Many people commit violations without knowing how much influence they can have on their car insurance rates.
Photo: Darius Krause / Pexels
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If your driving record already contains several traffic violations, you will surely have to review the fees associated with your vehicle insurance. The fines and penalties generate points in your record that in turn becomes information for the insurance companies and for that type of information there is no reward, on the contrary, the consequences can be quite discouraging. A violation-prone driver is equivalent to a claim-prone customer, as these companies see it and use this resource to protect themselves from future disputes.
This is one of the reasons why many drivers decide to defend themselves against a fine that they consider unfair. Any conviction received for a crime can result in a significant increase in insurance. But it cannot be any crime, for this to happen it must be something serious such as moving violations (speeding or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol).
If you have recently committed an infraction of this type and do not have others on your record, The first thing you should do is contact your insurance company to verify if your rates have increased. If so, it is likely that they will continue to increase as the crime remains on your driving record. In these situations, defensive driving courses are of great help because they will allow you to reduce the points associated with the offense you committed and avoid its influence on your insurance premium.
In case prices continue to rise, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) recommends:
1. If the amount of your new premium is too high, check with other insurers to see what they offer you. Quotes are free and can be a great help in comparing prices and helping you see other options.
2. Drive less, insurers discount for low mileage.
3. Ask your insurer if they have devices to track bad driving habits. If so, installing one could help you avoid future incidents. This will also keep a record of your performance and you could be rewarded for your good deeds.
You should always keep in mind that insurance companies reward safe driving habits. They do it with those drivers who have a clean record, giving them very good discounts on their rates. If you decide to take the path of the responsible driver, over time, you could benefit greatly and your insurance amounts could be reduced considerably.
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