North Carolina doesn’t leave much to guesswork when it comes to how driving violations affect your premiums. The state’s Safe Driver Incentive Plan (SDIP) assigns insurance points for specific convictions, and each point band carries a set surcharge on your auto policy. For drivers in Greensboro, that structure means a speeding ticket or a DUI/DWI doesn’t just sting once in court. It can reshape your Greensboro insurance quotes for years.

How North Carolina’s SDIP actually works

Under the SDIP, insurers look back over an “experience period” and apply points for convictions and at-fault accidents. Even one point is costly: a single SDIP point (which can include “all other moving violations” and certain low-level speeding offenses) triggers a 40% premium increase.

Two points raise premiums 55%. More serious violations jump fast: four points (reckless driving, passing a stopped school bus, or very high-speed convictions) translate to a 90% increase, while the top tier (12 points for offenses such as driving while impaired or a 0.08% BAC) results in a 340% surcharge. The state also lists speed thresholds that escalate points (for example, over 10 mph above the limit with total speed above 55 but under 76).

The SDIP includes narrow carve-outs. Speeding 10 mph or less doesn’t add points if it wasn’t in a school zone and you have no other moving convictions in the lookback window. A single “Prayer for Judgment Continued” (PJC) can sometimes prevent points, subject to specific limits. These exceptions are tightly defined and shouldn’t be counted on as a strategy.

2025 Update: longer surcharges for serious violations

Beginning July 1, 2025, North Carolina lengthened the time some surcharges stick.

For convictions that carry four or more SDIP points (other than two specific speeding categories) insurers apply the surcharge for five years, not three. The same legislative package raises minimum liability limits to $50,000/$100,000/$50,000 and adds underinsured motorist coverage to new and renewed policies, changes that can also nudge premiums.

What this means for Greensboro quotes

Local price levels set the starting line. Recent data show a full-coverage policy in Greensboro averages about $1,106 per year, slightly above the North Carolina state average.

Once violations enter the picture, quotes jump sharply: post-ticket quotes go in the $1,100–$1,700 range depending on carrier and profile, while a DUI can push quotes into the mid-$3,000s to $5,000-plus. Those figures illustrate how SDIP surcharges translate into real money in this market.

Market forces matter too. State regulators approved an average 5% increase taking effect October 1, 2025, after a settlement with the industry. Rising repair costs and crash severity are part of the backdrop, so a violation lands on top of a generally higher baseline.

Speeding vs. DUI: the deeper cost

A single speeding conviction can push your premium up for years under SDIP. The exact hit depends on how fast you were going and your prior record. Cross certain thresholds and you’re looking at multiple points and a steep percentage add-on.

With a DUI/DWI, the math is unforgiving: 12 points equals a 340% surcharge, and as of mid-2025, that impact can persist for five years. Local quote comparisons underscore the spread — post-DUI quotes several times higher than clean-record rates are common.

Ways to limit the damage (and future risk)

  • Act quickly on accuracy. If you believe something is incorrect, consult counsel before you pay it; a conviction is what triggers SDIP points. The point grid is fixed, so the difference between 9 mph and 11 mph over can change your surcharge.
  • Ask about eligibility for exceptions. In limited situations, a PJC or the “10-over” carve-out may avoid points, but both come with strict criteria and lookback rules. Your attorney or agent can clarify the tradeoffs.
  • Shop methodically after a violation. Carriers price risk differently. Greensboro rate tables show sizable gaps between insurers for the same violation category, so comparing multiple quotes is worth the time.
  • Keep coverage continuous. Lapses can trigger DMV penalties and complicate reinstatement, especially when a DL-123 is involved.
  • Build a clean-record streak. As older convictions age out of the lookback window, surcharges fall away; with the 2025 update, expect five years for the heaviest SDIP categories.

Search Online for Quotes:

If you’re comparing quotes, search phrases like auto insurance near me or cheapest auto insurance; just remember that the lowest price today isn’t always the best total cost once SDIP surcharges, coverage limits, and claims service are considered.

A reputable auto insurance agency Greensboro NC can help you line up quotes that reflect your exact SDIP status and coverage needs. Drivers aiming for affordable auto insurance should also revisit limits and deductibles and take advantage of any safe-driver or multi-policy savings they qualify for.

Many residents start with carriers known to be competitive for auto insurance Greensboro NC and then validate those picks against multiple alternatives.

Bottom line

In North Carolina, the price of a speeding ticket or DUI isn’t a mystery; the SDIP turns it into math. For Greensboro drivers, that math can add hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year, and serious convictions now linger longer. Know the point grid, verify your proof of insurance with the DMV when required, and shop smart so one mistake doesn’t define your premiums for years to come.