How a Speeding Ticket Impacts Your Insurance in Illinois

Increased Premiums

In Illinois, a speeding ticket will increase your insurance rates by an average of 20 percent. Travelers and State Farm have the cheapest rates in Illinois overall after a speeding ticket. While GEICO’s rates with a clean record are higher, it tends to be more forgiving after a ticket, with a modest 7 percent average increase (the same as State Farm’s). Erie’s average increase is also lower, at 11 percent.

While you won’t be able to get rates as low as they were before your speeding violations, you can lower your car insurance costs in five ways:

1. Work with cheaper companies: Insurers like Travelers, State Farm, and Country Financial have the lowest post-speeding-ticket rates. Get a quote in your ZIP code to see how much these providers will charge you after getting a speeding ticket.
2. Get minimum coverage: By getting the lowest amount of insurance legally allowed, you’ll have the lowest premiums. The state of Illinois requires only liability insurance as follows:
   • Bodily injury coverage per person: $25,000
   • Bodily injury coverage per accident: $50,000
   • Property damage per accident: $20,000³

   However, if you financed or leased your vehicle, your lender will likely require you to carry full coverage, which is more expensive. Also note that minimum coverage does not offer the same degree of financial protection after an accident. If you get into a crash with someone who drives an expensive vehicle, or who sustains serious injuries, you could be on the hook for the damages not covered by your insurance policy.

3. Lower your limits: If you don’t want minimum coverage but still want to save money, lowering your limits will do the trick.
4. Raise your deductible: As long as you can afford to pay it if need be, raising your deductible on comprehensive and collision coverage will lower your premiums.
5. Get discounts: Ask your insurance agent what discounts you’re eligible for. For example, you may be able to save money thanks to your car’s built-in features, such as airbags, antitheft devices and passive restraints. There are also good driver discounts, and discounts for taking a defensive driving course.

While a speeding ticket will certainly affect your insurance rate, there are still ways to get your costs as low as possible.

Aside from the inflated car insurance premiums you’ll pay due to a speeding ticket, the state of Illinois will charge you fines for petty infractions. You may also have to deal with points, bail and possible imprisonment with Class A or Class B misdemeanors.

Most speeding ticket violators will fall into the infraction category, which doesn’t require a mandatory court appearance or jail time.⁴ If you have three or more offenses within a year or if you’re under 21, two or more offenses within two years, your license will be revoked. Fines are separate from bail, which kicks in even if you’re only one mile per hour over the posted speed limit.⁵

There are three main paths you can take if you get a speeding ticket.⁷

1. Pay the fine: The easiest course of action is to plead guilty and pay the fine, which you can do online. The conviction will be on your driving record, but you won’t have to appear in court, do any additional paperwork or take a driver training course.
2. Plead guilty and request an order for supervision: If you want to avoid having the conviction on your record, you can plead guilty and go to traffic school.
3. Plead not guilty and request a trial: Pleading not guilty or being charged with a misdemeanor instead of an infraction will require you to appear in court for a trial. Be sure to dress nicely, arrive on time and enter your plea in front of the judge. You can either agree to a plea bargain with the prosecutor or go to trial — either a bench trial (in front of the judge only) or a trial by jury if you request it.
   
   For the judge to declare you guilty, the prosecution must have proof against you. If you are convicted, you will have to pay the original fines,court costs, and attend traffic school. For more serious violations, you may be put on probation, go to jail, or perform community service. The conviction will be on your record regardless.⁸

Speeding isn’t the only traffic violation that will cause insurance rates to rise. Avoid other moving and non-moving violations, which can occur when your vehicle is in motion or parked.

Moving

• Not stopping at a red light
• Doing a hit-and-run
• Not yielding to a railroad crossing
• Not adhering to pedestrian right of way
• Improper passing

Nonmoving

• Parking
• Improper equipment
• Missing license
• Late registration

If you’re caught speeding over the limit in Illinois, you could face points on your record and increased premiums. Plus, the violation will stay on your record for at least four years. Travelers, State Farm, and Country Financial are a few of our top picks in Illinois after a speeding ticket.