How a Speeding Ticket Affects Insurance in New Jersey

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Speeding in the Garden State will cost you more than just time. It can hit your wallet with fines, surcharges and higher insurance premiums that stick around for a while. Depending on how fast you’re driving and where the violation takes place, the price of a New Jersey speeding ticket can land somewhere between $85 and $260. But when a speeding ticket shows up on your driving record, the costs can really start piling up. In New Jersey, annual full coverage car insurance rates increase by an average of $371 after a single speeding ticket.

How much does insurance go up after a speeding ticket in New Jersey?

On average, full coverage insurance premiums in New Jersey go up by 13 percent after just one speeding ticket. That’s an extra $31 per month for car insurance.

The good news is that the financial hit to your auto policy probably won’t happen immediately. Your insurance carrier will likely only become aware of your speeding ticket when it shows up on your motor vehicle report, which they typically check before each renewal.

Another thing to keep in mind is that speeding tickets are only one factor among many that impact your premium. Other insurance rating factors, such as age and driving experience, can influence your surcharge amount.

How speeding tickets impacted insurance for real drivers in New Jersey

*The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate.

How long does a speeding ticket stay on insurance in New Jersey?

Insurance surcharges are different than driver’s license points. While a speeding ticket may stay on your official driving record forever, it will typically only affect your rates for three to five years, depending on the carrier and severity of the ticket. If you were convicted of a severe speeding incident, you may be placed in the high-risk driver category and need to seek coverage from a nonstandard carrier.

How to avoid an insurance increase after a speeding ticket in New Jersey

The best way to avoid a rate increase after a speeding ticket is to make sure the violation doesn’t appear on your driving record. If that’s not an option and your rate does increase, there are still steps you can take to find a more affordable premium.

Try to keep the speeding ticket off your driving record

Receiving even just one speeding ticket can cause elevated auto insurance rates for years. Instead of paying the ticket right away, consider looking for ways to have it removed from your driving record:

• Plead not guilty: If you feel that the ticket was issued in error or want to plead the ticket down to a non-moving violation, then you may want to plead not guilty. New Jersey allows drivers to plea online in some minor situations, but you may need to attend court.
• Consider a traffic court attorney: A traffic court attorney may be able to help you avoid an official ticket on your record, but the cost of representation may not be worth it for a minor speeding offense.
• Attend traffic school: Completing a certified defensive driving course may help reduce the number of points on your driver’s license, potentially lowering your insurance premium. However, it will not void the ticket from your record unless the judge makes it a condition of your plea deal.

Shop around for competitive rates after a ticket

Not all insurance companies rate speeding tickets the same. For example, carriers with diverse risk pools may charge less for moving violations than carriers who focus on preferred drivers with clean records. Comparing car insurance rates among several carriers may help you find coverage that works better for your budget. We found that New Jersey drivers with a single speeding ticket could save as much as $3,200 per year by switching to a different carrier.

Drive defensively to avoid future speeding tickets

Speeding tickets are not uncommon, but that doesn’t mean you should give up on maintaining a good driving record. The surcharge will fade over time, and avoiding future tickets may allow you to earn back any safe driving discounts you may have lost.

Taking a defensive driving course or enrolling in a telematics insurance plan is a great way to practice safe driving while potentially earning discounts. Also, if your vehicle comes with intelligent speed assistance (ISA), keeping it activated can help you keep your lead foot in check.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the best car insurance company for drivers with a speeding ticket?
  

  Car insurance companies determine rates based on several personalized factors, meaning your driving record is only one piece of the puzzle. That said, some of the best car insurance companies are better known for working with high-risk drivers than others. Based on average rate data, Geico, NJM and Travelers have some of the most affordable average premiums for drivers with speeding tickets. Experts recommend shopping around and obtaining quotes from multiple companies when looking for the most affordable car insurance.

• Will points affect my insurance?
  

  Yes. In New Jersey, drivers can accumulate license points for various infractions, including speeding tickets. However, insurance companies follow their own underwriting guidelines, and New Jersey drivers can receive an insurance surcharge for any moving violation that falls within the carrier’s guidelines, even if it isn’t associated with an official license point.

• Do I have to report speeding tickets to insurance?
  

  No, unless your insurance company asks, you do not need to tell them about your speeding ticket. Carriers usually run motor vehicle reports when your policy renews. If you have a recent ticket, it will show up and a relevant surcharge will be applied. However, if you move carriers or buy a new car, they may ask about your recent driving history, and you must answer honestly or risk penalties for misrepresentation.

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze April 2025 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a single, 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability per accident
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $500 collision deductible
• $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2023 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually. Bundling and paperless billing discounts are applied.

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes. Your quotes will differ.

If otherwise specified, the base profile has been modified with the following driver characteristics:

• Credit-based insurance scores:
  

  Rates were calculated based on the following insurance credit tiers assigned to our drivers: “poor, average, good (base) and excellent.” Insurance credit tiers factor in your official credit scores but are not dependent on that variable alone. Four states prohibit or limit the use of credit as a rating factor in determining auto insurance rates: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan.

• Incidents:
  

  Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), at-fault accident, single speeding ticket, single DUI conviction and lapse in coverage.

• Mileage:
  

  Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following differences in mileage: 2K, 5K, 12K (base), 15K and 20K.

• Model:
  

  Unless otherwise stated, rates are for 2023 vehicle models. For new vs used vehicles, we included the following year in our calculations: 2013.

• Age:
  

  Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 18-70 (base: 40 years) applied. Depending on age, drivers may be a renter or homeowner. Age is not a contributing rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts due to state regulations. For teen drivers, rates were determined by adding a 16- or 17-year-old teen to their 40-year-old married parents’ policy. The rates displayed reflect the total cost of a driver this age added to their parents’ policy.

• Gender:
  

  The following states do not use gender as a determining factor in calculating premiums: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania.

• Status:
  

  Rates were evaluated based on the following marital/family status: single (base), married, 40-year-old married man and woman. Marital status is not a rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts.