No, you usually do not need to inform your insurance company about your speeding ticket. Your insurance carrier will see it the next time they pull your motor vehicle record (MVR) and rate you according to their rating system they have in place.
When you plead guilty and pay the fine on a speeding ticket (or other moving violation) then the state normally adds the conviction of the offense to your driving record and may place points on your license as well depending upon your state's laws. An insurance company usually checks your MVR at the inception of your policy and at renewal time and thus at either of those times an insurance company will now see this traffic ticket.
A first traffic ticket may or may not affect you rates, it will depend upon the rating system of your insurance carrier. Your agent should be able to tell you about their rating system or you may contact your state's insurance regulator which is the state agency insurance companies must file their rates with. While a first speeding ticket may not affect your rates, a good driver discount may be taken off of your policy.
If you apply for insurance with a new insurance carrier though and you are asking in your application about any traffic tickets you will need to give information on this speeding ticket for 20 mph over the limit however you do not normally need to contact your current car insurance provider and alert them to the fact you were convicted of the offense since they will see it when they pull your MVR and rate you accordingly.
If you want to shop around for inexpensive car insurance rates, click here.
|