How a speeding ticket impacts your insurance in Tennessee
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 .
While not ideal, there’s no shame if you’ve recently been issued a speeding ticket. After all, many of us have gotten one. If you’ve recently gotten a speeding ticket in Tennessee, however, you might wonder how it’ll affect your car insurance. Outside of the fines you may owe the DMV, you’ll likely face an increase in your premiums. How much this increase is, however, can vary. Bankrate’s team of insurance experts explores speeding tickets in Tennessee to help our readers know what they might expect (and how they might also be able to lower their rates).
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.
How much is a speeding ticket in Tennessee?
The average cost of a speeding ticket in Tennessee is anywhere between $40-$150. The faster a driver is going over the speed limit, the more expensive the ticket will be. Additionally, Tennessee uses a points system, so when drivers get pulled over for speeding, they will receive one to eight points on their motor vehicle record.
If a driver collects 12 or more points during one year, they could have their driver’s license suspended. For young drivers, the laws are more strict. Drivers under 18 years old who receive six or more points during a 12 month period could have their driving privileges revoked.
How much does a speeding ticket increase your car insurance in Tennessee?
Getting a speeding ticket in Tennessee impacts car insurance rates. However, the driver’s age and gender has a direct impact on their rate, and the percentage increases. In the table below, you can see the average rates before and after a speeding ticket in Tennessee for 40-year-old drivers:
| Age | Average annual full coverage premium before speeding ticket | Average annual full coverage premium after speeding ticket | % increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40-year-old male | $1,440 | $1,697 | 18% |
| 40-year-old female | $1,418 | $1,668 | 18% |
Based on the data from Quadrant Information Services, 40-year-old drivers typically face premium increases of around 18 percent from a single speeding ticket. Additionally, male drivers pay higher rates than females, according to Bankrate’s analysis.
How to lower your car insurance after a speeding ticket in Tennessee
Unfortunately, there is not much that a driver can do to prevent a speeding ticket from impacting their auto premiums. Even after a single speeding ticket, insurance companies will usually raise a driver’s rate to compensate for the increased risk. However, there are a number of things that drivers can do to lower their premiums after a speeding ticket.
Get quotes from other car insurance companies
If you are unhappy with your car insurance premium after a speeding ticket, shop around for new quotes. One of the most effective ways to find a lower car insurance rate is obtaining quotes and switching carriers. In the table below, you can see the average rates before and after a speeding ticket from some of the best car insurance companies in Tennessee:
| Car insurance company | Average annual full coverage premium before speeding ticket | Average annual full coverage premium after speeding ticket | % increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $1,959 | $2,305 | 18% |
| Celina | $1,234 | $1,474 | 19% |
| Chubb | $2,071 | $2,371 | 14% |
| Grange | $1,071 | $1,610 | 50% |
| Nationwide | $1,453 | $1,696 | 17% |
| Progressive | $1,666 | $2,128 | 28% |
| Safe Auto | $2,327 | $2,883 | 24% |
| Travelers | $1,166 | $1,530 | 31% |
| USAA | $1,188 | $1,427 | 20% |
*Premiums are average annual full coverage premiums for 40-year-olds
As you can see, the average rate increase after a speeding ticket varies between carriers. However, keep in mind that a cheaper company might not be the best provider for your coverage needs. When shopping for a new insurance company, make sure to look into things like customer reviews and coverage options.
Take advantage of discounts
Most car insurance companies offer discounts that can help drivers save money on their policy. Many auto insurers offer unique discounts, but some of the most common ones include savings for insuring a new vehicle, being a good student, paying your premium in full and enrolling in automatic payments.
Bundle your policies
Another popular way to get a lower car insurance premium is to bundle two or more policies, most commonly auto and home, renters, condo or life insurance. Purchasing two insurance policies from the same carrier can help you save money off of both policies.
Frequently asked questions
-
-
Insurance is personalized. Depending on the state you live in, your car insurance company could use your age, gender, credit score and ZIP code as rating factors to determine your premium. Because of this, rates will always vary from person to person and from company to company. However, Bankrate’s insurance editorial team has access to proprietary rate data from analytics company Quadrant Information Services and based on our research, Geico could be one of the best car insurance companies for driving incidents (including speeding tickets).
-
The average cost of car insurance in Tennessee is $1,429 per year for a full coverage policy and $371 per year for a minimum coverage policy. For comparison, the national average rate is $2,014 for full coverage. Tennessee drivers could pay more or less than average based on factors like their driving record, credit score, and the makes and models of their vehicles.
-
Tennessee car insurance laws state that drivers must carry at least 25/50/15 liability insurance. A minimum coverage policy includes $25,000 in bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident and $25,000 for property damage coverage.
-
Methodology
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2023 rates for 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 coverages that meet each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2021 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) and a single speeding ticket.
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
SR-22 Tennessee
Car Insurance