We all have a collection of bills which must be paid, and staying within a monthly budget is a challenge we all face.The possibility of an increase in one of these bills is an unwelcome prospect. If you drive a vehicle, you are likely always looking for ways to keep your auto insurance rates affordable – and getting a ticket may raise concerns as to a rate hike.
There are some tickets which will affect your auto insurance rates – but does a parking ticket cause a problem in this regard?
Tickets Which Will Raise Auto Insurance Rates
You will likely be relieved to learn that a parking ticket does not affect your car insurance rates. This is true for several reasons, but mainly it is because a parking ticket is not a moving violation. This means that the ticket was not issued for an infraction which involves you being an unsafe driver, and therefore it is not seen as a risk factor to your insurance company. Your insurance company will not even see your parking ticket on your record.
Parking tickets are not an indication of your ability to be a safe driver, and in fact the ticket itself is not attached to the driver, but the vehicle. (The person issuing the citation has no idea who was behind the wheel when the car was illegally parked.)
Some examples of moving violations which will affect your car insurance rates – because they reflect poor or risky driving habits – are as follows:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Failure to yield or stop when required
- Careless or reckless driving
- Not wearing a seat belt
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Using a cell phone in a manner the law dictates is forbidden
- Failure to signal before turning
- Crashing into an unattended vehicle without leaving information
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of the traffic infractions which will likely result in an increase in your insurance rates.
How a Parking Ticket May Affect Auto Insurance Rates
Yes, we did just tell you that a parking ticket does not affect your auto insurance rates. However, the way that you deal with that parking ticket may become the insurance company’s concern in the future.
For instance, if you receive a parking ticket and do not pay it, fines will be assessed. If you fail to pay a parking ticket, or amass many unpaid parking tickets, you will most likely be issued a bench warrant, which means you are summoned to court.
A court verdict in these cases may result in a suspension of your car registration until the tickets are paid. Without car registration, you cannot legally have car insurance. Therefore you could easily lose your insurance altogether, or face hefty rate increases when your car insurance is reinstated by the same or a different company. Also, if your registration is revoked and you are involved in an accident, all claims to your insurance company will be denied.
Remember: Although a parking ticket does not reflect on your ability to be a safe driver, failure to pay your parking tickets is reflected when looking at the overall application.
Nearly everyone will receive a parking ticket at some point in your life. This is a minor infraction that will have no effect on your auto insurance rates as long as you promptly address the situation, either by paying the ticket or taking up the matter in the court system. Never ignore a parking ticket, as fees and ramifications will quickly escalate.
Do you have questions about lowering the cost of your auto insurance? Give the professionals at Anderson & Associates Insurance Group a call. We are here to help.
