[xWiReDx]

I have the worst luck it seems with this car. I just got my 2nd speeding ticket (took defensive driving course for the first one, just recently got the 2nd ticket going 10 over the speed limit) and a while back I got into this accident on my front left fender (my fault, although fixed now). Point is, this car is becoming a huge liability to me. My insurance is through the roof since I'm still under 23, so I was thinking about getting rid of my TSX and getting a Civic or some other econo box. Thing is, I don't know if my insurance will go down enough to justify the hassle and what its going to end up costing me. Moreover, not paying for premium while getting better gas mileage sounds tempting. Any advice?

[CatGoesMeow]

I have the worst luck it seems with this car. I just got my 2nd speeding ticket (took defensive driving course for the first one, just recently got the 2nd ticket going 10 over the speed limit) and a while back I got into this accident on my front left fender (my fault, although fixed now). Point is, this car is becoming a huge liability to me. My insurance is through the roof since I'm still under 23, so I was thinking about getting rid of my TSX and getting a Civic or some other econo box. Thing is, I don't know if my insurance will go down enough to justify the hassle and what its going to end up costing me. Moreover, not paying for premium while getting better gas mileage sounds tempting. Any advice?

What insurance company do you have? If your in CA try Wawanesa.com

[taoh]

What if you just changed your driving habits?

What good is getting another car if you're not going to change your driving habits. You're probably going to hate going from a TSX to a Civic.

[clee86]

I hear it's hard getting Wawanesa unless you have a good driving record or you're with someone who does.

I doubt your insurance is going to go down by that much to justify switching cars.

[CatGoesMeow]

I use to pay 290.00/mo AIG dropped to around 125/mo by switching to wawanesa *Full coverage /500 ded. Im 24/M/ have two cars insured S2000 / Tundra.

S2000 alone was around 70-75.

[aznfishyfart]

yea...really i dont think its worth it
ur insurance isn't gonna go down too much
and yea its gonna be a bit tough to downgrade (not saying a civic is a bad car)

[~ BunnyliciouS ~]

move to a small town

When I lived in big city, my insurance was $150 / mo
When I moved to a small town in same state, my insurance dropped to $93 / mo

It could have been lower though,
I once rear-ended a car in freeway, my insurance was $80 that time.

[panda]

even if you drive a civic or an econo-box, i am pretty sure you'll still drive over the speed limit AND will acquire more tickets in the future.
just drive safe and never go above the speed limit. problem solved.

[xWiReDx]

even if you drive a civic or an econo-box, i am pretty sure you'll still drive over the speed limit AND will acquire more tickets in the future.
just drive safe and never go above the speed limit. problem solved.

The thing is, that I have been changing my driving habits, I'm either going speed limit or maybe 5 under and over occasionally [and of course I drive with a sense of paranoia after the first accident that is]. I had been driving at night coming back home from my girlfriend's place ...and right when I was about to break for the speed limit sign, the cop pulled me over for going 10 over (it was a small town, it was dark, there was a noticeable gap in the speed limit). I felt rather unlucky that night.

I wouldn't mind driving an econo-box. I'm pretty sure I'd miss a few things here and there but I doubt I'd kill myself over it.

[haeaznboiyoung]

You're probably feeling really guilty but once you get over this you'll probably regret downgrading. You might as well try to fight the ticket or hire a lawyer to fight it. Might as well get a radar detector too though I'm sure there'll be people that say it doesn't work but IMO if you get the right one it can.

[v8subie]

valentine one best radar detector i've seen yet to date.

i would say change gears in your car but i dont know if you even have a manual transmission in that car. i know i am a speed freak, so the best way for me to beat it was to change gears (i.e. to the point where i would be in 5th gear/2000-3000 RPMS @ 45 mph so that i wouldn't accelerate as fast and lose interest with a quickness). buy yourself a little beater and put insurance on it. take the insurance off the tsx and store it somewhere after you believe you feel have enough confidence that you will not get another speeding ticket.

[JinSeong88]

The thing is, that I have been changing my driving habits, I'm either going speed limit or maybe 5 under and over occasionally [and of course I drive with a sense of paranoia after the first accident that is]. I had been driving at night coming back home from my girlfriend's place ...and right when I was about to break for the speed limit sign, the cop pulled me over for going 10 over (it was a small town, it was dark, there was a noticeable gap in the speed limit). I felt rather unlucky that night.

I wouldn't mind driving an econo-box. I'm pretty sure I'd miss a few things here and there but I doubt I'd kill myself over it.

if i were u i'd fight that ticket, something similar happened to me, and usually small towns, as an unwritten rule dont give tickets for speeding with 10 miles of the speed limit (cop i know told me). and besides you can make a case taht you were driving at night, was not given enough time to slow down, blah blah blah. That would be a better move to lower your insurance than downgrading car....

[youngnottheold1]

if you dont think you can slow down and you have the will power to depart with your ride.. then yeah i say selling your car is the smart thing to do before more money goes down the drain.
As for me, speeding tickets or not.. I love my car too much to sell it atm

[xWiReDx]

if i were u i'd fight that ticket, something similar happened to me, and usually small towns, as an unwritten rule dont give tickets for speeding with 10 miles of the speed limit (cop i know told me). and besides you can make a case taht you were driving at night, was not given enough time to slow down, blah blah blah. That would be a better move to lower your insurance than downgrading car....

I've never had to go to court, did you get a lawyer to present your case to the judge or did you represent yourself? And are those reasons you listed really considered legitimate excuses to get out of the ticket? Furthermore, what happens when you lose (are there any other penalties other than having to pay the fine)? Btw, I've never heard of the "10 miles over the speed limit rule" you're talking about. Also, I don't consider moving from a TSX to a Civic/Mazda3 a considerable downgrade. I've actually thought about dumping this car for a while, but then again I'd lose too much of my money in something like that.

[Clix]

Moving from TSX to Civic really is a downgrade.

If you fight a ticket and you lose, you usually pay more.

[aznfishyfart]

Moving from TSX to Civic really is a downgrade.

If you fight a ticket and you lose, you usually pay more.

really?
i got to pay less lol

well i dunno where ur from but also im pretty sure u can do traffic school again if u ask the judge
lets seee....there really isn't much risk in contesting it....its just time consuming

[Laxntiga]

I have never fought a ticket, my roomate has. It was his FIRST ticket and went to the judge and said he was sorry for being careless, he didnt see the speed limit sign. He said he's been driving for 3 years, hasn't had a ticket ever, it was just bad luck and he was in a rush to get somewhere. He told the judge he is a safe driver and is sincerely sorry, and then he asked her if she could waive the ticket. GUESS WHAT? She did, ticket was for 130, she jacked the price up to 200, but no points, so his insurance didnt go up.

ALSO, that 10 mph rule stands true (at least for me). My dad told me this rule and usually I do +10 or +15 on highways and I have never gotten a ticket even with cops at the side of the road. Just say you were "passing" and you needed to speed up in order to keep up with the flow of traffic. You can say you were just "keeping up" with the flow of traffic(assuming other cars were on the road). Some places..... like on the way down to Maryland, those state cops dont give a RAT'S A**, becareful, my dad got a ticket for doing +7 over the limit, but he was driving in the middle of daylight, different from your case. You dont need a lawyer, you can plead it yourself.

I would say fight it! Tell the judge, you were in a rush to get home and you were anxious because you didnt know the neighborhood very well and missed the speed limit sign. Your seatbelt was on, head lights on, both hands on the steering wheel and that you even took the defensive driving course. Check out SCCA, I hear if you participate and are a member you can get discounts on insurance. Just be honest and ask her if he/she can work out a deal. Ask her if you pay a premium(is this the right word to use?) if he/she will take away points on your license.

[JinSeong88]

I've never had to go to court, did you get a lawyer to present your case to the judge or did you represent yourself? And are those reasons you listed really considered legitimate excuses to get out of the ticket? Furthermore, what happens when you lose (are there any other penalties other than having to pay the fine)? Btw, I've never heard of the "10 miles over the speed limit rule" you're talking about. Also, I don't consider moving from a TSX to a Civic/Mazda3 a considerable downgrade. I've actually thought about dumping this car for a while, but then again I'd lose too much of my money in something like that.

that "rule" is something to keep in mind, but NOT bring up in court...... they will send u out quick. I live in the Boston Area and i represented myself. its not liek a huge court case, its just a room, a table the judge, and a rep for the cop, (usually the cop doesn't show up himself unless hes a real prick and has nothing to do). If you loose you can pay court fees or even have more $ added to your fine, but that usually happens if your fighting a ticket thats ridiculous where you really screwed up. Ive faught a few cases and won, if u still have a chance to fight it, i definatly would, because its a really minor speeding offense that most cops wouldn't pull you over for, and if u plan on fighting it, i can give u more advice and tips for being in court.

[xWiReDx]

that "rule" is something to keep in mind, but NOT bring up in court...... they will send u out quick. I live in the Boston Area and i represented myself. its not liek a huge court case, its just a room, a table the judge, and a rep for the cop, (usually the cop doesn't show up himself unless hes a real prick and has nothing to do). If you loose you can pay court fees or even have more $ added to your fine, but that usually happens if your fighting a ticket thats ridiculous where you really screwed up. Ive faught a few cases and won, if u still have a chance to fight it, i definatly would, because its a really minor speeding offense that most cops wouldn't pull you over for, and if u plan on fighting it, i can give u more advice and tips for being in court.

I'm actually considering about fighting the ticket now, thanks to you. Now that you have my full attention, what tips can you give me?

[aznfishyfart]

that "rule" is something to keep in mind, but NOT bring up in court...... they will send u out quick. I live in the Boston Area and i represented myself. its not liek a huge court case, its just a room, a table the judge, and a rep for the cop, (usually the cop doesn't show up himself unless hes a real prick and has nothing to do). If you loose you can pay court fees or even have more $ added to your fine, but that usually happens if your fighting a ticket thats ridiculous where you really screwed up. Ive faught a few cases and won, if u still have a chance to fight it, i definatly would, because its a really minor speeding offense that most cops wouldn't pull you over for, and if u plan on fighting it, i can give u more advice and tips for being in court.

in cali if the cop doesn't show up u pretty much are off the hook lol