As any North Carolinian paying insurance policies knows, traffic tickets can quickly accumulate – especially in Raleigh-Durham area. My team and I frequently work with law enforcement officers and prosecutors in order to reduce or dismiss tickets as quickly as possible.
However, many do not realize that SDIP points can also have an effect on insurance rates. SDIP stands for Safe Driver Incentive Plan points and these assessments are based on convictions or at-fault accidents during an experience period.
1. Avoid Traffic Violations
Pulling over is inconvenient and infuriating, but it could cost more than just fines. Every year millions of traffic tickets are issued nationwide – reaping millions for state and local coffers while driving up car insurance premiums significantly. You can avoid this fate with just a few precautions taken today.
Be mindful of your speed limit. Even going a few mph over could result in higher insurance premiums, so take care when passing other cars and when entering areas with reduced speed limits such as construction zones where speed restrictions might reduce further.
Avoid speeding in residential areas, school zones and in poor weather conditions – speeding can lead to crashes that cost more than just a ticket!
Be wary of police traps such as narrow bridges, blind curves and areas with reduced speed limits. Also be wary when driving behind trucks or vans loaded down with cargo; this may indicate they are transporting illegal substances and could pose a danger to other drivers on the road.
Parking violations can quickly add up, so make sure you are familiar with any local regulations, such as metered parking or street cleaning schedules, before parking in no-parking zones; doing so could incur fines as well as extra towing charges.
Avoid custom license plates, dealer stickers and any other elements that make your car stand out from the rest. For maximum effect, repair cracked windows and flat tires as soon as they appear. Don’t use license plate frames that obscure or cover up your number plate number plate numberplate and don’t use windshield wipers that obscure it; doing so may draw the attention of patrol officers or another driver who phones in your description.
There are various methods you can take to get points off your record, including attending a driver improvement clinic. These courses teach defensive driving techniques and may result in the reduction of points from your record; however, this won’t work in every instance due to multiple violations that need to be addressed simultaneously.
2. Take a Defensive Driving Course
Undergoing a defensive driving course can help you to avoid traffic violations, remove points from your record, and potentially save money on car insurance premiums. Many insurers provide discounts for individuals who complete these classes – check with your provider before enrolling! These classes typically occur in classroom settings; however online versions may also offer advantages; both options provide different learning environments and potential outcomes.
AARP offers an online defensive driver course designed to make you a safer and more confident driver. Approved by New York State DMV, this course teaches skills that will help prevent accidents, tickets, and high insurance rates. Easily followable modules contain quizzes with minimum score requirements of 75% in order to pass each chapter – plus it’s mobile friendly so you can access it whenever and wherever.
On average, tickets usually lead to an auto insurance premium increase of approximately $30 each month; however, taking a defensive driving course may help reduce this number significantly. A recent study discovered that those with three or more points on their record paid an estimated 25% more in car insurance premiums per month compared to drivers without points.
Take this course and you can avoid traffic fines or have your ticket dismissed, while at the same time improve your driving skills by learning to identify hazards on the road and quickly reacting.
This course offers many other advantages as well. It will teach you how to remain safe in adverse weather conditions, manage distractions and adapt your driving behavior as your environment shifts. Furthermore, its 24/7 availability and 30-day refund guarantee offer convenience and cost-cutting opportunities – so join today and save!
3. Take a Driver Improvement Clinic
North Carolina drivers can incur two different kinds of points on their driving records: DMV points and insurance points. DMV points affect your license while insurance points impact car insurance rates; insurance points are assigned differently than DMV points and remain on your record for three years; attending a driver improvement clinic could help to remove some or all of them, and prevent your premiums from increasing following traffic violations.
If you have received three or more points on your driving record in the last five years, NC’s DMV will notify you that it is eligible for you to complete a defensive driving course to remove those points from your record. Eight-hour classes are offered across NC; simply visit their website for locations of these classes near you.
Defensive driving courses can help lower car insurance rates after receiving a traffic citation. Many insurance providers provide premium discounts to drivers who complete these classes successfully; it is wise to discuss this decision with your insurer first as some companies may require specific criteria in order to receive this discount.
Have too many insurance points on your record and it can skyrocket your car insurance premium significantly, costing more each month out-of-pocket. That is why it is vitally important to fight tickets and maintain a clean driving history.
As a defense lawyer, I work regularly with law enforcement officers and prosecutors to negotiate traffic tickets dismissals or reductions. Sometimes, I even convince judges to allow my clients to attend defensive driving courses to reduce insurance rates. If you need advice about avoiding speeding tickets, contact me now for a free consultation session!
Insurance points can be an enormously detrimental threat for drivers in North Carolina. Insurance points are assessed for certain convictions and accidents caused by you, leading your rates to skyrocket quickly. If you’ve recently been issued a ticket, acting quickly to prevent the inevitable increase is essential if you want your policy rates from skyrocketing even more quickly than planned.
