Speeding + Following Too Closely in Texas: Surcharge Stack

Texas carriers apply a separate surcharge for each conviction, even when both tickets originated from the same traffic stop. A speeding ticket 10-14 mph over typically adds a 15-25% surcharge for three years. Following too closely adds another 10-20% surcharge for the same period. The surcharges compound rather than average. Most carriers calculate the combined increase by layering each violation's surcharge onto your base premium sequentially, not additively. A driver with a $120/month base premium facing a 20% speeding surcharge and a 15% following surcharge would pay approximately $166/month: $120 base × 1.20 = $144, then $144 × 1.15 = $166. The actual percentage increase is 38%, not 35%. This calculation method explains why two minor violations from a single stop can trigger a larger rate increase than drivers expect when comparing published surcharge schedules. The stack effect amplifies as each surcharge applies to the already-surcharged premium.

Texas uses a moving violation conviction count rather than a numeric points system for license suspension. Two convictions within 12 months place you halfway to the four-conviction threshold that triggers a suspension hearing. The Department of Public Safety evaluates your full driving record at that hearing to determine whether suspension is warranted. Each conviction remains on your Texas driving record for three years from the conviction date. Carriers typically review the full three-year lookback window at renewal, which means both violations will appear on the motor vehicle report used for rating until all convictions age past 36 months. Defensive driving course completion can dismiss one ticket every 12 months in Texas, but only if you request the course option before entering a plea and the court approves. Once you've paid the fine or entered a conviction, the dismissal window closes. If you've already been convicted on both citations, the course cannot remove either from your record retroactively.

Preferred carriers including State Farm, Allstate, and USAA typically continue coverage after two minor violations but apply the full surcharge stack at renewal. You'll remain eligible for standard tier pricing as long as total convictions stay below three within three years and no individual violation qualifies as a major offense. Standard carriers including Progressive, The General, and National General become the realistic quote sources once you approach three or four convictions within the lookback window. These carriers specialize in moderate-risk profiles and price approximately 25-45% higher than preferred tier base rates before layering violation-specific surcharges. Non-standard carriers including Acceptance, Direct Auto, and SafeAuto serve drivers past the four-conviction threshold or those with a mix of violations and lapses. Monthly premiums in this tier typically start at $180-$280 for state minimum liability limits in Texas metro areas. Most non-standard carriers require six-month policies paid in full or monthly installments with service fees of $8-$12 per payment.

Most Texas carriers apply violation surcharges for three years measured from the conviction date, not the ticket date or the renewal date when the surcharge first appears. If both violations share the same conviction month, both surcharges will drop simultaneously at the three-year mark. Carriers re-rate your policy at each renewal by pulling an updated motor vehicle report. Once a violation ages past 36 months from conviction, it typically disappears from the report and the associated surcharge drops at your next renewal. The drop is not automatic—request confirmation that your rate reflects the clean lookback window. Some carriers offer accident forgiveness or minor violation forgiveness programs that prevent the first qualifying incident from triggering a surcharge. These programs typically require three to five years of prior coverage with the same carrier and charge an additional premium of $4-$9/month. The forgiveness benefit does not apply retroactively to violations already on your record when you enroll.

State minimum liability limits in Texas are $30,000 per person for bodily injury, $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. A driver with two violations paying $166/month for minimum coverage should compare the cost of increasing to 50/100/50 limits before accepting the minimum as the only affordable option. The incremental cost for higher liability limits often runs $15-$25/month. Carrying only minimum liability leaves you personally liable for damages exceeding the policy limits in an at-fault accident. Texas allows injured parties to pursue your assets directly once policy limits are exhausted. Drivers with two moving violations already on record face higher statistical risk of a third incident—the scenario where higher limits provide the most protection. Collision and comprehensive coverage become harder to justify financially when the base premium has increased 35-40% due to violation surcharges. A vehicle worth less than $5,000 typically does not warrant full coverage once the annual premium for collision alone exceeds $800-$1,000. Focus premium dollars on liability limits first, then evaluate whether physical damage coverage makes sense for your specific vehicle value and deductible tolerance.

Texas standard-tier carriers commonly move drivers to non-standard subsidiaries or decline renewal once total moving violations reach three within 36 months. The third conviction often acts as the placement trigger even when no single violation qualifies as major. Avoiding any additional citation for the next 12-18 months keeps you in standard tier pricing. Request a copy of your Texas driving record from the Department of Public Safety every six months while violations remain active. Verify that dismissed tickets do not appear as convictions and that conviction dates match court records. Errors on motor vehicle reports can trigger incorrect surcharges or carrier placement decisions. Some carriers offer telematics programs that monitor braking, acceleration, cornering, and time-of-day driving patterns through a mobile app. Drivers who score in the top performance tiers can earn discounts of 10-20% that partially offset violation surcharges. Enrollment typically requires 90 days of monitored driving before the discount applies, and hard braking events or late-night driving can reduce or eliminate the benefit.