How a Speeding Ticket Impacts Your Insurance in Minnesota

Getting a speeding ticket can impact your car insurance and ability to drive in Minnesota in several ways. Consequences may include premium increases, penalties, losing your license, or even going to jail.

Premium increases

You can expect your premium to increase in Minnesota after a speeding ticket. The percentage of your increase will depend on your provider and the severity of the speeding ticket. On average, a speeding ticket increases the cost of car insurance by 16 percent in Minnesota.

How multiple speeding tickets increase premiums

As you might expect, multiple speeding tickets will lead to a greater increase in car insurance premiums. Insurers increase car insurance rates for drivers with multiple violations because the more likely you are to speed, the more likely you are to get into an accident and file a claim.

How long does it stay on your record?

In Minnesota, a speeding ticket usually stays on your record for at least five years. Serious speeding violations can stay on your record for 10 years.

There are a few ways to lower the cost of your auto insurance after a speeding ticket in Minnesota. First and foremost, you want to ensure that you get your speeding ticket off your record as quickly as possible. While five years is the minimum in most cases, it can stay on your record longer depending on the severity of your ticket and whether or not you’re caught speeding again.

One way to ensure a speeding ticket is removed from your record as soon as possible is to avoid any subsequent violations. If you visit the Minnesota DMV website, you can request a digital copy of your driving record to see what convictions are still on your record.³

Here are some other ways to keep your car insurance costs as low as possible after a speeding ticket:

• Consider enrolling in a telematics program. Most insurance companies offer telematics discount programs, which track your driving habits and reward you with a discount for safe driving. If you’re committed to driving safely, even if you already have a violation on your record, you can save a significant amount by participating in these programs — usually up to around 25 to 30 percent.
• Shop around. While you can expect your insurance rates to increase following a speeding ticket (as long as it’s recorded on your record), not all insurers will increase rates by the same amount, and other factors will be weighed as well. If your insurer increases your rate more than you’d like, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from several other companies to see if they can offer you a better rate.
• Increase your deductibles. If you have comprehensive and collision coverage, increasing your deductibles will result in a lower monthly premium. Keep in mind that if you do get into an accident, you’ll be expected to pay the full deductible before your coverage kicks in.
• Ask about discounts. Most providers offer car insurance discounts for bundling, taking safety courses, driving safely, installing safety equipment, and more. Ask an agent about what auto insurance discounts you’re eligible for, as there may be some that aren’t yet applied to your policy.

Most speeding tickets in Minnesota are considered petty misdemeanors, with a base fine of about $40 to $150 and no prison sentence. However, a speeding violation can be charged as a misdemeanor with the potential for jail time if you endanger people and/or property. Additionally, you may be required to pay a surcharge of $75 on top of your base fine.

Here’s a full breakdown of the cost of a speeding ticket in Minnesota:

If you are caught speeding by a speed safety camera, your fine will be $40 if you were between one and 19 mph over the speed limit, and $80 if you were 20 or more mph over the speed limit.

Unless your speeding ticket endangered other persons or property, you won’t be convicted of a misdemeanor or face jail time. However, you could face other penalties or more severe fines for speeding in Minnesota.

• If you speed in a work zone, the fine is $300. Also, the base fine for each of the above fees will double if the violation:
  • Occurs in a school zone
  • Involves speeds of 20 mph or more over the limit.
  • Occurs while you’re passing a parked emergency vehicle with emergency lights on
• If you drive over 100 mph, your license will be revoked for at least six months.
• Repeated speeding violations within a 12- to 24-month period may result in a license suspension.

There are two main ways to handle a speeding ticket in Minnesota: You can either plead guilty and pay the fine, or you can contest the violation.

Pay the citation. If you pay the citation, you are essentially pleading guilty and will end up with a conviction on your record (unless your speed did not exceed 10 mph over the speed limit in a 55 mph zone or 5 mph over the limit in a 60 mph zone). You can pay online, in person, via mail, or through a court payment plan.

Contest the ticket. If you don’t agree with the citation, you have the option to contest the ticket. The rules and procedures for contesting a ticket differ from county to county, so you should get in touch with the same county court where the officer issued your ticket.

There are plenty of financial and insurance-related reasons not to speed in Minnesota, but the most important is your safety and the safety of those around you. Even if no one gets hurt, you could face a fine of more than $300 and a license suspension. On top of that, speeding violations stay on your record for at least five years in Minnesota, which is longer than most states (one to three years).