The Truth About Speed Camera Tickets and Car Insurance

The use of speed cameras, also known as photo radars, detection systems, or automated speed enforcement systems, is steadily increasing across Canada. As their presence grows, many drivers have questions, especially about the impact speed camera tickets might have on their car insurance.

Sound familiar? If so, this article is for you! Not only will it explain why speed camera tickets are unlikely to affect your insurance premium, but it will also address other common questions, including where speed cameras are used and how much a ticket from one might cost.

Do speed camera tickets affect insurance?

It is unlikely that a speed camera ticket will affect your car insurance premium since the ticket cannot be tied to a specific driver. This is because speed cameras capture a photo of the offending vehicle’s license plate, rather than the face of the person driving.

For example, let’s say you let someone else drive your car, and they get caught speeding through a school zone. Since the camera cannot identify whether it was you, a friend, a family member, or anyone else behind the wheel, demerit points cannot be applied, and the violation cannot be linked to your driving record.

Do speed camera tickets go on your driving record?

No, speed camera tickets typically do not go on your driving record. This is the case in Quebec, where speed camera tickets are not linked to individual drivers, meaning demerit points are not applied to the driver’s record.

Unlike a speeding ticket issued by a police officer, where the officer can identify the driver at the time of the violation, speed cameras capture only the vehicle’s details, such as the license plate number. As a result, the ticket is issued to the vehicle’s registered owner, who is responsible for paying or addressing the fine.  

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How much is a speed camera ticket in Quebec?

The cost of a speed camera ticket varies depending on where you’re driving and how much you exceed the posted speed limit. In Quebec, speed camera tickets start at $30 and increase based on how much over the posted speed limit you were driving, with additional charges of $10 to $30 per full 5 km/h increment over the limit.

Amount over speed limit	Fine calculation	Total cost range
1 to 20 km/h	$30 + $10 per 5 km/h	$40 – $70
21 to 30 km/h	$30 + $15 per 5 km/h	$75 – $105
31 to 45 km/h	$30 + $20 per 5 km/h	$110 – $170
46 to 60 km/h	$30 + $25 per 5 km/h	$175 – $230
61 km/h or more	$30 + $30 per 5 km/h	$260+

Are speed cameras legal in Quebec?

Even in the parts of the country where speed cameras are legal and in use, strict regulations are usually outlined in the Highway Traffic Act, which specifies where and how these cameras can be used.

For instance, the Quebec Highway Safety Code states that “detection systems” (including speed cameras and red light cameras) are permitted in the following locations:

• School zones
• Construction zones where temporary speed limits are in effect
• Designated public highway

The Quebec government regulates which roads can have speed cameras, and the list of designated locations is published by the Ministère des Transports. Municipalities that want to install speed cameras on a road that they maintain can do so, but they need approval from the province first. In contrast, Ontario currently has stricter regulations.