Speeding tickets in Ontario

Speeding is a driving infraction in Ontario, and as such, you can receive a ticket if you are caught driving over the speed limit. Speeding is generally considered dangerous because it increases a driver’s risk of getting into a car accident for a list of common car accidents, contact BrokerLink. Below, we explain the different types of speeding tickets in Ontario and how they can impact your Toronto car insurance rates.

How much will I be fined if I’m caught speeding in Ontario?

Ontario speeding fines vary depending on how far over the speed limit you were travelling at the time of the infraction. You are likely to be fined the following amounts per kilometre according to the speed you were driving:

• 1-19 km/h over the speed limit = $2.50 per kilometre
• 20-29 km/h over the speed limit = $3.75 per kilometre
• 30-39 km/h over the speed limit = $6.00 per kilometre
• 50km/h or more over the speed limit = Settled in court

It is worth noting that the fines listed above are for regular roads or highways. If you are caught speeding in a community safety zone, also known as a school zone in some provinces, , the ticket you receive will likely be for a much higher fine. In fact, fines for speeding in community safety zones are usually double the rate of fines for speeding on regular roads. They are as follows in Ontario:

• 1-19 km/h over the speed limit = $5.00 per kilometre
• 20-29 km/h over the speed limit = $7.50 per kilometre
• 30-39 km/h over the speed limit = $12.00 per kilometre
• 50km/h or more over the speed limit = Settled in court

Victim surcharge fee/victim fine surcharge

When you are issued a speeding ticket in Ontario, not only are you required to pay the fine incurred according to how fast you were travelling, but you are also required to pay a victim surcharge fee and a court fee. Court fees are a set amount - usually $5.00 per ticket. However, victim surcharge fees vary as they are dependent on the speeding ticket fine you were issued. Thus, in Ontario, your victim surcharge fee directly corresponds to your speeding ticket fine. The surcharge fee you are required to pay will be based on this scale:

• $0-$50 speeding ticket fine = $10 victim surcharge fine
• $51-$75 speeding ticket fine = $15 victim surcharge fine
• $76-$100 speeding ticket fine = $20 victim surcharge fine
• $101-$150 speeding ticket fine = $25 victim surcharge fine
• $151-$200 speeding ticket fine = $35 victim surcharge fine
• $201-$250 speeding ticket fine = $50 victim surcharge fine
• $251-$300 speeding ticket fine = $60 victim surcharge fine
• $301-$350 speeding ticket fine = $75 victim surcharge fine
• $351-$400 speeding ticket fine = $85 victim surcharge fine
• $401-$450 speeding ticket fine = $95 victim surcharge fine
• $451-$500 speeding ticket fine = $110 victim surcharge fine
• $501-$1000 speeding ticket fine = $125 victim surcharge fine
• Over $1000 speeding ticket fine = 25% of speeding ticket fine

Speeding tickets and car insurance in Ontario

The reality is that speeding tickets have the ability to impact how much car insurance costs per month in Ontario.

This is due to the fact that speeding tickets are a type of driving infraction and driving infractions such as these can influence your premium. The more driving infractions on your record, the more your insurance rates are likely to be.

Conversely, if your record is clean, meaning it does not contain any accidents, speeding tickets, or DUIs, you are likely to benefit from a lower rate.

It is worth noting that a single speeding ticket is unlikely to have a huge impact on your rates, though it can still lead to a slight increase. However, a major speeding ticket or racking up two or more speeding tickets in a short period of time can lead to a much higher insurance rate increase.

The following is a list of different driving infractions in Ontario and how much they can raise your car insurance rates by. Keep in mind that premiums are ultimately set by insurance companies, meaning it is up to them to decide how much to increase your premium following an infraction like a speeding ticket.

• You may receive a 10% increase to your auto insurance rates for minor offences like speeding tickets, failing to signal, failing to yield, driving below the speed limit, or obstruction of a licence plate.
• You may receive a 25% increase to your auto insurance rates if you are issued a ticket relating to distracted driving, speeding in a construction area, failing to report a car accident, or presenting a false statement of insurance.
• You may receive a 100% increase to your auto insurance rates if you are convicted of a crime, such as racing, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, fleeing the scene of a car accident, criminal negligence, etc.

How long do speeding tickets stay on my driving record in Ontario?

Ontario speeding tickets typically remain on a driver’s record for a period of three years. This three year period begins on the date that the ticket is paid or that you are found guilty of the infraction in court, whichever comes first. Since a speeding ticket will stay on your record for three years, you should prepare for your car insurance rates to be impacted during all three of these years.

Tips to reduce your car insurance premium after getting a speeding ticket in Ontario

If you want to lower your premium after getting a speeding ticket in Ontario, there are a few ways you can do so:

Work with a BrokerLink insurance broker

First, if you are looking to reduce your car insurance rates for any reason, the best piece of advice we can offer you is to work with an insurance broker.

A licensed insurance broker at BrokerLink can give you an insurance quote, as well as make sure that you purchase a policy that contains all the mandatory types of coverage, like third party liability car insurance.

From there, we can explain the different auto insurance discounts out there and shop around to ensure you get the most competitive rate for your policy.

Sign up for driver’s education program

Speeding tickets and driver education go hand-in-hand. In other words, if you are issued a speeding ticket, signing up for a driver’s education course can be a wise choice. Not only will such a course give you a refresher on the rules of the road but if you can show proof that you graduated from a recognized driving school in Ontario, you might also qualify for a car insurance discount.

Add accident forgiveness coverage to your policy

Adding accident forgiveness coverage to your Ontario car insurance policy won’t necessarily help you reduce your premium following a speeding ticket. That said, this type of coverage can prevent your premium from going up even further if you get into an at-fault accident.

Accident forgiveness is a type of additional coverage that can be added to your car insurance policy as an endorsement, to protect your driving record and to help prevent your insurance premium from increasing if you have an at-fault accident claim.

Note: coverage and eligibility varies by province.

Bundle home and auto policies

To save money on both your home insurance policy, whether that is your home, condo or apartment, and your car insurance plan, consider bundling them together. Insurance bundles usually result in major savings.

They also make payments more convenient since you only have one deadline to keep track of. Find out how to become eligible for insurance bundling by contacting BrokerLink today.

Get in touch with BrokerLink

To discover more about how Ontario speeding tickets work and how they might influence your auto insurance rates, contact BrokerLink. As one of the top insurance brokerages in Canada, we can answer any of your car insurance-related questions and help you find great coverage.

For instance, we can explain what the mandatory coverage types are in Ontario, like liability car insurance, and offer advice on extra coverage that might be worthwhile for your needs, such as comprehensive car coverage or collision car insurance.

As a full-service insurance brokerage, BrokerLink is also happy to offer free quotes to all customers. If you want a reliable, accurate, and obligation-free auto insurance quote, get in touch with us today. Complimentary quotes can be obtained in person, over the phone, or online using the free quote tool on our website.

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