How a speeding ticket impacts your insurance in Illinois
The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate, we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. To help readers understand how insurance affects their finances, we have licensed insurance professionals on staff who have spent a combined 47 years in the auto, home and life insurance industries. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation of . Our content is backed by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed entity (NPN: 19966249). For more information, please see our .
A speeding ticket might not seem like such a big deal to some drivers, but in Illinois, speeding is a serious traffic violation that has severe consequences for your car insurance policy. In 2018, speeding accounted for 33.7% of all crashes, 36.1% of fatal accidents, and 38.2% of crash-related injuries in Illinois alone. Drivers caught driving even one mile over the absolute speed limit could receive a $120 fine, in addition to potentially seeing insurance costs increase.
Compare auto insurance rates
Save on auto insurance with quotes from trusted providers like:
Drivers switch & save an average of $750+/year
Are you overpaying for auto insurance?
Safe drivers choose Allstate®
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
Compare auto insurance rates
Save on auto insurance with quotes from trusted providers like:
Drivers switch & save an average of $750+/year
Are you overpaying for auto insurance?
Safe drivers choose Allstate®
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
For drivers who have received a speeding ticket in Illinois, it is important to understand how such a violation will impact your standing with car insurance companies, as well as the steps that can be taken to improve affected rates going forward.
How much is a speeding ticket in Illinois?
Illinois takes speeding very seriously. The cost of a speeding ticket in Illinois largely depends on the circumstances. However, the following chart illustrates what drivers may expect to pay based on their speed above posted limits:
| Miles per hour over the legal limit | Fine or penalty |
|---|---|
| 1 – 20 mph | $120 |
| 21 – 25 mph | $140 |
| 26 – 34 mph | Class B misdemeanor; up to six months’ jail time and maximum $1,500 in fines |
| 35 mph | Class A misdemeanor; up to one year jail time and maximum $2,500 in fines |
Costs for speeding violations also vary depending on where they occurred. For example, a driver caught speeding in a school zone will receive a minimum $150 fine for the first offense and $300 for every subsequent offense. Construction zone violations carry a minimum fine of $250 for first offenses and $750 for each subsequent offense. In some cases, a driver may even have their license suspended if they are considered to be driving recklessly or street racing.
How much does a speeding ticket increase your car insurance in illinois?
It is not uncommon for a driver’s insurance premium to see a sharp increase after they’ve received a speeding ticket in Illinois. Along with the speeding violation, insurers will take into account gender and age to determine the exact premium increase drivers with a speeding ticket in Illinois will receive at the time of policy renewal. This is because drivers of certain genders and age groups are perceived as higher risk than others.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), male drivers aged 16-19 are nearly two times more likely to die in a motor vehicle accident than female drivers in the same age group. For this reason, premiums for young, male drivers caught speeding are typically higher than those for male drivers aged 40 or older, and higher than female drivers overall:
Average annual full coverage premium
| Age | Before speeding ticket | After speeding ticket | % increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-year-old male | $5,319 | $6,326 | 18.9% |
| 18-year-old female | $4,354 | $5,194 | 19.3% |
| 40-year-old male | $1,584 | $1,941 | 22.5% |
| 40-year-old female | $1,542 | $1,889 | 22.5% |
The good news is that even if drivers have a speeding ticket on their record, there are steps they can take to reduce rates and regain good standing with a car insurance company.
How to lower your car insurance after a speeding ticket in Illinois
While the financial impact of an Illinois speeding ticket can be initially shocking, there are several ways that drivers can lower car insurance rates after receiving a speeding ticket. By researching providers, taking advantage of available discounts and considering coverage adjustments, drivers with a speeding ticket may be able to bring down the total cost of their premium to a more affordable level.
Get quotes from other car insurance companies
One of the best things drivers can do after receiving a speeding ticket is begin researching rates from other providers in the region. An existing carrier may not be the most affordable option. The table below illustrates what the most popular carriers in Illinois typically charge their policyholders after they receive a speeding ticket:
Average annual full coverage premium by company
| Car insurance company | Before speeding ticket | After speeding ticket | % increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erie | $1,024 | $1,314 | 28.3% |
| Safe Auto | $1,452 | $2,924 | 101.4% |
| Mercury | $990 | $2,117 | 113.8% |
| Country Financial | $1,648 | $2,355 | 41.7% |
| Progressive | $1,299 | $1,979 | 52.3% |
*Premiums are average annual full coverage premiums for 40-year-olds
In addition to the total cost of your auto insurance policy, there may be additional advantages to seeking out an alternate provider. For instance, another provider may have better coverage options, available discounts or more favorable customer service reviews than your existing carrier. Be sure to weigh your options carefully before making a final decision.
Take advantage of available discounts
Just because you have a speeding ticket on your record doesn’t mean you’re ineligible to take advantage of available discounts through your insurance carrier. Many insurance providers offer a broad range of discounts that aren’t based off your driving record, including:
- Membership Discounts: If you belong to certain employers, groups or organizations, you may be eligible for a discount through your provider. For instance, if you are in the military, GEICO offers up to 15% off certain car insurance coverages.
- Driver’s Education Discounts: To demonstrate to your insurance carrier that you are making improvements to your driving behaviors, you may be able to take a qualifying driver’s education course to receive a discount on your policy.
- Good Student Discounts: High-school and college-aged students who are able to maintain a good academic record may be eligible for car insurance savings, depending on which provider you have.
- Vehicle Equipment Discounts: If your car has certain safety systems installed, such as anti-theft alarms or anti-lock brakes, you may be able to save money on your insurance premiums.
There are many different types of discounts available, so be sure to review all the discounts each provider has to offer to determine which carrier can provide you with the most savings.
Consider your car insurance coverage limits
Each state has different levels of minimum coverage car insurance coverage requirements, and Illinois is no different. Illinois drivers are required to hold at least the following minimum coverage:
- $25,000 for the injury or death of one person in an accident caused by the policyholder
- $50,000 for all injuries or deaths in an accident caused by the policyholder
- $20,000 for property damage to others in an accident caused by the policyholder
While you may benefit in the short term with lower premiums by having only minimum coverage, this can be far more expensive in the long run, as an accident can quickly exceed minimum coverage limits, or leave you on the hook for costly vehicle repairs.
Other speeding ticket considerations
Increases to insurance premiums are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to speeding violations in Illinois. Speeding is considered a serious offense in the state, and can even be classified as a misdemeanor depending on the circumstances. In addition to rate increases, fines, and possible jail time, drivers may have their licenses suspended or revoked. They may also be required to attend a court hearing.
A speeding violation could also be upgraded to a “reckless driving” conviction depending on the circumstances surrounding the incident. If the driver happens to kill another driver while speeding, they may face reckless homicide charges. This is a class 3 felony and could result in two to five years in prison, along with up to $25,000 in fines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best car insurance company for drivers with speeding tickets?
The best car insurance company for drivers with speeding tickets largely depends on your age, gender, location, budget, coverage needs and available discounts. In order to make the most informed decision, it is recommended that you conduct thorough research to compare rates, customer service reviews, coverage options and discounts across each provider.
Can I get dropped from my insurance policy after receiving a speeding ticket?
Depending on the number of speeding tickets and traffic violations on your driving record, your insurance provider may make the decision to deny coverage renewal or drop your policy altogether. When this happens, drivers may be forced to seek car insurance through the surplus marketplace or their state-run risk plan.
What should I do if I receive an Illinois speeding ticket?
The best thing to do after receiving a speeding ticket in Illinois is to pursue one of the following options:
- Plead guilty, pay the fine, and receive a conviction.
- Plead guilty, pay to attend traffic safety school and avoid conviction.
- Plead not guilty and request a court date to fight the conviction or negotiate the fine in court.
Methodology
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2021 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quoted rates are based on 18-year-old and 40-year-old male and female drivers 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 coverages that meet each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2019 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.
Incident: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), at-fault accident, single speeding ticket, single DUI conviction and lapse in coverage.
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
