If you think that not wearing your seat belt or following someone too closely on the road won’t significantly affect your car insurance costs, think again. Even seemingly small-time infractions can have a big impact on how much you pay for car insurance.
In fact, a minor speeding violation (1-15 MPH over the legal limit) could result in 21% higher car insurance costs on average, according to an insuranceQuotes.com report. The price for smaller violations: following too closely (+19%), not signaling (+19%), improperly using a car pool lane (+18%), and not wearing a seat belt (+5%).
However, these numbers pale in comparison to how much extra you’ll pay for a major traffic violation. A violation for driving under the influence (DUI) is the most expensive. This could lead to 93% higher car insurance costs. Reckless driving will also cost you a pretty penny–it can result in 82% higher costs.
Says Laura Adams, senior analyst at insuranceQuotes.com in a written statement: “Drivers who commit moving violations can take safety classes to improve their skills and remove blemishes from their records. Many of these courses are offered online and can be completed in just a few hours. Otherwise, these infractions can lead to higher car insurance costs for up to three years.â€
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