How Long Does a Ticket or Accident Follow Me?
There isn't one answer. WV DMV points last two years, claims reports can run seven, and each insurance company sets its own look-back. Here's how to check.
Jay Parrack
WV & OH ONLY
"I had a speeding ticket and a fender bender a few years ago in West Virginia. How long is that going to keep raising my car insurance?"
You made a mistake a while ago and you're ready to be done with it. Fair enough.
The short answer
A ticket or accident can follow you for different lengths of time in different places, because your state driving record, your claims report and each insurance company's own look-back period are three separate clocks. In West Virginia, points last two years from conviction, and a claims report can show up to seven years. How long it affects your price depends on which company you're with.
When is it worth shopping again?
Old mistakes should fall off sooner and cost less, in my opinion. Today's job is the best rate your record can get.
One company may still care about an old accident when another has moved on. We quote with 13 companies, so when something finally ages off, we can see who noticed.
Yes, this article is here to get you to call me. If it's been a while since your last ticket or wreck, it's a good time to find out whether the market has forgiven you yet.
WV & OH ONLY
What's the first clock, my driving record?
That's the state's record. The West Virginia DMV says points stay on your record for two years from the conviction date, and the infraction itself stays for five years.
Ohio counts points differently. The Ohio BMV looks at points gathered within a two-year period. It sends a warning letter at six and suspends at 12 or more. Its page doesn't say how long the points remain listed on the record, so call the BMV if you need that exact date for your own file.
And notice what that means. Points dropping off doesn't erase the infraction in West Virginia. Your record can outlast your points.
What's the second clock, my claims history?
That's the CLUE report, from LexisNexis. It holds up to seven years of auto claims. Federal law also generally limits adverse items on a consumer report to seven years.
Being on the report doesn't mean every company is still charging you for it.
What's the third clock?
The insurance company's. Each company decides how far back it looks and what it does with what it finds. Some weigh recent history far more than older history. I can't give you one number that's true for all of them, and if somebody does, be skeptical.
The company can see your record, too. Federal law allows insurers to use driver record information for rating and underwriting.
When does the clock start?
It's not always the day you think. West Virginia's point clock starts on the conviction date, and that can be weeks or months after the ticket. A claims report is built around the date of loss. A company might use either kind of date for its own purposes, so when you tell me about an accident or ticket, I want the actual dates. A guess can throw the quote off.
Can I get rid of points sooner?
In West Virginia, the DMV page says a defensive driving course can take off three points, and you can do it once every 12 months for point reduction. In Ohio, state law lets some drivers with at least two but fewer than 12 points earn a two-point credit through a remedial driving course, with limits on how often.
Either way, a course changes your state count. It doesn't necessarily change what an insurance company does with the original ticket.
What if the accident wasn't my fault?
Tell me. Report it the way it happened and keep whatever you've got to show it, such as a police report or a letter from the other company. Companies treat not-at-fault accidents differently, and you don't want a claim on your history misread. If you've got a wreck to deal with right now, here's what to do after a car accident.
What if the record is wrong?
You've got options. The West Virginia DMV has an online driving record service, which may charge a fee, and you can get your free CLUE report and dispute a wrong entry. A report error can follow you just as long as a real accident will.
How do I know when to shop again?
Keep your own list with the date of every ticket and accident. Then call when one reaches a milestone, like two or three years out, or when points fall off. It doesn't cost you anything to ask.
Tell me the dates, and I'll check who's already moved on.
WV & OH ONLY
Next in the series: Part 30, Why Does My Insurance Care If I Was Insured Before?
Ready for real numbers?
Tell me what's going on and I'll find out what each company will offer you. West Virginia and Ohio drivers only.
