How a Speeding Ticket Impacts Your Insurance in Louisiana

Speeding tickets raise rates for car insurance in Louisiana by 101 percent on average, so premiums more than double. However, the exact increase will vary based on a variety of factors, including your age, sex, insurance provider and the rest of your driving history.

By Age and Sex

Middle-aged drivers will see higher increases compared to teen drivers, who already pay exorbitant prices for car insurance due to their lack of driving experience. Comparing insurance rates by sex, men have higher rates in general, along with slightly higher increases following speeding tickets.

By Company

In terms of insurance companies, we saw the lowest post-speeding ticket rate increase from the Louisiana Farm Bureau and the highest from AAA. But take these averages with a grain of salt, as they’re for the entire population of Louisiana.

Is it possible to get cheap car insurance in Louisiana after a speeding ticket? With a little time and effort, the answer is yes:

1. Use telematics: Enrolling in a usage-based program, also known as telematics, can get you lower rates so long as you drive safely and with fewer miles.
2. Raise your deductible: Increase the size of your deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage to see lower rates.
3. Lower your limits: You can also lower your limits on any coverages but keep in mind that means less of a payout when you have a claim.
4. Drop unnecessary coverages: Cut coverages you don’t need, such as rental car coverage or collision coverage on an older car.
5. Get discounts: Ask your agents which discounts apply to you and your family. For example, if you have a college student with good grades on your insurance, you may be able to save on the costs.
6. Buy minimum coverage: Minimum car insurance in Louisiana includes liability coverage only: $15,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage coverage.¹

The cost of speeding tickets in Louisiana varies by city. Below, we’ve gathered data from New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Natchitoches.³⁴

While the exact process of what to do after a speeding ticket will vary by city, generally, you should follow one of these steps:

1. Pay the ticket: Typically, you’ll have multiple options for paying your ticket, including online, by mail, phone or in person. The payment is due on the appearance date listed on the ticket. If you don’t pay by this date, you will face a license suspension, more court fees and penalties and even a warrant for your arrest.
2. Contest the ticket: If you wish to plead not guilty, you can request a trial date on or before your appearance date.⁵ From there, you’ll have to appear in court to contest your ticket in person.

Speeding tickets aren’t the only type of traffic violation that will affect the cost of your car insurance. See below for more violations in Baton Rouge and throughout the state of Louisiana:

• Careless driving
• Disobeying a police officer
• Expired driver’s license, inspection sticker, insurance or license plate
• Failure to change the address on driver’s license, maintain control, signal or yield
• Following emergency vehicles or following the car in front of you too closely
• Headlights required/failure to dim
• Improper backing, equipment, lane usage, passing on the right or left or turns
• Motorcyclist and unsafe operation
• No driver’s license on person, insurance or proof of insurance
• Permitting an unlicensed person to drive
• Registration violation
• Unnecessary noise/loud music
• Violating traffic signals or signals⁶

Speeding may not seem like a big deal, but in 2021, 27 percent of fatal motor vehicle crashes in Louisiana involved speeding, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For drivers ages 15 to 20, that percentage was even higher, 38 percent, demonstrating that teen speeding is a prevalent problem in the state. When you’re driving, follow the speed limits, maintain distance between your car and the car in front of you and scan your surroundings constantly — all essential tenets of defensive driving.

Get an insurance quote from multiple companies after your moving violation to see how much coverage will cost following a speeding ticket. While a speeding ticket increases car insurance rates, a safe ZIP code may help keep your rates low. But whatever you do, don’t raise your car insurance rates even more by speeding again.