Car insurance rates will undoubtedly go up after a reckless driving conviction, and it’s easy to understand why. Receiving a ticket for reckless driving shows insurance companies that the driver has the potential to take unnecessary risks when operating a motor vehicle. These risks can lead to accidents with expensive insurance claims for injuries or property damage.

Here’s a look at how much car insurance rates go up after a ticket for reckless driving.

How Does a Reckless Driving Ticket Affect Auto Insurance?

Driving aggressively and getting caught can definitely make your auto insurance rates go up, but how much they’ll increase can depend on factors like where you live and any other convictions that are on your driving record.

A reckless driving conviction is generally considered a “major violation” by insurance companies, along with convictions such as drunk driving, racing, and hit and run. It’s very possible that your insurer will not renew your auto insurance policy at renewal time after a reckless driving conviction.

Car Insurance Increases by Company for Reckless Driving

We analyzed rates from large auto insurance companies for drivers with a reckless driving conviction and found that:

• USAA had the cheapest average annual premium for those with a ticket for reckless driving, even after an average rate increase of 47%. But car insurance from USAA is only available to military members, veterans and their families.
• Erie had the second-cheapest average annual premium for those with a ticket for reckless driving, with an average rate increase of only 19%.
• While the average rate increase for someone with a ticket for reckless driving was as low as 19% and as high as 115% depending on the company, the average rate increase across all companies we analyzed was 61%.

Car Insurance Increases by State After a Ticket for Reckless Driving

Florida drivers get the lowest average rate increase after a reckless driving conviction, with only a 37% hike. Michigan drivers get hit with the highest average rate increase at 163%.

What Happens if You’re Convicted of Reckless Driving?

If you’re convicted of reckless driving, penalties can include fines, points on your license, suspension of your license and jail time. Penalties vary by state, but generally compound the more times you are convicted of the same offense.

A reckless driving conviction is more serious than a speeding ticket. It is a criminal charge you may need to disclose when you apply for certain jobs, enlist in the military, renew your security clearance or apply for a green card. In many states, a reckless driving conviction will go on your criminal record and show up on background checks.

Penalties for Reckless Driving in California

In California, any person who “drives a vehicle upon a highway in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving.”

Most reckless driving convictions in California come with up to five days (but no more than 90 days) of jail time in a county jail, a fine of up to $1,000 or both.

Penalties for Reckless Driving in Florida

In Florida, any person who drives any vehicle “in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property” can be found guilty of reckless driving. Penalties can vary depending on the number and severity of violations. For example:

• A first reckless driving conviction in Florida can result in up to 90 days in jail, a fine of $25 to $500, or both.
• A second conviction can lead to up to six months in jail or prison, a fine of $50 to $1,000, or both.

There can be additional penalties for drivers who are convicted of reckless driving and who also damage property or cause accidents that lead to severe injury.

Penalties for Reckless Driving in Illinois

Every person convicted of reckless driving in Illinois is charged with a misdemeanor.

Generally speaking, someone charged with reckless driving in Illinois can face up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $2,500. Drivers convicted of reckless driving two or more times within a 12-month period could get their driver’s license suspended.

If an accident that results from reckless driving causes bodily harm, a permanent disability or a disfigurement to someone else, the level of the charge can increase to aggravated reckless driving. Since this is a felony, it can lead to up to three years in jail and a fine of up to $25,000.

Penalties for Reckless Driving in New York

Reckless driving in New York is defined as driving a vehicle “in a manner which unreasonably interferes with the free and proper use of the public highway, or unreasonably endangers users of the public highway.”

Reckless driving is a misdemeanor offense in New York, and consequences can depend on how many offenses a driver has committed.

• A first reckless driving ticket can lead to up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $300.
• A second offense within 18 months of the first one can result in up to 90 days in jail and fines up to $525.
• A third offense within the same timeline can carry up to 180 days in jail and fines up to $1,125.

Each offense can add up to five points to a person’s driver’s license, which can dramatically impact auto insurance rates.

Penalties for Reckless Driving in Pennsylvania

According to the Pennsylvania law, “any person who drives any vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving.”

Anyone charged with reckless driving in Pennsylvania can get a fine of up to $200. Reckless driving convictions also come with a mandatory, six-month driver’s license suspension.

Penalties for Reckless Driving in Texas

Penalties for misdemeanor reckless driving in Texas can include up to 30 days in county jail, a fine of up to $200 or both. Repeated reckless driving convictions can lead to a driver’s license suspension.

In Texas, driving is generally considered reckless if you are engaged in more than one dangerous activity. For example, speeding can lead to a reckless driving ticket if you’re found to have put others’ lives at risk or you combined speeding with other dangerous activities like failing to signal before a turn or weaving in and out of traffic.

Methodology

We calculated 13 car insurance companies’ average rate increases nationwide for drivers who had received a reckless driving ticket. These rates are based on drivers with collision and comprehensive insurance and coverage of 100/300/100.

Car insurance rates are from Quadrant Information Services, an insurance data analytics company, as of July 2022.