Do speeding tickets affect insurance in Ontario

Yes, speeding tickets affect auto insurance rates in Ontario.  The degree to which a speeding ticket would affect your insurance depends on a few things:

1- the type of speeding ticket.  Is it a minor, major or even criminal speeding ticket? 

2- if you have more than one speeding ticket within three years. 

3 – if you decide to fight the speeding ticket the charge either gets dropped or lessened. 

Types of Speeding Tickets in Ontario for Insurance Rating

Speeding tickets range in severity according to how much over the speed limit you were driving, relative to the maximum speed limit.  Insurance companies typically have three categories for speeding tickets or fines.  

Minor Speeding Ticket in Ontario

A minor speeding ticket is a moving violation for driving under 50 km an hour.  Minor speeding tickets tend to increase your insurance premiums the least.  However, having more than one minor speeding ticket can increase the cost of your car insurance even more.  Having one minor speeding ticket along with other driving violations will also increase the price of auto insurance in Ontario, or may even disqualify you from getting insurance in the standard auto insurance market. 

Major Speeding Ticket in Ontario

A major speeding ticket in Ontario, Canada, is a moving violation for any speed over 50km an hour, but less than 60km. Major speeding for insurance purposes also includes speeding in a school or playground area and speeding in a construction zone.  Major speeding tickets tend to raise the cost of your overall insurance premium by a significant amount.  One major speeding ticket can increase the price of your auto insurance by 30% or more, depending on your risk profile or if you also have other infractions on your driving history.   

Criminal Speeding Ticket in Ontario

A criminal speeding ticket is a moving violation where the driver does 60km over the speed limit. Speeding tickets that exceed 60km an hour tend to be classified as stunts, or racing contests. 

This type of speeding ticket is the most impactful on your car insurance rates.  Not only may your insurance company raise your rates significantly, but it may also get you cancelled for no longer meeting underwriting criteria.  On top of that, you’ll probably get your driver’s license suspended or even your vehicle impounded, which are extra expenses, out of your pocket. In that case, you’re probably going to need non-standard auto insurance, also known as high-risk auto insurance. A criminal speeding ticket for insurance purposes will increase the cost of your car insurance, dramatically.  

How much does a speeding ticket increase insurance in Ontario?

A speeding ticket can increase your insurance by as little as $100 a year, or by thousands! The difference in cost depends on what type of speeding ticket you were fined and convicted for.  A minor ticket will raise your insurance the least, while serious and criminal speeding tickets will dramatically increase the price of your auto insurance. 

Does a 15-over speeding ticket affect your insurance in Ontario?

Yes, a 15-over speeding ticket will affect the cost of your insurance, upon renewal, or if the policy was started within 60 days, an adjustment is made to reflect the premium increase the speeding ticket caused. 

What is considered a minor speeding ticket in Ontario for insurance rating? 

Any speeding ticket under 50km an hour, except for when speeding in a school, playground or construction zone. A speeding ticket in a school, playground or construction zone is considered serious, regardless if you were driving less than 50km over the speed limit. 

Do you have to tell insurance about a speeding ticket?

When applying for auto insurance in Ontario, you must disclose all speeding tickets.  However, during the term of your auto policy, there is no requirement to advise your insurance company about a speeding ticket. The insurance company must review your latest Motor Vehicle Record, or MVR before every policy renewal.  Some insurance companies are more proactive than others about the review process, so the speeding ticket may go unnoticed. 

Does a speeding ticket without demerit points affect insurance?

A speeding ticket without demerit points affects insurance, in the same way, as a speeding ticket with demerit points.  Why? Insurance companies do NOT use demerit points for rating purposes! 

Do camera speeding tickets go on your record in Ontario?

Yes, camera speeding tickets do go on your driving record, or Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) but do not count toward your insurance rating.  

Do camera speeding tickets affect insurance?

No, camera speeding tickets do NOT affect insurance rates. This is because the driver cannot be identified. The speeding ticket is assigned to the legal owner of the vehicle, who is responsible for either paying or challenging the speeding fine.  Insurance companies rate the driver for speeding infractions and other moving violations, but since the driver of the vehicle cannot be confirmed, the insurance company will NOT use the camera speeding ticket for rating purposes. 

How to fight a camera speeding ticket in Ontario?

You can fight a camera speeding ticket like any other traffic fine or ticket. You can appear before the courts and plead not guilty, or you can appeal to the Justice of Peace for a lower fine amount.  You can either represent yourself or hire a paralegal to fight the camera speeding ticket on your behalf.  

Things to consider if you want to fight the speeding ticket:

• Insurance companies do not use demerit points for rate calculation
• The ticket will be on your record for three years from the conviction date, not the charge date. 

How much do 3 or 4 demerit points affect insurance in Ontario?

Three or even four demerit points will not affect your auto insurance in Ontario.  Why? Insurance companies do not use demerit points for rating premium purposes! However, if you accumulate enough demerit points to have your driver’s license suspended, you may be rated for the suspension and also lose driving experience credit during the suspension. 

How long do speeding tickets affect insurance in Ontario?

Speeding tickets in Ontario affect your insurance for three years.  The record is on your Motor Vehicle Report or MVR, which can be obtained from the Ministry of Transportation. 

How much will my insurance go up with a speeding ticket in Ontario?

One speeding ticket can raise your insurance by 5 to 10%.  Additional speeding tickets can increase your premium by an extra 30%, up to 100%.  Also, if you have other driving violation convictions, your speeding ticket will increase your rates exponentially, and/or be cancelled by your insurance company!    

How long does a speeding ticket stay on your record in Ontario?

A speeding ticket stays on your record for three years in Ontario. The driving record is documented in your Motor Vehicle Report or MVR and can be purchased through the Ministry of Transportation.

How will a 15-over speeding ticket affect my insurance in Ontario?

A 15-over speeding ticket will be treated as a minor conviction and will impact your insurance rates minimally.  However, if you have more than one speeding ticket or even other traffic tickets, that 15-over speeding ticket could dramatically increase the cost of car insurance. It may even put you in a position where you do not qualify for standard market rates and end up in the high-risk insurance market for car insurance!