How Much Does My Traffic Ticket
Actually Cost?
The fine on the ticket is rarely the total cost. Estimate the all-in damage — fine, court costs, points, license-suspension risk, and 3-year insurance premium impact — for your state and situation.
Total includes base fine plus state and county assessments.
Pick the speeding tier that matches how fast you were going over the limit. California typically breaks speeding into different tiers — choose the right one above for the most accurate estimate.
🗺️States currently covered
The estimator currently covers 13 states where we've hand-curated fine ranges from the official statute / court fee schedule:
For other states, the basic fine ranges follow similar national patterns — but we don't list a state in the estimator until we've verified the current schedule against the official source. We add coverage in batches; check back, or use the official fine schedule link in the result panel for any state.
✓What's in the estimate
- Base fine range from the state's official source
- School/work-zone doubling (where applicable)
- Repeat-offense multiplier (1.5×–2.5×)
- Optional court-cost surcharge ($30–$150)
- Points assessed (state-specific)
- Insurance-impact tier with 3-year premium estimate
- License-suspension threshold for the state
- Traffic-school savings (where the state allows it)
!What's NOT in the estimate
- County or municipal surcharges (vary widely)
- Attorney fees if you contest the ticket
- Driver Responsibility surcharges in remaining states
- Reinstatement fees if your license is suspended
- Higher fines for endangering minors or workers
- Damages or restitution from any related accident
- Criminal penalties for DUI/DWI (separate process)
📈How the insurance-impact tier is calculated
The insurance impact is the most expensive part of most tickets — typically several times the fine itself over three years. We map every violation to one of four tiers based on national auto-insurer practices:
Parking, equipment violations, expired registration. Most insurers don't check non-moving citations.
First-time low-severity moving violations: speeding under 10 over, single seat-belt ticket. Premium impact lasts about 3 years.
Mid-range moving violations: red light, stop sign, speeding 11–20 over, cell-phone use, following too close. 3–5 year impact.
Severe violations: speeding 20+ over, reckless driving, no insurance, leaving the scene. Often triggers insurer non-renewal. DUI typically +75–150% or non-renewal.
Important: These are typical industry ranges, not a quote. Your actual increase depends on your insurer, vehicle, age, prior record, and how long you've been with the carrier. Many drivers shop around after a ticket and find a different insurer with a smaller (or no) increase.
🛣️Already got a ticket? Three options before you pay
- 1Pay it (admit guilt)Quick and simple, but the points and insurance impact apply. Use this when the ticket is clearly correct and the violation is a low tier.
- 2Take traffic school / defensive drivingAvailable in roughly two-thirds of states. Costs $25–$120 plus the original fine, but typically prevents the points being assessed AND keeps the insurance increase from kicking in. Best ROI by far for moderate-tier violations — see the toggle in the estimator above.
- 3Contest in courtYou can plead not guilty and request a hearing. About 30–50% of fully-contested tickets get reduced or dismissed when the officer doesn't appear, but court fees apply if you lose. An attorney typically costs $200–$500 and is most worthwhile for major-tier violations or repeat offenses.
Traffic Fines by State
Side-by-side fine and point-system comparison across covered states.
License Cost Calculator
Estimate your all-in driver's license cost by state.
Document Checklist
Personalized checklist of what to bring to the DMV.