Anyone know if car insurance goes up if...

[Princesa 0]

Hi,

I recently got a silly ticket while driving through an un-known area. Many roads are under construction, so driving through a non-familiar area trying to find my way I missed a "no turn" sign and guess... yes, there was a police right there giving tickets. Eventhough I explained the situation, he gave it to me.

Now the options are:

pay $75 guilty apperaring in public records

pay $115 guilty, not published but need to take classes

go to court

Since "go to court" is not really an option, because the sign is there (I drove by the same area the next day just to make sure of it), I need to define what are the risks of paying the $75. I still think is too much for what I did, but $115 is bad, besides taking the time for the classes (4 hrs I guess)

Do you know if car insurance goes up? I feel silly calling the agent to ask this. ANy experience with ALLSTATE?

THis is my first ticket ever!

However, my husband is worried because early this year I had a small car accident but Allstate has something call "accident forgiveness" so the premiuns don't go up for that, they just don't give you the $100 discount in the co-payment if you have another one during the same year. There was no police involment or anything like that, but we did use the insurance.

Please your comments, we don't know what to do, and don't know if it is a good idea to call the insurance agent to ask (then they will know anyway, published or not)

Thank you very much!

[sarah and hicham 3]

When I got a ticket I paid the fine and did traffic school online and it was really easy. I would definitely reccomend just paying for it and doing traffic school- it's not even worth trying to go to court- you probably will not win against the police.

[Jenn! 918]

I don't think that calling your insurance agent could result in any consequences that you wouldn't be due for anyway. If the violation does not ultimately end up on your record, then your insurance company can not surcharge you for it. The rules on these things vary from state to state, so you'd do best ask your insurance specifically.

My husband has had two violations - one for speeding for which he appeared in court. He paid the fine, but they did not add points. He also had a turn violation, similar to yours, for which he did not go to court, paid the fine, and received two points, which did add a surcharge to our insurance.

Edited September 7, 2007 by Jenn!

[mawilson 2,133]

It might or it might not. No-one really knows for sure - the computer will decide.

[Queen Jenn 0]

I don't know what they do for tickets, but Allstate is all about profits for themselves (trust me, I work in a law office that deals with car insurnace companies). I would pay the $115 to have it not go on ANY public record.

I know it's not fair and it really sucks. But that's what I'd do. I WOULD NOT call Allstate.

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Why isn't "going to court" an option? You can always go to court no matter what! Plea innocent! When you are called back, speak to the prosecutor and tell them you will happily plea guilty to a lesser violation that does not not carry an insurance penalty. e.g., a equipment violation. The majority of the time, they will agree to your terms rather than add another trial case to the dockets. This has worked numerous times for friends and family I know.

[Queen Jenn 0]

True. And often times, the cop won't show up (at least that's the case in Utah) and you can get the case dismissed. It's worth a shot!!!!

[kim&james 0]

I should contact my husbands ex-wife. That silly ####### was unable to get insurance on her own.. It wasnt until June this year that the last of her accidents and tickets finally came off his insurance and we finally started getting decent rates again.

He had one speeding ticket in the last 3 years, we paid the $75 fine and it is on his record. It can affect your rates a little.

[*julez* 124]

Go to court. You'll likely still have to pay the same fine and attend traffic school, but if you do those things they'll often reduce the ticket to a parking violation, which carries no points.

As for your insurance, it depends on the company - my Dad is a State farm agent and my unsurance is with him. I got a ticket for a stop sign 2 years ago and my insurance was not effected, despite the 2 points on my license. According to my Dad, the only way the company fids out about this stuff is if they run you lic # through the system, which in the case of State Farm, they typically don't do.

[Jasman0717 9]

Usually moving violations will have an affect on insurance. Does your state have traffic school? This is offered in some states. You still pay the fine and the cost of the school but the violation isn't reported if you completed the school.

[Fandango 1,439]

I have State Farm, and years ago when my ex was adding me to his ins (not SF), they found that my lic was suspended!

Apparantly some yahoo filed all of someone else's tickets under my name. So technically, I was drivin on a sus lic for like 2 years or so.

I had just rec a 'safe driver' discount from SF not too long before I found out

[rebeccajo 14]

Before you jump on that 'traffic school' thing, you might want to inquire as to how many times you can attend.

I can't recall whether it is WV law or a policy of insurance carriers, but here you may only attend one time and have points dropped from your license.

Different violations carry different points and your point total determines whether or not you will experience an insurance surcharge, what the percentage of the surcharge will be, and how long it will remain on your policy. I've never attended traffic school for the minor violations I have incurred. If I got a four-pointer I would.

Your local DMV may be able to tell you which violations carry which points.

As a general rule, your policy will not experience a high and long surcharge unless the carrier pays a claim - or if your start to rack up a lot of points on your license.

[Jasman0717 9]

Before you jump on that 'traffic school' thing, you might want to inquire as to how many times you can attend.

I can't recall whether it is WV law or a policy of insurance carriers, but here you may only attend one time and have points dropped from your license.

Different violations carry different points and your point total determines whether or not you will experience an insurance surcharge, what the percentage of the surcharge will be, and how long it will remain on your policy. I've never attended traffic school for the minor violations I have incurred. If I got a four-pointer I would.

Your local DMV may be able to tell you which violations carry which points.

As a general rule, your policy will not experience a high and long surcharge unless the carrier pays a claim - or if your start to rack up a lot of points on your license.

Goo point. In California I think you can only go once very couple of years

[William33 110]

As others have suggested, go to court. Often times the Police Officer will not show up, resulting in a dismissed case. If the Officer is there, plead innocent and go on about the unfamiliar area, missing the sign and so forth.

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.