Speeding Can Cost You
Speeding while driving is a serious issue across the U.S. In fact, nearly 30% of all traffic fatalities involve speeding.[1] That's why states and insurance companies alike crack down on drivers after they get a speeding ticket. But drivers in some areas face a bigger financial impact than others.
To see how different parts of the country compare to each other, we looked at four data points impacting the total cost of speeding tickets.
- Maximum fine for 15 miles over the speed limit: Fines often vary based on how many miles over the speed limit you were driving. We chose 15 mph over the limit as a base for all areas.
- Average insurance premium after a speeding ticket: This is the cost of each city's average auto insurance premium after getting a ticket for driving 16 mph or more over the speed limit.
- Average percent increase in insurance premium: This shows how big of a percentage increase drivers in each city see on average after the same type of speeding ticket.
Find out which city's drivers are in for the steepest fees when it comes to speeding. We've got the top 10, followed by the 10 cheapest cities for speeding-related costs.
The 10 Cities with the Most Expensive Speeding Tickets
These are the U.S. cities where speeding will cause the most expensive short- and long-term consequences.
10 Cities with the Least Expensive Speeding Tickets
Not all cities are as strict about speeding fines. These 10 cities have the lowest combination of fines and insurance premium increases.
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Cleveland, Ohio
- San Antonio, Texas
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Houston, Texas
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Columbus, Ohio
Speeding Tickets and Insurance Prices
Speeding tickets will likely cause your insurance rates to increase. How long your rates will be affected depends on where you live, your insurer, and the severity of the violation. The average amount of time these violations will stay on your record is around 3-5 years.
Here's the average amount insurance increases by each state after different speeding violations.
Methodology
The Zebra used four data points to analyze the top 50 MSAs by population related to speeding tickets. We substituted with state data for fines, and not all states listed court or processing fees associated with speeding tickets. The maximum fine for 15 miles over the speed limit was found by researching state-level data
The average insurance premium after a speeding ticket and the average increase in insurance premium came from The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates, which utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biannually by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.
The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.
For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.