Parking violations cost Americans an average of $25 to $200, according to a Drexel University Central Business District Public Parking Survey of data from 107 U.S. cities. Late fees and possible impoundment of your vehicle may result if you don’t pay your tickets in time. Typically, parking tickets do not affect how much you pay for car insurance. Unpaid parking tickets can affect your premium.
The municipal code of the municipality, village, town, or county that issued the ticket will indicate how much you must pay. You may not know how to proceed if you have received a parking ticket recently. This guide was created by Bankrate’s editorial staff to help you navigate the violation and its associated costs.
Insurance rates affected by parking tickets
Your auto insurance rates are not affected by parking tickets. Parking tickets are a non-moving offense. For example, if you forget to feed the meters, it is not an offense that will be attached to your driver’s license. It should also not be reported to the DMV of the state or to your auto insurance.
Even if your parking tickets are disclosed to your insurer, the information would not be used by your insurance company to determine if you are more likely or less likely to cause an accident or file a claim for car insurance.
Are parking tickets a way to raise insurance?
Your auto insurance will likely not be raised by a parking ticket. Unpaid parking tickets may affect your credit score and impact your ability to get insurance. Car insurance companies may review your credit score in order to decide whether or not to insure you. They also might determine the cost of your insurance.
Unpaid parking tickets can affect your premium. However, in states such as California, Hawaii and Massachusetts, car insurance companies are not allowed to use your credit score as one of the factors that determine the cost of your car insurance. Unpaid parking tickets will not have any effect on your vehicle insurance premiums.
How to prevent parking tickets from increasing insurance rates
It is usually in your best interests to pay your parking ticket immediately if you receive one. You could face late fees and even the possibility of your car being impounded by the city if you don’t pay your parking ticket on time.
These options may be able to help you avoid paying your parking ticket.
- If you believe the ticket was incorrect, send a letter to the municipality explaining why the ticket is not justified in the circumstances. Attach a copy, your contact information, and any supporting evidence such as photos of the damaged or broken “no parking” sign or the broken meter.
- If you are unable or unwilling to pay the fine immediately, talk to the county or city about a payment plan. You may be eligible to receive a freeze on any additional late fees from the city so that you can pay your fines.
- Ask your family members to lend you the money needed to pay the tickets. Then, you can pay your family back and not worry about additional late fees or collections.
- Ask your employer to give you a pay increase so that you can pay your parking tickets.
How to avoid parking tickets
Parking tickets can be avoided by being cautious about where you park. To ensure that you are permitted to park in this area, scan the signs nearby. You may not be allowed to park in certain areas or at specific times of the week.
Bring plenty of cash and keep track of the time you paid for parking in a metered space. To help you remember, set a timer on the smartphone to remind yourself about parking. You might want to allow yourself some extra time to get back to your car after setting your alarm.
Parking in an area with a broken parkingmeter can make it difficult to prove that the meter is defective. If this is the case, it might be worth looking elsewhere for parking.
If you are subject to regular parking citations at work or home, you might consider alternative arrangements such as renting a space in a garage or asking your employer for assistance. You could also take public transport and leave your car safely parked elsewhere.
Parking tickets can have other consequences
Although parking tickets do not generally affect auto insurance rates in general, they could cause more serious problems such as:
Put a boot on your tire
Some municipalities might place a boot on the tire of your vehicle to prevent it from being driven until you pay the ticket. On top of paying for the ticket, you are responsible for paying someone to remove the boot, which can cost as much as $136 in major metro areas like New York City.
Late fees
Parking tickets that are not paid on time can result in high fees. If you fail to pay your citation on time, fees NBC 7 in San Diego ran an expose on how much people were charged to get their vehicle released after unpaid parking tickets. The researchers found that people were charged between $2,733 to $5,055 in order to have their vehicle released. The worst part is that 1,452 vehicles were sold by the city for unpaid tickets.
Questions frequently asked
Are parking tickets a violation of your license?
Your driver’s license status will not be affected by parking tickets, as long as they are paid. The DMV can suspend or stop you renewing your driver’s license if you fail pay parking tickets. You may not be eligible to renew your vehicle registration depending on how many parking tickets remain unpaid.
How do other factors impact insurance rates?
A parking ticket is not considered a moving violation, so it will not directly affect your auto insurance rate. Your auto insurance premium will be affected by moving violations such as speeding and running a red light. Many of the top car insurance companies offer affordable car insurance to drivers who have points on their licenses. You may also qualify for discounts that could lower your insurance premium.
What if I was incorrectly issued a parking ticket?
Follow the instructions on your citation to send a letter disputing the parking ticket. Include your contact information, the number of your citation and any evidence supporting your claim.