Buzz
Disregarding the speed limit can lead to financial consequences. On average, drivers in the U.S. may face fines of around $150 for speeding violations, though this amount can rise based on the severity of the offense. Exceeding the limit by a small margin might result in a warning, but going 30 miles over could severely impact your wallet.
While speeding is often attributed to driver error, the car you drive might also play a role. Recently, Insurify, an auto insurance platform, examined data from over 4.6 million insurance applications to identify patterns in speeding tickets across various car models. (Insurance applications typically require disclosing any traffic violations.) Using a national average of 7.1 percent for speeding tickets, they identified car brands with disproportionately higher violation rates.
Surprisingly, high-end luxury sports cars aren’t always the top offenders. Here’s what the data revealed:
- Infiniti // 8.7 Percent
- Scion // 8.4 Percent
- Volkswagen // 8.3 Percent
- Subaru // 8.0 Percent
- Mazda // 7.7 Percent
- Audi // 7.6 Percent
- KIA // 7.6 Percent
- Honda // 7.5 Percent
- BMW // 7.4 Percent
- Hyundai // 7.4 Percent
Infiniti vehicles topped the list for the highest likelihood of drivers being stopped by authorities. According to Insurify’s data, 8.7 percent of Infiniti owners received speeding tickets, significantly exceeding the national average. Certain models, like the Infiniti G37, saw even higher rates, with 10.7 percent of drivers reporting citations.
Scion, a discontinued brand under Toyota, ranked second, with 8.4 percent of its drivers receiving speeding tickets. The Scion FR-S was particularly notable, with 13.7 percent of its owners being cited for speeding.
The BMW i3, an all-electric model, emerged as the most ticketed vehicle on the list, with 17.6 percent of its drivers receiving citations.
Cadillac, Tesla, and Volvo recorded below-average ticket rates, all at or below 5.4 percent. Volvo stood out with only 2.7 percent of its drivers receiving speeding tickets.
What makes these cars more prone to speeding tickets? Many of these models boast agile handling. For instance, the Audi S4, with 14.6 percent of its owners receiving tickets, accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds. Similarly, the Subaru WRX, another frequent offender, draws inspiration from rally car designs. Such performance capabilities often encourage drivers to push boundaries and enjoy their vehicles' power.
However, giving in to these temptations carries significant risks. Speeding not only raises the likelihood of accidents but also comes with financial consequences that many underestimate. Beyond the immediate cost of a ticket, drivers may face steep increases in their auto insurance premiums due to the citation.
The average annual cost for comprehensive auto insurance coverage is approximately $2000. A single speeding ticket can drive premiums up by 20 percent, adding around $400 to the bill. While your car might entice you to speed, remember that doing so comes at a high price.
