Do speeding tickets affect car insurance?

The short answer is yes, speeding tickets do affect car insurance premiums. That’s because as well as a ticket, you will also accrue demerit points on your licence. If you’re a learner or P1 licence holder, your licence will be suspended for at least three months.

This is important information to know, but especially so for NSW drivers. A few months ago the NSW government made the decision to remove warning signs from mobile speed detection cameras. Since then, speeding fines in the state have risen from $400,000 per month to a huge $2.5 million per month, according to a report from 9News.

How do demerit points work?

The demerit points system is a fairly common way for authorities to rate drivers for recklessness on the road. In Australia a licence-holder will start off with zero points to their name, that’s good. However, if they are caught doing something illegal such as speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, running through a red light or a stop sign, they will receive demerit points.

Once you have accrued demerit points, you will usually have to wait three years for them to be removed. Generally speaking, the maximum you can accrue before your licence is suspended is 12. Although this can vary in different states and territories.

Why do demerit points affect car insurance?

Demerit points affect car insurance because they show your insurance provider that you are (or have been) a reckless driver in the past. For example, a speeding ticket shows an insurance provider that you may be prone to speeding, meaning there’s a higher chance that you could be involved in a car accident.

It’s also worth remembering that driving offences are offences for a reason. According to Transport for NSW, speeding is the most common cause of road fatalities in the state. So it’s understandable that insurance providers will want to review your driving history when determining the price of your premium.

Of course, the number of demerit points you have are just one factor that will affect what you pay. Others include how old you are, how long you have been driving, where you park your car at night and what the crime rate is like in your area. If all other factors are rosy looking, there’s a chance that your car insurance might not be too adversely affected by a past speeding ticket.

Lastly, car insurance premiums can vary significantly, depending on which provider you choose to go with. In Mozo’s 2020 Car Insurance Report, our research team found that the average annual premium difference between comparable policies was $902.

Think it’s time you reviewed your car insurance? Take a look at the policies on offer below, or head to Mozo’s compare car insurance page for more options.