Whatever happens in Italy or any other country should not affect your credit rating. For example, according to TransUnion Canada— a credit bureau in Canada—photo-radar tickets (or any other ticket where police didn’t verify your identity in person, including parking tickets) should not appear on a credit file in the United States. But while other countries may apply similar rules as Canada, unfortunately, traffic fines can appear on a credit report even though it is illegal.
What are the basics of this? What happens if you get a traffic ticket in another country? Here are some situations you should consider for your next trip to another country and the possibility of a traffic ticket affecting your credit rating and driving record.
What Happens If I Don’t Pay A Traffic Ticket Fine In Another Country?
If you don’t pay a traffic/ speeding ticket, you may be fined, depending on the country. The longer you wait, the more serious the consequences become. If you don’t pay after a reasonable amount of time, then you’ll face the possibility of going to court.
Will I Be Arrested When I Re-enter the US if I Have Unpaid Traffic Tickets?
US Customs and Border Protection strongly advise paying your traffic fines—especially moving offenses.
While unpaid fines will not result in your arrest unless a warrant is issued, you may be subjected to a more thorough investigation if your record is not clean. And if these penalties and infractions grow to a large amount, you are giving authorities a reason to deny you a future visa to visit or do business in the country.
Do I Need to Pay a Fine in Another Country If I Was Driving a Rental Car?
Yes, you must assume automobile rental firms will always insist on the driver being responsible for all traffic penalties and fees in any country. When you sign a rental agreement, you agree to pay any traffic fines and administrative fees charged by the automobile rental business. This could mean that your total bill will be more than if you were using a personal vehicle.
Photo enforcement tickets, such as photo radar and red light camera charges, are issued to the car’s owner —in this case, the rental firm. Nonetheless, driving a vehicle with a foreign registration allows you greater leeway when it comes to avoiding parking tickets and automated speeding citations. But don’t risk this.
If you’re driving a rented automobile, you’ll have given the rental company your credit card information and agreed to pay any fines, etc., when you signed the rental agreement.
Because the vehicle is registered with the rental company, they will get the tickets in the mail and forward them to you. If you don’t pay them right away, they’ll get a notice that the fine hasn’t been paid and that the sum outstanding may have been increased “for late payment.”
They may pull out your rental agreement at this point and charge the cost of any parking tickets/speeding citations to the credit card you used to book the car, as well as a “handling fee” to cover any administrative fees they may incur. If this happens, expect a larger amount to automatically be debited from your credit card. However, the rental car business may pay the ticket and then charge the amount to your credit card, depending on the country.
The rental car business can still charge you an administrative fee even if the police mail you the ticket immediately and the rental car company is not responsible for it. Thus, customers are still responsible for payment if issued a traffic ticket in another nation.
So, What’s the Best Solution to a Traffic Ticket From Another Country?
If you get a traffic/ speeding ticket while traveling, the best thing you can do is pay it as soon as you receive it rather than ignoring it. If you choose to disregard the fines, courts may double them, and a local debt collection agency may be hired to retrieve the money. You should be aware that different restrictions apply in different nations and the severity of the penalties.
Tips On Traffic Tickets Issued in Another Country
- The technique for pursuing penalties imposed on foreigners differs from country to country.
- If you were driving a rented car, they would report you to the authorities.
- If the rental company is charged with a fee, it may be able to pass it through to you and possibly charge your credit card.
- The terms and policies of rental companies differ depending on the firm and the country.
- Police officers may be aware of unpaid fines accrued in their country and almost certainly in their state or district.
Note: Minor traffic violations, such as speeding fines or parking tickets, are covered in this information. For more severe offenses, such as those involving death, injury, or severe property damage, you’ll very probably be prosecuted to the point of extradition.
Did you get a traffic ticket in another country? Ticket Snipers professionals help you with any questions you might have and guide you on possible consequences to your credit rating and driving record. Call our team and let us be your right hand.