Speeding and traffic violations don’t just cost you at the roadside—they can significantly impact your auto insurance premiums for years to come. Understanding how your driving record affects your insurance can help you make safer and smarter choices behind the wheel, whether it's a minor ticket or a serious offence.
Minor vs. Major Tickets: What’s the Difference?
For insurance purposes in Ontario, traffic violations fall into two categories: minor and major convictions.
Minor Tickets
While not criminal, minor traffic offences can still lead to higher insurance premiums. Most insurers will remove your conviction-free discount, which typically results in a 10–15% increase for three years.
Common Minor Offences Include:
- Speeding (under 50 km/h over the limit)
- Failing to signal
- Rolling through a stop sign
- Following too closely
- Failure to show your driver’s license
Keep in mind: whether you’re caught going 5 km/h or 45 km/h over the speed limit, it’s treated the same for insurance purposes—a minor speeding conviction.
Major Tickets
These are serious infractions and come with much heavier consequences. In addition to hefty fines and possible criminal charges, they can result in policy cancellation, vehicle impoundment, or license suspension.
Examples of Major Offences:
- Speeding more than 50 km/h over the limit
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence (DUI)
- Failing to report an accident
- Driving without insurance
- Careless or dangerous driving
- Failing to stop for a school bus or in a school zone
Major violations often push drivers into high-risk insurance markets, where premiums can triple or even quadruple.
Safety Should Always Come First
The best way to avoid penalties—and protect your wallet—is to drive responsibly. This is especially important for young and newly licensed drivers, who already face higher premiums due to limited driving history.
At Gibb Insurance Brokers, we’re here to help you understand your coverage and navigate any changes that result from driving convictions. If you have questions about how a ticket might affect your policy, reach out; we’re happy to help. 519-736-8228