Munku

I'm curious if anyone knows if they can raise insurance rates for a speeding ticket even if you take the traffic course to drop the points. If anyone knows if they can do this or not, for USAA or any provider I'd be appreciative. This website I'm reading claims your rates can't go up if you take the course but I'm thinking they can go ahead and do it anyways.

Willravel

I was in an accedent with an idiot, and USAA didn't touch my rates. They went psycho on Mercury Insurance, the other guy's providor, too.

__________________
"So long as governments set the example of killing their enemies, private citizens will occasionally kill theirs." Elbert Hubbard

Grasshopper Green

Well, it's not the same thing...but hubby had a lawyer take care of his speeding ticket in NC, so that it wouldn't affect his record as much...and our rates (with USAA) didn't budge.

__________________
"They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king"

Guinevere

USAA is great but it really depends on how long you've been with them and whether they'll adjust your rates but I would say no for a speeding ticket. It's accident claims they will consider, of course. I've been with them over 30 years and they didn't mess with my rates until my teenager had 5 wrecks in 2 years. Ouch. Even with that, my rates are still lower than other insurers and USAA told me they would never drop me or my kids since teenager drivers are notoriously accident prone and they won't penalize the entire family for that. Of course, they hope that once the kids get older, they'll use USAA. I'll encourage them to do that but they are more expensive then other providers; however, they are so damn responsive and their CSRs are so skilled, I pay the extra $$$ just for that service alone.

Sgoilear

They will probably take your history into account also. I got hit with a pretty large speeding ticket (25 over in a 75) and USAA didn't increase my rates didn't move. I had a clean record right up to that point though. Also the CSR's there are great. That's been said before but it bears repeating.

__________________
"People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them." -George Bernard Shaw

Carno

USAA is fucking awesome.

I just wanted to say that.

__________________
http://how-to-spell-ridiculous.com/

The_Jazz

Here's the ultimate USAA praise - I'm an insurance agent, and my coverage is with USAA even though I don't sell any products of theirs. They've helped me out of several jams, including some homeowners issues that couild have been nightmares.

As far as insurance in general goes, an insurance carrier has the right to raise your rate at renewal if they want. If they are doing it in the middle of the policy term (most personal auto policies run 6 months at a time), then that's illegal. Generally speaking, I find it surprising that they would do it at all unless there are some bad circumstances that they're seeing. Things that would count against you are your age, the amount over that you were speeding (15+ would be a big red flag), whether or not you have other tickets or accidents, your job (if they just figured out that you're delivering pizzas, they'll charge you extra), etc. I would call and ask since the customer service folks have never been anything but extremely helpful for me.

Good luck!

Marvelous Marv

I agree that USAA is awesome. One thing to bear in mind (AFAIK) is that taking the course keeps your insurance company from finding out about the ticket. No more than once every 18 months.

It pays to confirm that the DMV received verification that you completed the program.

__________________
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."
Margaret Thatcher

Slims

I have had USAA since I was a child. When I was a teenager I got a ticket, and took the course. My families rates did not go up. In fact, they may have decreased a little bit because USAA really likes seeing that course.

Years later, and no longer part of my parents policy, I have received minor speeding tickets and my rate never increased. USAA has a pretty good system and since they are not a for-profit company but a co-op they are not trying to raise rates in order to make more money, but only when you really present a greater risk. Nearly everybody gets a minor ticket every now and again, it shouldn't be a problem.

But, I am not an insurance agent.

__________________
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill

"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dream with open eyes, to make it possible." Seven Pillars of Wisdom, T.E. Lawrence