How a speeding ticket impacts your insurance in Maine

Once you pay your speeding ticket in Maine, you might wonder how the infraction will affect your car insurance. Although car insurance is highly personalized, examining the average cost of car insurance before and after a speeding ticket can give you an idea of what to expect. In Maine, drivers with a clean record pay an average of $1,520 per year for full coverage and $386 per year for minimum coverage. After a ticket, Maine drivers pay an average of $1,842 per year for full coverage and $456 per year for minimum insurance. To offer more insight into Maine insurance rates after a speeding ticket, Bankrate’s insurance editorial team put together this helpful guide.

How much is a speeding ticket in Maine?

Speeding ticket costs in Maine depend on how far over the speed limit you get clocked. Unsurprisingly, the fine increases the faster you’re going. The state also has an “imprudent speed” ticket that costs $134 and may be given if you’re driving too fast for current conditions, such as in the rain or on icy roads.

Speeding infractions in Maine are associated with the following fines:

• 1 to 9 mph over the limit: $114
• 10 to 14 mph over the limit: $129
• 15 to 19 mph over the limit: $170
• 20 to 24 mph over the limit: $230
• 25 to 29 miles mph over the limit: $278
• Speeding up while being passed: $154
• Stopping or suddenly reducing speed without signal: $152

However, speeding tickets in Maine can exceed $278 in certain circumstances. These include:

• Driving in a construction zone: $203 to $531 (depending on speed)
• Driving in a school zone: $203 to $531 (depending on speed)
• Driving in an emergency zone: $325

Note that driving more than 30 mph over the speed limit is a class E criminal offense, which carries a maximum fine of $1,000 plus a license suspension of up to 30 days. This type of offense could even carry probation or jail time. The punishment will factor in the driver’s previous driving record.

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

The average increase in insurance premiums in Maine after a speeding ticket is 21 percent. Changes to your insurance can be more significant depending on your demographics.

Both male drivers and young drivers tend to pay higher premiums — even with a clean driving record. Because these types of drivers tend to be involved in more accidents, including more deadly accidents, their baseline rate is higher than older drivers. Six states have banned using gender as a pricing determinant for car insurance, but Maine is not one of them.

Keep in mind these rates reflect average annual full coverage premiums. The level of coverage you have, as well as your specific ZIP code, can mean your rates vary from these, with or without a speeding ticket factored in.

*All premiums are average annual full coverage premiums.

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

Although speeding tickets in Maine usually cause your insurance premium to go up, there are ways you might save. Looking for discounts and exploring other insurance providers in Maine may help you keep any increase to a minimum. Here are some other strategies to potentially lower your insurance premium:

Get quotes from other car insurance companies

Different car insurance companies can offer vastly different rates, even after examining the exact same variables, such as your age and driving record. The table below shows how widely rates can vary from one carrier to the next in response to a Maine speeding conviction. You can leverage these differences to your benefit by shopping around for a lower rate, even with a speeding ticket on your record.

Of course, budget is a key factor, but other aspects of coverage are worth considering when determining whether to keep or switch car insurance companies. Be sure to review a company’s customer service reviews and financial strength ratings to get a well-rounded view of its performance.

*All premiums are average annual full coverage premiums.

Look for discounts

Even drivers with a recent speeding infraction can still take advantage of auto insurance discounts. Many providers offer better prices to people who insure multiple cars, for instance. You may also qualify for a discount if you work in certain industries or your vehicle has certain safety features. These discounts could offset some or all of your speeding ticket increase:

• Bundling discounts: If you have a renters, homeowners or life insurance policy, look into combining policies from the same provider to potentially earn a discount on each.
• Low-mileage discount: If you don’t drive often, your insurer might offer you a better rate since you’re at a lower risk of getting into an accident.
• Telematics discount: Several providers offer a telematics program that tracks your driving habits through an app or company device. You could see a discount for showing safe driving habits.
• Defensive driving course discount: You might be able to earn a discount by taking a provider-approved defensive driving course or driver improvement program.

Frequently asked questions

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

    There’s no single car insurance company writing the best policies for all drivers with a speeding ticket, because car insurance is highly personalized. To help you find the best insurance provider for you, request quotes from multiple insurers. When going through the quote process, be sure to specify that you have a speeding ticket on your record to ensure you get an accurate quote. Keep in mind that some providers might not offer coverage if they deem you a high-risk driver. If you have multiple speeding tickets on your record, you may be perceived as high-risk.

  • Do I have to tell my insurance company about a speeding ticket?

    No, you do not need to notify your insurance company if you are issued a speeding ticket. The company will most likely find out about the ticket when your updated driving record is pulled during a renewal. There are also cases where your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles notifies insurance companies directly after certain traffic violations.

  • What is the cheapest car insurance company?

    The cheapest car insurance company varies from person to person since every driver has unique personal factors and each insurance provider weighs personal factors differently to determine premiums. To find the cheapest car insurance for you, consider requesting quotes from several companies known to write affordable rates. Don’t forget to use the same coverage types and amounts so you can do an even comparison.

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 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), 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.

Age: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile (40 years) applied. Age is not a contributing rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts due to state regulations.