Most Ontario drivers believe traffic tickets fall into simple buckets: minor, serious, or criminal.
But insurance companies don’t think like courts do — and this misunderstanding costs drivers thousands.
Here’s the clear, behind-the-scenes truth about how insurers actually classify convictions in Ontario, why reduced tickets still hurt, and which convictions trigger the biggest premium hikes.
The Insurance Classification System (Not the Legal One)
Insurance companies typically divide convictions into three internal risk categories:
- Minor Convictions
- Major Convictions
- Serious / Criminal Convictions
These categories are not written on your ticket and not explained in court — but they drive your premium.
Minor Convictions (Still Costly)
Examples:
- Speeding (1–49 km/h over)
- Fail to stop (stop sign)
- Fail to yield
- Following too closely
- Improper lane change
- Red light violation
How insurers see them:
- Pattern of risky behaviour
- “Low-level” but repeatable risk
- Still count against you for 3 years
Insurance impact:
- 1 minor conviction → often no increase (not guaranteed)
- 2 minor convictions → noticeable increase
- 3+ minor convictions → high-risk territory
Important truth: A reduced speeding ticket is still a minor conviction. Lower fine ≠ lower insurance impact.
Major Convictions (The Premium Killers)
Examples:
- Careless driving
- Distracted driving (cell phone use)
- Stunt driving (reduced but still convicted)
- Racing (non-criminal version)
How insurers see them:
- Aggressive or dangerous driving behaviour
- Higher likelihood of future claims
- Red flag for underwriting
Insurance impact:
- Often triggers immediate premium increase
- Can double your insurance
- Some insurers may refuse renewal
- Stays on record for 3 years, but impact can last longer
Critical misconception: Even if a prosecutor “reduces” careless driving, the remaining conviction may still be treated as major by insurers.
Serious / Criminal Convictions (High-Risk Driver Status)
Examples:
- DUI / impaired driving
- Dangerous driving (criminal)
- Failure to remain
- Driving while suspended
- Refusing a breath sample
How insurers see them:
- Extremely high risk
- Statistical likelihood of major claims
- Often uninsurable with standard companies
Insurance impact:
- License suspension likely
- Standard insurers may drop you
- Forced into high-risk insurance pools
- Premiums can increase 3–5×
- Impact may last 6+ years
Some insurers treat multiple major convictions the same way as one criminal conviction.
The “Reduced Ticket” Trap (Very Important)
Many drivers accept early resolution deals thinking: “At least it’s reduced — insurance won’t care.”
Wrong.
Insurers care about:
- Conviction type
- Number of convictions
- Risk behaviour category
They do not care about:
- The dollar amount of the fine
- How “nice” the deal sounded in court
- Whether you felt relieved afterward
A reduced charge is still a conviction — and convictions are what insurers price.
How Insurers Stack Convictions (The Snowball Effect)
Insurers don’t look at tickets individually — they stack them.
Example:
- 1 minor → tolerated
- 2 minors → warning zone
- 3 minors → treated like major risk
- Major + minor → often equals non-standard rating
- Major + major → high-risk pool
This is why “small” tickets quietly destroy affordability over time.
Why Fighting a Ticket Can Save More Than Paying It
If a ticket is:
- A moving violation
- Insurable
- Recorded as a conviction
Then the real cost isn’t the fine — it’s 3 years of higher premiums.
A dismissed or withdrawn ticket:
- = zero insurance impact
- = no conviction
- = no stacking risk
That’s why many insurance professionals quietly say: “The cheapest ticket is the one that never hits your record.”
Final Truth (The One Drivers Deserve to Know)
- Courts deal in fines and penalties
- Insurers deal in risk patterns
- Reduced charges still hurt
- Convictions matter more than dollars
So, keep this in mind.
Carlos Perdomo, Paralegal
