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How much will a traffic ticket, an accident, or a DUI charge really cost you in car insurance premiums? While most accidents in an of themselves are reason enough for a blood pressure increase it can often seem that those who get into an accident or receive a traffic ticket are hit with the "double whammy" of also seeing an increase in their car insurance rates. Is there anything that one can do to keep their car insurance rates low even after they receive a traffic ticket, get a DUI charge, or get into an accident?

The cost of car insurance is something most Americans have to deal with on a regular basis. Every month every single American that owns a car and thus has automobile insurance coverage receives a bill with the premium one must pay each month. Exceptions are seen however, by those people that have the money and decide to pay the whole year up front when they enroll or continue their coverage.

There are many things that can raise your car insurance rate and because of this is always better to be informed on these rate raising menaces. One of the most important things for an insured driver to do, if they want to lower their rates with time; is to keep their driving record clean from any infractions. If you for any reason get a traffic violation you won't only have to pay the ticket, but in some instances you will have to pay more monthly than what you were paying before.

Usually automobile insurance companies understand when dealing with the cause of the ticket. After all, they are drivers too and like any other driver they are at risks for mistakes. It is because of this reason that most insurance companies won't penalize you after you get a first time violation or a first time offense.

It's important to keep in mind however, that they can penalize you if your offense is significant. An example of this would be that a person with a first time offense of speeding 7 miles over the speed limit might not see a raise in premium in comparison to a person that gets penalized for reckless driving when they are street racing.

It is important to know that driving offenses are separated into categories. Point systems are used in each state in order to see how well the driver is behaving on the road. These types of systems work very well because they give a limit on the amount of points a driver can get within a year or 18 months. If the driver reaches that limit, their insurance can become suspended for a certain amount of time. It is this system that insurance companies base their driving record search on.

f you are close to having your license suspended due to the fact that you have had many traffic tickets, you will be classified as a "high risk driver". This means that you are more likely to be involved in an accident than other drivers because you don't follow the rules accordingly. Hence, the "high risk driver" label means that you will have to pay a significant higher rate to be covered with auto insurance. In fact, some auto insurance companies classify themselves as high risk car insurance companies and specialize in providing high risk auto insurance policies.

Usually after a significant infraction or an accumulation of two or more infractions, your automobile insurance rates could even double and stay up there for about three years. After the three years if you have had no other traffic violations the rates usually go down. It is important to know that automobile insurance companies do not check the traffic record of each driver often. They only do so about once a year, and some even do it only once every two years. This can be of your benefit because some might not even notice about your infraction until some significant time has gone by.

Before deciding on whether to raise your premiums insurance companies will look at the significance of the offense as said previously. Other than that they can focus their attention to the relationship a policy holder has with the insurance company. If the insured has been with the same company for years, he might be treated a little bit differently (he would have it a little easier) than a person who just decided to sign with them.

Keep in mind that large increases in your policy rates will most likely start after your second ticket and that speeding tickets can last on your record up to several years. Also worth mentioning is that a DUI can prove to be horrific for your car insurance rates and sometimes it can make you lose your policy or make you uninsurable.

All 50 states have some sort of class in order to get rid of points to your driving record. These classes can be taken either online or through your local Department of Motor Vehicles. The courses are not hard at all and you will go over the basics of driving and some other information found in the state's driving manual. At the end of class you will have to take a test to see what knowledge have you gained and if you pass you won't only be charged less on your fine; but the points will be erased from your record. Keep in mind that states give you a deadline in which you will have to complete the course and pay the fine, and some also give you a limit on the number of times you can take these courses for life.

As you can see from all the information given above, traffic tickets and automobile insurance don't go well together. If you want to pay less for auto insurance as time goes by then try not to make mistakes while driving that will result in a traffic violation. Remember that a good driver is not one that thinks he knows it all while out in the road, but one that follows the rules and it alert at all times when they are found behind the wheel of a car.