Speeding tickets are one of the most common driving tickets issued in Ontario. While speeding is something you should avoid doing, sometimes it happens. The roads are clear, in good conditions, and you give the car a little extra gas. While it may get you to your destination faster, it ultimately increases your risks as a driver – and to others as well. As such, you could find yourself pulling over to the side of the road by a police officer and receive a ticket. Speeding tickets can have a significant effect on your auto insurance and driving record, but few people know just what that impact might be. Today, we’ll be sharing everything you need to know about speeding tickets and your insurance.

Do speeding tickets affect the auto insurance rate?

Yes, speeding tickets in Ontario will affect your auto insurance rates. However, the impact is not immediate. When you receive a speeding ticket in Ontario, you get a fine and possible demerit points. When you pay the ticket, that acknowledges that you accept the infraction. At that point, it gets added to your driving record by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. When you renew your auto insurance, that is generally when your insurer will look at your record and determine whether to increase your rates. With the speeding ticket, they will likely increase your rates. As such, if you are coming up for renewal, you could consider delaying paying the ticket to keep it off of your driving record.

It’s also important to know that different types of tickets are broken down by how much faster you were driving. The categories include:

0-15km/h over the posted speed limit.
16-29km/h over the posted speed limit.
30-49km/h over the posted speed limit.
50+ km/h over the posted speed limit.

How long will a speeding ticket affect my auto insurance in Ontario?

A ticket in Ontario will remain on your driving record for 3 years from the date you paid or were found guilty in court. As such, it will affect your insurance premiums for those three years. If you do get more driving tickets during that timeframe, the effect will be even more significant. Tickets hurt your ability to access cheap auto insurance in Ontario. If you want to see your driver’s record, you can order one online.

Should I fight a speeding ticket?

If you believe that the speeding ticket you were issued was wrong, you should fight the ticket. If you have been issued a ticket, you should inform your insurance company. Instead, the Chief Justice of Ontario will notify your insurance provider about the ticket after one of two outcomes occurs: One, you pay the fine, or two, you fight the charge and lose (requiring you to pay.) If you are curious about how to fight a speeding ticket, there are some options. Your best bet to fighting a speeding ticket is to hire a team that specializes in it. Most people who fight a speeding ticket and win did so because of legal technicalities. The police officer that issues you the speeding ticket must prove who, what, when, where, and how the ticket was issued. Knowing the law in-depth is what helps fight a speeding ticket.

When do insurance companies find out about my speeding ticket?

Insurance companies can only learn about your speeding ticket after you have lost or paid the ticket in court. When you take a ticket to court and lose, you will need to pay the fine. If you decide not to fight the ticket, you will need to pay for it. In both cases, the action of paying for the ticket is what registers the speeding ticket on your driver’s abstract.

Do different speeds affect your auto insurance differently?

Speeding tickets and how fast you were going will affect your Ontario auto insurance premiums differently. The fine you face from a ticket is also different based on how fast you drive above the posted speed limit. As per the Ontario courts, the following fines are issued for speeding:

1-19km/h over the speed limit is a $2.50/km speeding fine.
20-29km/h over the speed limit is a $3.75/km speeding fine.
30-49km/h over the speed limit is a $6.00/km speeding fine.
50+ km/h over the speed limit comes with a court-decided fine.

There are higher speeding fines issued if you were speeding in a Community Safety Zone. Those fines are:

1-19km/h over the speed limit is a $5.00/km speeding fine.
20-29km/h over the speed limit is a $7.50/km speeding fine.
30-49km/h over the speed limit is a $12.00/km speeding fine.
50km/h over the speed limit comes with a court-decided fine.

The faster your ticket is issued, the higher impact it will have on your auto insurance premiums.

I have multiple speeding tickets. What is a high-risk driver?

A high-risk driver is someone who has been involved in multiple accidents or has received multiple driving tickets. Those driving tickets include speeding tickets. As the name suggests, insurance companies label someone a high-risk driver if they show a higher risk than other drivers. If you are considered high risk, your access to cheap auto insurance is limited. Instead, you must seek out high-risk auto insurance. High-risk insurance premiums are much higher than regular auto insurance. By requesting a quote with isure, you can find the most affordable high-risk insurance compared to going directly to insurers. We compare the rates of dozens of the best insurance providers in Ontario to give you a great rate and policy.

How many demerit points come with an Ontario speeding ticket?

Demerit points are the Ontario Ministry of Transportation’s way of determining driver quality. If someone acquires too many demerit points, the Ministry can choose not to renew your license. Any demerit points you gain during your driving remain on your record for three years. If you get a speeding ticket in Ontario, it will also include demerit points on your record. Currently, you will get the following demerit points for speeding:

16-29km/h over the posted speed limit will come with 3 demerit points.
30-49km/h over the posted speed limit will come with 4 demerit points.
50+ km/h over the posted speed limit will come with 6 demerit points.

Do demerit points affect my auto insurance in Ontario?

Demerit points do not directly impact your car insurance rates in Ontario. Instead, all tickets you get are what impacts your insurance premiums. One thing to note, if you get too many demerit points, the Ministry can suspend your license. If your license is suspended, your insurance company is not obligated to provide you with coverage.

How much can you go over the speed limit?

By law, anything over the official speed limit is liable for a speeding ticket. However, the police usually offer a buffer of 10% plus 2 mph above the speed limit, though this is entirely at their discretion. You will not get a ticket provided your speed does not exceed the limit by more than 10 percent. So for example, travelling at 35mph or above in a 30mph zone will be recorded as a speeding offence.

How is stunt driving different from speeding?

Ontario has made changes to how fast a driver can go over the speed limit on some roads before it will be considered stunt driving.

Stunt driving includes:

driving 40 kilometres per hour or more over the speed limit on roads with a speed limit less than 80 kilometres per hour
driving 50 kilometres per hour or more over the speed limit
driving in a way that prevents other vehicles from passing
intentionally cutting off another vehicle
intentionally driving too close to another vehicle, pedestrian or fixed object

Drivers caught driving 150 km/h or more are subject to stunt driving charges. This applies anywhere in the province, including sections of freeways with limits of 110 km/h. The provincial government introduced the legislation, named the Moving Ontarians More Safely Act in April, and came into effect on July 01, 2021.

What are the penalties for stunt driving?

Drivers caught stunt driving will now also face a tougher penalty. Motorists will face a 30-day roadside driver’s license suspension as well as a 14-day vehicle impoundment. The previous penalty was one week. The Ontario government is also introducing an escalating post-conviction driver’s licence suspensions for drivers convicted of stunt driving.

For a first offence, a minimum of one to three years
For a second offence, a minimum of three to 10 years
For a third offence, a lifetime suspension that may be reduced at a later date to be established by regulation, and
For fourth and subsequent offences, a lifetime driver’s license suspension.

According to Transportation Minister, Caroline Mulroney, the province had seen a spike in offences since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. With fewer motorists on the roads due to the health crisis, drivers were potentially inclined to drive at more excessive speeds. Between January 2021 to the end of May, Toronto saw a 90 per cent increase in racing and stunt driving charges compared to the same time in 2019. The city says that police issued 276 racing and/or stunt driving tickets during that time, which is nearly 130 more tickets than they gave out during those months in 2019.

Can I pay for my speeding ticket online?

Yes, you can pay for a speeding ticket online. Most areas have their own online portals that enable you to pay for driving tickets online. While most areas have this, some areas do not and need you to pay for your ticket in person. Some areas that allow you to pay for a ticket online include:

How do I pay a speeding ticket if I lost it?

If your ticket was issued in Ontario, you have many options to find out if you have tickets on your licence and pay them:

Online – Using a site like paytickets.ca or a court-specific website. (Check Ticket Lookup for more info).
Phone – All courts offer the ability to pay your fine over the phone. This generally requires a credit card.
Mail – There are instructions on the ticket for payment by mail. This would usually involve sending a cheque by regular mail. Be sure to check that the court receives it to avoid further issues or possible licence suspension.
In-person – You can physically attend the court that the ticket is linked to and pay your ticket during normal business hours.

We recommend using the Online Ticket Lookup to either inquire into the status of your ticket or find out about additional payment options for your specific ticket.

Speeding tickets and how they affect auto insurance rates in Ontario