Auto Insurance Misdemeanor

[MNAgent84]

My brother got a speeding ticket in Arizona two weeks ago (he lives in Wisconsin) and was clocked going 90 MPH in a 65 MPH, which is considered a class three misdemeanor. He has had no other moving violations in the past five years. Since is it out of state will his insurance company find out? Could he lose his auto insurance for this?
I sell life and health and really couldn't give him an answer.

Anyone know anything about how this would work?

 

[WCMason]

My brother got a speeding ticket in Arizona two weeks ago (he lives in Wisconsin) and was clocked going 90 MPH in a 65 MPH, which is considered a class three misdemeanor. He has had no other moving violations in the past five years. Since is it out of state will his insurance company find out? Could he lose his auto insurance for this? I sell life and health and really couldn't give him an answer. Anyone know anything about how this would work?

Most states have reciprocity agreements so the violation is likely to follow him home.

One exception I lucked into was getting a speeding ticket on I-40 in AZ about 25 years ago. The officer was a tribal reservation cop. He gave me instructions on how to pay the ticket. I asked him if they shared information with other states (Virginia resident then). He said no and I threw that ticket in the trash. That was my third ticket in less than 24 hours driving DC to LA.

 

[MNAgent84]

This question goes out to P&C Agents. Will a review of his driving record be done regularly? If he stays with the same auto insurance carrier and doesn't switch, will the misdemeanor show up? Just wondering how often insurance companies run a driving record check.

Also, could his current company drop him?

 

[jsbarber12]

All depends in the carrier whether they run MVR's at renewal . In VA I have yet to see an out of state ticket show up on an MVR. Whose his carrier?

 

[VolAgent]

This question goes out to P&C Agents. Will a review of his driving record be done regularly? If he stays with the same auto insurance carrier and doesn't switch, will the misdemeanor show up? Just wondering how often insurance companies run a driving record check.

Also, could his current company drop him?

From what Dan has said, most companies only pull the MVR every few years. So, if he started with them recently or they pulled it recently, he probably has a while before they notice. His best bet would be to stay at least until renewal.

Also, in all likelihood they can't cancel him, but they could non-renew him at renewal. Just guessing, but I bet that is just a hefty surcharge versus a non-renewal unless there have been a lot of other claims or violations on the policy, is he married or have kids?

Again, he is probably safe until renewal. There are rules about cancelling coverage and I doubt this would give the carrier enough reason. Then he just has to hope it isn't his time for the carrier to pull his MVR. The renewal premium will probably be his first clue. If it raises substantially then probably time to shop around. If it is the same or close to the same, stay put. Obviously, he shouldn't go telling the company, unless they ask.

 

[TeePee]

He needs to hire an attorney to get it reduced or dropped. 99% of states reciprocate now to other states and I am truly surprised his license have not been suspended. It will cost a ton but better than losing insurance and having to be high risk for 5-7 yrs.

 

[MNAgent84]

My brother's insurance is with Geico, he renews in May every year. He has a wife and two teen boys who drive. His last moving violation was over four years ago. He has no other driving offenses. Unfortunately, he doesn't have the money (estimated over $1000) to hire an attorney to reduce the ticket. Not that he has much to stand on and it was a major lapse in judgement on his part, but the situation was where a unmarked police car was speeding in front of him, he speed up, the police car pulled over one lane, slowed down and then clocked him going 90MPH. It was a lure and trap basically. He doesn't believe he was going 90MPH. Maybe 85MPH at the most, but he doesn't have the money to hire an attorney to reduce the ticket.

 

[Sales71]

Read the ticket. It tells you the options and who to contact with questions.
Arizona you he might have to appear to clear the ticket in person.