How many points on your license is a speeding ticket?

Driving requires a lot of focus on your environment. Avoiding other cars, driving with the flow of traffic, making sure you are on the right route, and following all the different traffic rules takes a lot of concentration.

All it takes is a few seconds for your attention to wander away for your speed to get up a little too high. Depending on how fast you are going (and your luck), you might find yourself on the receiving end of a speeding ticket.

Speeding tickets are frustrations we could all live without, but nearly everyone gets one at some point. A typical speeding ticket usually comes with a fine, though criminal speeding can land you in jail.

If you live in a state that utilizes a point system, you’ll probably have a point (or more) added to your license. If you accumulate too many points, you risk losing your license.

Need another reason to avoid speeding tickets? A single citation for speeding can increase your car insurance rates for years.

If your driving record is not perfect and you are wondering how many points is a speeding ticket worth, comparing rates from as many companies as possible can help you save money. Read on to learn about speeding tickets, then shop insurance companies to find the best prices.

How many points for a speeding ticket?

Most states use a point system to track traffic violations. Each traffic violation comes with a pre-assigned point value. For example, driving with a suspended license in Arizona will earn you two points. In Vermont, the same crime earns you 10.

If you accumulate too many points within a specific period, your license might be suspended.

So, how many points can you get on your license for speeding? It depends on your state and how fast you were going. While you will be judged on an individual basis, you can compare minor traffic violations with major ones in the graph below.

The most important difference between minor and major violations for speeding tickets is usually defined by how fast you were going. For example, a minor speeding ticket in Alabama carries two points, while extreme speeding will get you five.

What is criminal speeding?

Each state defines criminal speeding differently, but the premise is the same. Regular speeding is going a few miles over the posted speed limit. Criminal speeding crosses the line from a little too fast to reckless driving.

Some states consider any speeding violation a criminal offense no matter what. Alabama does not have a criminal speeding charge, but you can have reckless driving charges added to your record.

Other states have a hard definition for criminal speeding. Arizona defines criminal speeding as anything 20 miles over the posted speed limit.

Whatever your state law says, criminal speeding comes with harsher penalties and more points. Some states will automatically suspend your license for criminal speeding, as well as impose stiff fines.

26% of all traffic-related deaths in 2019 were caused by excessive speeding. States have harsh penalties for criminal speeding to reduce fatalities on the road.

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How long do points stay on your license?

Not only do states assign different point totals for speeding charges, but they also keep points on your license for different amounts of time. In some states, points fall off your record quickly. Other states remove points much slower.

As you can see, each state is different. However, you can generally expect your points to fall off in most cases in about two years.

How to Check Points on a License

If you have recently had a speeding ticket (or any other traffic violation), you might be wondering, “How many points do I have on my license?” The process of checking your points total is relatively straightforward.

Checking your points is simple with a visit to your state’s DMV page. Once you are there, look for a service called “drivers license check.” Some states require you to create an account before you can see your points, while others will let you check by your license number.

If your state does not offer online services (or you prefer talking to someone), you can always call, mail in a request form, or make a visit in person to your local DMV.

Why does insurance cost more after a speeding ticket?

Insurance companies use a variety of factors to determine the price of your insurance, but they all have something in common. Your insurance company wants to know how much of a risk you pose to them.

Having a speeding ticket or other traffic violations increases the odds that you will eventually file a claim. Insurance companies raise rates for drivers they consider high-risk to protect themselves financially.

The average speeding ticket will increase your insurance by about 25%, though it depends on your company. Some companies are more forgiving of accidents than others. The variation in how companies treat speeding tickets is why it’s important to compare quotes from multiple companies.

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Find the Best Insurance After a Speeding Ticket

Whether it is six points on a license or 10, traffic incidents on your record will almost always make your insurance go up. However, comparing insurance quotes from multiple companies can help you save money.

If you have been wondering how many points for a speeding ticket and how those points will affect your insurance, consider shopping for insurance options to save money. Enter your ZIP code into our free tool to see what quotes might look like for you.