Speeding warnings probably won’t impact your rates, but this doesn’t mean they don’t matter.

Law enforcement agencies give police officers a lot of discretion when it comes to issuing traffic tickets. If you are pulled over for speeding, the officer could give you either a speeding ticket or a speeding warning.

It is obviously better to receive a warning than a ticket, but how do speeding warnings impact your auto insurance rates? They probably won’t, but they do have the potential to affect what you pay. This article will examine this question in further detail and offer some tips for reducing insurance rates.

One of the easiest ways to find the lowest car insurance rates is by comparing providers. Our team has reviewed the best car insurance companies and offers a convenient-to-use quote comparison tool. Try it below or call (844) 246-8209 for free auto insurance quotes.

In this article:

What Does A Speeding Warning Mean?

A speeding warning is not an order to appear in court or pay a fine. It will not add points to your license either. A speeding warning means that the officer is “letting you off the hook,” so to speak.

A written warning may appear on your driving record. If you are pulled over and the officer notices you’ve already received multiple speeding warnings, they're more likely to give you a real citation.

Speeding Tickets Versus Speeding Warnings

In the case that you are pulled over for driving over the speed limit, the officer will give you either a speeding ticket or a speeding warning. There are differences in how each will affect your wallet.

Speeding Tickets	Speeding Warnings
May add points to your license	Will not add points to your license
Are citations to appear in court and/or pay a fine	No need to appear in court or pay a fine
Can increase your auto insurance rates depending on the infraction	Unlikely to increase your insurance rates
Will definitely appear on your driving record	May or may not appear on your driving record

There are two different types of speeding warnings you can receive: written or verbal. A verbal warning will not appear on your driving record. There is no paper trail, and the incident is solely between you and the officer that stopped you.

Written speeding warnings may appear on your permanent record. This depends on the practices of the particular police department. It is possible that the warning will be stored in a rusty filing cabinet, never again to see the light of day. It’s also possible that the warning will be filed electronically. Electronic records are easily accessible to any car insurance company that decides to search for them.

The good news is that it is highly unlikely for a speeding warning to increase your insurance rates. Even if an auto insurance company knows about the warning, it is unlikely to care. However, if you have a high number of speeding warnings, that could be a different story. If you have a lot of speeding warnings on your record, you increase the likelihood that the next officer will ticket you after a traffic stop.

How Speeding Warnings Impact Insurance Rates

Auto insurance carriers look at a number of factors to determine your premiums. These include:

City
Age
Marital status
Credit score
Driving history
Vehicle
Gender

Providers care about your driving history, because they want to know how likely it is that your driving will result in a claim payout. Having a single ticket or a couple minor infractions is common for most people, and not likely to spike your rates. However, drivers with multiple traffic violations – especially DUIs – are deemed “high-risk” by insurance carriers.

A speeding warning is the least likely infraction to increase your insurance rates. Your current provider probably won’t even know about the warning. When you sign up with a new provider, the company may find the warning on your driving record, but is unlikely to care.

It is possible that if you accumulate a high volume of speeding warnings and tickets, your rates will rise. A single warning should not raise your rates even by a penny.

How To Reduce Your Car Insurance Rates

There are many strategies for reducing your insurance rates, and you don’t need to wait until you get speeding warnings to try them.

Ask For A Higher Deductible

Policies with higher deductibles have lower premiums. But just because a higher deductible will lower your annual premium doesn’t mean it’s always a good idea. Make sure you will be able to afford your deductible should you get into an accident. In some cases, an extremely high deductible is not worth low rates. You need to find the ideal balance for your own budget.

When considering this option, be realistic about your own driving habits. This is a very bad option if you have gotten into a lot of accidents.

Take A Defensive Driving Class

Many auto insurance providers will offer discounts if you complete a defensive driving class. You will need to check with your individual carrier. In the following states, car insurance carriers are required to lower rates for customers who complete a state-approved defensive driving class:

Alabama	Alaska	Arkansas	Colorado
Connecticut	Delaware	District of Columbia	Florida	Georgia
Idaho	Illinois	Kansas	Kentucky	Louisiana
Maine	Minnesota	Mississippi	Montana	Nevada
New Jersey	New Mexico (only for drivers over 50)	New York	North Dakota	Oklahoma
Oregon	Pennsylvania	Rhode Island	South Carolina	Tennessee
Utah	Virginia	Washington	West Virginia	Wyoming

In Texas and Florida you can take a defensive driving class to have your ticket dismissed. This can prevent your insurance rates from going up in the first place.

Ask Your Provider About Discounts

Most providers offer discounts for safe driving, policy bundling, and insuring multiple cars. The chart below lists common discounts offered by many auto insurance providers. These can help you lower your rates if you are worried about getting a lot of speeding warnings and tickets.

Discount	Details
Good student discount	Reduced rates for students with good grades
Good driver discount	Reduced rates for drivers with good driving records
Defensive driver discount	Reduced rates for completing a defensive driving course
Car safety discount	Reduced rates for cars with extra safety features
Multiple policy discount	Reduced rates if you bundle your auto insurance with other insurance policies
Multiple vehicle discount	Reduced rates for insuring multiple vehicles
Military discount	Reduced rates for military members
Annual mileage	Reduced rates for driving fewer miles
New vehicle	Reduced rates for vehicles less than three years old
Automatic payments	Reduced rates for customers that schedule automatic payments
Family discount	Reduced rates for having family members that also use the same provider
Paperless discount	Reduced rates for signing policy documents and receiving bills electronically

Switch Insurance Providers

Almost every car insurance company brags that customers who switch to its policies save. This is true because most people aren’t going to switch providers unless it saves money. The customers whose costs would increase don’t end up making the switch.

Like internet service providers, many car insurance companies will offer discounts if it means they can poach you away from a competitor. Compare rates among providers, and when you are speaking with an insurance agent, be sure to mention the deals you’ve been offered by competitors.

If you’re lucky enough to get off with speeding warnings, you may not be concerned about a premium spike. But, if your insurance premiums go up because of points on your license, consider comparing quotes and switching providers. Start by using our quote comparison tool or by calling

Some companies offer great options for insurance that is both inexpensive and comprehensive. Check out two of our favorite providers below.

USAA: Best For Military

Not only does USAA car insurance offer some of the lowest prices, it also receives high customer satisfaction ratings. We give USAA 5.0 stars out of 5.0 in our USAA auto insurance review, and it is our highest-rated provider for a reason. The J.D. Power 2019 Auto Claims Satisfaction Study^SM gave USAA top marks for claims servicing, and AM Best assigns USAA an A++ financial strength rating.

Note that USAA is only available to military members and their immediate family members. If USAA car insurance is an option for you, it is certainly worth exploring.

Geico: Best Overall

In our Geico auto insurance review, we found Geico to be a good alternative for those who aren’t eligible to buy USAA insurance. Geico offers full coverage at competitive prices. You can even lower premiums by tracking your driving with the DriveEasy app.

Geico has a Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating of A+ and an AM Best financial strength rating of A++ (the highest possible rating). Geico fully integrates apps into its claims filing and service request process. It is easy and convenient to request roadside assistance or report an accident.

FAQ About Speeding Warnings

Do warnings for speeding go on your record?

It depends. Verbal speeding warnings are not documented and will not appear on your record. A written warning may appear on your record. You can check your driver record yourself by contacting your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

How long does a warning stay in the system?

There is no set time that a warning will stay on your record. Some warnings may never go on your record at all, and others could potentially sit in a filing cabinet for decades. Speeding tickets generally stay on your record for five to ten years.

What happens if you get a warning from a cop?

If a cop gives you a verbal speeding warning, nothing else happens. You are free to drive away and will not be fined or summoned to court. A written warning is a little different in that it could be added to your driving record.

A single written warning on your driving record will not impact you. Multiple written speeding warnings may affect your insurance premiums and the likelihood that you get a real ticket the next time you are pulled over.

Methodology

In an effort to provide accurate and unbiased information to consumers, our expert review team collects data from dozens of auto insurance providers to formulate rankings of the best insurers. Companies receive a score in each of the following categories, as well as an overall weighted score out of 5.0 stars.

Industry Standing: Insurers with strong financial ratings and customer-first business practices receive the highest scores in this category.
Availability: We consider availability by state as well as exclusions for specific groups of drivers.
Coverage: This rating is based on types of insurance available, maximum coverage limits, and add-on policies.
Cost and Discounts: Our research team reviews sample quotes for a variety of drivers in every state. Companies with lower prices and many car insurance discount opportunities receive the best scores.
Customer Service: We comb through customer reviews and consumer feedback studies from experts like J.D. Power.
Technology: Auto insurers with mobile apps, advanced online services and telematics are more likely to meet consumer needs.