When buying auto insurance it is important to know your driving record. One of the ways in which auto insurance companies figure out their rates is by how good your driving record is. Drivers who have few violations on their record tend to have lower rates. Different tickets and accidents are awarded different points on your driving record. You can find out what kind of record you have by contacting your DMV or Secretary of State. One of these two organizations will have your record on file for you.

Depending on the type of incident, and the state in which you live, you can get 1-2 points for a ticket and 1 point for an accident. An example of a 1 point traffic ticket would be speeding or an accident at which you are at fault. A 2 point traffic ticket would include DWI’s and reckless driving. The more points you have on your license, the more it can affect your driving record in a negative way.

Insurance companies individually have their own method of evaluating their applicants. The points on your driving record may or may not have an impact on your auto insurance rates. Usually, the auto insurance company has a rating system that tries to put an insurance point value on each violation. Depending upon the point value system, a different rating factor is used if someone’s rates were to increase.

A point stays on your driving record for a determined amount of time, depending on the severity of the offense. Most minor infractions will only stay on your record for approximately three years. Other, more serious, violations can stay on your record for up to ten years. There are several options for removing, or even reducing, the number of points you have on your record. In some states a year of driving without any violations can remove up to three points from your driving record. It is also possible to decrease the number of violation points on your record by enrolling in a driver’s improvement class. Driver Improvement Courses contain detailed information about traffic laws and strategies that help people become a better, more safe, drivers.