Summary: A speeding ticket's fine, typically $150 to $500, is usually the smallest part of its cost. The bigger cost is insurance: one speeding ticket raises the average premium about 25 percent, roughly $500 to $580 per year on a full-coverage policy, and the increase lasts 3 to 5 years depending on the state and carrier. On a $2,000 policy, that is $1,500 in extra premiums over three years against a $250 fine. Traffic school, where eligible, can keep the ticket off your record and avoid the insurance hit; contesting the ticket costs an attorney fee but can erase both the fine and the surcharge.
Why the fine is the smallest line item
Think of a ticket as two bills. Bill one is the fine: set by statute or the local fine schedule, typically $150 to $500 for ordinary speeding, higher for excessive speed, school zones, and construction zones. You pay it once, to the court. Bill two is the insurance surcharge: your carrier reprices you as a higher-risk driver at the next renewal, and keeps the higher price for 3 to 5 years.
National rate studies put bill two at about 25 percent of your premium per year (NerdWallet), about $582 per year or 27 percent (Experian), with carrier-level analyses ranging from under 10 percent to over 80 percent depending on the company and state (WalletHub). On a $2,000 annual policy at 25 percent for 3 years, the surcharge is $1,500, six times a $250 fine.
The surcharge varies wildly by carrier and state. Studies show increases from under 15 percent to over 100 percent in extreme state-carrier combinations. Your actual increase depends on your carrier's surcharge schedule, your state's point system, how far over the limit you were, and your prior record. A second ticket within a few years roughly doubles the pain: drivers with two speeding tickets pay about 45 percent more than clean-record drivers.
This is why the decision tree matters more than the fine schedule. Paying the fine is pleading guilty, which puts a conviction on your record and triggers the surcharge. Traffic school (where eligible) or a successful contest avoids the conviction and with it most or all of the insurance cost. Always price the whole decision, not the fine.
Worked example
Pay it: $250 fine on a $2,000/year policy, 25 percent surcharge for 3 years. Insurance cost: $500/year x 3 = $1,500. True total: $1,750.
Traffic school: $250 fine + $50 school fee, ticket masked from record. Insurance increase: $0. True total: $300. Savings versus paying: $1,450.
Fight it ($300 attorney): win: $300 total, no conviction, no surcharge. Lose: $250 fine + $300 attorney + $1,500 surcharge = $2,050. The attorney only needs about a 1-in-6 win rate to break even against paying outright, which is why contesting is popular.
Representative speeding fines by state, 2026
Base fine ranges for 10 mph over the limit; court costs and assessments often double the total. Verify your county's schedule. <a href="ticketfines.csv" download>Download this table as CSV</a>.
| State | Representative base fine (10 over) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| California | ~$238 | Total with assessments often $350+ |
| New York | $150-$300 | Plus mandatory surcharge $88-$93 |
| Texas | Up to $200 | Plus court costs; varies by jurisdiction |
| Florida | $25-$500 | Scales with speed; school zones higher |
| Illinois | $120-$1,000 | Scales with speed; 25+ over can be a misdemeanor |
| Ohio | $150-$250 | Plus court costs; varies by court |
| Georgia | $25-$500 | Plus $200 state super-speeder fee at 75+ on 2-lane or 85+ anywhere |
| North Carolina | $25-$250 | Fine modest but insurance impact among the steepest nationally |
| Arizona | $250-$500 | Civil speeding; criminal speeding at 20+ over or 85+ |
| Washington | $124-$250 | Base fine; assessments add substantially |
Traffic ticket guides
- How Much Does a Speeding Ticket Raise Insurance?: the surcharge math, by carrier and state
- Should You Fight a Traffic Ticket? The Cost-Benefit Math: when contesting pays and when it does not
- Traffic Ticket Fines by State in 2026: base fines, assessments, and the add-ons
- Traffic School vs Paying the Fine: Which Saves More?: eligibility, costs, and the record-masking payoff
- How Long Does a Ticket Stay on Your Record?: DMV retention, insurance lookback, and points
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a speeding ticket raise insurance?
About 25 percent on average, roughly $500 to $580 per year on a full-coverage policy, lasting 3 to 5 years. The actual increase varies widely by carrier and state.
Should I just pay a speeding ticket?
Paying is pleading guilty, which puts a conviction on your record and triggers years of higher insurance. Traffic school or contesting often costs less in total than the fine-plus-surcharge.
How long does a ticket stay on my driving record?
Typically 3 to 5 years for insurance purposes; the DMV record retention varies by state. Serious violations (DUI, reckless) stay longer.
Does traffic school remove the ticket?
In many states, completing traffic school masks the conviction from your public record and prevents the insurance surcharge, though the court still sees it. Eligibility is usually limited to one dismissal every 12 to 18 months.
Data current as of October 2026. Sources: NerdWallet, Experian, WalletHub/CarInsurance.com rate studies; state fine schedules. This tool gives planning estimates only and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed traffic attorney in your state.