Traffic tickets are common in Ohio, and most drivers have dealt with a traffic stop at one point or another in their life. Many think immediately of the bottom line and how a ticket will affect their car insurance premiums. In some situations, a traffic ticket on your record can increase how much your insurance company charges you for coverage.
According to insurance.com the percent and dollar increase often depend on the type of ticket. The increase is highest for violations such as reckless driving, careless driving, DUI/DWI and distracted driving. Things like seatbelt infractions, driving without a permit or license and failure to stop have a lower increase rate. You may not notice the increase until your policy is renewed which may not happen for several months. This is the point where your insurance company reviews your driving record and changes how much they charge for your policy.
How long the ticket will affect you depends on the individual insurance company and state. There is a minimum of at least three years, but some companies may go back five to ten years for something like driving under the influence. Similar to how the increase happens, the decrease will not happen immediately when the infraction comes off your record, but rather when your policy renews.
Even if you get a ticket while driving out of state, you can expect it to appear on your record. Most states share citation information reciprocally. If you are visiting or living in another state and your license is suspended, your license will also be suspected in your home state.
In some cases, you may not get points on your driving record for tickets you get out of state. While this can be nice, most insurance companies will take any violation into account when they figure your policy costs.
This is intended for educational purposes and should not be interpreted as legal advice.
