The fine on your speeding ticket is the tip of the iceberg. The real financial hit comes from your insurance premiums — and it lasts three years.

Here's a province-by-province breakdown of what a speeding ticket actually costs when you factor in insurance.

How Insurance Companies Handle Speeding Tickets

When you're convicted of a speeding ticket (either by paying the fine or losing at trial), the conviction goes on your driving record. Your insurance company checks your record at each renewal and adjusts your premium accordingly.

Most insurers categorize convictions as:

• Minor: 1-15 km/h over the limit
• Moderate: 16-29 km/h over
• Major: 30-49 km/h over
• Serious/Criminal: 50+ km/h over (stunt driving in ON), racing, criminal code offences

The increase depends on your insurer, your driving history, and your province. But the general ranges are consistent.

Province-by-Province Insurance Impact

Ontario

• Average annual premium: ~$1,920
• Minor speeding: +15% (~$288/yr, ~$864 over 3 years)
• Moderate speeding: +25% (~$480/yr, ~$1,440 over 3 years)
• Major speeding: +50% (~$960/yr, ~$2,880 over 3 years)
• Stunt driving: +100-200% (~$1,920-$3,840/yr)

[Calculate your Ontario ticket's real cost](/on)

British Columbia

• Average annual premium: ~$1,832 (ICBC)
• Minor speeding: +15% (~$275/yr, ~$825 over 3 years)
• Moderate speeding: +25% (~$458/yr, ~$1,374 over 3 years)
• Major speeding: +50% (~$916/yr, ~$2,748 over 3 years)

BC is unique because ICBC is the sole basic insurance provider. Your driving record directly affects your ICBC premium through their claims-rated scale.

[Calculate your BC ticket's real cost](/bc)

Alberta

• Average annual premium: ~$2,000
• Minor speeding: +15% (~$300/yr, ~$900 over 3 years)
• Moderate speeding: +25% (~$500/yr, ~$1,500 over 3 years)
• Major speeding: +50% (~$1,000/yr, ~$3,000 over 3 years)

Alberta updated its grid rating system in January 2026 with a 20% increase. A single conviction can push you into a significantly higher grid step.

[Calculate your Alberta ticket's real cost](/ab)

Quebec

• Average annual premium: ~$1,100
• Quebec has a split insurance system: SAAQ covers injury (public), private insurers cover property damage
• Minor speeding: +15% (~$165/yr, ~$495 over 3 years)
• Moderate speeding: +25% (~$275/yr, ~$825 over 3 years)
• Major demerit accumulation triggers SAAQ surcharges on top of private insurance increases

[Calculate your Quebec ticket's real cost](/qc)

The Three-Year Rule

In most provinces, insurance companies look at your record for the past three years. A conviction from 2026 will affect your premiums in 2027, 2028, and 2029.

Some key points:

• The clock starts from the conviction date, not the offence date. If you fight your ticket and lose six months later, those three years start from the trial date — buying you time.
• Multiple convictions stack. Two minor speeding tickets don't just double the increase — they can push you into a higher risk category.
• First offence forgiveness is offered by some insurers, but don't count on it. Read your policy.

The Math: Pay vs. Fight

Here's a comparison for a typical moderate speeding ticket (22 km/h over in Ontario):

There is literally no financial downside to fighting. If you lose, you pay exactly what you would have paid. If you win, you save $1,548.

How to Protect Your Insurance Rate

The single best thing you can do is fight every ticket. The officer might not show. The disclosure might reveal problems. You have nothing to lose.

Never pay a ticket without understanding the real cost first. That $95 fine could cost you $1,000+ in insurance over three years.

[Free calculator: see what your ticket will really cost you](/on)