How a speeding ticket impacts your insurance in Georgia

Driving over the speed limit in Georgia may end up costing you time and money. Speeding can easily lead to significant rate increases on auto insurance. To see how big this impact may be, we took a look at average Georgia car insurance rates—based on data from Quadrant Information Services—before and after a speeding ticket conviction. With a clean record in April 2024, average rates for car insurance in Georgia are $2,718 per year for full coverage and $814 for minimum. After a speeding ticket conviction, those averages go up to $3,306 and $1,019, respectively. However, the cost of a speeding ticket in Georgia is about more than just increased premiums. Below, Bankrate explores and analyzes just how much speeding might cost you in Georgia.

How much are speeding tickets in Georgia?

Georgia speeding ticket fines vary depending on a number of factors, including the location of the violation and the severity of the speeding. Typically, fines for a first speeding ticket in Georgia are:

• $0 for driving five mph over the limit or less.
• $25 for driving above five mph but below 10 mph over the limit.
• $100 for driving above ten mph but below 14 mph over the limit.
• $125 for driving above 14 mph but below 19 mph over the limit.
• $150 for driving above 19 mph but below 24 mph over the limit.
• $500 for driving above 24 mph but below 34 mph over the limit.

There are several “aggravating” circumstances which can increase these base fines. For example, speeding in a highway construction zone can be punishable with a $2,000 fine and up to 12 months of jail time. Georgia also imposes a “super speeder” fine of $200 on top of the base fine for drivers exceeding speeds of 85 miles per hour.

To encourage safe driving, the Georgia Department of Revenue has a system in place that assigns drivers license points to certain traffic violations. These points can directly impact drivers’ rates for car insurance — the more points accumulated the higher the insurance premium. A driver ticketed for exceeding the speed limit by at least 15 miles per hour can receive between two to six points.

How much does a speeding ticket increase your car insurance in Georgia?

In addition to fines and points assessed by the state, drivers in Georgia will likely experience an increase in the average cost of car insurance when speeding tickets are factored into their policy. This is because speeding shortens your reaction time and inhibits your control of the vehicle in the given driving environment, which inherently increases your accident risk. The chart below reflects the average cost of full coverage insurance for drivers before and after receiving a speeding ticket.

*Premiums are average annual full coverage premiums for 40-year-olds

As reflected above, it pays to adhere to speed limits in Georgia. While there are ways to potentially limit this increase with discounts and by working to find the best car insurance company for your budget, this effort itself can be costly and time consuming.

How to lower your car insurance after a speeding ticket in Georgia

A Georgia speeding ticket will most likely increase your premiums to some extent; however, there are steps you can take to possibly reduce how much you pay for your car insurance, even after a ticket. Consider taking some of the following steps for lower premiums whether you have a speeding ticket or would just like to find more affordable car insurance.

Get quotes from other car insurance companies

All auto insurance companies in Georgia have unique underwriting and rating factors when determining premiums and how speeding tickets can impact them. It is always helpful to obtain and compare car insurance quotes from several providers, but as the chart below shows, this can be particularly advantageous when you have received a speeding ticket since premium increases can vary significantly from carrier to carrier.

*Premiums are average annual full coverage premiums for 40-year-olds

Price is only one of many factors to consider when shopping for an insurance policy that meets all your needs. Research online as well as through discussion with agents to understand companies’ financial ratings and ability to pay claims, customer reviews, coverage options and available discounts.

Look for discounts

Before shopping for coverage, make sure you have taken advantage of all of the discounts that your current carrier offers. For example, auto insurance companies which also provide homeowners coverage will often offer a “bundling” discount if you cover both your home and auto with that carrier. The best car insurance discounts are ones that are simple to qualify for and most discounts are typically based upon your age, type of vehicle and overall driving history.

• Policy bundling: Many insurers offer discounts to customers who purchase multiple insurance policies with it, such as home and auto.
• Paperless billing: Some companies offer a discount for selecting paperless billing options.
• Pay in full: Some carriers offer a discount if you can pay your entire auto insurance policy upfront.
• Safe driving: Many insurers offer a car insurance discount to drivers who have gone around three or more years without a driving infraction. Additionally, most insurers offer telematics programs that can yield discounts if you let your insurer monitor your driving and exhibit safe habits.
• Defensive driving course: It’s relatively common for providers to offer discounts to drivers who have taken an approved defensive driving course in the last few years.

Modify existing coverages

Most state laws require drivers to maintain certain auto liability minimums and Georgia is no exception. When looking to cut back on insurance costs and all discount options are exhausted, you may opt to lower or eliminate nonessential coverage. Coverage like towing and labor may not be necessary if you have roadside assistance with your credit card company. Similarly, you may not need rental reimbursement if you have more than one vehicle at your disposal and won’t need a rental car while your car is being repaired from a collision.

With vehicles that are older and do not have liens, you can choose to increase your collision deductible to save money or possibly remove the coverage altogether, although you will want to make sure that doing so makes sense for your budget should you get into an accident. Before making changes to any policy coverage, speak with your agent about your situation in detail. They can advise you on how to streamline your policy while limiting the potential of unreasonable out-of-pocket expenses from a covered claim.

Other speeding ticket considerations

In Georgia, you always have the right to appear in court and contest a speeding ticket. Alternatively, you can simply pay a fine online and avoid court.

Georgia has a point system which ranges from two to six points added to your driver’s license for certain traffic violations. Points are not assessed for speeding violations where the driver exceeds the limit by less than 15 miles per hour. However, serious violators will be punished. Receiving 15 points in a 24-month period is one of many possible reasons for a suspended license. Once suspended, Georgia can require drivers to obtain an SR-22 to reinstate the license.

Frequently asked questions

• • What is the best car insurance company for drivers with speeding tickets?

    The best car insurance company is based on your unique needs as a driver, including whether you have a speeding ticket on your record and are concerned about your car insurance premium increasing. Each driver will pay different premiums based on their individual circumstances, including coverage options, age of the vehicle, miles driven and numerous other factors. Comparing several providers is the most effective way to find the best car insurance coverage for your needs.

  • Will a parking ticket increase my car insurance like a speeding ticket can?

    In Georgia, non-moving violations such as parking tickets do not generally increase insurance premiums. However, parking tickets can affect insurance rates if they go unpaid. Unpaid tickets sent to collections can lower credit scores, which in turn can increase car insurance premiums in states where insurers are allowed to use your credit-based insurance score as a rating factor. Also, drivers who accumulate too many parking tickets — usually five or more, can see additional fees and possibly have their vehicles booted, towed and impounded.

  • Am I required to tell my insurance carrier about a speeding ticket?

    No, but your car insurance company will likely find out soon enough. Most car insurance providers run periodic reviews of driving records every few renewal cycles. When a policy renews, a speeding ticket will likely appear on the motor vehicle report and any applicable increases related to the ticket will be applied.

  • What is the cheapest car insurance company?

    The cheapest car insurance company for one person may be different for another. This is because each company uses a proprietary algorithm that evaluates a variety of factors like driving history, location and age to formulate a customized quote for you. So, in order to find the most affordable quote on the market, you may have to do some comparison shopping.

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.