Do you know the difference between reckless driving and careless driving? Although the two sound similar, they can affect your insurance rates in very different ways.
Reckless driving means you are disregarding traffic laws and intentionally making the road unsafe for the others. This includes things like drag racing and road rage.
Careless driving is defined as unintentional acts on the road that may cause risks for others.
The difference between the two can be an 82 percent premium increase for reckless driving and a 27 percent increase for careless driving.
A recent study by InsuranceQuotes.com broke down the average national premium increases for the top moving traffic violations:
- DUI – 93%
- Reckless Driving – 82%
- Careless Driving – 27%
- Speeding 1 to 15 MPH Over he Limit – 21%
- Speeding 16 to 30 MPH Over the Limit – 28%
- Speeding 31+ MPH Over the Limit – 30%
- Failure to Stop – 19%
- Failure to Yield to Pedestrians – 19%
- Driving in Carpool Lane – 18%
As you can see, just one violation can have quite the impact on your premium rates.
Many insurance companies tend to be a little more forgiving if you have a clean driving record.
Some insurance agencies say that people who bundle their other insurance policies with the same company may not see such a severe spike in their rates (in the event of a ticket).
In the event that you’ve gotten a ticket, it may be wise to check and see if there are driving classes available to make up for moving violations in your state. You may get 2 points added to your record for a speeding violation, but certain states will allow you to take a driving class to receive a 2 point credit towards your record.
The best course of action is to follow the rules of the road to help keep yourself and others safe!
Source
Insurance Quotes