There is something inherently thrilling about cars and speed, especially if road conditions are good and the motor is purring like a powerful cat. But a driver should beware of speeding; aside from the increased risk of becoming involved in an accident, there’s the prospect of getting caught above the speed limit. And if you get caught speeding enough times, you will see how tickets affect your auto insurance rates. We’re talking about a rise of possibly hundreds of dollars in your premium.

Some insurance companies will agree to overlook a policyholder’s first speeding ticket while others will impose penalties for that. It is especially important not to get a ticket when you are applying for auto insurance since providers will review your driving record before determining your premium. But if you are a high-risk driver (someone with a history of claims and/or accidents) or if you drive a company-owned vehicle, your insurance company will usually check your record annually. Any speeding convictions you have will stay on your record for a number of years. And the more incidents on your record, the higher your insurance rates will go. Thus, it is vital to keep your record pristine and violation-free.

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It IS possible to avoid getting a speeding violation included in your driving record, and there are several options regarding this. For instance, in some states, taking the time and effort to go to traffic school may be worth your while since this could result in the removal of a traffic violation from your record. Also, you may find that going to court to contest your speeding ticket may help get the charges against you dismissed, especially if the officer who issued the ticket does not appear for the hearing.

There may be moments when it would be necessary to go over the speed limit; for instance, if it’s an emergency. But at other times, speeding just for the heck of it could cost you a lot more than you bargained for, and one of the ways you will come to realize this is when you see how tickets affect your insurance rates.

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