Can An Insurance Company Cancel My Policy In Texas?
Reader question:
Are Texas car insurance companies allowed to cancel my auto insurance policy if I get ticketed for speeding?
Bruce
They are, yes.
Car insurance companies accept their customers based on a certain criteria, and you can’t expect a car insurance company that did not give policies to high risk drivers to begin with to continue to let you have a policy with them if you move into the high risk driver group while you are there. While it is not true that these companies will always, without fail, find out about any of your car traffic infractions, for the most part they check your driving record regularly, so if it comes up they can cancel or refuse to renew tour car insurance policy.
For the most part, this only happens if you get the ticket within two months of having gotten the policy to begin with. For example, if you get a ticket later on in your policy cycle, they might let it slide. The only reason that most companies will cancel during that time is if you don’t pay your premium as scheduled.
Also, if it is your first speeding ticket, for the most part your car insurance company won’t cancel or not renew your policy for just the one. While Texas is not among the states that have laws making it to where they cannot cancel you for one ticket, most car insurance companies still see letting the first ticket go as good business practice. If you get more than one speeding ticket during your premium period, though, you’re pretty much guaranteed a non renewal.
If you want to avoid getting high rates or policy cancellation, Texas offers defensive driving classes that you can take in order to get these offenses wiped off of your record.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama.
How Does A Speeding Ticket Causing My Car Insurance Price Increase?
Reader question:
If I get a speeding ticket, for how long will it make my car insurance price higher?
Orlando
Good question.
It actually depends a lot on where you are located and what car insurance company you are with. Many states have a kind of point system, where you gain points for every offense that you commit, from driving uninsured to going over the speed limit. In these states, offenses start to fall off after a year of driving clean, and you will lose points this way. So, once the points that you gained from a ticket have been lost, you will no longer be charged higher rates for them.
In other states, especially for a serious offense like a second speeding ticket, you might have to get SR 22 car insurance. If you get this, it will usually stay with you for three years, but your rates might be affected for five.
cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama.
Where Do I Get an SR22 Insurance Form?
Reader question:
When I went to court for my speeding ticket, they told me that I would have to file an SR 22 form from now on. What does that mean?
Gale
Great question.
The SR 22 form is something that must be filed by your car insurance company whenever you commit a serious traffic violation, such as driving drunk or speeding fifteen miles over the limit. In some states, you don’t even have to commit an offense to have an SR 22 form filed. They file them for everybody. In states where they are filed for everybody, such as New York, it is pretty much impossible for someone to go without car insurance and not get found out. It’s the same way for anyone else who needs to file SR 22 car insurance. If you don’t have a car insurance company to file a form, then you could risk such serious consequences as losing your license.
The kind of car insurance that requires an SR 22 form is of the most expensive variety. When you commit an offense such as speeding or driving under the influence, then you are often moved into the highest risk group in the car insurance industry. A lot of times, your car insurance company will cancel your policy outright. If this happens, you might have a hard time finding a company to give you a policy and file an SR 22 form for you. If all else fails, you might be forced to join a state sponsored risk pool. Whatever you do, you will end up paying probably twice as much as you did on your previous premium now that you’re a high risk driver.
So does everything to do with the SR 22 form rest on your company’s shoulders? Nope, not at all. First of all, your car insurance company won’t know automatically that you need an SR 22 form, so if you don’t tell them, then you will get in trouble concerning your license. You have to call up your company, first, and tell them that you need SR 22 insurance. Sometimes you will need to take the SR 22 form to the Department of Motor Vehicles in addition to having your company file one. If this is the case, you can either have the insurance company mail you one, or print one out from your computer.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama.
If I Get A Speeding Ticket Will My Car Insurance Rate Go Up?
Reader question:
If I get a speeding ticket, will my car insurance rates go up?
Andy
Usually.
It all depends on who you are and what car insurance company you are with. Typically, a speeding ticket is one of the big factors in the rise of your car insurance rates. It is evidence that you are an irresponsible driver and puts you into a high risk pool of people being insured. One speeding ticket might not be the end of your car insurance history, but it does usually have a big impact, although not nearly as much as getting into a car accident. Car insurance companies want to nip speeders in the bud, though, considering that speeding is more likely to get you in a car accident to begin with. If your rate goes up too much, though, you can get free auto insurance quotes and see what other companies are like.
However, it isn’t necessarily true that you will see an increase in your premium. If you have been a long time customer with your car insurance company, they might want to give it a little bit of thought before giving you reason to leave them be. If you have a good driving record from the past and the speeding ticket is a one time thing that is in no way normal to your driving experience, it is very possible that you will see little to no effect from your speeding ticket on your premium.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama.
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