Citation vs. Ticket: Simply Explained (2023)
There is no difference between a citation and a ticket in most states. These terms are used interchangeably to describe a violation of laws related to driving. Both traffic citations and tickets can increase your auto insurance rates. However, some companies don't increase rates for every type of citation.
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Daniel Walker
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Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
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UPDATED: Jun 14, 2023
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UPDATED: Jun 14, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Citation and ticket are used interchangeably
- Traffic violations increase your auto insurance rates
- Some companies don’t have a significant increase when you have a speeding violation on your driving record
- The Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange holds a copy of your insurance history and driving record
Many drivers wonder “is a citation a ticket” and do citations go on your record. You should know, there is no difference between a citation and a ticket in most states. These terms are used interchangeably to describe a violation of laws related to driving.
Both traffic citations and tickets can increase your auto insurance rates. However, some insurance companies don’t increase rates for every type of citation. Compare multiple companies and shop around to find cars with the lowest insurance rates or other applicable personal lines insurance regardless of traffic tickets.
In most jurisdictions in the United States, there’s no difference between a traffic citation and a ticket when it comes to vehicle-related penalties. There isn’t a significant difference between a driving citation vs. a ticket.
The speeding citation is formal wording that demands you come to court, while a traffic ticket only requires that the driver will pay. If you want to fight a ticket, you can go to court. Either way, even the best auto insurers will increase your monthly rates for a traffic infraction.
What’s the difference between a citation and a ticket?
Therefore, a citation for speeding is the same as getting a ticket for speeding, but the rule says you must appear in court: same thing, different wording. When a police officer issues one, it comes with a fine and court appearance.
What is a ticket citation? It’s technically a ticket you get whenever law enforcement writes you a citation for speeding, DUI, or other traffic violation.
The most serious ticket is for DUI or DWI and can force you to appear in court to enter a plea. You may face more considerable fines or even imprisonment.
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What are violations vs citations?
While there’s no difference between a citation and a ticket, there’s a technical difference between violation and citation:
- A citation charges you with one or more traffic violations. You may receive a driving citation or ticket for speeding.
- A traffic violation is a specific rule you broke; if you were caught speeding, for example, then you ‘violated’ traffic rules by going over the speed limit.
If you commit a traffic violation, then you will receive a citation or ticket. The meaning of a traffic citation refers to the traffic law you are charged with breaking.
The citation also explains the next steps to take – like any court appearances you are required to make or fines you are required to pay.
Will a citation or ticket affect my auto insurance premiums?
Whether you call it a citation or a ticket, it can have a severe effect on your insurance rates. A single speeding ticket or DUI can cause coverage prices to rise 50% or more overnight, for example.
If you have received a traffic citation or a ticket, then you may want to compare car insurance quotes online today to ensure you continue paying competitive rates.
| Driving Record Summary | Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates by Driving Record |
|---|---|
| Clean Driving Record | $260 |
| With One Speeding Violation | $306 |
| With One Accident | $342 |
| With One DUI Conviction | $410 |
If you have a clean driving history and receive a single citation or traffic ticket, then your premiums may not increase, especially if it’s a minor citation like a speeding ticket.
A more serious citation – like a DUI – will likely raise insurance premiums even if you have an otherwise clean driving record.
Should I switch to another auto insurance company?
When it comes to citation vs. ticket, insurance companies have different policies regarding which offenses affect your rates. Some insurance companies ignore all speeding tickets and ‘minor’ citations such as a parking ticket, for example, when calculating insurance premiums. Other insurance companies raise rates sharply after any citation or ticket.
Let’s review the cost of auto insurance by the company and driving violations.
| Companies | Rates with a Clean Record | Rates With One Accident | Rates With One DUI | Rates With One Speeding Violation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $3,819.90 | $4,987.68 | $6,260.73 | $4,483.51 |
| American Family | $2,693.61 | $3,722.75 | $4,330.24 | $3,025.74 |
| Farmers | $3,460.60 | $4,518.73 | $4,718.75 | $4,079.01 |
| Geico | $2,145.96 | $3,192.77 | $4,875.87 | $2,645.43 |
| Liberty Mutual | $4,774.30 | $6,204.78 | $7,613.48 | $5,701.26 |
| Nationwide | $2,746.18 | $3,396.95 | $4,543.20 | $3,113.68 |
| Progressive | $3,393.09 | $4,777.04 | $3,969.65 | $4,002.28 |
| State Farm | $2,821.18 | $3,396.01 | $3,636.80 | $3,186.01 |
| Travelers | $3,447.69 | $4,289.74 | $5,741.40 | $4,260.80 |
| USAA | $1,933.68 | $2,516.24 | $3,506.03 | $2,193.25 |
Ultimately, insurance companies have different policies regarding clean driving records. Some drivers lose their clean driving bonus after a single citation, as seen in the data above.
Others will have their premiums remain unchanged after a single citation. If your auto insurance company is trying to raise insurance premiums after a single citation, you may want to compare your current auto insurance companies with other providers. Check out our article to learn how to switch auto insurance companies.
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How do you lower auto insurance rates after a citation or ticket?
When you receive a citation or ticket for speeding, a moving violation, or reckless driving, it remains on your driving for at least three years. DUIs/DWIs, reckless driving, and accidents could last from eight to ten years on your driving record.
States keep a record of your driving history, but the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (C.L.U.E.) will hold a copy for your insurance record.
After three years, you may start to see a decrease in car insurance rates. If your rates don’t go down, you may want to look at another auto insurance company.
Do some jurisdictions have different definitions for citations and tickets?
Is a citation a ticket? In most cases, a citation and a ticket are the same when dealing with law enforcement officials and vehicles. However, some jurisdictions do have a difference between citation and ticket.
- In some jurisdictions, a law enforcement official only gives a citation after the offender has received multiple tickets
- In some jurisdictions, a citation requires the offender to appear in the court of law; with most tickets, however, the offender needs to pay a fine
- In some jurisdictions, citations are only handed over for more severe violations like a criminal traffic ticket or repeated violations; if you have received multiple speeding tickets, for example, then you may receive a citation
Between citation vs. ticket, citations can be more serious than tickets in some jurisdictions. Citations may require an appearance in court, while a ticket can be paid by check or online payment.
In other jurisdictions, of course, a citation and a ticket have no discernible difference.
What’s the bottom line?
There’s no difference between citation and ticket in most jurisdictions in the United States. The citation ticket meaning is the same thing as a citation or ticket. The two are the same thing: a citation or a ticket is a document explaining that you committed some traffic offense type, like a civil infraction for speeding.
A citation is more serious than a ticket in some places. However, a citation requires you to appear in a court of law while a ticket can be paid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can defensive driving courses help reduce the impact of a citation or ticket?
In some cases, completing a defensive driving course may help mitigate the impact of a citation or ticket on your record or insurance rates. Check with local authorities or your insurance provider for eligibility and potential benefits.
How can I find out if a citation or ticket will increase my insurance rates?
To determine the impact on your insurance rates, contact your insurance provider directly as their policies differ in assessing and adjusting premiums based on driving violations.
Can I contest a citation or ticket?
Yes, in many jurisdictions, you have the option to contest a citation or ticket by appearing in court and presenting your case to a judge.
How long does a citation or ticket stay on my driving record?
The duration varies by jurisdiction and violation, but generally, citations or tickets stay on your driving record for a certain number of years, typically ranging from three to ten years.
Will a citation or ticket affect my driving record?
Yes, a citation or ticket typically affects your driving record as it is documented as a violation on your driving history.
Does a citation or ticket put points on my driver’s license?
In many jurisdictions, certain traffic violations result in points being added to your driver’s license, with the number of points varying by violation and jurisdiction.
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Daniel Walker
Licensed Insurance Agent
Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.