How much does motorcycle insurance increase with a speeding ticket?

Getting a speeding ticket can cause more than a temporary dent in your pocket book. The fine that you pay for the violation can be steep, but the consequences to your insurance could be just as steep should you not follow the speed limit. Your insurer can increase your rate with a speeding ticket as well.

How much your motorcycle insurance increase depends on the type of speeding violation and how many violations you already have on your record. Some people may see an increase of as much as $50 per month, and that increase can last for a few years.

Do speeding tickets affect motorcycle insurance premiums?

If you receive only a warning, your insurance company won’t increase your rate. However, if you are actually issued a speeding ticket, it will be reflected on your driving record, which can be reviewed by your insurance company. Some states have a point system, so a speeding ticket will garner you a certain amount of points on your driving record. ( For more information, read our “How many points can you get on your license?“).

States that have a point system basically charge you a certain amount of points for a certain violation. For example, speeding up to 10 miles over the limit may cost you two points on your record. If you accumulate too many points, then you can risk having your driving privileges suspended or revoked. The same holds true for a state that does not issue points. Instead, the traffic violations are recorded on your record.

If you get a speeding ticket then you will have to pay for the ticket as well as the court costs if you try to fight the ticket and lose. You will also receive points against your driver’s license, which can eventually lead to your license being taken away. If you need to have your driver’s license reinstated then there will be an additional cost for that.

Furthermore, if a speeding ticket goes on your record then there is a good chance that your motorcycle insurance will go up as well. If and how much your auto insurance rates will increase will depend on how fast you were speeding and how many moving violations you have on your driving record. A single minor violation may not have any impact, but if you have numerous high speed tickets then you risk not only an increase in your premium as being labeled a high risk driver, but you could lose your motorcycle insurance altogether.

Will defensive driving courses reduce motorcycle insurance premiums?

There is a way of keeping speeding tickets off of your record and therefore reducing the risk of raising your insurance premiums. You can take defensive driving courses, which can help mitigate the severity of getting a speeding ticket.

However, taking a defensive driving course only works for the first few traffic tickets, so it is important not to get so many tickets that your driving record cannot stay clean. Keeping your insurance rates low means trying to maintain a good record.

Depending on your speeding ticket, you may be given the option of attending a defensive driving course in order to keep the ticket off of your record. In this situation you will still have to pay for the speeding violation and possible court costs. You will also have to pay for the defensive driving course, which could cost about $100. However, you will be able to keep your driving record clean which can keep your insurance from going up.

Additionally, taking a defensive driving course can lower your motorcycle insurance premiums. Many insurance companies will give you a discount for attending defensive driving courses and other road safety classes, so not only might this method keep your insurance from getting raised, but it could actually reduce it.

Are you able to avoid getting a motorcycle speeding ticket?

There are no fool proof ways of getting out of motorcycle speeding tickets. If you truly need to get out of a speeding ticket then your best defense is probably to hire a lawyer who specializes in moving violations. The lawyer will be expensive, but if you have a reason you need to go this route then the cost is probably worth it. However, even a lawyer cannot guarantee getting you out of a speeding ticket.

As with most scenarios, the best way to get out of something is to simply avoid getting it in the first place. Follow all of the rules of the road and then you will not have to worry about your motorcycle insurance increasing with speeding tickets. You will also be able to keep your driving record clean, avoid fines, fees, and the risk of losing your driver’s license.

Case Studies: Motorcycle Insurance Premiums and Speeding Tickets

Case Study 1: John’s Experience

John is an experienced motorcycle rider who received a speeding ticket for exceeding the speed limit by 20 mph. Prior to the ticket, John’s annual motorcycle insurance premium was $500. After the incident, his insurance provider increased his premium by 15%. As a result, his new premium amount became $575 per year.

Case Study 2: Sarah’s Situation

Sarah, a new motorcycle rider, was pulled over and ticketed for going 10 mph over the speed limit. Before the speeding ticket, Sarah’s motorcycle insurance premium was $800 annually. Following the violation, her insurance company raised her premium by 20%. Consequently, her new premium amounted to $960 per year.

Case Study 3: Michael’s Scenario

Michael, an experienced rider with a clean driving record, received a speeding ticket for exceeding the speed limit by 5 mph. His original motorcycle insurance premium was $700 per year. Following the ticket, his insurance provider increased his premium by 10%. Thus, his new premium became $770 annually.

Case Study 4: Lisa’s Example

Lisa, a long-time motorcycle rider, received a speeding ticket for going 15 mph over the speed limit. Prior to the violation, her motorcycle insurance premium was $600 per year. Her insurance company raised her premium by 25% after the incident, resulting in a new premium of $750 annually.

What’s the bottom line?

Motorcycle insurance is a necessary expense, but it is not necessary to have your premiums increased because of careless driving. Even though it depends on the type of violation, the average increase is still going to be more than what you were originally paying, so it’s better to be safe rather than sorry. Keep your driving history clean, and avoid speeding tickets to keep your premiums low. If necessary, take a defensive driving course and if your motorcycle insurance is too high, shop around for a new insurance policy.