Maybe you were driving along the roads in Ontario and found yourself going a little too fast. A cop pulls you over and lets you know you were going 15km/h over the speed limit. Yikes! Although that may cost $50+ upfront for the ticket, the cost of insurance is what you might not realize will create a bigger dent in your finances. Interested in knowing which traffic tickets raise insurance rates the most? We’ve got answers.

Which traffic tickets raise car insurance rates the most?

The tickets most likely to affect your insurance rates include getting a DUI, reckless driving, and speeding. These are all dangerous forms of driving and you can inspect an increase in your insurance at a rate of anywhere from 20-70% on your premium. This means that if you were only paying $2000 on your premium, you could see it go up by a few hundred or even up thousands of dollars depending on the act. The other ticket with the biggest  impact on car insurance rates would be leaving at the scene of the accident, or a “hit-and-run”.  If charged with this offence, you can expect to pay on average 82% more each year for your car insurance. We've also seen a rise in stunt driving tickets, and their inherent affect on your insurance rate. 

How much does a traffic ticket raise your insurance by?

You can generally expect a speeding ticket to range in a 10%-25% increase in rates on your insurance, depending on if your offense was minor or major. Getting 2 or 3 minor speeding tickets within a small period of time or getting one major one of 50km/h over the limit will also increase the cost even more on your insurance premium. Check also this post to learn more about demerit points and insurance.

How long do driving violations affect car insurance rates?

Traffic violations no matter how large or small can increase the cost of coverage. Traffic violations usually affect car insurance rates for 3-5 years. Smaller violations are on occasion forgiven by insurers for the first time. Check also this article to learn more about penalties for drivers under the influence of marijuana.

What about demerit points, and their insurance increase in Ontario?

Demerit points are used by the provincial government as a system to determine whether your driver’s license should be revoked. These demerit points range from 2 to 8 points and remain on your driving record for two years. They do not necessarily affect your car insurance premium directly, impact your car insurance rate in Ontario, however the tickets you’ve received as a result will impact the cost of your insurance. The ministry can then have the ability to suspend your license depending on the number of demerit points you have. 

Distracted driving insurance rates Ontario

Nearly 3 out of 4 Canadians admit to distracted driving according to Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). Distracted driving is not only dangerous but a major conviction and can cause serious hikes in your car insurance premiums. The issue is, when distracted, drivers tend to miss half of the information produced by their driving environment, resulting in a higher risk for accidents. Examples of distracted driving can include:

• Eating and drinking

• Engaging with other passengers

• Talking on the phone (With or without hands-free)

• Sending text messages

• Adjusting your GPS device

• Fixing your hair and makeup

Not all may be illegal, but these are behaviours that can cause other passengers and yourself to be at risk while you are behind the wheel. Fines will vary across the board. Read also this article about parking tickets and insurance.

Avoid distracted driving:

• Know where you’re going ahead of time

• Have your music ready for the road

• Wait to check the phone until you’re done driving 

Looking to speak to an Insurance Advisor about your rates?

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