Will this type of ticket affect my auto insurance?? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 07-20-2003, 01:46 AM

I got a ticket on my way home from work tonight. It was my fault: the tags on my 16 valve expired in APRIL!! I hadn't even realized.

[In VA, you have to keep your tags, your safety inspection and your county stickers current at all times. With three cars (recently), it's a pain in the a$$ to keep up with it all. Lots of extra revenue for the state though!!]

I asked the officer if the ticket was considered a "moving violation" and he said, "yes".

Do insurance companies count these types of tickets against your record? I'm wondering because I wasn't ticketed for speeding, only having expired tags. I'm insured by Geico.

Thanks!

New2MBZ · #2 07-20-2003, 04:51 AM

Well, I live in California, and things might not be the same, but what I would expect would be if your ticket can be signed off (police officer, motor vehicle department, etc), and no appearance in court or in front of a clerk is required, then it's not a moving violation.

My tags were way expired (fees paid but no smog done yet), and the officer told me that after 60 days a vehicle could be impounded, but it was not a moving violation even then.

The Godfather · #3 07-20-2003, 07:32 AM

Expired tags a moving violation? LOL what the fkcu kind of bullcrap is that all about?

A moving violation, is when your car was in movement, and violated the law. AKA, speeding, peeling out, weaving etc...

Tags don't move. If anything, it's just a "fix it" ticket.

It will not affect your insurance.

Now how behind were you on the tags?

#4 07-20-2003, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DR ///AMG
Expired tags a moving violation? LOL what the fkcu kind of bullcrap is that all about?

A moving violation, is when your car was in movement, and violated the law. AKA, speeding, peeling out, weaving etc...

Tags don't move. If anything, it's just a "fix it" ticket.

It will not affect your insurance.

Now how behind were you on the tags?

In Michigan you may not get points for non-moving violations, but you get insurance points. No crap insurance companies rule this state.

#5 07-20-2003, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DR ///AMG
Expired tags a moving violation? LOL what the fkcu kind of bullcrap is that all about?

A moving violation, is when your car was in movement, and violated the law. AKA, speeding, peeling out, weaving etc...

Tags don't move. If anything, it's just a "fix it" ticket.

It will not affect your insurance.

Now how behind were you on the tags?

You understand my pain!! I can't believe this is a moving violation!! But the VA Park Police (at least) believes it is.

The tags expired at the end of April. The 16 valve isn't my daily driver, so I simply hadn't kept on top of it.

MTI · #6 07-20-2003, 04:45 PM

Underwriting rules vary from state to state, but most companies will look to whether violation "points" were issued on the driver's records. Check with your agent or the carrier's rep about the issue and whether if they only count points, what effect a written explanation (with a copy of the citation) might have on the underwriting rate.

#7 07-21-2003, 04:02 PM

I'm planning to do just that-- update the tags and go to court, provided I don't have work that day. Went to the DMV today to update the tags and the line to GET IN was about fifty feet long!!

A couple years ago the evil governor of our commonwealth tried, unsuccessfully, to raise the state sales tax. Now he's making us pay for it by closing down a bunch of the DMVs so the lines are ridiculous. (When he was trying to get it to pass, he closed several of them in northern VA only, where he knew the lines would form and the people would vote it in. He was wrong!)

Robert W. Roe · #8 07-22-2003, 12:36 AM

I don't miss Virginia's personal property taxes on cars, which in Fairfax County in 1995 was a bit over 5% of the blue book value of the car, PER YEAR....
I've stood in some of those DMV lines, and it wasn't fun.
The last time, I stood for about 25 minutes, just for them to tell me "we don't have your title, it's titled in Pennsylvania...we only registered it" ... and collected way too much $$$.XX in four months of Personal Property Taxes on my Acura and my Volvo...
I really don't think I'd move back to VA unless they got rid of that car tax.

Robert W. Roe · #9 07-22-2003, 12:40 AM

Quote:

In this state, this would not cause your rates to go up because it is not a moving violation and they have not had to pay a claim.
I wouldn't inquire to your insurance company--chances are they won't find out unless you bring it up and they will note your file if you call.
And, what are you gonna do if they say they raised your rates, anyway?
If you update your tags before your trial date, and bring proof to the heariing, my experience is that the judge will remand the ticket.

Yeah, I think it varies by state.

In PA, if you're lucky, it's a warning, otherwise it's over a $100 fine, the cop told my wife.

Her registration expired at midnight the night before he caught her driving, and it was a 10 day thing, bring the car to the police station so we can check your sticker...

I still don't think it gives you points, or affects insurance, but I could be wrong.
My car insurance has been pretty high, and it might be those few speeding tickets...hmmm...

#10 07-22-2003, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Robert W. Roe
...I really don't think I'd move back to VA unless they got rid of that car tax.

Yeah, the previous governor ran on that ticket-- gettinig rid of the dreaded car tax. It's now pretty low, I think 2% or so. It would have been phased out completely, but now we have an evil governor who decided to keep it!

And I thought double, tripple, quadrouple taxation was un-Constitutional! What was I thinkin'??