Speeding Ticket - Tell Ins Agent?

[davecheetah]

Hello,

Is there anytime you tell your agent you got a speeding ticket?

I just bought a new car. The next day getting used to it...I was following a car seemed to be going slower (50-55miles/hr). My car seems like its going slower than other cars I've driven. We'll I try passing and saw car just starting to come I speeded up to what I thought was 60-65. Unfortunately, the car I passed was unmarked. He said it was 78 but i didn't think I was going that fast but wasn't watching speedometer. he dropped down to 70 on ticket

I'm trying to decide whether to just pay the fine or go to court and see if I can get points knocked off at least. But county where it happened is about 1.5/2 hours away despite my wife's family lives in the area.

So my thought was to tell my insurance agent who has been really good. Possibly to see if he thinks its worth while going to court. Have 3 cars and home insured with him.

Thoughts?

 

[Josh]

It probably won't hurt to talk to an agent about it, but that doesn't mean it matters.

You could get anywhere from zero change in premium to a cancellation, most likely you'll just pay a few bucks extra. If you get it dismissed that'd be the best thing for your insurance rates. The reality is that nothing the insurance agent can say or do will change what the carrier does if/when the courts rule that you violated the law.

If I were you I'd stop speeding and I'd go ahead and go to court. If you want to just pay the fine(s) don't be surprised when your insurance rates go up. If this is a first time thing odds are the change in your rates won't be much. If they do go up drastically, odds are you could find someone willing to take you at a rate close to what you were paying before.

 

[duhlawn]

Screw it.

Wait for them to run your DMV or license number for underwriting revision. Might be at your next renewal, might be in two years.

 

[GreenSky]

Make sure that the person advising you actually has a P&C license.

Many opinions on the forum but some are just WAGs.

Rick

 

[Josh]

Make sure that the person advising you actually has a P&C license.

Many opinions on the forum but some are just WAGs.

Rick

 

[djs]

What state are you in?
In California, for example, you usually have the option of going to school so the ticket doesn't show up on your driving record (to the insurance company). You can do the school online. It's not a big deal. I know other states have similar options.

A single 70 MPH ticket won't kill you rate wise normally. If you have other issues, then it can make a big difference.

If you talk to your agent, make sure he understands its a hypothetical conversation. Technically, they should add the ticket so it gets rated on your next renewal but if you just let the normal course of action occur, it may not be added for a while since carriers don't always pull MVR's on every renewal (some do, some don't).

Bottom line, if you have a school option, do that. If not, don't sweat it. Wait till it shows up then talk to the agent.

Dan

 

[senior-advisor-indiana]

Call the prosecutor and see if you can get it reduced to an infraction. It actually works sometimes. If they do deferral programs were you live, those are also a good option. You pay a little extra but the ticket doesn't go on your record unless you have another violation in the next 12 months.

 

[Guest]

From a P&C guy....

I obviously want my clients to tell me.

But, if they didn't, it wouldn't really be a big deal. We may or may not run their MVR at renewal and it may or may not show up on there.

If you tell him he's obligated to add the ticket to your policy and you'll be surcharged (most likely).

If you don't tell him it isn't fraud or anything like that, it's not big deal at all. Very rarely does a client call me to tell me they got a ticket. Most just keep it quiet. They'll just find out at renewal IF they run your MVR and IF it is on there.

 

[JayShinkle]

I don't know where you are but around here you just pay a lawyer twice the ticket amount plus sixty bucks and it goes away.

 

[GoCubsGo]

I don't know where you are but around here you just pay a lawyer twice the ticket amount plus sixty bucks and it goes away.

Thankfully that's the way it worked growing up in the Chicago area. Even had a DWI go away.