In Virginia, the average commute takes 27.9 minutes, which is the sixth longest commute in the nation. With longer commutes come more opportunities to get a speeding ticket. Drivers who get caught speeding will have to pay a fine,$6 for each mile over the speed limit plus court costs, which results in a total fine of $141 for driving 15 miles per hour over the speed limit. But the cost of speeding does not end with the fine. Once convicted of speeding, Virginia drivers’ insurance costs normally increase by an average of $64.95 per year for three years. The true cost of a speeding ticket in Virginia is 2.38 times the cost of the actual ticket—drivers pay an average of $335.84 in total for a $141 speeding ticket.
Some Virginia drivers, however, face steeper car insurance increases than others. After a speeding ticket, Richmond drivers face an annual car insurance increase of $81.85, as opposed to Christiansburg drivers, who face a much smaller increase, $52.33. Generally, the percentage increase Virginians face after a speeding ticket is consistent across cities—they pay about 7% more. The disparity in dollar increases can be primarily attributed to the different rates drivers pay from city to city.
Key findings
- After receiving a speeding ticket, the average Virginia driver will face a car insurance premium increase of $64.95 per year. Car insurance increases resulting from moving violations normally last for three years, so a Virginia driver speeding 15 miles an hour over the speed limit will pay an extra $193.85 in total insurance increases.
- The average Virginian will face a 7.37% increase in his annual car insurance premium after receiving a speeding ticket.
- Three years after receiving a ticket, a driver in Richmond will pay $88.56 more in extra insurance costs compared a driver in Christiansburg.
What should you do if you receive a speeding ticket in Virginia?
Drivers with clean records normally have three options after receiving a minor speeding ticket:
- Plead guilty, pay the fine and receive a conviction.
- Plead guilty, pay the fine and attend a driver improvement class, which costs about $75, to avoid receiving a conviction.
- Plead not guilty and request a court date.
You should note that court costs vary depending on if you fight your ticket or if you prepay. If you are eligible to attend a traffic safety course, it is often more financially responsible to take the course and avoid a conviction. If you receive a traffic violation conviction, it is a good time to re-shop for car insurance. Some carriers will overlook traffic violations, but unless drivers re-shop for insurance, they will likely not find the best rates.
