Four points puts you in the tier where preferred carriers start declining or surcharging aggressively. Here's what drivers with 4 points actually pay in each state, and which carriers still quote competitively.
Why 4 Points Is a Tier Boundary Most Articles Miss
Four points is the threshold where most preferred carriers either decline new business or apply their maximum non-DUI surcharge tier. A single speeding ticket of 15-29 mph over typically assigns 3-4 points depending on the state. Two minor violations within 36 months puts most drivers at or above 4 points. The rate impact is not linear — the jump from 2 points to 4 points is steeper than the jump from 0 to 2.
Preferred carriers like State Farm and Allstate maintain internal underwriting guidelines that treat 4+ points as a declination or referral trigger for new applicants. Existing policyholders see surcharges in the 30-60% range at renewal. Standard and non-standard carriers become the realistic market, with monthly premiums typically 40-90% higher than clean-record quotes in the same ZIP code.
The state you live in determines three things: how many points each violation assigns, how long points stay on your record, and whether your state uses a numeric point system or a conviction-count model. The carrier you choose determines the surcharge schedule applied to those points. Both variables matter, and most rate comparison tools show blended averages that hide the pointed-record tier entirely.
State-by-State Rate Ranges for Drivers with 4 Points
The following estimates reflect monthly full-coverage premiums for a 35-year-old driver with 4 points from moving violations, no DUI, and a 2019 sedan. Estimates are based on standard and non-standard carrier filings in each state as of 2024. Individual rates vary by vehicle, ZIP code, coverage limits, and prior insurance history.
Alabama: $180–$285/mo. Alabama assigns 2 points for speeding 1-25 mph over, 5 points for reckless driving. Points stay on record for 2 years. Standard carriers like Progressive and Nationwide quote at the lower end; non-standard carriers like The General quote at the upper end.
Arizona: $165–$270/mo. Arizona uses a conviction-based suspension system rather than numeric points, but carriers treat convictions as equivalent to 2-3 points each for surcharge purposes. Two speeding tickets within 12 months triggers this tier.
California: $220–$380/mo. California assigns 1 point for most moving violations, 2 points for DUI or reckless driving. Points stay for 3 years. Four points require four separate violations or two at-fault accidents. High base rates amplify surcharge impact.
Colorado: $190–$295/mo. Colorado assigns 4 points for speeding 10-19 mph over, 6 points for 20-39 mph over. A single moderate speeding ticket places the driver in this tier. Points remain for 7 years on the DMV record but most carriers apply surcharges for 3-5 years.
Florida: $250–$420/mo. Florida assigns 3 points for speeding up to 15 mph over, 4 points for 16+ mph over. No-fault PIP requirements and high uninsured motorist rates drive base premiums higher. Points stay for 3-5 years depending on violation type.
Georgia: $210–$340/mo. Georgia assigns 2 points for speeding 15-18 mph over, 3 points for 19-23 mph over, 4 points for 24-33 mph over. A single 25-mph-over ticket puts the driver at 4 points. Points stay for 2 years. Completion of a defensive driving course can reduce points once every 5 years, but the course must be requested and completed within 120 days of the citation.
Illinois: $175–$290/mo. Illinois uses a conviction-count suspension system rather than numeric points for DMV purposes, but carriers assign internal point equivalents. Two moving violations within 24 months triggers this surcharge tier.
Michigan: $310–$520/mo. Michigan assigns 2 points for most speeding violations, 3 points for careless driving, 4 points for reckless driving. No-fault unlimited PIP (for policies issued before 2020) drives base premiums to the highest in the nation. Points stay for 2 years.
New York: $240–$395/mo. New York assigns 3-11 points per violation depending on speed. Speeding 11-20 mph over assigns 4 points. Points stay for 18 months from the conviction date. The Driver Responsibility Assessment adds a $300 state fee when a driver reaches 6 points in 18 months, separate from insurance surcharges.
North Carolina: $195–$310/mo. North Carolina assigns 2 points for speeding up to 10 mph over, 3 points for 11-15 mph over, 4 points for reckless driving. The state uses a Safe Driver Incentive Plan that applies premium surcharges directly through the rate bureau. Points stay for 3 years.
Ohio: $170–$280/mo. Ohio assigns 2 points for most speeding violations, 4 points for reckless operation. Points stay for 2 years. Completing a remedial driving course can remove 2 points once every 3 years, but the course must be court-approved and the driver must request credit from the BMV.
Pennsylvania: $185–$305/mo. Pennsylvania uses a points system that assigns 2-5 points per violation. Accumulating 6 points within 2 years triggers a written exam requirement; surcharges apply at 4+ points. Points remain for 12 months after the violation date if no additional points accrue.
Texas: $200–$330/mo. Texas assigns 2 points for most moving violations, 3 points for violations that cause an accident. Points stay for 3 years. The state repealed the Driver Responsibility Program surcharge in 2019, but carrier surcharges remain.
Virginia: $180–$295/mo. Virginia assigns 3-4 points for most speeding violations depending on speed. Points stay for 2 years for most violations, 5 years for alcohol-related violations. Completing a driver improvement clinic can remove 5 points once every 24 months, but the clinic must be approved by the DMV and completed voluntarily (court-ordered clinics do not qualify for point reduction).
Estimates based on available industry data; individual rates vary by driving history, vehicle, coverage selections, and location.
How Long the 4-Point Surcharge Lasts
Points stay on your DMV record for a state-defined window, typically 2-3 years from the conviction date. Insurance surcharges last for a carrier-defined window, typically 3-5 years from the violation date. These windows do not align.
Most carriers apply surcharges based on a 3-year lookback at renewal. If your speeding ticket is 2 years and 11 months old at renewal, you'll still see the surcharge. At the next renewal 12 months later, the violation falls outside the 3-year window and the surcharge drops. The DMV may have already removed the points from your license, but the carrier's underwriting system tracks the conviction date independently.
Some states allow point reduction through defensive driving courses. Georgia, Ohio, and Virginia permit voluntary courses that remove 2-5 points from the DMV record. Completing the course does not automatically trigger a rate reduction. You must request a re-rate from your carrier and provide proof of completion. Most carriers review the new point total at the next renewal, not mid-term.
Which Carriers Quote Drivers with 4 Points
Preferred carriers like State Farm, Allstate, and USAA typically decline new applicants with 4+ points or route them to affiliated standard companies. Progressive, Nationwide, and Travelers quote drivers with 4 points but apply surcharges in the 35-55% range. Non-standard carriers like The General, Safe Auto, and Acceptance Insurance specialize in pointed-record drivers and assign surcharges in the 60-90% range but approve applications that preferred carriers decline.
The carrier's distribution model matters. Direct writers like GEICO and Progressive quote online and by phone; captive agents representing State Farm or Allstate can submit to affiliated standard companies if the preferred company declines; independent agents can submit to multiple standard and non-standard carriers in a single session. Drivers with 4 points get the widest range of quotes through independent agents who contract with both standard carriers and non-standard markets.
If you've been with the same carrier for multiple years before accumulating 4 points, staying through renewal is often cheaper than switching. Loyalty discounts, policy tenure, and prior claims history offset part of the surcharge. New applicants with 4 points pay the full surcharge with no offsetting discounts.
When 4 Points Triggers a Filing Requirement
Most states do not require SR-22 filing for points alone. SR-22 is triggered by DUI, driving without insurance, or license suspension for specific violations. A few states impose SR-22 after a points-triggered suspension.
Colorado suspends licenses at 12 points in 12 months or 18 points in 24 months. Reinstatement requires SR-22 filing for 3 years. North Carolina suspends at 12 points in 3 years; reinstatement does not require SR-22 unless the suspension exceeded 60 days. Virginia suspends at 12 points in 12 months or 18 points in 24 months; reinstatement requires SR-22 for 3 years if the suspension was points-based.
If your state has suspended your license for points and you're unsure whether reinstatement requires SR-22, the reinstatement notice from the DMV will state the filing requirement explicitly. SR-22 is not a separate policy — it's a state-mandated endorsement your carrier files electronically with the DMV. Filing fees range from $15 to $50. The filing obligation lasts 1-3 years depending on the state, and any lapse in coverage during the filing period resets the clock.
What to Do If You Just Hit 4 Points
Request quotes from at least three carriers before your current policy renews. Your current carrier has already pulled your driving record and will apply the surcharge at renewal. Shopping 30-45 days before renewal gives you time to compare standard and non-standard options without a coverage gap.
If your state allows point reduction through a defensive driving course and you qualify, complete the course before renewal. Georgia allows one course every 5 years; Ohio allows one every 3 years; Virginia allows one every 24 months. The course removes points from the DMV record but does not automatically reduce your premium. Submit proof of completion to your carrier and request a re-rate. Most carriers process the adjustment at the next renewal.
If you're quoted for non-standard coverage, ask whether the carrier offers a step-down program. Some non-standard carriers review driving records annually and transfer policies to a standard-tier affiliate if no new violations occur. The transfer reduces premiums without requiring the driver to re-shop.
Maintain continuous coverage. A lapse in coverage while carrying points adds a second underwriting penalty. Carriers treat lapsed coverage as a separate risk factor and apply compounding surcharges. If affordability is the issue, raise deductibles or drop collision and comprehensive on older vehicles rather than canceling the policy outright.
