Do Red Light Camera Tickets Affect Insurance Rates?

By Larry Anderson and the Mercury Team

You’re nearing an intersection, and the light turns yellow. Now you have a choice: roll through the light and risk the light turning red, or go ahead and stop. You choose the former, and a week or two later, you get an envelope in the mail with a red light ticket.

Is it just a fine, or will that mistake cause your insurance rate to rise? “The answer isn’t always straightforward,” says Larry Anderson, Director, Underwriting Operations. “Red light camera tickets are kind of in a gray area between minor infractions and real driving violations, and how they affect your insurance depends on several factors.”

What Is a Red Light Camera Ticket?

A red light camera ticket is issued when an automated camera system captures your vehicle going through an intersection after the light has turned red. These cameras are typically mounted at busy intersections and triggered by sensors. Since there’s no police officer present to write up the infraction, you’ll get that citation in the mail, usually with photographic evidence of your violation.

Does a Red Light Ticket Affect Insurance?

Sometimes a red light ticket will affect your insurance, but it depends on how your state classifies this violation:

• If it’s a civil violation, which is common with camera tickets, it typically does not affect your insurance.
• If it’s treated as a moving violation, it can potentially increase your premiums.

Many states intentionally structure red light camera tickets as non-moving violations to avoid adding points to your license. When no points are added, insurance companies often never see the ticket. But if the violation is reported to your driving record, your insurer might treat it similarly to other traffic infractions.

Will Red Light Camera Tickets Affect Insurance the Same as Moving Violations?

No, red light camera tickets usually won’t affect insurance the same as moving violations, and this is where drivers get confused.

• Traditional moving violations, like speeding or running a red light witnessed by an officer, usually add points to your license, appear on your record, and increase premiums.
• Red light camera tickets usually don’t add points and insurers sometimes ignore them. That said, if your state treats camera tickets as moving violations, or if you fail to pay and it escalates, then the impact can be similar to a standard ticket.

How Much Are Red Light Tickets?

The cost of red light tickets can vary greatly by jurisdiction. While average prices are between $50 and $150, some stricter areas may send tickets that are $300 or more. You also might see administrative or court fees tacked onto the price. Unlike speeding tickets, these fines are usually a flat rate and don’t depend on how fast you were going—just whether you entered the intersection illegally.

When Do Red Light Tickets Impact Your Driving Record?

In many states, camera tickets are kept separate from your official driving history. That’s why they often don’t trigger insurance increases. A red light camera ticket impacts your driving record only if your state classifies it as a moving violation, it results in points added to your license, or you contest the ticket and lose in a jurisdiction that records the violation.

If you ignore the ticket, it can definitely affect your driving record and potentially lead to fines, license suspension, and even court involvement.

How Insurance Companies View Traffic Violations

In general, insurance companies assess risk based on your driving behavior. And any violations that suggest risky driving typically lead to higher premiums. While non-moving violations in general may have little to no impact, minor infractions like rolling stops can potentially lead to small rate increases, while reckless driving can hike your premiums pretty quickly.

You may never get a red light ticket, but it pays to review your jurisdiction’s rules and ask your insurer how they handle red light tickets both in and out of state. And if you’re looking to expand your auto insurance coverage or review your current policy, reach out to Mercury. Our local experts are here to answer questions and get you the coverage you need.

FAQs

Do all states treat red light camera tickets the same way?

No. Laws vary widely by state and even by city. Some states treat these tickets as civil penalties with no impact on your driving record, while others handle them like standard traffic violations.

Can you fight a red light camera ticket successfully?

Yes, in some cases, which include camera malfunctions and tickets in which the driver can’t be clearly identified. The success of voiding a red light camera ticket will depend on local laws and the evidence presented.

Will multiple camera tickets have a bigger impact on insurance?

Individually, they may not affect your insurance if they’re non-moving violations. However, multiple tickets can raise red flags if they’re reported, and they can lead to stricter penalties and an increase in your insurer’s scrutiny.