North Carolina Insurance Points Explained [2024 Updated]

North Carolina does whatever is necessary to keep drivers safe, and if you are found to be violating traffic laws, you could be penalized through your insurance. Our state uses a Safe Driver Incentive Plan (SDIP), which was established to ensure that drivers are abiding by the law. This isn’t anything to worry about if you don’t violate any laws, but if you’ve received points under the SDIP and see higher insurance rates, you should talk to a North Carolina car accident lawyer.

How the SDIP Works

The SDIP gives drivers an incentive to drive safely on the road, and if you don’t receive any points on your record, similar to driver’s license points, your insurance rates stay low. Depending on how severe your violations are, you’ll receive a certain number of points on your driving record. The more points you have, the more you’ll have to pay the insurance companies. As you may expect, this can get out of control quickly if you accumulate several points.

The following violations can result in the following number of points and percentages of insurance rate increase:

• 1 point, 30% increase: failing to stop for a siren, stop light violation
• 2 points, 45% increase: following too closely, illegal passing, driving on the wrong side of the road
• 4 points, 80% increase: reckless driving, underage driving while intoxicated (DWI), passing a stopped school bus
• 8 points, 195% increase: aggressive driving, driving with a revoked or suspended license
• 10 points, 260% increase: Speeding to avoid arrest, highway racing
• 12 points, 340% increase: manslaughter, DWI, hit-and-run, pre-arranged highway racing

You may think that any type of incident will result in points on your record, but there are cases where you won’t receive penalties. For example, if you get into an accident that causes no injuries or property damage exceeding $1,800, then you won’t receive any points. This also applies to cases where you were speeding 10 mph over the speed limit outside a school zone.

What This Means for You

Even a 1-point violation on your record can significantly change how much you spend on insurance rates. For example, if you’re paying $1,000 a year for insurance, this can jump to $1,300 from a single point penalty. Depending on your financial situation, this could be difficult to work with. For this reason, we advise you to speak with a qualified criminal defense lawyer who can evaluate your case and work to remove your penalties.

You may have been arrested for DWI, but the police did not perform their steps correctly. In this instance, a lawyer can use that as a defense to try to have your penalties removed or reduced. This also applies to the SDIP system, as points could be removed if your lawyer can prove that you aren’t in the wrong. Also, it’s risky to go through the legal system on your own, especially if you have no knowledge of the law in North Carolina.

FAQs

Q: How Do Points Work in North Carolina?

A: If you are charged with traffic violations in North Carolina such as speeding, reckless driving, car accidents, and more, you will receive points on your driving record, according to the SDIP. These points increase the insurance rates that you pay at regular intervals. Depending on how many points you have, you can see your insurance rates go up significantly. This point system is in place so drivers take their responsibilities seriously.

Q: How Much Will My Insurance Go Up With Two Points in North Carolina?

A: If you have two points on your driving record, your insurance rates increase by 45%. You could be given two points if you are charged with speeding, illegal passing, following someone too closely, and more. These violations may seem minor, with nothing to worry about, but paying 45% of your rates on top of what you already owe can quickly add up and lead to financial trouble in some cases.

Q: How Do I Remove My Insurance Points in North Carolina?

A: There are a couple of different ways to have points removed from your record. First, if you can legally prove that you are innocent, you may have your points removed. Otherwise, you can attend a driver improvement clinic once every five years to have your points removed. You’ll have to schedule an eligibility hearing and complete the course to successfully have these points taken off your record. Ask your lawyer any additional questions you have about this process.

Q: How Many Insurance Points Do You Get for a Speeding Ticket in North Carolina?

A: Speeding could result in a wide range of point totals. For instance, speeding 10 mph over a speed limit that is no more than 55 mph gives you one point. However, if you’re speeding over 10 mph when the speed limit is between 55 and 76 mph, this could result in two points. Speeding 10 mph over the speed limit of at least 70 results in four points. Finally, speeding to evade arrest equals ten points on your record.

Visit Our Mooresville Law Office Today

We know how stressful it can be to have points on your record for various traffic violations, regardless of their severity. You may be tight on money already, and being penalized with higher rates could complicate things. You may not have done anything wrong but were arrested anyway, and you likely don’t know how to handle this. If you receive points on your record, or you’ve been charged with a traffic violation, we can help.

By visiting our team at The Law Office of William T. Corbett, Jr., P.L.L.C., you can relax, knowing that your case is being managed by a knowledgeable and experienced attorney. We can carefully examine your situation and determine if there are any weaknesses in the prosecutor’s case, which could be used to defend you. You don’t want to risk being penalized with large insurance rates, especially since we can help. Contact us today to learn more about insurance points and how we can assist you.