Some drivers like to push their abilities and cars to the limits while driving, swerving between lanes, speeding, and generally driving irresponsibly. If this sounds like you, you’re jeopardizing your safety and that of others. Learn how being a reckless driver could cost you below.

What Qualifies As Reckless Driving?

First, what does reckless driving mean? A reckless driving charge can mean a few things. Most notably, it can be part of an Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) charge, which everyone knows a driver should never want.

But that’s not the only reason a driver can end up charged with reckless driving. Other irresponsible actions that can lead to a reckless driving charge include:

• Unlawful racing
• Texting while driving
• Eating while driving
• Doing hygienic or cosmetic tasks (putting on makeup) while driving

If you regularly do any of these things behind the wheel, police could pull you over. From there, you could face a reckless driving charge, costing you in more ways than one.

How Reckless Driving Can Cost You

Besides facing charges, you can end up dealing with other consequences. Here are the negative effects that reckless driving can have on you.

Financial Penalties

The first and most obvious way that being a reckless driver could cost you is that it can lead to you getting a moving violation that includes fines. Reckless driving conviction penalties can vary by state law and the circumstances, but at the minimum, you’ll likely face a $150 fine or more.

If your reckless driving violation is proven to have caused injury to others, that fine can increase to thousands and include jail time. For repeat violators, the penalties are harsher and could lead to suspension or revocation of your license.

Higher Insurance Rates

A moving violation comes with a costly fine, and it can haunt you for years after with higher insurance premiums. With a moving violation, you’re considered a higher risk for insurance providers, which means they’ll require a higher premium to supply the same coverage.

And since a moving violation can take years to come off your driving record, you could be paying for that reckless driving mistake years after in the form of expensive insurance.

Car Damages

An indirect way that driving recklessly can hurt a driver financially is by damaging the car. Even if you don’t get a reckless driving charge, taking corners too fast, accelerating and braking too drastically, and doing other irresponsible driving behaviors will accelerate your car’s decline.

In particular, driving recklessly will cause your tires to wear out quickly, which is unsafe for driving and will cost you money since you have to replace them more frequently. It can also cause your brakes to decline before they should, putting your car in danger and adding another expense.

Stay safe on the road, and keep your vehicle and wallet out of danger by driving defensively instead of recklessly. It’s good for your bank account!

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