How a Speeding Ticket Impacts Your Insurance in Tennessee

Having a speeding ticket on your record makes you a high-risk driver, so insurance companies will charge you more for the exact same coverage as someone with a clean driving record. That said, there are still ways to keep rates as low as possible.

Take a Traffic School Course

By taking a four-hour traffic school course within 90 days of your speeding conviction, you can get five points removed from your driving record once every four years. Find a course at https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/safety/documents/Court_Ordered_Traffic_Schools.pdf.

Once you’ve completed the course, send the certificate of completion to the state.

• Mail:
  • Financial Responsibility Section
  • P.O. Box 945
  • Nashville, TN 37202-0945
• Fax: 615-242-3480
• Phone: 866-903-7357

Get Minimum Coverage

Tennessee requires liability coverage in the following amounts:

• Bodily injury liability per person: $25,000
• Bodily injury liability per accident: $50,000
• Property damage liability per accident: $25,000

Getting minimum coverage will result in the lowest premium. But keep in mind this coverage applies only to parties outside of your car. You’d still be responsible for your and your passengers’ injuries and property damage out of pocket.

Improve Your Credit Score

Insurance companies in Tennessee charge higher premiums to those with bad credit, so improving your credit score will lower your rates. Try to pay bills on time, limit the number of credit cards you apply for, and pay off any existing debt.

Ask for Discounts

Insurance discounts vary by company, so ask your agent which ones you qualify for. We’ve seen discounts for the following:

• Bundling home and auto insurance policies
• Having multiple vehicles on a single policy
• Having a student away from home
• Installing an anti-theft device in your car
• Taking a driver training course

Raise Your Deductible

If you have comprehensive and collision coverage, one way to save money is to raise your insurance deductible, the amount you pay before your coverage kicks in.

If your speeding offense occurred on a state road, you’ll be at the mercy of the state, while the municipality will handle violations that occurred on local roads.

State Charges

For violations on state roads, mainly highways, the offense is either a Class B or a Class C misdemeanor.²

Once you receive a speeding ticket, you can either plead guilty and pay it or plead not guilty.

Guilty

If you believe you were guilty of the violation, pay the fine. The ticket should have information on exactly how to pay it, whether online, in person, or through the mail.

Not Guilty

If you plead not guilty, you’ll be given a court date, on which a judge will review the documentation and ask the issuing officer to testify against you. From there, the judge will make a ruling. If you’re found guilty, you’ll have to pay all fines and costs, plus a litigation tax.⁶

Of course, speeding isn’t the only violation that can affect auto insurance in Tennessee. Avoid these violations every time you’re behind the wheel:

• Careless or negligent driving
• Failing to obey traffic instructions
• Failure to report a crash
• Following improperly
• Improper backing, starting, etc.
• Improper lane or location
• Improper passing
• Reckless driving
• Texting while driving (i.e., distracted driving)
• Driving wrong way, side, or direction

While speeding itself doesn’t result in a license suspension unless you amass 12 or more points on your record within a year, it’s still best to follow posted speed limits to avoid financial penalties and higher car insurance costs — and, of course, to prevent damages, injuries, and deaths. If you’re looking for insurance after getting a speeding ticket, a great place to start is with our roundup of the best auto insurance companies in Tennessee. Comparing quotes from different providers will make sure you get the lowest auto insurance rates, even as speeding tickets bump up your costs.