Key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| New York: license may be suspended at | 11 points in 24 months |
| New York: points for speeding | 3 to 11, depending on speed |
| California: DMV points for speeding / for DUI or hit and run | 1 / 2 |
| California Good Driver Discount | at least 20% off; no more than 1 point in 3 years and no DUI in 10 years |
| Florida: how long points stay on your record | at least five years from the date of conviction |
| Drunk-driving deaths in the US (2024) | 11,904 |
| Speeding-related deaths (2024) | 11,288, 29% of all traffic deaths |
Why your driving record affects car insurance
Insurers set prices from the expected cost of future claims, and past driving is one of the best predictors of future crashes. The NAIC lists your driving record, including tickets and crashes, among the common auto rating factors. California law makes driving safety record the most important rating factor of all, ahead of mileage and experience.
Risky driving is also deadly. NHTSA reports 11,288 speeding-related deaths in 2024, 29% of all traffic deaths, and 11,904 deaths in drunk-driving crashes the same year.
What on your record affects car insurance
| Item | Typical effect on car insurance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Minor moving violation (for example, speeding a little over the limit) | Possible surcharge or loss of a good-driver discount | Some insurers forgive a first minor ticket |
| Major violation (reckless driving, very high speed) | Larger surcharge | May also add many DMV points |
| At-fault accident | Surcharge at renewal | Not-at-fault accidents are treated differently |
| DUI or DWI | Large surcharge, possible non-renewal | Often requires an SR-22 or FR-44 filing |
| License suspension | Can make it hard to find standard coverage | May push you into high risk auto insurance |
| Non-moving violations (such as parking tickets) | Usually none | Ask your state DMV whether they appear on your record |
How much each item adds depends on the insurer's rating plan and your state's rules. Ask your insurer how it treats each type of violation.
What insurers see: your motor vehicle record
When you apply for car insurance quotes, insurers usually order your motor vehicle record (MVR) from the state, and many check it again at renewal. The MVR lists traffic convictions, license suspensions and, in some states, accidents. Insurers also check claims databases, which show accidents that led to insurance claims even if no ticket was issued. That is why your record and your claims history often work together. You can order your own MVR from your state DMV, usually for a small fee, to see what an insurer will see.
DMV points vs insurance points
Most states run a driver point system that adds points to your license for traffic convictions. Too many points within a set period can lead to a warning, a fee, a required course or a suspension.
Insurers do not have to use the DMV's points. Many have their own systems. The New York DMV says this directly: insurers keep their own point systems and may raise premiums based on your record. So a ticket can affect your insurance even if it adds few DMV points, and the time an insurer looks back can differ from how long the DMV counts points.
State point systems: New York, California and Florida
New York
The New York DMV counts points based on the date of the violation. Points count toward a suspension for 24 months from the date of the violation, but the conviction stays on your record longer.
| New York rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Suspension threshold | 11 points in 24 months |
| Driver Responsibility Assessment (an extra state fee) | 6 or more points in 18 months |
| Speeding | 3 points for 1-10 mph over the limit, rising to 11 points for more than 40 mph over the limit |
| Using a phone or portable electronic device | 5 points |
| Reckless driving | 5 points |
| Point and Insurance Reduction Program (PIRP) course | Subtracts 4 points when calculating a suspension, and may save 10% on liability and collision premiums |
California
California's Negligent Operator Treatment System (NOTS) assigns 1 point for most moving violations, such as speeding, and 2 points for serious offenses, such as DUI and hit and run. An at-fault collision adds a point too. Drivers who reach 4 points in 12 months, 6 points in 24 months or 8 points in 36 months face probation and a suspension.
California also controls how insurers use your record:
- Good Driver Discount. Insurers must offer drivers who qualify a rate at least 20% below what they would otherwise pay. To qualify, you must have been licensed for 3 years, have no more than 1 violation point in the past 3 years, no DUI conviction in the past 10 years, and no principally at-fault accident causing injury or death.
- Principally at fault. An accident counts against you only if you were at least 51% responsible, and it caused injury or death or more than $1,000 in property damage.
Florida
Florida adds points for each conviction and suspends licenses for too many in a set time.
| Florida rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Speeding | 3 points (more for very high speed) |
| Reckless driving | 4 points |
| Leaving the scene of a crash with property damage | 6 points |
| Suspensions | 12 points within 12 months leads to a 30-day suspension; 18 points within 18 months leads to a three-month suspension; 24 points within 36 months leads to a one-year suspension |
| How long points stay | at least five years from the date of conviction |
Some states use a separate proof-of-insurance filing, called an FR-44, after certain DUI convictions. See FR-44 insurance.
How long do tickets and accidents affect car insurance?
There are two clocks:
- The DMV clock. How long a conviction stays on your state driving record and how long its points count. This varies by state, as the examples above show.
- The insurer's clock. How many years back the insurer looks when it prices your policy. Each insurer sets this in its rating plan, within state rules. California's Good Driver Discount, for example, looks at the past 3 years for violation points and the past 10 years for DUI convictions.
A DUI usually affects insurance for much longer than a minor ticket. Ask your insurer when a specific violation will stop affecting your price, and check your state DMV record to confirm what is on it.
Car insurance after a DUI
A DUI is one of the most expensive things that can happen to your car insurance. Common effects include:
- a large surcharge at renewal, or a non-renewal notice
- a requirement to file an SR-22 (or, in some states, an FR-44) to prove you carry insurance
- needing high risk auto insurance from a non-standard insurer
- losing good-driver discounts for years
See car insurance after a DUI and SR-22 insurance for the details.
How to lower car insurance with a less-than-perfect record
- Check your driving record with your state DMV and make sure it is accurate.
- Take an approved course if your state or insurer rewards it. In New York, a PIRP course may save 10% on liability and collision premiums and reduces points for suspension purposes. See defensive driving courses.
- Ask about accident or ticket forgiveness programs, which some insurers offer.
- Raise your deductible to offset a surcharge, if you can afford the higher out-of-pocket cost. See choosing a deductible.
- Compare quotes at renewal. Insurers weigh violations very differently. See shopping at renewal.
- Drive cleanly from now on. Each year without a new violation helps.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a speeding ticket raise car insurance?
It depends on your insurer, your state, how fast you were going and the rest of your record. A first minor ticket may cause a small surcharge or none, while a major speeding offense usually costs more. Ask your insurer how it rates the specific violation.
How long does a ticket stay on your insurance?
Each insurer decides how many years back it looks, within state rules. That is separate from how long the DMV keeps a conviction on your record. Florida keeps points on the record for at least five years from the date of conviction; New York counts points toward suspension for 24 months from the date of the violation.
Do insurance companies use DMV points?
Not necessarily. Insurers can use their own point or surcharge systems based on your convictions and accidents. The New York DMV notes that insurers maintain their own point systems.
Will an accident that wasn't my fault raise my rates?
It should usually be treated differently from an at-fault crash. In California, you are presumed not principally at fault if, for example, your car was lawfully parked, you were hit from behind and not convicted of a related violation, or you were hit by a hit-and-run driver and reported it promptly. See claims history.
Can I get car insurance after a DUI?
Yes, but it will usually cost more, and you may need an SR-22 or FR-44 filing and a non-standard insurer. See car insurance after a DUI.
Does a defensive driving course lower car insurance?
In some states and with some insurers. The New York DMV says its PIRP course may save 10% on liability and collision premiums. Ask your insurer before you enroll.
Sources
- New York State DMV, The New York State Driver Point System New York points, suspension and PIRP
- California DMV, Driver Negligence (NOTS) California point values
- California DMV, Negligent Operator Actions California suspension thresholds
- California Insurance Code § 1861.025 Good Driver Discount eligibility
- Cal. Code Regs. tit. 10, § 2632.13 principally at-fault accidents
- Florida HSMV, Points and Point Suspensions Florida points and suspensions
- NAIC, Why Are My Insurance Premiums Increasing? driving record as a rating factor
- California Insurance Code § 1861.02 (Justia) as of October 28, 2026
- NHTSA, Drunk Driving as of October 28, 2026
- NHTSA, Speeding as of October 28, 2026
Last reviewed by the StateCover Guide editorial team. See our editorial policy. Spotted an error? Tell us.