How a Speeding Ticket Affects Insurance in Michigan

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The cost of a speeding ticket in Michigan goes beyond just the fine; it can also cause a major hit to your wallet when your auto insurance bill arrives. The cost of speeding tickets in Michigan can vary by the severity of the infraction, county and type of road. On average, a speeding ticket can cost between $115 to $210. On top of the fine, Michigan drivers with one speeding violation pay an average of $3,767 per year for full coverage car insurance — considerably more than the statewide average for a clean driving record. Here’s how a speeding ticket in Michigan impacts your car insurance and what you can do about it.

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

On average, car insurance in Michigan goes up 21 percent after a speeding ticket conviction. That means you would need to find an extra $642 per year in your budget for insurance.

While speeding tickets can wreak havoc on your car insurance costs, you may have time to prepare. Surcharge points (a type of financial penalty used in auto insurance) can only be added to a policy at renewal or if you switch companies and the new carrier runs your motor vehicle report. Driving history is only one of several car insurance rating factors. Changes in other factors, such as age, can also influence how a speeding ticket affects your rates.

How speeding tickets impacted insurance for real drivers in Michigan

How long does a speeding ticket stay on insurance in Michigan?

In Michigan, most moving violations stay on your driver’s record for between seven and 10 years, depending on the severity of the infraction. However, this only applies to your motor vehicle report, not your insurance policy. Speeding tickets can be surcharged on your car insurance for up to three years. Generally, the first year after the speeding ticket will cost the most and then the rate will decrease slowly over time.

It’s important to keep in mind that over three years, many things can happen to impact your rates. Since it isn’t likely for your car insurance rate to return to what it was pre-speeding ticket, it’s worth shopping rates with several carriers to help you save money while your driving record improves.

How to avoid an insurance increase after a speeding ticket in Michigan

Once a speeding ticket hits your driving record, the odds are that your car insurance rate will increase. However, there are ways to minimize the financial impact.

Try to keep the speeding ticket off your driving record

The best way to avoid speeding ticket costs in Michigan is by ensuring the violation doesn’t appear on your motor vehicle report. 

Shop around for competitive rates after a ticket

Your car insurance company’s appetite for risk can influence how strongly a speeding ticket can impact your auto insurance rate. If you are an inexperienced driver or have had prior tickets or accidents, a non-standard carrier may have better auto insurance rates for you than one that caters to preferred drivers with clean records. Michigan drivers with one speeding ticket conviction could save as much as $6,000 per year by switching to a different carrier.

Drive defensively to avoid future speeding tickets

Speeding tickets can happen to even the most cautious drivers. Maintaining a clean driving record going forward can help you earn back any safe driving discounts you may have lost. While waiting for the consequences of your speeding ticket to fade away, consider looking into additional car insurance discounts, such as defensive driving or enrolling in a telematics insurance program. Another tip is for drivers whose cars are equipped with intelligent speed assistance (ISA). Keeping your ISA activated can help you avoid speeding tickets in the future.

Frequently asked questions

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

  There are a number of car insurance companies writing robust policies for Michigan drivers with speeding tickets, including those we’ve highlighted above. To find the best car insurance company in Michigan, consider your priorities. If you’re looking for the most affordable insurance for a driver with speeding tickets, for example, you might find that the best company for you is different from a driver who is willing to pay more for excellent customer service.

  You may want to consider factors such as the type of coverage options available from each carrier as well as the number of discounts when looking for your best company. When you’ve identified several companies that look like a good fit for your needs, ask each of them for a quote to see which one is able to offer you the best rate. Generally, you can do this easily on the company website, or via a simple call to a local agent.

• How many tickets can you get before it affects insurance?
  

  It only takes one speeding ticket to negatively impact your car insurance rates. Each carrier has a threshold of activity they will allow and once a driver exceeds that threshold, the insurer can cancel the policy. However, there is more than just insurance to think about.  Moving violations accumulate points on your driving record. Too many points can cause your license to become suspended, which takes time and money to rectify. Since finding cheap car insurance can be challenging, avoiding moving violations is in your best interest.

• Do I have to report speeding tickets to insurance?
  

  No, you are not required to report speeding tickets to your car insurance company. They will run your motor vehicle report according to their schedule. However, if your agent asks if you have received a speeding ticket recently, you must answer the question honestly. Not doing so can result in a policy cancellation due to 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.