“Three years” is the common answer. It’s also wrong about a quarter of the time. Here’s how it actually works — and why the difference can cost or save you hundreds of dollars a year.

The General 3-Year Rule

Most auto insurance carriers look back three years when pulling your Motor Vehicle Record (MVR). Any tickets in that window count against you. Any tickets outside it are ignored for pricing purposes.

This is the industry standard, and it’s what most people mean when they say “a ticket stays on your record for three years.”

But the standard has exceptions — and the exceptions matter.

First, the “three years” usually means three years from the conviction date, not the date of the incident. If you got a ticket in January, fought it in court, and were convicted in October of that year, the clock starts in October. That’s nine extra months you might not have expected.

Some states report tickets to the DMV on the conviction date. Others report on the violation date. Your carrier pulls your MVR from the DMV, so whichever date the DMV uses is the one that matters for the look-back calculation.

Carriers That Look Back Further

Some carriers go beyond three years. How far depends on the carrier and, in some cases, the violation type.

• Five-year look-back: Several major carriers — including some programs at Allstate and Travelers — use a five-year window for serious violations like DUI, reckless driving, or speeding significantly over the limit (usually 20+ mph over).
• Carrier-specific rules: Standard speeding tickets (1–14 mph over) typically fall off at three years even at stricter carriers. More serious violations have longer tails.
• High-risk carriers: Non-standard market carriers (those who specialize in drivers with records) often look at the same three-to-five year window but apply surcharges differently.

The practical takeaway: if you have a DUI or reckless driving conviction, assume a five-year impact on pricing. For a standard speeding ticket, three years is a safe assumption.

States Where DMV and Insurance Look Different

Your state DMV record and your insurance record are not the same thing.

The DMV may keep a ticket on your record for longer than three years — some states keep violations for 10 years or more for legal purposes. But carriers typically only rate based on the look-back window in their underwriting guidelines, which is usually three to five years regardless of what’s on the full DMV record.

Some states have point systems that affect your license independent of insurance. California uses a point system for license suspension purposes. New York’s DMV points don’t directly translate to insurance — carriers calculate their own rating based on the violation type, not the point total.

The cleanest way to know exactly what’s on your insurance record: ask your current carrier for a copy of your MVR pull. They run it when you apply. You can also request your MVR directly from your state DMV for $5–$15.

When the Clock Actually Starts

Three possible start dates, depending on state and carrier:

1. Violation date: The day you were pulled over or cited.
2. Conviction date: The day the court entered the conviction (or the day you paid the ticket and waived your right to contest).
3. Policy renewal date: Some carriers only re-run MVRs at renewal. A ticket from two years ago might only hit your premium at your next renewal if they haven’t pulled your MVR since then.

If your ticket is close to the three-year line, it’s worth asking your carrier exactly which date they use. Carriers are required to disclose this if you ask directly.

The best time to re-shop your policy is three to four months after the three-year mark passes. That gives the DMV time to update your record and your new carrier time to run a clean MVR before quoting you.

Next step: Pull your state MVR today (usually $5–$15 online), confirm your violation dates, and calculate when your three-year window closes. Get a same-day quote that works for your situation →