Do non-moving violations affect insurance? [Expert Advice]

Ever wonder if non-moving violations are among the factors that affect car insurance rates? Maybe you want to know what a non-moving violation is and why you should care.

There are actually two categories of traffic violations for which you can receive tickets: moving and non-moving violations. So what’s the difference? Do non-moving violations affect insurance rates? What about moving violations?

While it’s best to avoid all types of non-moving and moving violations, let’s explore the difference between the two kinds of traffic tickets, how long each will stay on your record, and how much your insurance costs may increase as a result.

Have violations on your car insurance record? See if you can get a better rate by doing comparison shopping.

Do all traffic violations raise insurance? Does an infraction affect insurance? Let’s take a look.

Non-Moving Violations and Car Insurance

What does a  non-moving violation mean and will a non-moving violation affect your car insurance rates? Are there different laws about how non-moving violations are handled depending on where you live? Will a non-moving violation be added to your driving record? Keep reading to learn the answers to these and other non-moving violation questions.

What is a non-moving violation?

What does a non-moving violation mean? A non-moving violation is considered to be a traffic offense that involves violations unrelated to whether a vehicle is in motion or not (meaning theoretically you can get a non-moving violation ticket when you’re vehicle is moving), including parking tickets, paperwork, and fix-it tickets for vehicle maintenance, licensing, and registration issues.

Specific examples of non-moving traffic violations can include parking in a no-parking zone or in front of a fire hydrant, expired tags, overly tinted windows, loud exhaust, broken or missing mirrors, or a broken tail light.

There are some slight differences in how non-moving violations are defined, depending on the state (for example, seat belt infractions are a moving violation in some states and a non-moving violation in others), so it’s a good idea to check the laws in your area to make sure you know which violations are classified as non-moving and which are considered moving.

Does a non-moving violation go on my record?

If you’re wondering, do non-moving violations go on your record, the answer is it depends. This is a state-specific decision, which varies depending on where you live.

For example, until January 2020, a non-moving violation in Illinois was tracked on your driving record and if it remained unpaid, could result in the suspension of your driver’s license. Under the new Illinois License to Work Act, while non-moving violations on an insurance record are still tracked in the state, driver’s licenses will no longer be suspended as a consequence.

Contrasting examples include non-moving violations in Virginia, Louisiana, and New Jersey, which are not tracked (other than to ensure any fees or fines are paid). Additionally, they are not used to accumulate points on a driving record (in Virginia and New Jersey, which both maintain points-based driving systems, versus Louisiana which does not).

A ticket for a defective speedometer in Wisconsin (this is a 2-point ticket) may not be considered a moving violation, however, this depends on the insurance company.

Potential Insurance Costs of Non-moving Violations

In most cases, receiving a non-moving violation will not have an impact on the cost of your car insurance, provided that you fix the issue, meaning repairing the broken tail light, providing proof of insurance, paying the ticket that you were issued in relation to the offense, etc. For car insurance companies like Geico, non-moving violations are typically the only traffic violations that don’t affect insurance.

However, if you have too many non-moving violations and the tickets you were issued go unpaid, it could cause your car insurance rates to go up. In addition to that, racking up several non-moving violations can also become expensive, as these fees will eventually have to be paid.

Having too many non-moving violations could also prevent your vehicle from being registered—and operating a non-registered vehicle can lead to more violations and even suspension of your driver’s license.

Moving Violations and Car Insurance

As you can probably tell by the term, moving violations generally involve any traffic violations in which your vehicle is moving. This can include anything from speeding tickets and car accidents to improper turns and DUIs.

Keep reading to learn more about moving violations, how they compare to non-moving violations, and how they can affect your insurance rates.

What moving violations affect car insurance rates?

If you are still asking, “Does a moving violation affect insurance?” As you saw above, the answer is yes. Moving traffic violations affect insurance rates significantly because they run the risk of causing accidents that may seriously injury other parties and/or cause damage to property, which results in insurance companies often having to pay out on claims.

If you’ve received a moving violation, then it is likely that your car insurance rates will go up—in some cases, substantially. As a general rule, the more points that a moving violation adds to your driving record (under a driving points system), the more your car insurance rates may increase.

To give you a bit more information on how your driving record can affect your insurance rates, we’ve also worked with Quadrant Information Services to pull data from some of the largest companies in the country, comparing rates for a clean driving record to one with various moving violations.

This list demonstrates how different violations can affect your car insurance rates, though the exact percentages will vary by state, insurance company, and driver.

• Reckless driving – 25%
• DUI (first offense) – 20%
• Driving without a license – 18%
• Failure to stop – 15 %
• Improper turn – 14%
• Following too closely – 13%
• Driving 15 to 29 mph over the speed limit – 12%
• Driving 1 to 14 mph over the speed limit – 11%
• Texting while driving – 14%
• Driving without insurance – 6%
• Seat belt infractions – 3%

As you can see, companies adjust rates differently for various moving traffic violations.

For example, if you’re wondering how much insurance goes up after a speeding ticket, this can vary by company. When you’re insured by State Farm, a speeding ticket may have a different effect on your rates than if you’re insured by Geico (State Farm rates increase by an average of 13% as compared to an average of 23% if you’re insured by Geico).

And in general, insurance companies treat DUIs much more harshly (from the perspective of a rates increase) than other violations, though Progressive is an exception to this, as their rate increase for a first DUI offense is similar to a speeding ticket (17 and 18 %, respectively).

Keep in mind these rates are based on national averages and will vary depending on where you live and your personal circumstances. Speak to a licensed insurance agent in your area to find out more about how various moving violations might affect your rates.

What is the difference between a moving and non-moving violation?

Non-moving violations differ from moving violations in that a moving violation occurs when a vehicle is in motion and the violation is specifically related to the vehicle being in motion. For example, these can include speeding, running a red light or stop sign, reckless driving, texting and driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI).

If a driver has several moving violations, it can signal to an insurance company that they may be a high-risk driver. Bad or aggressive drivers who regularly ignore traffic laws are at a higher risk of being involved in auto accidents, which could then cost the insurance company money in the form of claims to pay for repairs, medical bills, and damaged property.

It’s also important to note that moving violations and accidents can stay on your driving record for three to five years, and affect your insurance rates for the same duration.

Conversely, because most non-moving violations, such as parking tickets or not having your vehicle registration with you, do not represent an increased risk to the insurer, these infractions usually won’t result in higher car insurance rates.

The Bottom Line for Non-Moving Violations and Car Insurance Rates

While moving violations, such as speeding tickets, reckless driving, and texting while driving infractions will cause your rates to go up, non-moving violations like fix-it and parking tickets generally won’t cause higher rates.

Check with your insurance agent if you have more specific questions, like:

• Does a defective speedometer affect insurance?
• Does a delaying traffic ticket affect insurance?
• Do citations affect insurance?
• How much do 2 points affect insurance?

However, regardless of where you live, it’s important to avoid both moving and non-moving violations to ensure you don’t pay fines, run the risk of a suspended license, or see an increase in your insurance rates.

Frequently Asked Questions: Non-Moving Violations

Still, have questions about non-moving violations? Read through these frequently asked questions to learn more.

Do equipment violations affect insurance?

Equipment violations are considered non-moving violations, so the short answer is no, they will not typically affect your car insurance rates. Though as you’ve already seen, long-term refusal or inability to address non-moving violations and make necessary repairs can result in a suspension of your driver’s license, which probably will affect your insurance.

What is a driving points system?

A driving points system, or points demerit system, is a way for states to keep track of the number and severity of moving violations (most states do not include non-moving violations in these systems) you have on your record and make relevant decisions about your driving privileges. In general, those states that maintain points systems assign a specific number of points to various moving violations.

If you’re cited for one of those moving violations, the points will be added to your driving record. If you get too many points within a certain time frame (often 12 months), your driver’s license and driving privileges may be suspended. Points generally remain on your record for somewhere between three and five years before dropping off.

Not all states currently maintain a points-based system. Take a look at this table, populated with data from Nolo and the various state departments of motor vehicle websites, to find out if your state does.

For the states that do run a points-based driving program, the number of points assigned to moving violations, the number of points that will result in a driver’s license suspension, the amount of time points remain on your record, and other specifics related to how a state handles tracking and assignment points varies.

How can I find affordable car insurance rates?

With car insurance, a mandatory requirement in order to legally drive in most (if not all) states, looking for cheap car insurance can often impact how much coverage you can purchase. In addition to your age, gender, driving record, year, make and model of your vehicle, several other factors can affect your cost of car insurance.

With any type of insurance, including auto coverage, the insurance company is primarily concerned with how much risk they may be taking on by insuring you. Because of that, the company will review a variety of different factors to gauge your driving habits, and in turn, it will come up with an appropriate rate to charge.

To ensure you are getting the cheapest car insurance available to you, it can help to regularly review your coverage and rates and compare quotes from other carriers. In fact, many drivers make it a point to automatically comparison shop each year.

Even if you haven’t received any moving or non-moving violations, your current insurer’s prices could still change in the future. So, knowing whether or not you are paying more than you need to by comparing car insurance quotes can be a smart financial strategy.

Before you go, get started on comparing rates today to ensure you’re getting the best rates for your driving record and personal statistics.

References:

1. https://www.drivinglaws.org/topics/drivers-license-point-systems