How long does a ticket stay on your record?

Almost every driver has received a ticket for either speeding or causing an accident. Not only do you have the inconvenience of getting the ticket, but you also have to pay a fine and endure an increase in your auto insurance rates.

Therefore, exactly how long does a ticket stay on your record? Unfortunately, there isn’t only one answer. Every state has the authority to decide how long infractions remain on your driving record.

For example, how long does a ticket stay on your record in Washington state? A ticket remains on your record for five years in the state of Washington, although the average amount of time in other states is merely three years.

A ticket can also cause your auto insurance rates to increase. In fact, if you receive too many tickets, you may be forced to purchase high-risk auto insurance.

If you’ve gotten a ticket, shop around to determine which insurance company will offer you the lowest rates. Enter your ZIP code now to compare free auto insurance rates — after a ticket — from companies in your area.

How long does a ticket stay on your record?

Every driver has a record that monitors their driving and records how long they’ve had a license, accidents, tickets, and DUI offenses.

Every time you acquire an infraction, you will receive points. However, those points on your license aren’t beneficial. Once you accumulate enough points, your driver’s license can be suspended or revoked. Every state determines that points limit.

Every state also determines how long points remain on your record. Although the average is three years, some states — like Hawaii — allow tickets to stay on your record for 10 years.

The type of ticket you receive also makes a difference. Tickets for minor speeding violations are treated differently than tickets for DUI infractions or major accidents.

For example, how long does a speeding ticket remain on your record in Georgia, New Mexico, Florida, and Tennessee? While New Mexico only maintains a ticket on your record for one year, Georgia and Tennessee tickets remain on your record for two years. Florida, on the other hand, displays tickets on your record for five years. (For more information, read our “How many points do you get on your license after receiving a speeding ticket?“).

While the majority of states only keep tickets active on your record for three years or less, those three years can cost you a lot of money.

How does a ticket affect your auto insurance rates?

There are many different factors that affect your auto insurance rates, and the most significant is your driving record.

Your driving record gives an auto insurance company an indication of how risky you are to insure. Are you a safe driver with a clean record? Or are you a driver who racks up speeding tickets and has had multiple accidents within the last few years?

The more likely you are to cost your auto insurance company money, the higher your rates. This table discloses average annual rates from top companies based on driving records.

Average Annual Auto Insurance Rates by Driving History

Companies	Average Annual Rates with a Clean Record	Average Annual Rates with One Accident	Average Annual Rates with One DUI	Average Annual Rates with One Speeding Violation
	$3,819.90	$4,987.68	$6,260.73	$4,483.51
	$2,693.61	$3,722.75	$4,330.24	$3,025.74
	$3,460.60	$4,518.73	$4,718.75	$4,079.01
	$2,145.96	$3,192.77	$4,875.87	$2,645.43
	$4,774.30	$6,204.78	$7,613.48	$5,701.26
	$2,746.18	$3,396.95	$4,543.20	$3,113.68
	$3,393.09	$4,777.04	$3,969.65	$4,002.28
	$2,821.18	$3,396.01	$3,636.80	$3,186.01
	$3,447.69	$4,289.74	$5,741.40	$4,260.80
	$1,933.68	$2,516.24	$3,506.03	$2,193.25

Drivers with tickets, accidents, and DUI violations will pay much higher rates than drivers who maintain a clean record. The good news is that — in most states — points will drop off of your record over time which will lower your rates.

How long does a ticket remain on your insurance? Similar to your driving record, tickets can affect your insurance for three years on average but for longer in some states. Again, it will depend on your state and the severity of the infraction.

Remember that although the points from a ticket are removed after a certain amount of time, the offense stays on your record forever. However, insurance companies only consider recent tickets when determining rates.

It should be noted that some tickets, such as parking tickets, won’t cause your auto insurance rates to increase.

How can you save on auto insurance with a ticket?

If you’ve received a ticket and have seen your car insurance rates increase, there are still ways in which you can obtain lower rates. The best long-term option is to clean up your driving record. Obey traffic laws and drive carefully to avoid adding more violations to your record.

In the short term, there are also several ways that you can lower your rates.

First, take a defensive driving course. In some states, a driving course can remove points from your record. Also, many auto insurance companies will offer a discount for taking the course.

Next, take advantage of auto insurance discounts. Most insurance companies offer multiple types of discounts based on your driving history, your driving record, the type of policy you have, and the features of your vehicle.

This table displays common auto insurance discounts that you can find from top companies.

Auto Insurance Discounts Available by Company

Discount Name
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓	✓	✓	5%	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Adaptive Headlights	✓	✓	✓	✓	5%	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes	10%	✓	✓	5%	5%	5%	✓	5%
Anti-Theft	10%	✓		23%	20%	25%	✓	15%
Claim Free	35%	✓	✓	26%	✓	10%	✓	15%	23%	12%
Continuous Coverage		✓	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓	15%	✓
Daytime Running Lights	2%		✓	3%	5%	5%	✓	✓
Defensive Driver	10%	10%	✓	✓	10%	5%	10%	5%	10%	3%
Distant Student	35%	✓	✓	✓	✓	10%	✓		7%
Driver's Ed	10%	✓	✓	✓	10%	✓	10%	15%	8%	3%
Driving Device/App	20%	40%	✓	✓	30%	40%	20%	50%	30%	5%
Early Signing	10%	✓	✓	✓	✓	8%	✓	✓	10%	12%
Electronic Stability Control	2%	✓	✓	✓	5%		✓	✓	✓	✓
Emergency Deployment	✓	✓	✓	25%	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓
Engaged Couple	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Family Legacy	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	10%
Family Plan	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	25%	✓	✓	✓	✓
Farm Vehicle	10%	✓	✓		✓	✓		✓	✓	✓
Fast 5	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Federal Employee	✓	✓		12%	10%	✓		✓	✓	✓
Forward Collision Warning	✓	✓	✓	✓	5%		✓	✓	✓	✓
Full Payment	10%	✓	✓		$50	✓	✓	✓	8%	✓
Further Education	✓	✓			10%	15%		✓		✓
Garaging/Storing	✓	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓		90%
Good Credit			✓	✓	✓		✓		✓	✓
Good Student	20%	✓		15%	23%	10%	✓	25%	8%	3%
Green Vehicle	10%	✓	5%	✓	10%	✓	✓	✓	10%	✓
Homeowner	✓	✓	✓		✓	5%	✓	3%	5%	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Life Insurance	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Low Mileage		✓		✓			✓	30%
Loyalty	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	5%	✓	✓	✓
Married	✓	✓	✓	✓			✓		✓
Membership/Group	✓	✓	✓		10%	7%		✓		✓
Military		✓	✓	15%	4%	✓			✓
Military Garaging	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	15%
Multiple Drivers	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Multiple Policies	10%	29%	✓	10%	20%	10%	12%	17%	13%
Multiple Vehicles		✓	✓	25%	10%	20%	10%	20%	8%
New Address	✓	✓	✓	✓	5%	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
New Customer/New Plan	✓	✓	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
New Graduate	✓	✓	✓	✓	5%	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
New Vehicle	30%	✓	✓	15%	✓			40%	10%	12%
Newly Licensed	✓	✓	✓	✓	5%	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Newlyweds	✓	✓	✓	✓	5%	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Non-Smoker/Non-Drinker	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Occasional Operator	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Occupation		✓			10%	15%	✓	✓		✓
On-Time Payments	5%	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	15%	✓
Online Shopper	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	7%	✓	✓	✓
Paperless Documents	10%	✓		✓	✓	5%	$50	✓	✓	✓
Paperless/Auto Billing	5%	✓		✓	✓	$30	✓	$20	3%	3%
Passive Restraint	30%	30%		40%		20%	✓	40%
Recent Retirees	✓	✓	✓	✓	4%	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Renter	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Roadside Assistance	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Safe Driver	45%	✓		15%	✓	35%	31%	15%	23%	12%
Seat Belt Use	✓	✓	✓	15%	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓
Senior Driver	10%	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Stable Residence	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓
Students & Alumni	✓	✓	✓		10%	7%		✓	✓	✓
Switching Provider	✓			✓	10%	✓		✓	✓	✓
Utility Vehicle	15%	✓	✓		✓	✓		✓	✓	✓
Vehicle Recovery	10%	✓	✓	15%	35%	25%	✓	5%
VIN Etching	✓	✓	✓	✓	5%		✓	✓
Volunteer	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Young Driver	✓	✓	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓	$75

Read more: How To Cancel Ameriprise Auto Insurance 

Acquiring discounts can make a significant impact on your auto insurance rates. Be sure to bundle all of the discounts you are eligible for to receive the most savings.

You can also consider switching to usage-based auto insurance. In that case, your auto insurance company monitors your driving using telematics and offers you either a discount or lower rates based on how well you drive.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, telematics can also improve your driving skills. Drivers are much more likely to correct poor driving habits quickly due to the immediate feedback given by the telematics system. This can save you money and maintain your safety.

How Long Tickets Stay on Your Record: The Bottom Line

Every state decides how long tickets remain on your record, but the average is only three years. However, some states will keep tickets on your driving record for up to 10 years.

Your auto insurance rates will increase with every ticket you receive, and multiple tickets will cause your rates to skyrocket. However, you can take a defensive driving class and use discounts to lower your rates.

Finding affordable auto insurance after receiving a ticket is possible if you shop around. Not every company will view your driving record in the same manner, and each company will offer different rates.

Now that you know how long a ticket stays on your record, compare free quotes from auto insurance companies near you to find the lowest rates possible by entering your ZIP code now.