Do Parking Tickets Affect Your Car Insurance Rates?

You pull a quick stop in a no-parking zone, get slapped with a parking ticket, and immediately wonder: “Will this hike up my car insurance?” The short answer? Probably not. But let’s unpack the full story.

🚫 Parking Tickets Are Different from Moving Violations

Insurance companies care about how you drive, not where you leave your car. Parking tickets are considered non-moving violations — meaning you didn’t actually do anything behind the wheel that suggests you’re a risky driver.

Unlike speeding tickets, DUI charges, or reckless driving citations, parking tickets don’t signal an increased chance you’ll cause an accident. So, for insurers, they’re largely irrelevant.

But Don’t Get Cocky: Paying Parking Tickets Still Matters

While parking tickets themselves don’t hike your premium, ignoring them can lead to headaches:

• Unpaid parking tickets can escalate to license suspensions, registration holds, or even warrants in some places.

• If your driver’s license gets suspended or your registration is revoked, that can trigger a serious spike in insurance rates or even policy cancellations.

So, while a single parking ticket won’t break your bank on insurance, failing to pay it could eventually cost you waymore.

When Could Parking Tickets Affect Insurance? (Rarely)

• Some insurance companies may view multiple parking tickets as a red flag for “carelessness” or general disregard for rules — but this is pretty uncommon and usually doesn’t lead to premium increases.

• If a parking ticket is issued in connection with other violations (like blocking a fire hydrant during an emergency), it might carry more weight with insurers.

What Really Moves the Needle on Your Insurance Premiums?

• Speeding tickets, running red lights, DUI convictions, at-fault accidents, and reckless driving are the big factors that will jack up your rates.

• Your insurance company uses your driving record to calculate how likely you are to file claims, so moving violations are the real risk signals.

Bottom Line: Parking Tickets Are More Annoying Than Expensive

Sure, parking tickets are frustrating and can cost you money at the city meter, but when it comes to your car insurance bill, they’re mostly harmless.
Just don’t ignore them — because the consequences of unpaid tickets can eventually hit your insurance and your wallet.