Should I Contest a Ticket the Insurance Company Has Listed That is Not on My DMV Report?

Never trust that the insurance company has your DMV report information correct.

Q: In 2010 I was cited with a speeding ticket. I resolved the situation and it didn’t go on my MVD record. I went to the MVD last week and asked for a copy of my driving record. It isn’t listed, but when getting an insurance quote online it shows up. Should I contest it?

A: Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, contest it! Never, ever assume that the insurance company has your information correct.

First, call and talk to the insurance company or your agent and find out how they got the information about your ticket in the first place. If it is not showing on your DMV (or MVD) report, you need to know where they got their information. If they give you any hassle about releasing that information, immediately ask to speak with a supervisor. This is your information, and you have a right to get the details.

If the supervisor refuses to release the information, as soon as you get off the phone with them call your state’s Department of Insurance or Insurance Commissioner’s office and file a complaint.

Second, be ready to provide a copy of the DMV report that shows that the ticket is not listed. If you can prove it is not on your record they cannot charge you for it.

Third, be prepared for reverse consequences. If you demand that they pull a more current DMV report on you and you have had additional activity on there since the last time they pulled a report, they will add that additional activity to your policy.

Fourth, when they do take off the ticket that is not showing on your report, make sure that they take it off all the way back to when they first started charging you for it. DO NOT settle for the ticket being taken off as of the first of the following month, this is theft as you did not owe this money in the first place.