Can a Bad Driving Record Affect My Insurance Rates?

Posted: Thursday, April 21st, 2016

If you’ve made poor choices behind the wheel, you may wonder what effect your bad driving record has on your car insurance. Will you have high rates? Or will you be stuck with high-risk auto insurance as a result of your mistakes? At Green Light Auto Credit, we want you to have the information you need, so we asked the experts. While a variety of factors decide your rates, it turns out that how you deal with them is important too.

 

The Effect of a Bad Driving Record on Car Insurance Rates

Many states use a points system to determine a driver’s risk. For every moving violation or accident, you get points against your license. Earning points causes your insurance rates to go up. Enough points and you could lose your license altogether.

There are a variety of violations that will cause you to gain points on your license:

  • Excessive Speed
  • Driving Under the Influence
  • Minor Accident
  • Major Traffic Accident

Depending upon the severity of these, your insurer may raise your rates a little or they may terminate your policy. There are a few things you can do to help reduce the damage from these infractions:

  • Keep Your Record Clean
  • Challenge the Ticket/Findings in Court
  • Attend Driver’s Training

Once the points are on your record, the only way to remove them is with time. Keep an eye on your driving record and make sure it is accurate. When you notice points dropping off, contact your insurer to see if you can get a lower rate.

Let Green Light Auto Credit Guide You Finance

A bad driving record can affect more than your car insurance rates; they can make it hard to get financed too. Come to Green Light Auto Credit and let our expert credit counselors find you the lowest rate for your next auto loan. Even with a bad driving history, we can get you financed and save you money.

Keep Your Monthly Payments Lower, Come to Green Light Auto Credit

To keep the cost of your next loan down, and for tips on how to reduce your costs even if you need high-risk auto insurance, contact Green Light Auto Credit at (800) 200-5551 to find a branch near you.

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