9 Most Ticketed Cars

Were You Caught Speeding in One of These Cars?

We are in a golden age of affordable horsepower and performance. From small turbocharged engines to big-displacement power, you can get serious speed for an attainable price. For some, that power just goes right to their head!

An Insurance.com study of over 323,000 online quotes analyzed the least and most ticketed cars on the road. Each slide shows a percentage. That number corresponds to the percentage of people who drive that car who have received tickets, according to the information they provided in their Insurance.com quote request.

Check out the top offenders, and maybe a few lower-power alternatives that might keep your lead foot in check!

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No. 9: Toyota Tacoma

Percentage of Tacoma Drivers Who Have Gotten Tickets: 30% (Details Below)

Speeding in a truck is not terribly smart. The top-heavy design doesn’t mesh well with hard cornering and high speeds. But with 278 horsepower on tap from a stout V6, the Tacoma will get you up there. You’re better off going slow on the trail, which is where the Tacoma really shines.

Strangely enough, larger trucks like the Chevrolet Silverado or Ford F-150 might handle corners better, since their wheelbase is actually wider. Those trucks are available with powerful turbocharged four-cylinders and naturally-aspirated V8 engines, meaning you could be just as likely to speed.

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No. 8: Dodge Stratus

Percentage of Stratus Drivers Who Have Gotten Tickets: 30% (Details Below)

The study compiled both old new vehicles, hence the presence of the lackluster Dodge Stratus, which was sold from 1994 to 2004. As mediocre as it was, the Stratus was still a marginally better car than its successor, the Dodge Avenger, which was sold from 2007 to 2014.

You’d be better off with any of the small cars offered today, such as the Honda Fit, Mazda3, or Honda Civic, which score third, second, and first, respectively, in our small car rankings. The Civic earns the top spot with an incredibly smooth ride, crisp handling, and terrific safety and predicted reliability ratings. It also has excellent fuel economy for the class, topping out at 42 mpg on the highway.

No. 7: Volkswagen GTI

Percentage of Volkswagen GTI Drivers Who Have Gotten Tickets: 30% (Details Below)

An unsurprising entrant on this list, the Volkswagen GTI has all the commuter-friendly attributes of the Golf hatch, on which it is based, but with a more powerful engine, slick shifting manual transmission, and athletic handling. It is the ultimate sporty daily driver, with 210 to 220 horsepower on tap.

If you’re worried about speeding but still want a VW, the non-GTI Golf is a wise choice. It scores fifth out 32 small cars, and delivers all the practicality that comes with this plucky VW, like ample cargo space and comfortable front seats. Despite its practicality and 170-horsepower inline-four, it has athletic handling to make the commute a bit more interesting.

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No. 6: Mazda3

Percentage of Mazda3 Drivers Who Have Gotten Tickets: 30% (Details Below)

It must be the “Zoom-Zoom” performance of the Mazda3 that entices drivers to speed, with 30 percent in the study getting tickets. Hopefully those drivers have peace of mind knowing that the Mazda3 is tied for first among more than 20 compact cars in U.S. News rankings.

If you need to focus on practicality and not so much on performance, check out the Kia Soul. Its upright layout makes for plenty of usable space, topping out at 61.3 cubic feet. And with a premium cabin feel and plenty of available features, it might be a more sensible choice.

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No. 5: Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Percentage of Monte Carlo Drivers Who Have Gotten Tickets: 31% (Details Below)

The fifth generation of the Chevy Monte Carlo was sold from 2005 to 2007 as a coupe variant of the Chevrolet Impala. The Monte Carlo was available in various NASCAR special editions, including a Dale Earnhardt Special Edition with bold stripes on the hood and side, it’s anything but subtle. 

If you want a sporty coupe that’s a little more under the radar, check out the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. Though it ranks somewhere in the middle of our sports car rankings, it has a powerful V6 engine and a refreshingly easy-to-use infotainment system. It’s outward appearance as a Hyundai might keep you under the radar next time you feel the need to step on it.

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No. 4: Volkswagen Jetta 

Percentage of Jetta Drivers Who Have Gotten Tickets: 31% (Details Below)

The sign of a well-built car is its comfort and stability at higher speeds. With a strong engine lineup and a smooth ride, you might get up past the speed limit on the highway and not even realize you’re speeding. That could explain how 31% of Jetta drivers earned tickets.

Word of caution to those who do push the driving envelope of the Jetta– it is less nimble than some rivals. If you have to make emergency maneuvers at too great a speed, you might find yourself in a tough spot.

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No. 3: Dodge Charger

Percentage of Charger Drivers Who Have Gotten Tickets: 32% (Details Below)

The fact that the Charger earns below average crash test scores should give pause to any would-be speeders. But for those that do speed, the poor visibility might hinder the driver’s ability to spot a cop from far off. That may be a reason why 32% of Charger drivers were ticketed.

The Charger is now a popular choice for many police departments, which means there has likely been instances of a Charger a pulling over another Charger. The driver being pulled over is unlikely to appreciate the irony.

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No. 2: Nissan 350Z

Percentage of 350Z Drivers Who Have Gotten Tickets: 33% (Details Below)

Before the current 370Z, Nissan’s Z sports car was the 350Z. While it doesn’t have the 3.7-liter V6 of the current car, it features its predecessor, the 3.5-liter V6. Its 306 horsepower and 268 pound-feet of torque is more than enough motivation to get in trouble.

A wise choice might be to move to a car like the Mazda MX-5 Miata. It is an incredibly fun car that, despite only having a 155-horsepower engine, places first among all sports cars in U.S. News rankings.

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No. 1: Lexus ES

Percentage of ES Drivers Who Have Gotten Tickets: 33% (Details Below)

With 33% of its owners in the study being ticketed, Lexus ES drivers must be in a real hurry. Luckily the premium and comfortable cabin is a nice place to sit while you’re waiting for the highway patrolman to write your ticket!

Perhaps you should check out the 2016 Lexus ES Hybrid. It gets 40 mpg in the city and 39 on the highway, and its total system output it 200 horsepower– 68 horsepower less than the conventionally powered ES 350. Both are great choices, each tied for No. 8 in U.S. News luxury midsize car rankings.

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Best Price Program

If you have a need for speed, check out our sports car rankings. And, when you’ve settled on a specific model, visit our new car lease and finance deals to explore the latest manufacturer offers. Also, don’t forget to use our Best Price Program tool, where you can save thousands on your purchase price.