When driving a vehicle in New Jersey, you must follow all traffic laws to preserve the safety of yourself and others. If you fail to do so, you could be subjected to serious injury or property damage. You may also be privy to much higher insurance costs, which make it far more difficult to protect yourself and your vehicle. The Balance offers the following information on insurance points so you can keep costs manageable.
Most states use a point system to track traffic violations. However, not all offenses incur points. Something like driving without proof of current insurance is serious but is not considered a moving violation. Conversely, something like speeding can result in points being assessed to your driving record. After so many points are assessed, your license will be suspended or revoked depending on other aspects of your driving history. Points can also cause your insurance premiums to skyrocket in some cases.
While insurance companies can use points assessed to your license to determine risk, many agencies also use their own internal points systems. That means costs may still go up even if points haven’t been added to your license for a violation. Other factors can also increase costs, including your age, where you live, how much you drive, and what kind of safety features your vehicle has. If you’re shopping for insurance, you should be well aware of your driving record so you have a semblance of the costs you can expect.
You should also be aware of the steps you can take to remove both driver’s license and insurance points. Driver’s license points usually disappear after about two or three years on a person’s record. Insurance points are typically removed at the discretion of the insurance agency, but many companies offer methods for drivers to decrease their costs. For instance, attending an approved safe driving course may keep costs low. Preventing future violations is also important, which entails obeying the rules of the road at all times.
