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A speeding ticket in Florida is more than an inconvenience. It goes on your driving record, adds points to your Florida license, and has a direct impact on your auto insurance premium. How much your rate increases and for how long depends on the speed, your driving history, and your insurance carrier. This article walks through exactly what happens to your auto insurance after a speeding ticket in Florida and what options you have to manage the impact.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles uses a point system to track driving violations. Points are added to your license for moving violations including speeding. The number of points assigned depends on the severity of the violation:
Points remain on your Florida record for at least three years. If you accumulate 12 or more points within 12 months, your license will be suspended for 30 days. Reaching 18 points in 18 months results in a 3-month suspension, and 24 points in 36 months results in a 1-year suspension.
Insurance companies review your Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) when you apply for a new policy and at each renewal. A speeding ticket signals to insurers that you are a higher risk driver, which is reflected in your premium.
The impact depends on several factors:
A single minor speeding ticket typically increases Florida auto insurance premiums by 10 to 20 percent at renewal. A major speeding violation — such as traveling more than 30 mph over the limit — can increase premiums by 30 to 50 percent or more. Some carriers apply the surcharge immediately on the next renewal while others apply it on the anniversary of the violation.
Most insurers do not increase your rate mid-term. The surcharge typically appears at your next policy renewal. However, once the violation appears on your MVR, all future insurers will see it until it ages off your record.
In Florida, most insurers look back three to five years on your driving record when calculating rates. A speeding ticket that occurred more than three years ago will have less or no impact on your premium depending on your carrier’s specific guidelines. The point on your Florida DMV record also drops off after three years for most violations.
There are several steps Florida drivers can take to minimize the insurance impact of a speeding ticket:
Florida allows drivers to elect traffic school once every 12 months to withhold a non-criminal traffic citation from their public driving record. Completing a state-approved basic driver improvement course keeps the points off your DMV record, which means your insurer may not see the violation. This is one of the most effective ways to prevent a rate increase. Note that electing traffic school waives your right to contest the ticket.
Different insurance carriers treat speeding tickets differently. Some apply a larger surcharge than others for the same violation. If your current insurer raises your rate significantly after a ticket, it is worth comparing quotes from other carriers. Working with an independent agency like SunKey Insurance means we shop the market on your behalf across multiple insurers to find the most competitive rate for your current driving profile.
Raising your collision or comprehensive deductible is a way to offset a premium increase caused by a speeding ticket. A higher deductible means lower monthly premiums. This approach works best if you have an emergency fund that could cover the higher deductible in the event of a claim.
The most reliable way to return to standard insurance rates is to avoid any additional violations for three to five years. Each renewal without a new incident strengthens your profile, and once the ticket ages off your record, your rate should normalize.
Multiple speeding tickets within a three to five year window will result in more significant premium increases and may cause some standard carriers to non-renew your policy. In this situation, you may need to be placed with a non-standard or specialty carrier. SunKey Insurance works with carriers who specifically accommodate drivers with multiple violations and can help you maintain continuous coverage.
To review your current coverage or compare rates after a speeding ticket, contact SunKey Insurance Group at 877-786-5391 or visit sunkeyinsurance.com.
