Speeding Ticket Impact on Insurance in New Hampshire

On average, expect the cost of car insurance in New Hampshire to increase by 22 percent after getting a speeding ticket in the state. So, for someone with a previously clean record and an average annual cost for full coverage car insurance of $1,262, their rates will shoot up to around $1,538 post-speeding ticket.

Keep in mind that car insurance companies enact different rate increases for various moving violations. Plus, the cost of insurance following a speeding ticket will be cheaper for someone with a good credit score compared to someone with poor credit. In other words, how speeding tickets affect insurance prices differs for everyone, so take these rate-hike estimates with a grain of salt.

New Hampshire doesn’t require car insurance, so the cheapest option would be to forgo it entirely. That said, in order to legally drive without insurance in New Hampshire, you need to prove you meet the state’s Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Requirements per vehicle, which are as follows.

• Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
• Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
• Property damage liability coverage per accident: $25,000

For those of us who can’t deposit $100,000 in the form of money or securities to the state treasurer, a personal auto insurance policy is the only option. So how do you keep your rates affordable after getting a speeding ticket?

1. Get minimum coverage: The cheapest choice would be to get the minimum liability coverage the state requires for insured drivers: 25/50/25. However, note that liability coverage only applies to property damages and medical costs outside of your car. For you and your passengers, you’ll need more coverage, or you risk being financially responsible for these losses out of pocket.
2. Raise your deductible: If you have collision and comprehensive coverage for your property damages, increasing the size of your insurance deductible will lower your premiums.
3. Lower your limits: You can also lower your limits on coverages like uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage as well as medical payments coverage, especially if you already have health insurance. If you have a $300,000 bodily injury limit or even a $100,000 bodily injury limit, you can lower it to the state minimum too.
4. Drop coverages you don’t need: For example, you may opt not to have comprehensive coverage on an old car or roadside assistance if you can fix a spare tire yourself. This will make your policy more affordable.
5. Ask for discounts: Every insurance company has discounts, but you may not be aware of which ones apply to you. Ask your agent how you can save. Most likely, you’ll be able to get discounted premiums for remaining accident-free, paying your policy upfront, or even opting for paperless billing.
6. Bundle policies: Do you have home and auto insurance? Get them from the same provider and you could save money on both. Some companies offer auto insurance bundles with renters, condo, or life insurance, among other policy types.
7. Use pay-per-mile insurance: Seventy-seven percent of New Hampshire drivers commute using a car, truck, or van, and unfortunately, the vast majority of this group, 70 percent, drive alone. On top of that, the average one-way commute time in the state is 26 minutes, the 13th-highest commute travel time in the nation. But if you’re part of the 43 percent of drivers with commutes under 20 minutes, or if you’re part of the 19 percent that works from home, consider using pay-per-mile insurance to save money based on your limited driving distances.¹ Nationwide’s SmartMiles, for example, can cost only $95 per month, compared to a traditional policy costing $133 for the exact same driver.²
8. Shop the market: The cheapest car insurance provider may be different from the one you have currently. Compare car insurance quotes from multiple insurers to see exactly how much your speeding ticket will affect car insurance rates at various companies.

The state of New Hampshire sets the penalties for speeding, no matter if you were driving on a state highway, rural road, residential area, or urban district.

Speed Limits by Location

Driving more than the posted speed limits outlined below will result in penalties from the state, even if you’re only one mph over.

• Posted school zone: 10 mph under the regular posted limit
• Business or urban residence district: 30 mph
• Rural residence district and class V highways outside of compact parts of cities and towns: 35 mph
• Interstate system, the Central New Hampshire turnpike, and divided highways of four or more lanes in Eastern New Hampshire turnpike: 65 mph
• Portion of 1-93 from mile marker 45 to the Vermont border: 70 mph
• Other locations: 55 mph

Fines

First, you’ll receive a fine based on how many mph you drove over the speed limit.

• 1-10 mph over: $50
• 11-15 mph over: $75
• 16-20 mph over: $100
• 21-25 mph over: $200
• 26 mph over and higher: $350

Penalty Assessments

On top of that, if you were driving over 65 or 70 mph, you’ll receive penalty assessments, which can be as high as $400.

• Over 65 mph limit:
  • 1-5 mph over: $65
  • 6-10 mph over: $100
  • 11-15 mph over: $150
  • 16-20 over: $250
  • 21 mph over and higher: $350
• Over 70 mph limit:
  • 1-5 mph over: $65
  • 6-10 mph over: $100
  • 11-15 mph over: $200
  • 16-20 mph over: $300
  • 21 mph and over: $400³

If you drive 100 mph or more, the state considers that to be “reckless driving.” You’ll face additional punishments as follows.

• First offense: $500 minimum fine, plus penalty assessment and license revocation for 60 days
• Second offense: Fine between $750 and $1,000, plus penalty assessment and license revocation for 60 days to one year

When you receive a speeding ticket, it’s important to respond quickly, or you could face additional consequences.

Respond to Ticket

Make sure you respond within 30 days of being issued the ticket, assuming it doesn’t require you to appear in court or respond to the court directly. You’ll need to pay your fine and any other fees. You can do so online, over the phone, via mail, or by a drop box. You’ll enter your plea when you pay your fine, as well.

Speeding isn’t the only traffic violation that will increase your rates in New Hampshire. Be sure to avoid the following offenses.

• Failure to stop at railroad crossings
• Following too closely
• Improper turning or signaling
• Improper use of mobile electronic devices while driving, such as texting while driving
• Negligent driving
• Not giving pedestrians the right of way on crosswalks
• Obstructing a parking space for a person with a walking disability
• Racing on highways
• Reckless driving
• Vehicular assault

New Hampshire, the “Live Free Or Die” state, is one of two states that doesn’t require auto insurance. However, regardless of whether you drive with insurance, the state takes speeding seriously, as it’s involved in a third of all fatal crashes, according to the most recent data. Even if you aren’t concerned about your insurance costs increasing due to a speeding ticket, you should still drive within the speed limit to keep yourself and those around you safe. To learn more about speeding in the state, keep reading our frequently asked questions below.