Reader’s Question:

I am from Texas. I’ve had a couple of speeding tickets so I’m thinking of going to a new insurance provider. Where can I get free car insurance quotes?

Jake

Houston, TX

A driving record or motor vehicle record (MVR) contains an individual’s history of violations and suspensions. To try to curb habitual traffic offenders, the Texas government has mandated that violations be assessed with financial equivalents. This means that a driver with accumulated six points on his or her driving record in any 12-month period will pay huge fines annually for three years. Additionally, drivers with moving violations will be required to take the Driver Responsibility Program (DRP) as a form of punishment. A moving violation is considered two points. Meanwhile, a moving violation that resulted in a car crash will be counted as three points.

In Texas, speeding up to ten percent over the posted limit will not amount to any point. However, you will still be required to take the DRP. This also gives you the chance to remove the speeding ticket from your record. But bear in mind that taking the DRP is only allowed once in any one-year period and can only take out one ticket at a time. Moreover, the DRP cannot be taken more than five times. Since car insurance companies pull out a driver’s MVR every time a policy is reviewed for renewal, having a number of points on your MVR can be used as grounds to raise your premiums, or worse, cancellation of your policy. Since you’re thinking of changing your current insurer, the Internet would be good place to get free car insurance quotes. But bear in mind that even your prospective insurer is going to look up your MVR. Even if your application does get accepted you’ll still probably be given higher car insurance premiums because you’ll be seen as an unfavorable risk.

Tags: auto insurance premium, car insurance quotes, traffic violation