(Newswire.net — June 21, 2018) — The best way to avoid a high insurance rate is to practice driving safely and obey road laws. If you think you’re paying too much for insurance, just wait until you hear about these five people who are about to pay a fortune if they want to keep driving.
- Drivers who were charged with racing. According to the Ontario Highway Act, street racing involves one of these three acts: two or more cars driving in a speed and manner that indicate they are in competition; chasing another vehicle; or driving without due care and attention.
In any case, racing is a serious offense with serious consequences, as these five drivers are about to find out. Each of these drivers faces fines of up to $10,000, six demerit points, up to six months in jail, a potential two-year licence suspension and sky-high insurance rates the next time they renew their policies.
- The hundreds of Saskatchewan drivers who were charged with distracted driving in one month. Saskatchewan police announced that they issued 583 tickets to drivers using their phones behind the wheel in March this year, highlighting the fact that distracted driving is a major road-safety concern. In addition to paying the fine on their ticket, these drivers will also need to pay a penalty to the province’s government-run auto insurer.
- The drunk driver who flipped his car in the worst place possible. A Newfoundland driver was charged with impaired driving after losing control and flipping his vehicle just a few feet away from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary headquarters. This driver might face more than just an increased insurance premium; driving under the influence could void his policy and make it difficult for him to secure traditional insurance coverage moving forward.
- The serial speedster. If a couple of regular speeding tickets can double your insurance rate, just imagine how much it would cost if you were clocked in at 210 kilometres an hour! That’s exactly how fast this masked man was driving when he was pulled over by the police – and it wasn’t the first time he was caught speeding on the same bridge.
- The careless driver who totalled his new car. Wrecking your car can be a costly lapse in judgement – especially if it comes with a careless driving charge like it did for this Ontario driver who ignored road signs and drove on a closed section of a highway. In addition to paying for the repairs to his brand-new car, he’ll also face an unwelcome increase to his insurance premium.
If you’ve caused an accident or received a few tickets, you might also be feeling the sting of higher insurance rates the next time you renew. Call your provider to make sure you’re taking advantage of all available discounts, and ask if you could lower your overall costs by paying your premium in one lump sum or agreeing to a higher deductible. More importantly, do some research and compare competing insurance quotes online to see if there is a better deal available, despite your spotty record. You might be surprised to find out that different insurance companies offer different prices, even for the same car and driver. Finally, maintain a clean driving record going forward, and in a few years you’ll see your premium lower as a reward for your good driving habits.