Written by Q: I have a honda odyssey and my car insurance rates are pretty decent but I recently received a speeding ticket and I think my rates are going to go up. Does it help that I drive a minivan?
AIS answer: When it comes to speeding tickets it doesn’t matter what kind of vehicle you’re driving, an infraction will be on your motor vehicle report regardless. That’s not to say you’re going to pay a higher auto insurance premium than if you had a different car insured before the speeding ticket.
It’s possible that insuring and driving the Honda Odyssey gave you lower auto insurance rates than a Chevrolet Corvette from the beginning of your policy, so if you took a driver who insured only an Odyssey with a speeding ticket and a Corvette with a speeding ticket it’s very likely the person with the Corvette would pay a higher auto insurance premium before and after the ticket.
Only your insurance company can tell you how a speeding ticket will affect your individual auto insurance policy. For instance, you may be in the top tier (tier 1) and considered a low risk driver, and 1 speeding ticket within 3 – 5 years may still keep you in the low risk driver status. Some companies put you in the second tier (they may have a different name for it) when you have 2 tickets, some may do it at 1. This is why you need to speak with your insurance company.
Also, your auto insurance premium cannot be altered by your insurance company while you’re in the middle of a policy cycle. At renewal your premium and motor vehicle record will be evaluated and a new rate (if any) will be set for the upcoming cycle.
you got a speeding ticket in an Odyssey? W00t.