Can Out-of-State Speeding Tickets Affect Your Insurance Rates?

Have you ever been driving in a different state and suddenly noticed you are going way faster than the speed limit or you realize you don’t even know the speed limit? There are several reasons you are more likely to get a speeding ticket when taking a road trip or driving in another state. These include: 

• It’s easy to lose track of your speed when road tripping 
• You might miss the signs for a lower speed limit when driving in a new area 
• You are not familiar with the general speed limit laws in that state. For example, you might drive a speed that is appropriate for the highway in your state but is too fast for the highway in a different state 
• You might be unfamiliar with your rental car 

If you are in Arizona, you might be wondering if and how an out-of-state speeding ticket would affect your insurance rates. 

How Out-of-State Speeding Tickets and Arizona’s Point System Work

In order to understand how an out-of-state speeding ticket could affect the insurance rates of an Arizona resident, it is important to understand how Arizona records traffic violations. We’ve answered the following frequently asked questions to help you understand how the whole system works and how it might affect you. 

If I get a traffic ticket in another state, do I have to pay it? 

In short, yes. Arizona is a part of the Driver’s License Compact (DLC) and Nonresident Violator Compact (NVC). The members of the DLC and NVC agree to report and enforce the penalty for out-of-state traffic violations. Almost all of the states are a part of the DLC and NVC, which means that in most situations, you will need to pay the fine if you get a traffic ticket in another state. To be clear, the fine is collected in the state where the violation occurred. 

Will a traffic ticket from another state add points to my driver’s record in Arizona? 

Again, the short answer is yes. Because Arizona is a part of the DLC, most states will report a traffic violation to the driver’s home state. Generally, in Arizona, an out-of-state traffic violation will add points to the driver’s record in the same way an in-state traffic violation would. Here is a breakdown of the point system in Arizona. 

Will a traffic ticket from another state increase my insurance rates? 

The answer to this question is not as clear-cut, but an out-of-state ticket certainly could increase your insurance rates. Once you get points on your driver’s record, the auto insurance company is able to increase your rates. Whether or not they do depends on things like:

• Your relationship with your insurance company
• Your driving history
• The severity of the offense
• And more

If the out-of-state traffic violation is a first-time offense, then the insurance company might choose to forgive the offense and keep it from affecting your rates. However, if you have had multiple traffic violations, then it is likely an out-of-state traffic violation would increase your insurance rates.

Contact an Experienced Independent Insurance Agency

Do you have points on your driver’s record, either from in-state or out-of-state traffic violations? If you are concerned about your traffic violation record and are looking for both quality and affordable car insurance, don’t hesitate to contact AZCAL Insurance Services. Our independent insurance agency will do the shopping for you. We can give you your best options for the best possible price. What more could you want? Contact us today to learn more!