How a Speeding Ticket Impacts Insurance in Massachusetts

Expect rates for car insurance in Massachusetts to increase by 31 percent after a speeding ticket. Given that the cost of auto insurance in Massachusetts was $1,170 in 2020, the last time the National Association of Insurance Commissioners released data, with a speeding ticket, rates could be around $1,533, about $485 more than the national average of $1,047.¹ See below for average rates from specific companies.

So, how does one find cheap car insurance in Massachusetts after a speeding ticket? While a speeding ticket will increase your car insurance rates inevitably, here are some ways to keep your rates as low as you can:

1. Get minimum coverage. Massachusetts’ minimum coverage may be extensive, but it’ll still be the cheaper option compared to full coverage. Minimum coverage includes:
   • Bodily injury liability coverage: $20,000 per person, $40,000 per accident
   • Property damage liability coverage: $5,000 per accident
   • Personal injury protection (PIP): $8,000 per person, $8,000 per accident
   • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $20,000 per person, $40,000 per accident
2. Bundle your policies. Unfortunately, Massachusetts has the sixth-lowest rate of homeownership in the U.S., just 63 percent of the population.² Still, if you fall into that majority, bundling home and auto insurance could save you money on both policies. For everyone else, check if your provider offers discounts for bundling auto with renters or life insurance, among other types of policies.
3. Drive less. On the flip side, Massachusetts has the third-lowest percentage of motor vehicle commuters of any state in the U.S., with only 66 percent of the population. Seventeen percent take public transportation, 20 percent work from home, and 8 percent either walk, bike, or take other means. If you aren’t a car commuter or you have a short commute, consider pay-per-mile insurance, which will reward you for having low annual mileage. Allstate’s Milewise, for instance, could cost only $2.22 per day with a 12-mile-per-day average.³
4. Take a defensive driving course. Some insurance companies offer discounts if you take a defensive driving course.

A speeding ticket will cost you a fine of $100 to $300, a $50 surcharge, and, for the third and subsequent offenses, a license revocation. For teen drivers with a learner’s permit or junior license, their license will be suspended for the first offense onwards, and they’ll have to pay a $500 reinstatement fee to start driving again after receiving a speeding ticket.⁴

You have two main options after a speeding ticket: Pay it or appeal it and request a hearing.

Pay the Ticket

You have 20 days to respond after receiving your ticket. If you believe you received the ticket correctly, you can pay it in one of three ways:

• Online:
  https://atlas-myrmv.massdot.state.ma.us/myrmv/?Link=PayCitationOrHearingFee
• Mail: Send a check or money order payable to MassDOT that includes your traffic ticket and driver’s license numbers to the following address:
  • Citation Processing Center
  • P.O. Box 55890
  • Boston, Massachusetts 02205
• Phone: 
  • Area codes 339, 617, 781, and 857, or outside Massachusetts: 857-368-8000
  • All other area codes in Massachusetts: 800-858-3926
  • Deaf or hard of hearing in Massachusetts (TTY): 877-768-8833

Brush up on Massachusetts laws to avoid more insurance rate increases and other penalties due to traffic violations. Here are some examples:

Major Traffic Violations

• Reckless driving
• Leaving the scene of an accident after injuring a person or causing property damage, also known as a hit-and-run
• Vehicular homicide
• Manslaughter
• Making a right turn at a red light where it’s not allowed

Minor Traffic Violations

• Backing and U-turns prohibited
• Cutting in after passing
• Careless operation in a construction zone
• Failure to give proper stopping or turning signals⁵

For more information on speeding in Massachusetts, including how long a speeding ticket stays on your record, keep reading our frequently asked questions below. While speeding may not lead to imprisonment in this state, it’s still best to follow the speed limit, avoid a traffic violation, and keep your insurance rates low. Especially because car insurance companies in Massachusetts are banned from taking into account credit score when determining rates, they set rates based on your driving history and moving violations, making following traffic law that much more important.