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Q: I got a slow speeding ticket, it is only 5 mph over the limit. Is it worth fighting?
A: It is a slow speeding ticket, but one that still gets reported to your driving record and can affect your insurance. I cannot say exactly by how much the increase would be because it would depend on the underwriting policies of your insurance company, but it would not be too bad if it did. Infractions go on your driving record for 5 years, but insurance companies can only look back 3 years. The average increase from a Forbes study is 10-15% on a simple speeding ticket. Theoretically if you get that increase, it would still be more in the long run than the attorney fee + potential fines (if applicable).
That is why we price the service the way we do. Your insurance agent, if honest, would tell you the same thing. They cannot defintively predict the increase because it goes to underwriting and not realized until the policy is up for renewal. All they can say is your insurance may or may not increase because it is your first speeding ticket that is not too fast. You would be paying for the peace of mind that you would never get a rate increase and that you would at least save the safe driver discount that you probably are already receiving. If your rates are supposed to go down next time based on number of years of safe driving, you would ensure that too by not getting a ticket. It is also easier to switch insurance companies and get a lower rate quote with a clean driving record than one with a ticket currently.
