State Farm - Ticket Policy

**GreyGhost** · 09-26-2011, 11:26 AM

Check out Vifferfun 's posts on State farm. IIRC statefarm is about 10% increase for the first minor ticket and you lose your conviction free discount of another 15% or so. They won't cut you free for the first ticket, but you will feel the pain.

As others have said, insurance counts convictions, most consider all speeding tickets less than 49 km/h over as equal.

If you aren't risking losing your license by fighting the ticket, fighting is almost always the better way to go.

**sunnyCBR** · 09-26-2011, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by GreyGhost

Check out Vifferfun 's posts on State farm. IIRC statefarm is about 10% increase for the first minor ticket and you lose your conviction free discount of another 15% or so. They won't cut you free for the first ticket, but you will feel the pain.

As others have said, insurance counts convictions, most consider all speeding tickets less than 49 km/h over as equal.

If you aren't risking losing your license by fighting the ticket, fighting is almost always the better way to go.

Thanks, that's sort of what I have been gathering from the information around here and the few riders I know.

I guess now I'll have to look into what can be done to fight the ticket. Thanks for the information GreyGhost, Katherine and r6rollin!

**toysareforboys** · 09-28-2011, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by sunnyCBR

I guess now I'll have to look into what can be done to fight the ticket.

Fight it like your life and license depend on it! Even if it was a ticket for 3km/h over, FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT! You DO NOT want this conviction on your record, trust me.

Wait till the very last day you can and plead not guilty, request a trial date, check the box for the officer to be present, and that you'll be contesting his evidence, and check the box that you have a lawyer.

Hang out in the legal forum for a while and get the hang of how to prepare a defense. Better yet, hang out at the courthouse for a day and learn how to NOT form a defense.

Good luck.

-Jamie M.

**sunnyCBR** · 10-03-2011, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by toysareforboys

Fight it like your life and license depend on it! Even if it was a ticket for 3km/h over, FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT! You DO NOT want this conviction on your record, trust me.

Wait till the very last day you can and plead not guilty, request a trial date, check the box for the officer to be present, and that you'll be contesting his evidence, and check the box that you have a lawyer.

Hang out in the legal forum for a while and get the hang of how to prepare a defense. Better yet, hang out at the courthouse for a day and learn how to NOT form a defense.

Good luck.

-Jamie M.

Thanks Jamie! I've been on ticketcombat.com as well reading up on stuff, already saved me from thinking about bad tactics. Got to take the ticket in this week and make my plea. Probably will spend more time in the other section of the forum as well, there are some very helpful people in here!

**VifferFun** · 09-26-2011, 02:26 PM

Katherine, would you mind elaborating on State Farm's conviction surcharge a little? I believe that, on their first minor conviction, a SF client would:

a.) Lose their Plan A status (or something similar) -- perhaps an increase of ~15%?
b.) Have a conviction surcharge added to their policy -- perhaps an increase of ~10%?

I think my agent might have mentioned that the impact varied depending on your tenure with SF as well? Some clarification would be much appreciated

**Katherine** · 09-27-2011, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by VifferFun

Katherine, would you mind elaborating on State Farm's conviction surcharge a little? I believe that, on their first minor conviction, a SF client would:

a.) Lose their Plan A status (or something similar) -- perhaps an increase of ~15%?
b.) Have a conviction surcharge added to their policy -- perhaps an increase of ~10%?

I think my agent might have mentioned that the impact varied depending on your tenure with SF as well? Some clarification would be much appreciated

I'm not aware of exact percentages. If you're in A plan, a minor ticket usually doesn't affect anything but two could have you moved to B plan. New business can't be A plan if you have any tickets in the last 3 years or at-fault accidents in the last 6 years. You must have a full G license and six years of driving experience to be in A plan. You can't have a motorcycle in A plan unless you have a car with SF and your household meets the A plan eligibility requirements I just mentioned.

For those that have stand-alone bike policies with SF, you are in B plan.

**VifferFun** · 09-27-2011, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by Katherine

I'm not aware of exact percentages. If you're in A plan, a minor ticket usually doesn't affect anything but two could have you moved to B plan. New business can't be A plan if you have any tickets in the last 3 years or at-fault accidents in the last 6 years. You must have a full G license and six years of driving experience to be in A plan. You can't have a motorcycle in A plan unless you have a car with SF and your household meets the A plan eligibility requirements I just mentioned.

For those that have stand-alone bike policies with SF, you are in B plan.

Thanks Katherine! That's really informative!

**VifferFun** · 09-27-2011, 10:51 AM

Hey Guys -- here is a decision tree that should help you determine where you stand with regards to State Farm's Plan A and Plan B, along with some useful Discount and Surcharge information. Enjoy!

http://i982.photobucket.com/albums/a...mPlanTiers.jpg

**sunnyCBR** · 09-27-2011, 03:46 PM

So some details that my friend got calling a state farm agent on my behalf (wasn't sure if I called if there was anyway this would reflect on my record). Silly I know.

I would be a "B" insurance policy as it is a motorcycle only, not a car and rider (type A) policy.. The person on the phone suggested this means they don't regularly check your license, as it costs them $30 each time they check with the ministry. It is possible they won't find out about the ticket, but the limit is in fact (3 tickets within 3 years). Then they would give you 30 days notice if they were going to cancel your policy.

Not sure if that information is 100% accurate, specifically the part about them checking your license for the tickets? Anyone know more about that?

**VifferFun** · 09-27-2011, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by sunnyCBR

So some details that my friend got calling a state farm agent on my behalf (wasn't sure if I called if there was anyway this would reflect on my record). Silly I know.

I would be a "B" insurance policy as it is a motorcycle only, not a car and rider (type A) policy.. The person on the phone suggested this means they don't regularly check your license, as it costs them $30 each time they check with the ministry. It is possible they won't find out about the ticket, but the limit is in fact (3 tickets within 3 years). Then they would give you 30 days notice if they were going to cancel your policy.

Not sure if that information is 100% accurate, specifically the part about them checking your license for the tickets? Anyone know more about that?

Companies strategically decide who they will order MVRs for (i.e. your convictions history) since it does cost a fair amount of money. Many companies now use statistical methods to determine the people most likely to have incurred a conviction over the last year, and order MVRs for this group only. Other companies order MVRs for a random sampling of clients every year. Other companies ensure that they order an MVR at least once every three years for each policyholder. It is all up to the company . . . there is no standard practice.

If you are on Plan B, I can guess that you are more likely to have your MVR checked than someone on Plan A.

FYI, MVRs are ALWAYS ordered for a new client before the policy is approved by underwriting.