How Do Tickets Affect Car Insurance In Ontario?

Everything You Need To Know About Speeding Tickets And Insurance

You know that sinking feeling – a police officer has just pulled you over. Maybe you’re wondering, “What did I do?” or “Why have I been pulled over?”. Even worse – you catch a glimpse of your speedometer, and you realize, “Oh man, I was 20 kms over the limit!”. And without skipping a beat, your next thought is, “Is this ticket going to increase my car insurance?”.

You’re mad at yourself or panicked because you know it’s not going to be a good outcome. Whatever your reaction, the harsh medicine you have to face is that there will be some outcomes, and some of them include your auto premiums.

Learn How Tickets Impact Insurance In Ontario

Everyone wants to know how tickets will affect their car insurance in Ontario. Even drivers who have a clean driving record want to know, just in case they get a ticket or traffic conviction in the future.

We all know that, as a driver, you’re expected to practice safe driving in Ontario. And if you don’t know the rules of the road or don’t always follow them, you are putting yourself and others at risk. You also risk getting a ticket or traffic conviction, increasing how much you pay for your policy.

Which Kind Of Tickets Affect Insurance?

Do all tickets affect insurance? This is a common question we get from our policy holders in Ontario. The answer is that it depends on the type of traffic ticket you receive.

Traffic tickets are divided into three categories – minor, major, and serious convictions. Each of these types can affect your rates, regardless of the number of demerit points or the severity of the fine associated with the traffic infraction.

Here’s a breakdown of some examples of the types of convictions :

Serious Or Criminal Conviction

DUI, blood alcohol over .08
Speeding over 50 kms above posted limit, or stunt driving
Driving uninsured
Refusing a breathalyzer
Failing to remain at an accident
Racing

Major Conviction

Distracted driving
G1 driver driving unaccompanied
Fail to obey school crossing stop sign
Failure to report an accident
Improper passing of a school bus
Improper passing or speeding in a playground or school zone

Minor Conviction

Backing up – unsafe, illegal, improper
Brakes – none, inadequate, improper
Crowding driver’s seat
Door opening – illegal, obstructing traffic
Other moving offences – speeding, failure to stop at stop sign
Driving recklessly

What Tickets Increase Your Car Insurance The Most?

Top 8 Traffic Tickets That Will Spike Insurance

As a driver, you want to avoid getting any traffic tickets; however, some are even more important to avoid because of the potential fines, demerit points, and impact on your car insurance.

Here are the top 8 traffic tickets and convictions you don’t want to get :

DUI : Driving under the influence or DUI has severe repercussions, including criminal charges and jail time.
Distracted driving : One of the most serious issues on the road today, distracted driving fines start at $490 and 3 demerit points in Ontario.
Careless driving : A charge for careless driving in Ontario will get you 6 demerit points, fines starting at $400 and even the potential for jail time.
Speeding over 50 kilometres about posted limit : This is a serious offence that could come with additional charges such as street racing, careless driving, and will increase your insurance immediately.
Speeding in a school zone or construction zone : This is not only extremely dangerous, it comes with a hefty fine and will raise your costs.
Driving without insurance : This will make it very difficult and expensive to get insurance if you get caught driving without it.
Failure to remain at the scene : If you get into an accident, remain at the scene or you could face a big fine.
Passing a school bus with its lights flashing : Never put children in harm’s way. If you get a ticket for passing a school bus, expect your costs to skyrocket.

How Much Do Convictions For Tickets Increase Insurance?

Every insurance company has their own policies on how they charge for driving convictions. The amount and severity of a driver’s conviction on their driving record can impact premiums.

Here are some general guidelines to help you understand the potential impacts :

Serious Or Criminal Convictions : You may be charged 100% more for each conviction.
Major Convictions : You may be charged 25% more for each conviction.
Minor Convictions
- 1 Minor Conviction : 1 minor conviction has no impact but the driver will not be eligible for a conviction free discount.
- 2 Minor Convictions : Some companies charge 20% more for 2 minor convictions and 20% more for each additional conviction.

Do Parking Tickets Impact Insurance?

So you’ve racked up a parking ticket or two, you’ve paid them, but you still want to know how do parking tickets affect insurance in Ontario?

You can take a deep breath! Parking tickets have no impact on your insurance.

However, if you don’t pay for those parking tickets, you won’t be permitted to renew your license plate when it comes up for renewal, so make sure you pay it when you get them.

Do Speeding Tickets Affect Insurance In Ontario?

Getting a speeding ticket is something most drivers will experience in their lifetime. It’s one of the most common forms of a ticket, and if you get one, you want to know how a speeding ticket affects insurance.

As with other tickets, it depends on the severity of the ticket, how fast you were going over the limit, and the classification of the traffic infraction (minor, major, serious conviction) and how many tickets you have. Your first minor speeding ticket will not impact your policy as your third speeding ticket or a conviction for a serious speeding offence.

Will A Red Light Ticket Affect My Auto Insurance?

It could. If a police officer pulls you over for running a red light, it is considered a minor conviction and it could impact your insurance. There are also red light cameras in many cities. Learn more about red light camera tickets.

How Do Speed Camera Tickets Affect Insurance?

They don’t, as it is difficult to prove who was driving the vehicle. They are treated with similar parking tickets and will not impact your insurance.

Do Tickets For Running A Stop Affect Insurance?

Running a stop sign is a minor traffic conviction, and it is treated similarly to a red light ticket. Running a stop sign can impact your rates, so keep this in mind the next time you do a rolling stop.

How Does Distracted Driving Impact My Premium?

Distracted driving is a major conviction. The fine for distracted driving is $490, plus three demerit points, and if you are convicted of distracted driving, you can expect your costs to go up.

If you have previous tickets and then get a distracted driving charge, your costs could skyrocket, and you may get your policy cancelled.

When Does A Ticket Become A Conviction?

It’s The Conviction Date That Impacts Your Insurance, Not The Ticket Date

Almost all of us worry immediately about our car insurance as soon as we get a ticket. But it isn’t the actual ticket that impacts your rate; it’s being convicted for a driving offence that does.

Insurers care about the number and severity of driving convictions a driver has within a three year period. A ticket becomes a conviction when :

You pay the ticket : When you pay your ticket you are pleading guilty of the offense.
You are convicted in court : You challenge the ticket in court and lose or get a reduced conviction.
You don’t pay the ticket or go to your trial : If you don’t pay your ticket within 15 days of getting the ticket or you don’t go to your trial a Justice of the Peace may convict you of the offense.

The effective date for the driving offence is the date you were “convicted” of the offence. So the date you pay the ticket or the date you are convicted in court is the date used by insurance companies for the conviction.

You can learn more about tickets and fines at the Ontario Ministry Of The Attorney General website.

How Long Do Traffic Ticket Convictions Stay On Your Driving Record?

Convictions stay on your driving record for 3 years, starting from the conviction date. If the conviction impacts a driver’s insurance, the increased rates will be reflected upon policy renewal for three years. The same applies when a conviction falls off your driving record after three years. You will no longer be rated for the conviction, and your costs will drop.

Demerit Points Don’t Impact Car Insurance

Generally speaking, insurance companies are not too concerned about demerit points you get for certain driving offences and fines. It’s important that you understand the demerit point system from a driving standpoint.

At the same time, demerit points, including how many you have, can indicate the severity of your driving violation and of your offence.

Severity And Number Of Convictions Determine How Much Your Insurance Goes Up

Almost all driving convictions will impact rates. Parking tickets are the exception and have no impact. When your policy renews, your provider will check your record to determine if you have any convictions that may impact your costs.

Tabitha Taylor, a paralegal assistant, confirmed this in a Globe and Mail article saying, “Your policy and your driving record in the last three years will determine if a ticket is going to impact your insurance. Some companies allow up to two or three convictions before they cause an increase, but it depends upon your policy.”

The degree to which it changes will depend on a few things :

The severity of the conviction.
The number convictions and their severity.
Your providers rules for convictions.

3 Or More Convictions Will Really Increase Your Insurance

Regular or standard insurers have guidelines for the types of drivers they will insure. If you have too many convictions or more severe convictions, your company may not want to insure you anymore.

Generally, three or more convictions or a combination of a minor, major and/or serious conviction may mean that your company will likely not renew your policy. You may need high-risk auto insurance.

Check Your Driving Record Before Renewal

If you are unsure of your driving record and the dates of convictions, it can be helpful to get a Driver’s Abstract (also called a Driver’s History Report).

This will give you a good idea of what you might be facing at renewal time. When you get a quote, be honest about your tickets and convictions, this will help ensure your quote is accurate. Companies will run your reports and modify them based on your driving record.

Stay Conviction Free To Keep Costs Down

Many factors impact insurance prices, and being a good driver is one of the most important. Driving convictions indicate how good a driver you are to companies. Being conviction-free helps ensure that you pay less.

Don’t get tickets or convictions of any kind.
Practice safe driving skills.
Follow the road rules at all times.
Drive a vehicle that is safe and operating properly.

Stay conviction-free to keep your auto insurance quote as low as possible. If a conviction impacts them, it will fall off your driving record after three years, and they will go down again.