Distracted Driving Tickets and your Car Insurance

Q: Will getting a ticket for using my cell phone while driving affect my car insurance?

A: Yes, getting a ticket for using your cell phone can affect your car insurance rates. How much it will affect your car insurance will depend on the state you live in and also what car insurance company you are with. In regards to your state, each state treats these types of tickets different as to what kind of violation they are and they also treat them different in regards to how serious they consider these types of tickets. In addition, each state has different laws about ticketing for talking on your cell phone, texting on your cell phone, and even just having your cell phone in your hand. So it depends on how your cell phone ticket is coded on your driving record as to the impact it may have on your car insurance rates.

As for your car insurance company, this is such a new type of ticket many car insurance companies are still working on how they are going to rate these tickets.  Some go by just what comes across on the DMV report and others treat them very seriously and have them ranked as a serious offense next to reckless driving.

For more information and exactly how your insurance company is going treat any recent ticket you have received, it is best to contact your car insurance agent or car insurance company for more information.