{"id":6361,"date":"2024-11-11T00:37:36","date_gmt":"2024-11-11T08:37:36","guid":{"rendered":"\/wp-site\/?p=6361"},"modified":"2025-11-19T11:00:04","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T19:00:04","slug":"what-is-a-citation","status":"publish","type":"car-insurance","link":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/car-insurance\/what-is-a-citation\/","title":{"rendered":"Citation vs. Ticket: What’s the Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Citations and tickets are the same thing<\/strong>: the legal document you get from the police for breaking traffic rules. The only difference is the word choice: citation<\/em><\/strong> is the official term<\/strong> law enforcement uses, while ticket<\/em><\/strong> is what most people say<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n \nIf you recently got a ticket, your insurance rates will likely increase<\/strong>. Jerry can help; we’ve helped over 32,814<\/span> drivers<\/strong> in the last year find the right coverage after getting a driving violation.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Citation”<\/strong><\/th>“Ticket”<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Used by police officers and courts.<\/strong><\/td>Used by everyday drivers.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Appears on legal documents and forms.<\/strong><\/td>What you’ll likely hear in casual conversation.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
More formal language<\/strong> in government systems.<\/td>Popular term<\/strong> in media and advertising.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It doesn’t matter whether it’s labeled a ticket or a citation, both include the same information: your personal and vehicle details, the violation, citation number, and instructions on how and when to respond.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The Jerry difference:<\/strong> Worried a ticket will spike your rate? Jerry compares personalized quotes in minutes and takes care of the switch.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Jerry pulls up to 20 quotes from top rated carriers.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Compare quotes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The different types of citations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\n \nYour insurance rates will likely increase after most moving violations. Jerry drivers with no citations pay an average of <\/strong> $185<\/span> to<\/strong> $421<\/span> a month <\/strong>for full coverage, while those with citations pay<\/strong> $210<\/span> to<\/strong> $462<\/span>.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Types of Violations and Their Impact<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\ud83d\udea6 Moving violations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Happen when your car is in motion. These types typically raise your insurance rates<\/strong>.
e.g. speeding or running a red light<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83c\udd7f\ufe0f Non-moving violations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Occur when your car is stationary. They usually don’t affect your rates<\/strong>.
e.g. parking tickets or expired tags<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udea8 Major violations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Involve serious safety risks and often lead to large rate increases. <\/strong>
e.g. DUI or reckless driving<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u26a0\ufe0f Minor violations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Smaller infractions that can result in modest rate increases.<\/strong>
e.g. rolling stops or failing to signal <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Key takeaway:<\/strong> While tickets can raise insurance rates, maintaining a clean driving record going forward helps those increases drop off over time, as most insurers look back only 3-5 years<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Based on Jerry customers with clean driving records who found savings in the past 12 months. Savings vary by state, coverage, driver profile and other factors.<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jerry can help you find quotes after a ticket<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Getting a citation doesn’t mean you’ve got to be stuck with a high insurance rate from your current insurance company. Jerry makes it easy to find coverage, even with a ticket on your record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Jerry app can help you compare car insurance quotes<\/strong> \u2014 including from insurers specialized in working with traffic violations \u2014 plus identify savings, manage the switching process and monitor rates<\/strong> for better deals.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Jerry recommends:<\/strong> Start shopping with Jerry right after a citation<\/strong> to lock in a better rate before your current insurer raises your premium at renewal.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Skip the hassle. Jerry finds competitive quotes in minutes.<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

What to do if you get a ticket<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When facing a traffic citation, you have three main options<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udcb3 Pay the fine.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\udd1d Request mitigation<\/strong> by contacting and asking for leniency. This means you admit the violation but ask for a reduced penalty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2696\ufe0f Contest it in court<\/strong> if you believe you are innocent.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Why it matters: Don’t ignore a citation<\/strong>. Doing so can lead to extra fines, a suspended license, or even a warrant for your arrest<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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It only takes 2 minutes to sign up at Jerry.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Compare quotes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\n FAQ <\/h2>\n \n \n \n
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    \n \n \n \u2753 Do citations and tickets mean exactly the same thing?<\/strong> <\/span>\n\n \n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
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    Yes, they’re identical documents<\/strong>. Citation is the official legal term, while ticket is the common everyday term.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n

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    \n \n \n \ud83d\udcc5 How long does a citation stay on my record?<\/strong> <\/span>\n\n \n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
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    Most moving violations stay on your driving record for 3-5 years<\/strong>, depending on your state and the severity of the violation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n

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    \n \n \n \ud83d\ude97 Will a parking ticket affect my insurance?<\/strong> <\/span>\n\n \n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
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    No, parking tickets are non-moving violations<\/strong> and typically don’t affect your insurance rates<\/strong> since they don’t involve driving behavior.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n

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    \n \n \n \ud83d\udcb0 Can I get insurance with multiple citations?<\/strong> <\/span>\n\n \n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
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    Yes, but you’ll pay more<\/strong>. Some companies specialize in high-risk drivers and may offer better rates than your current insurer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n

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    \n \n \n \ud83d\udcde Should I tell my insurance company about a citation?<\/strong> <\/span>\n\n \n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
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    You don’t need to report it immediately<\/strong>, but be honest if they ask. They’ll likely find out at your policy renewal<\/strong> anyway.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Methodology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Data included in this analysis comes from policies that Jerry has quoted within the last 6 months for drivers with a clean record and that have full coverage, unless stated otherwise. Data related to violations, accidents or credit scores pull from quote data from the last 18 months. Jerry services 48 states and offers a range of insurance companies to choose from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Expert-driven. Built for you.<\/div>\n\n
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