If you were convicted of reckless driving, insurance rates will most likely will skyrocket for you. A reckless driving conviction is a significant offense which will likely yield increased insurance costs for many years. Various motorists have seen their rates increase up by 50% or even more. Other drivers have been unfortunate enough to have their auto insurance cancelled by their provider.
Convicted of Reckless Driving? Insurance Rates Are Likely to Increase
There are many states in the US concerned with decreasing speed, lowering the number of drunk drivers on the road, reducing reckless driving, and improving safety. Many of these states have created basic courses such as Driver’s Ed, Driver Safety, and Defensive Driving classes for motorists to take advantage of. As a driver, you can find these courses online, you can take them in a classroom, or you can get personal instruction behind the wheel with a driving instructor who will ride along with you.
Legal Assistance for Reckless Driving
If you’re having an exceptionally hard time finding coverage, you may wish to seek legal counsel. With the help of an attorney, you can figure out exactly what your rights are and what would be a fair premium to pay. Also, a lawyer who is skilled in traffic law may be able to help you negotiate the charge down to a lesser offense, thus improving your record. Of course, most of what happens in the wake of a reckless driving charge is heavily dependent on state law. So your best bet is to deal locally in order to help resolve your particular situation.
Charged with Careless Driving? Insurance Premiums Will Go Up
If you are a reckless driver in Alabama, for example, you have two different classes you can take in order to improve your record. The first is a 4-hour class, but in order to take it you must have had no moving violations on your record within the past five years. After that, if you would like to improve your record further, there is an 8-hour class on defensive driving you can take. Your previous 4-hour class is required, in addition to a clean record since, or you must be taking the 8-hour class in order to clear a recent reckless driving charge. Find careless driving insurance in your state.
Here’s another helpful example: in New York state, there’s an all-encompassing program in place called “Point and Insurance Reduction Program”. If you are an insured motorist who completes a certified accident prevention curriculum, you may be eligible to take up to four points off your license and save a maximum of 10% off your auto insurance rates.
New Jersey is another state which has programs in place to help reduce the influence of driving citations on your record. Taking an approved defensive driving class can remove at most two points from your driver’s license if you live in the state.
Reckless Driving: Lowering Auto Insurance Premiums
The first step after getting charged with reckless driving is to check with your local DMV and see what classes are available to help improve your record and/or reduce the reckless driving charge. The next step is to find out how a defensive driving course can help lower your insurance premiums. Charged with reckless driving? Auto insurance premiums can still be lowered.
Remember that some insurance companies only want to cover low-risk drivers, while others want to help insure drivers who may be at a higher risk. No matter what sort of company you buy your policy from, however, you need to be prepared to pay higher premiums than you would with a clean record.