How a speeding ticket impacts your insurance in Delaware
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When faced with a speeding ticket conviction, Delaware drivers can expect to face a range of penalties. One consequence is likely to be an increase in your car insurance premium. Drivers with a clean driving record in the Diamond State pay an average annual rate of $2,414 for full coverage and $910 for minimum coverage insurance. After a speeding ticket, those averages increase to $2,885 for full coverage—a 20 percent increase—while minimum coverage increases to $1,081. Since any driver may get the occasional speeding ticket, Bankrate did the research to help you understand what you may need to do after receiving a ticket—and what Delaware speeding ticket fines you’ll face.
How much is a speeding ticket in Delaware?
If you are wondering how much a speeding ticket is in Delaware, the answer depends on just how much over the limit you were going and whether it was your first offense.
Let’s look at a couple of examples provided by the Delaware Justice of the Peace. If you are driving in Delaware and you receive a ticket for going nine miles over the limit, and it’s your first offense, you can expect to pay a total of about $110 in fines and fees.
If it’s your second offense and you were going 15 miles over the limit, your total speeding ticket cost in Delaware will increase to around $164. This includes both your fine and a number of other fees, such as court costs, a transportation trust fund assessment of $27.50 and a mandatory contribution to the ambulance fund of $10.
You may also earn points on your license, depending on the number of violations you have accrued and the speed you were going. A single ticket may earn you two points, while more serious infractions such as reckless driving can earn you as many as six. If you accumulate 14 points, you may be given a four-month license suspension.
How much does a speeding ticket increase your car insurance in Delaware?
The biggest question you may have, however, is does your insurance go up for a speeding ticket in Delaware? As we noted above, car insurance premiums are likely to increase with a speeding ticket conviction on your record. The chart below is based on data we analyzed from Quadrant Information Services to illustrate the average premium difference one speeding ticket can make to auto premiums in Delaware.
Typically, female drivers and older drivers pay less for premiums because statistically they are less likely to be involved in at-fault accidents. A driver who is at a lower risk for filing a claim is likely to receive a more favorable rate from insurance companies.
| Age | Full coverage premium before speeding ticket in Delaware* | Full coverage premium after speeding ticket in Delaware* | Percentage increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40-year-old male | $2,409 | $2,876 | 19% |
| 40-year-old female | $2,420 | $2,894 | 20% |
| Total average | $2,414 | $2,885 | 20% |
*All premiums displayed are average annual rates.
How to lower your car insurance after a speeding ticket in Delaware
A speeding ticket stays on your record in Delaware for three to five years. After this, your premium may go down, as long as you have maintained a clean driving record (assuming all other rating factors have remained the same). Even if your premium has increased, however, there are ways to potentially save money on your policy.
One tactic that may help to reduce your premium is to take an approved defensive driving course. Many insurers offer a discount for individuals who do so. These courses are available in most states, and are usually not expensive. Some may even be taken online, making them an easy way to save.
Another tactic that can save you money is to make use of your insurer’s telematics program, if it has one. These programs make use of a small device you install in your car or a mobile app, which monitors your driving in real time, and can save you up to 40 percent off your premium rate if you prove to be a safe and careful driver.
Get quotes from other car insurance companies
Obtaining quotes from multiple carriers is one method for finding a lower-priced policy. You may be surprised by the range of potential prices you receive for exactly the same coverage when you ask for quotes from several insurers. The chart below shows how much the rates vary from one auto insurance company to the next, even when the criteria is the same. We’ve listed the companies in order of cheapest average premiums in the state after a speeding ticket for quick reference. You may want to also take a look at Bankrate’s picks for the cheapest car insurance companies in Delaware as a starting point in your search.
| Car insurance company | Average premium before speeding ticket in Delaware | Average premium after speeding ticket in Delaware | Percentage increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travelers | $1,402 | $1,474 | 5% |
| USAA | $1,583 | $2,058 | 30% |
| Nationwide | $1,766 | $2,146 | 22% |
| Geico | $1,933 | $2,229 | 15% |
| State Farm | $2,682 | $3,198 | 19% |
*Premiums are average annual full coverage premiums for 40-year-olds.
Rates are certainly a crucial factor when looking for a new carrier, but there are other considerations as well. Finding out the insurance company’s reputation for customer service, financial strength ratings and ease of use online or with an app are other important things you may want to look at.
Look for discounts
Whether you choose a new carrier or stay with your current one, be sure to review all available car insurance discounts for your policy. You may qualify for new ones since your last renewal, including savings if you purchased a new vehicle or took a defensive driving course. Discounts are an easy way to potentially save and can make a big impact on your overall costs. Here are some common discounts offered to Delaware drivers:
- Driver-based discounts: These discounts can take several forms. You might earn a discount for your military affiliation, or because you belong to a certain professional or alumni group. Student discounts could be earned by young drivers who maintain a high GPA, or by college students who leave their cars home while at school.
- Safety features: Most new cars feature a range of safety features, from anti-lock brakes to blind spot monitors, and you can earn a small discount from some insurers for having or installing these features. Anti-theft devices may also earn you a discount.
- Loyalty discounts: Your insurer is likely to reward you if you purchase more than one policy from them—called bundling—or if you insure more than one car on your policy. This is typically one of the biggest discounts available from many insurers.
- Billing discounts: These vary from insurer to insurer, but you could save by agreeing to paperless billing, by paying in full or by setting up an automatic billing system for your premium payments.
Frequently asked questions
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One way you can find the best car insurance following a speeding ticket is to ask for quotes from a range of potential insurance companies. Shopping around may lead you to a lower rate. There are other factors you may want to consider as well as cost, though. You may want to review the types of coverage a company offers, the range of discounts available and how well they score for customer satisfaction. Taking all these factors into account may help you determine the best company for your needs.
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No, you do not need to inform your insurer about your speeding violation. In most cases, your insurance company will review your driving record when it’s time for you to renew your policy. At this time, they will find out about your ticket and may adjust your rate accordingly.
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There’s no single company that is always the cheapest for every driver. To find the cheapest company for your needs, one strategy suggests that you gather quotes from several companies, assess their coverage options and discounts, and take a look at third-party rankings for customer satisfaction to see who, overall, is the best fit for your insurance needs.
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Methodology
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze April 2024 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a single, 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $50,000 property damage liability per accident
- $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
- $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
- $500 collision deductible
- $500 comprehensive deductible
To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2022 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
Incidents: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base) and single speeding ticket.
Gender: The following states do not use gender as a determining factor in calculating premiums: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania.
