Your seat belt citation does not directly get reported to you insurance company but if you are convicted of this violation it will go on your California DMV driving record. So the next time your insurance company checks your motor vehicle record (MVR) they will see this offense listed.

Under CA Proposition 103, auto insurance rates are required to be based on a driver’s safety record, mileage driven per year and years of driving experience. In addition, insurers are allowed to use 16 optional rating factors that have been approved by the California Insurance Department. Companies look at many factors when calculating insurance rates. Optional rating factors include things such as the type of vehicle driven, vehicle characteristics (for example, the car’s safety features), marital status and where the vehicle is garaged.

Since your driver's record is a rating factor for insurance companies this seat belt violation could possibly affect your car insurance rates depending upon your provider's rating system.

In California, you are allowed to attend traffic school once every 18 months. If your offense is eligible for driving classes, it usually will be stated on your citation or court papers. Since when you called the court they said you were eligible you will need to decide if you want to attend school and keep the offense off of your record or not.

To help decide you may want to call your insurance agent and find out about how this violation would affect your rates if it was on your MVR. If your insurer does not find it serious enough to affect your rates you may want to save your traffic school for another time, say if you get a speeding ticket in the next 18 months.