How much does insurance go up with one point?
How much insurance goes up with one point depends on the state and auto insurance company. However, your insurance can increase between 10% and 38% for one point. The average cost of auto insurance with one point on your license is $306 per month. Multiple points raise rates significantly higher.
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Joel Ohman
Founder, CFP®
Joel Ohman is the CEO of a private equity-backed digital media company. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, author, angel investor, and serial entrepreneur who loves creating new things, whether books or businesses. He has also previously served as the founder and resident CFP® of a national insurance agency, Real Time Health Quotes. He has an MBA from the University of South Florida. Joel...
Founder, CFP®
UPDATED: Aug 23, 2023
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Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about life insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything life insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by life insurance experts.
UPDATED: Aug 23, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- One speeding ticket will have a minimal increase in your auto insurance rate, and some companies won’t increase your rates at all
- Moving violations can put one to two points on your license
- Reckless driving and DUI/DWI can put three or more points on your driver’s license.
If you find yourself worrying about points on your record, you may be asking, “How much does insurance go up with one point on my driver’s license?” or “How much will my car insurance go up with three points?” The answer may surprise you. The rate increase is not always a direct cause and effect.
We will help explain everything about the points system. We will discuss how much your car insurance goes up after one point and car insurance with five points, four points car insurance, etc. Different types of auto insurance companies react differently to points. For example, you may lose your Geico auto insurance discounts if they are your provider.
In the meantime, enter your ZIP code into our free comparison tool above to find affordable car insurance quotes with one point on your license. So, how much does insurance go up with one point? Read on to find out.
How Much Insurance Goes Up with One Point on Your Driver’s License
How much is a point worth on auto insurance? Depending on the state and auto insurance company, a one-point insurance increase will be between 10% and 38%. The average cost of auto insurance with one point on your license is $306 per month.
Multiple Speeding Tickets May Double Your Car Insurance Rates
It’s possible. Too many speeding tickets will drive up your auto insurance rates. If you get too many moving violations, your car insurance company may cancel your policy or choose not to renew your old policy.
When Car Insurance Rate Increases Take Effect
Expect your auto insurance rates to increase six months after the violation has occurred. Moving violations, accidents, and other driving convictions will remain on your driving record for three or more years. DUI/DWI convictions last from eight to ten years.
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What One Driver Point Means on Car Insurance
Many states have developed point systems to keep track of an individual’s driving history. Each driving infraction is assigned a point value depending on its severity. For instance, the state of Massachusetts has the Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP).
Your point assignment can be “one” or as high as a “three,” depending on the infraction and the state. There are caveats as to whether or not points can be assigned as well. According to Virginia Law, points cannot be assigned if you were not partially responsible for the accident. A minor speeding ticket may earn you one point, whereas a DUI may earn you three.
You want to accrue as few points as possible, or else you might see an automatic suspension of your driver’s license.
Point Basics
One-point offenses include:
- Disobeying traffic signs/signals
- Speeding
- Failing to yield to a pedestrian or school bus
- Passing on a double line or making an illegal U-turn
- Child safety restraint violations
- Drug/alcohol offenses
Two-point offenses include:
- Reckless driving (somewhat of a judgment call)
- Evading police
- Driving over 100 mph
- Hit-and-run
- Driving with a suspended or revoked license
- Transporting explosives
Remember, points and penalties will vary depending on the state where you live.
Violations That Don’t Accumulate Points
Parking tickets and broken lights on your vehicles do not affect your driver’s license or your auto insurance rates. Although it doesn’t affect your driver’s license or car insurance policy, you want to avoid non-moving violations.
How to Reduce Points on Your License
The best way to reduce points on your driver’s license is to take accident prevention courses, driver safety courses, and other driver’s education classes at traffic school. These courses can take a few hours to a few days. Ultimately, they provide relief to expensive auto insurance rates and remove points from your driver’s license.
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Car Insurance Companies With the Cheapest Increase
Each auto insurance company handles violations differently. Let’s examine the best companies to see, which has the cheapest percentage increase.
| Companies | Car Insurance Rate Increase |
|---|---|
| Nationwide | 10% |
| State Farm | 12% |
| Safeco | 12% |
| Travelers | 16% |
| American Family | 18% |
| Geico | 22% |
| Liberty Mutual | 23% |
| Farmers | 32% |
| Allstate | 38% |
| Progressive | 38% |
Nationwide, State Farm and SAFECO have the cheapest auto insurance rate increases. The State Farm point system raises your rates by 12% for a one-point infraction, and the Geico point system will raise your rates by 22%. The Progressive Insurance point system has the highest percentage increase at 38%.
Committing any infraction in a commercial vehicle will entail the points being worth one and a half times their average amount. For example, a commercial truck driving 101 mph would be hit with three points.
How much does insurance go up after a ticket? The following table compares drivers’ rates with a clean record to those with a speeding ticket on their record.
| Companies | Average Annual Rates with a Clean Record | Average Annual Rates with One Speeding Violation |
|---|---|---|
| USAA | $1,933.68 | $2,193.25 |
| Geico | $2,145.96 | $2,645.43 |
| American Family | $2,693.61 | $3,025.74 |
| Nationwide | $2,746.18 | $3,113.68 |
| State Farm | $2,821.18 | $3,186.01 |
| Progressive | $3,393.09 | $4,002.28 |
| Travelers | $3,447.69 | $4,260.80 |
| Farmers | $3,460.60 | $4,079.01 |
| Allstate | $3,819.90 | $4,483.51 |
| Liberty Mutual | $4,774.30 | $5,701.26 |
How much does insurance go up after a DUI? Here is another helpful table to break down these rate differences.
| Insurance Companies | Average Annual Rates with a Clean Driving Record | Average Annual Rates with One Accident | Average Annual Rates with One DUI | Average Annual Rates with One Speeding Violation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $3,819.90 | $4,987.68 | $6,260.73 | $4,483.51 |
| American Family | $2,693.61 | $3,722.75 | $4,330.24 | $3,025.74 |
| Farmers | $3,460.60 | $4,518.73 | $4,718.75 | $4,079.01 |
| Geico | $2,145.96 | $3,192.77 | $4,875.87 | $2,645.43 |
| Liberty Mutual | $4,774.30 | $6,204.78 | $7,613.48 | $5,701.26 |
| Nationwide | $2,746.18 | $3,396.95 | $4,543.20 | $3,113.68 |
| Progressive | $3,393.09 | $4,777.04 | $3,969.65 | $4,002.28 |
| State Farm | $2,821.18 | $3,396.01 | $3,636.80 | $3,186.01 |
| Travelers | $3,447.69 | $4,289.74 | $5,741.40 | $4,260.80 |
| USAA | $1,933.68 | $2,516.24 | $3,506.03 | $2,193.25 |
“Will my car insurance go up with one point?” Most likely not. The most serious ramifications would be losing your perfect driving record discount, should you have one. A single point on your record is not quite a big deal. One point on your record indicates something minor like a broken taillight, something that insurers don’t tend to take into consideration.
How Speeding Tickets Affect Car Insurance Rates in Each State
Auto insurance companies have different rates in each area in the United States. Because each state has a unique method of dealing with speeding tickets, you’ll get various car insurance rates. Let’s look at a comprehensive list of states and how auto insurance is affected by speeding ticket violations.
| States | 11 to 16 MPH Over Speeding Ticket Increase | Annual Auto Insurance Rate Increase | 16 to 29 MPH Over Speeding Ticket Increase | Annual Auto Insurance Rate Increase | 30 MPH Over Speeding Ticket Increase | Annual Auto Insurance Rate Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 19% | $239 | 19% | $239 | 19% | $239 |
| Alabama | 28% | $370 | 28% | $370 | 38% | $498 |
| Arkansas | 20% | $316 | 20% | $316 | 43% | $675 |
| Arizona | 25% | $346 | 27% | $374 | 27% | $374 |
| California | 34% | $605 | 34% | $605 | 34% | $605 |
| Colorado | 19% | $312 | 19% | $312 | 19% | $312 |
| Connecticut | 17% | $336 | 17% | $336 | 30% | $599 |
| Washington D.C. | 15% | $275 | 15% | $275 | 31% | $588 |
| Delaware | 18% | $325 | 21% | $391 | 50% | $918 |
| Florida | 27% | $602 | 31% | $692 | 46% | $1,043 |
| Georgia | 17% | $303 | 27% | $486 | 59% | $1,064 |
| Hawaii | 10% | $130 | 10% | $130 | 10% | $130 |
| Iowa | 17% | $185 | 19% | $200 | 19% | $200 |
| Idaho | 30% | $301 | 30% | $301 | 30% | $301 |
| Illinois | 20% | $236 | 20% | $236 | 20% | $236 |
| Indiana | 24% | $252 | 24% | $252 | 26% | $277 |
| Kansas | 16% | $224 | 16% | $224 | 16% | $224 |
| Kentucky | 15% | $246 | 30% | $478 | 53% | $852 |
| Louisiana | 21% | $462 | 21% | $462 | 21% | $462 |
| Massachusetts | 20% | $319 | 20% | $319 | 20% | $319 |
| Maryland | 18% | $273 | 18% | $273 | 18% | $273 |
| Maine | 15% | $136 | 19% | $165 | 19% | $165 |
| Michigan | 29% | $696 | 43% | $1,010 | 70% | $1,666 |
| Minnesota | 22% | $290 | 27% | $362 | 27% | $362 |
| Missouri | 10% | $125 | 11% | $136 | 11% | $136 |
| Mississippi | 29% | $442 | 29% | $442 | 44% | $657 |
| Montana | 8% | $126 | 12% | $195 | 12% | $195 |
| North Carolina | 50% | $583 | 50% | $583 | 50% | $583 |
| North Dakota | 21% | $237 | 21% | $237 | 21% | $237 |
| Nebraska | 28% | $363 | 28% | $363 | 28% | $363 |
| New Hampshire | 23% | $267 | 23% | $267 | 46% | $531 |
| New Jersey | 17% | $241 | 26% | $373 | 32% | $455 |
| New Mexico | 19% | $283 | 19% | $283 | 19% | $283 |
| Nevada | 20% | $316 | 21% | $339 | 29% | $460 |
| New York | 12% | $146 | 18% | $219 | 18% | $219 |
| Ohio | 21% | $200 | 27% | $262 | 38% | $361 |
| Oklahoma | 30% | $436 | 30% | $436 | 30% | $436 |
| Oregon | 20% | $263 | 20% | $263 | 29% | $378 |
| Pennsylvania | 9% | $134 | 9% | $134 | 9% | $134 |
| Rhode Island | 21% | $421 | 21% | $421 | 28% | $554 |
| South Carolina | 16% | $210 | 16% | $210 | 30% | $412 |
| South Dakota | 18% | $224 | 18% | $224 | 18% | $224 |
| Tennessee | 15% | $203 | 15% | $203 | 34% | $454 |
| Texas | 15% | $252 | 15% | $252 | 15% | $252 |
| Utah | 18% | $220 | 18% | $220 | 18% | $220 |
| Virginia | 20% | $198 | 20% | $198 | 31% | $305 |
| Vermont | 14% | $163 | 14% | $163 | 29% | $342 |
| Washington | 19% | $250 | 19% | $250 | 19% | $250 |
| Wisconsin | 16% | $179 | 25% | $283 | 25% | $283 |
| West Virginia | 15% | $220 | 19% | $277 | 47% | $689 |
| Wyoming | 28% | $443 | 28% | $443 | 28% | $443 |
Some states have massive percentage increases when you get a speeding ticket, while other states have a consistent percentage increase regardless of the speed you were going during the violation.
Consequences of Points on Your Record
Once you know how points are assigned, you must look at the time frame in which you received the points. Consequences vary based on how many points you received in a given time.
In California, some or all driving privileges may be revoked/suspended if you:
- Receive four points or more within 12 months
- Receive six points or more within 24 months
- Receive eight points or more within 36 months
However, the following violations may result in automatic suspension of your license:
- No insurance at the time of the accident
- A DUI conviction
- Drinking and driving while underage
- Missing court for a traffic ticket or other violation
- Refusing a drug or alcohol test
In California, the points system is more stringent. For example, your license will be suspended if you receive three points in 12 months and are restricted if you receive two points in 12 months. Does a suspended license affect insurance rates? How much will my car insurance go up with one point? The more points on your record, the more severe consequences you will receive.
How Long Insurance Points Stay on Your Record
Citing California DMV rules, points can remain on your driving record for as little as 39 months to as long as ten years:
- 1-point violations: 39 months.
- Car accidents: three years.
- Failure to appear in court for any traffic violation: 5 years.
- Failure to appear in court for a DUI: 10 years.
- DUI and hit-and-run: 10 years.
You want to avoid points as often as possible because they can inflate your premium for years. You may want to consider enrolling in a defensive driving course to keep points from being added to your record. This is generally an option if you haven’t completed a similar course in the past 18 months.
However, if you got a speeding ticket last year and took a class to keep the point off your record, you’ll be out of luck the second time around if it hasn’t been at least 18 months since you completed the course.
Either way, the DMV should send you a notice regarding your eligibility along with the deadline to complete the program, shortly after a violation takes place. Even a minor infraction can stay on your record for over three years. A severe infraction will most likely stay on your record for a decade.
The Long-Term Effects of Points on Your Driver’s License
If you don’t remove points on your license, it will stick to your driving record and increase your auto insurance rates. When car insurance providers pull your driving record, they immediately know you’re a high-risk driver based on the points on your license and your insurance record. Take care of any issues with points on your license to lower auto insurance rates and fix your driving record.
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How Insurance Increases After One Point
There is no universal amount that insurers charge per single point. You would have to consider your insurance rates before the attribution of the point to your record. The primary consequence would be removing certain discounts from your policy, such as the perfect driving record discount.
What was your starting rate before the accident? What was the violation? How old are/were you when the violation took place? What discounts were you receiving for being a good driver? Do you have ticket forgiveness or accident forgiveness? These are all factors that come into play when insurers charge money for points.
How are car insurance rates determined? Some variables play a part in calculating your coverage rate so the answer can be complicated. After all, it wouldn’t be fair to charge one driver the same amount as another for two completely different violations.
Someone with a history of points will likely be hit a lot harder than a first-time offender. Granted, if it’s your first time, there’s a good chance you can erase that point via a driving school class. It’s worth the agony, even if it is tedious.
How Age Affects Your Auto Insurance Rates
Is age a factor? In particular, how much does one point cost on car insurance for a 19-year-old? While no information is available on how much one point would affect a 19-year-old’s car insurance specifically, age is almost always a factor, as insurers take a driver’s experience into play.
Young drivers get hit especially hard because they, by default, have less experience behind the wheel. They’re not off to a great start with one point on their record, especially because insurers see them as at risk solely for being young. So should you be asking, “How much is car insurance for a 16-year-old?” It will most likely be expensive, even with a clean driving record.
You’re already considered “risky” enough as a teen driver. Adding a single speeding ticket or an accident to your record will further ensure that your rates are high. However, if you’re 50 or older, one point may only result in a slight surcharge on your insurance premium of 5 to 10%.
It is all dependent upon your record and ability to keep it clean. While there is no strictly set financial penalty for points, there are consequences.
How You Can Lower Your Insurance Costs
In addition to taking traffic school classes, you can lower your auto insurance rates by raising your deductible, dropping unneeded coverages, and asking about auto insurance discounts. Keep in mind that the first two options will result in higher out-of-pocket costs if you’re in an accident.
Most states have minimum requirements for auto insurance consisting of bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage, at least. That means you cannot drop your liability insurance, but you can opt out of carrying collision coverage and comprehensive coverage if you wish.
While you probably won’t be entitled to any safe driving discounts if you have points on your record, there are many other discounts available from most major insurers. These include the multi-vehicle discount, multi-policy discount, discounts for vehicle safety features, and good student discounts.
Make sure to ask your insurance provider if you’re eligible for any discounts that aren’t currently being applied to your auto insurance policy.
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How Much Car Insurance Goes Up with One Point: The Bottom Line
Your first point may only slightly increase your premium. However, if you start adding more points to your record, the extra premium could grow exponentially. As they pile up, it increases your chances of filing insurance claims, which will cost your insurer a fair amount of money. Get enough points, and you may even lose your license, depending on the state.
You may be surprised to find that your rate could be lower after one point if you switch insurance companies. If you are ready to buy car insurance, get a good start on finding the right insurer with car insurance one-point forgiveness by entering your ZIP code into our helpful tool below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the insurance increase for two points on a license?
There is no set extra financial amount that you pay per point, and it depends on the insurance company, but you could see your rates go up by 20%-30%.
How much will my insurance go up with one point?
You probably won’t pay anything extra for a minor infraction, but you could lose discounts provided by your insurer.
How much does insurance go up for four points?
You can expect your rates to rise by about 26% if you have four points on your record.
Is one point on your driving record bad?
If it’s a positive point, that’s a good thing. It means you went a year without an infraction. A negative point is bad but could certainly be worse.
How much does insurance go up after a speeding ticket for Geico?
You can expect your Geico rates to increase by about 20% or 30% if you receive a speeding ticket.
How much will my insurance go up if I have three points?
If you have three points, you can expect your premium to rise by 50% or more.
How much will your insurance go up with six points?
Your rates will increase by about 26% if you have six points on your record.
How long do points affect car insurance?
It is primarily related to the infraction and amount of points.
Is there a California DMV point system for violations?
Yes, there is a California DMV driving point system, and it assigns a value to each traffic ticket or accident.
How long do points affect car insurance?
It all depends on your state, but the bare minimum is a year.
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Joel Ohman
Founder, CFP®
Joel Ohman is the CEO of a private equity-backed digital media company. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, author, angel investor, and serial entrepreneur who loves creating new things, whether books or businesses. He has also previously served as the founder and resident CFP® of a national insurance agency, Real Time Health Quotes. He has an MBA from the University of South Florida. Joel...
Founder, CFP®
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about life insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything life insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by life insurance experts.