Whether they've been popped for speeding or running a red light, drivers are usually in the dark about how badly their insurance rate will be affected.
A new tool from BI contributor Insurance.com could help eliminate some of the guess work.
With the Uh-Oh! Calculator, users can plug in their insurance provider and exact traffic violation and it will pump out an estimate of their rate increase.
The color of your car might not matter that much, but traffic violations can have a huge impact on consumers' annual insurance premium – depending on the type of ticket.
According to AAA's Your Driving Costs report, the average annual cost to insure a sedan is $1,001, which would shoot up by 22 percent for charge like reckless driving.
In contrast, a ticket for a seat belt infraction only has a small 3 percent effect.
At the end of the day, the cleaner a driver's safety record remains, the less likely their premium will take a hit. In the meantime, here are a few strategies you can use to lower your auto insurance, courtesy of Investing Answer's Gina Roberts-Grey:
1. Access Your Associations:Roberts-Grey points out that some insurance companies offer discounts for members of certain organizations. "For instance, Chrome Classic Car Insurance offers a discount of up to 10% to members of the National Street Rod Association," Roberts says.
2. Take The Road Less Traveled: Some companies offer a "pay-as-you-go" insurance. Instead of estimating the amount of miles you will drive in a year the insurance company will install a data collection device to track your driving habits. This also can help you save money by proving you are a safe driver, since it records the speed you go and your braking habits.
3. Stress Safety: You might not have even thought of taking a defensive-driving course, but doing so can save you up to 10 percent on your insurance.
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