Car Insurance Rates - How Do Traffic Tickets, Accidents and DWIs Affect Your Car Insurance Rates

Do you know the true cost of a traffic ticket, an accident or a DWI when it comes to your car insurance rates? Do you know how long these things can have an affect on what you pay for your insurance each year? These are offenses that insurance companies take into consideration when they are deciding how much to charge you for your insurance. They are all reasons that your insurance rates will go up and you need to know how much you can expect to pay if you get a ticket, have an accident, or get caught drinking and driving.

First, let us discuss traffic tickets. When you get a ticket for speeding, if it is your first, you can usually use the deferment program and pay the ticket. This means that as long as you do not get another ticket within a year the insurance companies will never find out that you got a ticket because it will be removed from your record. If you can use this program, then you should do so. If you have already used the deferment program, then you will have to report the ticket to your insurance and this will cause your rates to go up from 50% to 150% of your current premium.

It will make a difference if you were going 20 miles or more over the speed limit because that is considered wreckless driving and you will have to pay even more on your insurance premium.

Second, let us discuss accidents. Even an accident that is not your fault will raise your rates some. This is due to the fact that somehow you were in the situation where you ended up in an accident. This will not raise your rates too much, but if you have a few of them in a year or so period of time, then it will have a heavy effect on your rates. Now if you have an accident that is your fault, then you better be prepared for your rates to skyrocket. They will at least double and might even triple in some cases. Accidents are one of the worst things when it comes to your insurance rates.

Last, let us discuss DWIs. These are the worst for your insurance. Beside the couple thousand in court costs, lawyer fees, probation fees, and alcohol class fees that you will pay, you can expect your insurance to jump about 200% to 500% for the next year, then it will go down a little if you do not have any infractions. After about 3 years it might make it back down to where it was before, but it may take up to 5 years. This will most likely bring the total cost of your DWI up to around $5,000 to $7,000 when you could have taken a cab for under $50 or rented a hotel room for under $100. Instead you will pay for it on your car insurance rates.

Do you want your teen to be safe on the road? How about the insurance premiums, do you want to know how to get the best deal when it comes to Car Insurance Rates incur? Get more answers here:

Car Insurance Rates

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Benjamin_Robert_Ehinger