How a Speeding Ticket Impacts Your Insurance in Ohio

On average, premiums for car insurance in Ohio increase by 21 percent after a speeding ticket.

Expect higher auto insurance rates the more miles per hour (mph) over the speed limit you were driving or if you have multiple points on your driver’s license. Car insurance companies determine rates based on your driving history, among other factors, so as long as speeding tickets stay on your driving record, as well as any moving violation, expect to pay more for insurance.

With a speeding ticket on your record, insurance companies will designate you a high-risk driver. As a result, they’ll charge you higher rates than someone with a clean driving record. However, you can keep costs as low as possible in a few ways.

Get Minimum Coverage

Minimum coverage is always the cheapest car insurance option, and in Ohio, that means getting liability coverage only with the following limits.

• $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 per accident
• $25,000 in property damage liability coverage per accident¹

But remember that liability coverage covers only parties outside of your car. In other words, if you cause an accident, you’ll have to pay for your own property damages and the injuries of you and your passengers out of pocket. Skimping on coverage now could mean higher costs later on, which is why we recommend getting full-coverage car insurance, even though it costs more than minimum coverage.

Raise Your Deductible

If you have collision and comprehensive coverage, raising your deductible will make your rates lower. However, don’t make the deductible too high. If you can’t actually afford to pay it, the coverage becomes obsolete, as your insurance company requires you to pay the deductible before your coverage will kick in.

The cost of your speeding ticket will depend on the municipality in which you receive it. Here are the costs of a speeding ticket in three municipalities in Ohio: Harrison,² Lebanon,³ and Montgomery.⁴

Here’s what to do if you’re caught speeding in Ohio.

Enter Your Plea

After getting a speeding ticket, you have three options when it comes to your plea:

• Guilty: Guilty means you have committed the offense and will pay your ticket before it’s due.
• Not guilty: Not guilty means you will go to trial and the city must prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Choose this plea if you believe you were not breaking the speed limit and are disputing the facts in the case. After your initial court appearance, your case will be set for one to three weeks later.
• No contest: No content isn’t an admission of guilt, but it means you are agreeing with the facts of the case. The court will determine your guilt or innocence based on these facts. Note that in almost every instance of a no-contest plea, the result is a guilty finding. However, you have the chance to add any facts to the record that you feel explain your circumstances or should lessen your sentence.

Take a Driving Course

In certain cities, like Columbus, you can take a defensive driving course and have the speeding ticket removed from your record completely so it won’t increase your insurance premium. You’ll have to pay only the court costs, and your driving record will remain points-free.⁵

Pay the Fine

If you’re entering a guilty plea, pay your fine either online at https://www.ohioticketpayments.com/ or in person at your local police department or BMV (Bureau of Motor Vehicles) location.

Appeal the Fine

If you were required to pay the fine after a guilty verdict, you can appeal to your county’s municipal court. Before you pay the fine, let the court’s clerk know and consult an attorney.

Any traffic violation on your record will result in a higher car insurance premium, as a bad driving record makes you a high-risk driver in the eyes of insurers. Aside from speeding, avoid committing other traffic violations, such as:

• Distracted driving
• Driving under the influence
• Driving without insurance
• Expired license or registration
• Failure to stop for a school bus or yield to an emergency vehicle
• Fake registration
• Following too closely
• Hit-and-run
• Littering from a car
• Open container of alcohol
• Parking violation
• Reckless operation

Speeding may seem like an easy and harmless way to get places faster. However, not only is speeding dangerous, but it can also raise your car insurance rates for years to come, and you might face legal penalties as well. Keep reading about the consequences of speeding in Ohio in our frequently asked questions below.