How a speeding ticket impacts your insurance in New Jersey
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If you live in the Garden State, understanding how a speeding ticket could affect your car insurance might be helpful for managing your finances. Speeding tickets are relatively common but come with a host of consequences. In addition to the cost of the citation itself, your car insurance rates will likely increase.
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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.
Bankrate’s 2022 study of quoted premiums found that one speeding ticket increased car insurance rates in New Jersey by an average of 12 percent. Considering that the average cost of car insurance in New Jersey is $1,891 per year, a 12 percent increase could mean adding about $227 per year (or $18 per month) to your policy.
How much is a speeding ticket in New Jersey?
According to New Jersey laws, the cost of a speeding ticket can vary based on how many miles per hour (mph) a driver was going over the speed limit. Here is the average speeding ticket cost in New Jersey:
| Offense | Amount of fine |
|---|---|
| Speeding one to nine mph over the limit | $85 |
| Speeding 10 to 14 mph over the limit | $95 |
| Speeding 15 to 19 mph over the limit | $105 |
| Speeding 20 to 24 mph over the limit | $200 |
| Speeding 25 to 29 over the limit | $220 |
| Speeding 30 to 34 over the limit | $240 |
| Speeding 35 to 39 over the limit | $260 |
Your actual fine will depend on the circumstances of your ticket. If you speed 20 or more mph over the limit, for example, your fine could be doubled, and if you speed in a construction zone, you’ll also likely face higher fines. Depending on the severity of your infraction and your past driving record, your license could be suspended or revoked, your vehicle could be impounded and you may face jail time.
How much does your insurance go up after a speeding ticket?
If you’ve recently received a citation, you might wonder, “do speeding tickets affect insurance?” In most cases, the answer is yes. A New Jersey speeding ticket increases car insurance rates in the state by an average of 12 percent. Age and gender can impact car insurance premiums in most states, with younger drivers tending to pay more due to inexperience. Young male drivers often pay among the highest car insurance premiums due to risky driving behavior.
You may be surprised to learn that In New Jersey, females pay slightly more than males for their car insurance by the time they reach age 40. Even so, the New Jersey rates between genders are very close, and females can expect a marginally lower premium increase after a speeding ticket.
Average annual full coverage premium
| Age | Rate before speeding ticket | Rate after speeding ticket | % increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40-year-old male | $1,883 | $2,139 | 12.73% |
| 40-year-old female | $1,900 | $2,155 | 12.58% |
| Total average | $1,891 | $2,147 | 12.68% |
If you get a speeding ticket, you may have points put on your license. However, these are not “New Jersey insurance points.” Insurance companies don’t use point systems to track your driving record and license points do not translate directly to premium increases. Rather than points, insurance companies typically issue a surcharge when you get a speeding ticket. You can expect a speeding ticket surcharge to affect your premium for three to five years, although the specific length of time depends on your insurer.
How to lower your car insurance after a speeding ticket
Speeding tickets are fairly common, but because they can be indicators of risky driving habits, most insurance companies will increase your premium after a citation. However, you may be able to take steps to lower your premium to help offset the increase.
Get quotes from other car insurance companies
Different New Jersey car insurance companies rate policies differently; some may charge more for tickets than others. Comparing quotes could help you find a cheaper carrier. Switching companies may be worth your while if you could significantly save on car insurance.
Average annual full coverage premium
| Car insurance company | Rate before speeding ticket | Rate after speeding ticket | % Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $1,782 | $2,317 | 26% |
| Amica | $1,707 | $2,070 | 19% |
| Progressive | $2,073 | $2,513 | 19% |
| Travelers | $1,403 | $1,750 | 22% |
*Premiums are average annual full coverage premiums for 40-year-olds
Although price is an important aspect when it comes to car insurance, there are other factors you may want to consider before you decide on a carrier. Reading customer reviews, analyzing third-party ratings and visiting the carrier’s website may help you learn more about the company and its insurance products.
Take advantage of discounts
Discounts are an excellent way to reduce your premium after a speeding ticket. One savings opportunity you may want to ask your insurance company about is a telematics discount. Installing a telematics device in your vehicle may not only save you money on your auto policy, but it may also help encourage safe driving habits. Improving your driving habits typically leads to future discounts, like a safe driver or claims-free discounts. In addition to driving-related discounts, some other ways you might save include bundling your home and auto, going paperless, or paying your premium in full rather than in installments.
Increase your deductible
Some drivers choose to increase their comprehensive and collision deductibles to lower their premiums. While this strategy may be an effective cost-saving measure, it’s critical to ensure that the deductible you carry is an amount you are comfortable paying if you need to file a claim. The point of car insurance is to reduce your financial risk, and a deductible that causes hardship is counterintuitive. Many insurance professionals advise policyholders to look for discounts or other savings opportunities and only increase deductibles as a last resort.
Consider the car you drive
Insurance companies consider many rating factors to determine a premium, and a vehicle’s make and model is one of the most significant. Generally, luxury vehicles with a high value are more expensive to insure due to the increased cost of parts and repair. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Commonly driven cars could cost more to insure because they are more likely to be stolen, for instance.
It’s probably unreasonable to buy a different car for the sole purpose of lowering your premium. If you’re already in the market for a new vehicle, however, obtaining a free online car insurance quote for each make and model you are considering is a good idea. It’s essential to factor in the insurance cost when purchasing a new car to ensure that it fits your monthly budget.
Other speeding ticket considerations
New Jersey uses a points-based system to keep track of a motorist’s moving violations. Points are based on the severity of the speeding offense.
- Exceeding the posted speed by one to 14 mph over the limit: 2 points
- Exceeding the posted speed 15 to 29 mph over the limit: 4 points
- Exceeding the posted speed 30 mph or more over the limit: 5 points
- Highway racing: 5 points
Your license could be suspended if you get 12 or more points on your record. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) will send you a notice in the mail when you are close to 12 points and may recommend that you take a driver improvement course.
Depending on your circumstances at the time of your ticket, you’ll likely face fines, you may have your license suspended and you may need to appear in court. If you are a repeat offender or your infraction was serious enough, you could face jail time.
Frequently asked questions
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There are dozens of car insurance companies in New Jersey to choose from, but the best company, even after a speeding ticket, will vary by driver. Your unique rating factors like your age, the car you drive and the coverage types and levels you choose — as well as the traits you are looking for in a company — will impact which carrier is best for you. Getting several quotes may help you find the insurance provider that best fits your needs.
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Your speeding ticket may always show up on your driving record, but it isn’t likely to affect your car insurance premiums forever. Most companies surcharge for tickets for three to five years. After that time, you might see your rates go back down, assuming you’ve kept a clean driving record.
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In New Jersey, the number of points placed on your driving record after a speeding ticket depends on how fast you were driving. Speeding one to 14 mph over the limit results in two points, 15 to 29 mph over the limit can give you four points and you can expect five points after a speeding conviction of 30 mph or higher. However, it’s important to remember insurance companies do not always use points to calculate a surcharge and if they do, they are not the same as speeding ticket points. New Jersey drivers may experience an increase in their car insurance premiums after a speeding ticket, but points on your driving record do not directly translate to an insurance premium increase.
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Methodology
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2022 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 2020 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.
