Reader’s Question:
I heard from a cousin who also lives here in Brockton, Massachusetts that car insurance premium will not increase after getting your first moving violation. He said that he was cited for over speeding for the first time and there was no effect on his car insurance rate at all. Is there any truth about that?
Destin
Brockton, MA
To better give you a clearer answer let me tell you something first about the revised Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP). This plan provides opportunities to Massachusetts’ best drivers to avail of discounts on their car insurance rates and for bad drivers, improvement on their driving skills thus leading to an improved driving record.
The revised SDIP follows a point system wherein drivers are assigned surcharge points whenever they are involved on at-fault vehicular accidents or have traffic violations committed dating back to the last 5 years of their driving records.
Also, if a driver is able to maintain a clean driving record for a period of 5 years, he or she is entitled to receive “Excellent Driver Discount” while drivers with 6 years or more of spotless driving record will receive “Excellent Driver Plus Discount”. Said discount on car insurance premium could be as much as 17% for some cases.
For your question, you’ve mentioned it was your cousin’s first speeding violation, as per SDIP, no surcharge points will be given for first time offenders of a non-criminal minor moving violation. So, with this, it means no increase on his car insurance rates also.
To find more information about the SDIP, check with your Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation (OCABR).
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