aren’t typically factored in. Still, there are situations in which parking tickets may contribute to a rise in your car insurance costs. Understanding how and when that may happen could help you to avoid these types of rate increases.

When parking tickets affect insurance rates

Parking tickets are non-moving violations, which means they do not typically affect your auto insurance rates, at least not directly. For example, you may get a parking ticket if you forget to feed the meter or park in the wrong area. Luckily, these tickets are not attached to your driver’s license, nor are they reported to the state’s DMV or your auto insurer. However, if you don’t pay these types of tickets within the specified time frame, it may cause your insurance costs to increase.

Do parking tickets raise insurance in any way?

A parking ticket likely will not raise your auto insurance. However, unpaid parking tickets sent to collections could potentially affect your credit-based insurance score. Some car insurance companies will review your credit-based insurance score to decide whether to insure you, and to determine the cost of your car insurance.

That means unpaid parking tickets could affect your premium. However, in some states such as California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan, car insurance companies are not allowed to use your credit score as one of the factors that determine the cost of your car insurance. In that case, unpaid parking tickets would have no effect on your vehicle insurance premiums.

How to avoid letting parking tickets increase insurance rates

If you get a parking ticket, it is typically in your best interest to handle the issue right away. If you delay paying your ticket, you could accrue late fees or even risk the city impounding your vehicle.

Instead of avoiding paying your parking ticket, depending on your circumstances, consider these options:

  • Send a letter in writing to the municipality as soon as possible if you feel the ticket was a mistake, explaining why you feel the ticket was unwarranted under the circumstances. Attach a copy of the ticket, contact information and supporting evidence, such as pictures of the broken meter or of the partially covered or damaged “no parking” sign.
  • Talk to the city or county about a payment plan or other arrangements if you are unable to pay it right away. The city may be able to freeze further late fees so you can catch up on paying your outstanding fines.
  • Ask family to lend you the money to pay off the tickets. You can then pay your family back without worrying about more late fees and collections.
  • Ask your employer for an advance on your paycheck to pay your parking tickets.

How to prevent parking tickets

The best way to prevent parking tickets is by being careful of where you park. Scan nearby signs to ensure you are allowed to park in the area. Some areas have time limits or only allow parking during times of the day or during specific days of the week.

If you are parking in a metered area, bring plenty of change and make sure to take note of how much time you have paid to park. A good way to remember is by setting a timer on your smartphone to remind you about your parking. When setting an alarm, you may want to give yourself a few extra minutes to make your way back to your car or add more change to the meter.

If you park in a spot with a broken parking meter, you may have a hard time proving to the local parking official that the meter was faulty. In this case, you might want to consider parking elsewhere if possible.

Lastly, if you receive regular parking citations at home or near work, you could consider making alternative arrangements, such as renting a parking space in a garage, asking your employer for parking assistance, or taking public transportation and leaving your vehicle parked safely elsewhere.

Other effects of parking tickets

While parking tickets generally do not affect auto insurance rates, ignoring them could lead to bigger inconveniences, such as:

A boot on your tire

Some municipalities may place a boot on your vehicle’s tire to disable it until the tickets are paid. On top of paying for the ticket, you are responsible for paying someone to remove the boot, which can cost as much as $136 in major metro areas like New York City.

Late fees

The late fees on unpaid parking tickets can be expensive. If you fail to pay your citation on time, fees may be increased significantly to double the original fine or more. Some areas have legislated limits on how much municipalities can charge in late fees, but you may not want to risk accruing past-due charges on your violations.

Getting towed

If your car gets towed and impounded for a number of parking tickets, prepare to spend some serious money to get it back. NBC 7 in San Diego ran an exposé on how much people were charged to get their vehicle released after unpaid parking tickets. They found that in 2019, some people paid between $2,733 and $5,055 to get their vehicles released. Even worse, the city sold 1,452 of the 4,683 vehicles it towed for unpaid tickets.

Frequently asked questions

    • Parking tickets will not affect the status of your driver’s license — as long as you pay them. However, if you fail to pay your parking violations, the DMV could suspend your license or stop you from renewing it. Depending on how many unpaid parking tickets you have, you may not even be able to renew your vehicle registration.
    • Getting a parking ticket is not a moving violation. What that means is that parking tickets aren’t likely to directly affect your auto insurance rate. Rather, auto insurance rates are calculated using a number of different factors, including your driving record, location, vehicle make and model, and coverage options, among others. If your car insurance rate has increased, it may benefit you to shop around and compare rates with  the best auto insurance providers. You may also want to consider getting quotes from the cheapest car insurance companies or ask your current and prospective car insurance providers if you qualify for any car insurance discounts.
    • If you receive a parking ticket that you don’t believe you’re responsible for, it may be helpful to contact the agency on the citation as soon as possible. There will typically be contact information listed on the ticket you receive, and it may benefit you to write a letter and explain why you’re contesting the ticket. If you do so, be sure to include any evidence you have to support your claim, along with your contact information and the citation number.