Do Parking Tickets Affect Insurance?

You may have to pay fines, penalties and appear in court depending on severity of a traffic infringement. For a ticket to affect auto insurance it has to go onto Motor Vehicle Records. If there is nothing adverse in there a surcharge cannot be applied for it. To answer this question we need to look at what sort of an offence it is.

Motor Vehicle Records

Every state in the US keeps MVR on every license holder. It shows its status, traffic infringements and accidents. Companies can check these files whenever they choose to do so. Usually, any negative note on it isn’t good.

The good news is that parking tickets don’t show on motor vehicle records and therefore insurance companies cannot even see it, let alone apply a surcharge for it.

parking tickets

Generally, breaking state laws and regulations will result in a moving violation. Some of the examples are speeding, reckless driving of any kind, improper turning or passing and driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances. They influence the premium in varying degrees depending on its severity.

Non-moving infringements covers other minor incidents for unsafe vehicles, faulty lights, overloading, obstructing traffic, parking and registration. Non moving violations don’t affect premiums.

In summary, there is nothing to worry about as it is a non-consequential event in any case. Only penalties that were received after a police officer identified the driver by checking the license will go into MVR.

Leaving your car in a wrong spot can only get you an annoying fine but it can cause all sorts of problems if unpaid. They don’t cause any concern as long and they are dealt with swiftly. But there are ways outstanding bills can creep into system and become indirect problem.

How Unpaid Parking Ticket Can Be an Issue

One major problem with them is that they can spiral into large sums with further charges for late payment and interest that it may now be financially difficult to handle. Furthermore, local authorities usually pass it onto a collection agency for quick settlement or they may choose to file in small claims courts against the owner of the vehicle when they are ignored for some time. Collection agencies usually notify credit agencies for non-payment that reduces the credit score. However, the real impact would be seen when a court judgment is registered against you for them. Court Judgments can ruin credit score and insurance score as a result that can raise rates up to 20%.

Vehicle Registration Issues: In some states unpaid fines can affect vehicle registration. DMV can refuse to renew or suspend a license. You will probably receive a reckless driving citation when you are involved in an accident with an unregistered vehicle.

So, you should just pay it in time, if you don’t want an unauthorised  placement of your car comes back and bites you hard.

Penalties and Premiums

There are reasons why most auto insurers only sell policies for 6 months. They don’t want to be locked in a policy with a reckless policyholder. Speeding, recklessness and other issues discussed above are seen as signs of increasing risks in relation to insuring such motorists. It is no secret that it is harder to get cheap coverage for bad driving history. Companies can apply a surcharge as soon as they see it.

It is only fair that companies charge more for higher risks. However, leaving a car in a spot you shouldn’t have isn’t considered to be that kind of a risk. That is why carriers aren’t bothered with them regardless of them knowing or not.