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Why did my insurance rate go up after I finished traffic school?
Doesn't your insurance policy go down if you finish traffic school? I have a couple of speeding tickets and the judge said he would lower my points if I took a safe driving course. I completed the course and my insurance policy still went up! Is this normal?
Shannon Martin · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Completing traffic school can help lower the number of demerit points on your driver’s license—but that won’t necessarily be reflected in the cost of your insurance policy. Your driver’s license and insurance company employ two different point systems, and while they are often confused, they are not at all connected.
License points:
- Every state has a different system for managing demerit points, and many allow residents the opportunity to take approved driving courses in exchange for license point reductions.
- Accumulating too many points on your driver’s license can result in a license suspension. In this case, the judge allowed you attend traffic school to lessen the likelihood of receiving a license suspension.
Insurance points:
- Insurance points are surcharges that are applied to your policy following tickets or at-fault accidents. These types of “points” stay on your driving record and can affect your policy rates for an average of three to five years before automatically falling off.
- Unfortunately, taking a defensive driving course may not directly impact your insurance rates.
On the bright side, some insurers offer discounts for customers who complete approved courses—so check with your agent to see if the
driving course
you took can help lower your rate. They may request a certificate of completion in order to apply the discount.Pro tip: If you’re not satisfied with your insurance rate, now may be the right time to shop for a
cheaper insurance policy
. Every insurance company calculates their rates a little differently, so you may be able to find lower quotes with different providers. View full answer
- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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