Speeding tickets are some of the most commonly issued traffic violations every year, and they’re also, unfortunately, one of the most expensive. Speeding tickets can stay on your record for years, affecting your driver’s license status and car insurance premiums. In some states, driving only a few miles per hour over the speed limit can earn you a traffic ticket. That’s why it’s important to understand the penalties associated with speeding.
How Long a Speeding Ticket Stays on Your Record in Each State
In most of the U.S., speeding tickets and the points associated with tickets will stay on your record for three to five years (more on the point system below). These numbers differ from state to state and are based on the severity of your violation.
| State | Length of time a speeding ticket stays on your driving record |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Permanently (Two years for license suspension) |
| Alaska | One year |
| Arizona | One year |
| Arkansas | Three years |
| California | Three years and three months |
| Colorado | Permanently (can reduce points) |
| Connecticut | Three years |
| Delaware | Two years |
| District of Columbia | Two years |
| Florida | Five years |
| Georgia | Two years |
| Hawaii | 10 years |
| Idaho | Three years |
| Illinois | Up to five years |
| Indiana | Two years |
| Iowa | Five years |
| Kansas | Three years |
| Kentucky | Five years on record, points removed after two years |
| Louisiana | Three years |
| Maine | One year |
| Maryland | Three years |
| Massachusetts | Six years |
| Michigan | Seven years |
| Minnesota | Five to 10 years |
| Mississippi | One year |
| Missouri | Three years |
| Montana | Points removed after three years (conviction permanent) |
| Nebraska | Five years |
| Nevada | Points removed after one year (conviction permanent) |
| New Hampshire | Three years |
| New Jersey | Five years |
| New Mexico | One year |
| New York | One year and six months |
| North Carolina | Three years |
| North Dakota | Three years |
| Ohio | Two years for suspension (incident on record permanently) |
| Oklahoma | Three years |
| Oregon | Two years |
| Pennsylvania | One year |
| Rhode Island | Three years |
| South Carolina | Two years |
| South Dakota | Three years |
| Tennessee | Two years |
| Texas | Three years |
| Utah | Three years |
| Vermont | Two years |
| Virginia | Five years |
| Washington | Five years |
| West Virginia | Five years on record, points removed after two years |
| Wisconsin | Five years |
| Wyoming | One year1 |
Speeding Tickets and the Driver’s License Point System
Most states issue and keep track of penalties through a driver’s license point system. If you’re convicted of a moving violation, your DMV will assign points to your driving record. The more severe the violation, the more points your DMV will add.
With enough points, you could develop a bad driving record and face a license suspension, motor vehicle insurance premium increases, and difficulty signing up with a new insurance provider. The point system differs from state to state, and some states, like Hawaii and Kansas, don’t use point systems at all.
FYI:
Nine states don’t follow a point system for traffic violations: Hawaii, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wyoming.
How to Remove Points From Your Record
In some states, like Delaware, you can take a traffic school course to reduce the number of points on your record. If you take a defensive driving course in Delaware, you’ll earn three credits that reduce the negative impact of moving violations (such as inflated car insurance costs).2
In most states, the only other way to remove points off your record is to not get another violation for a certain period of time (usually three years).
Speeding Ticket Costs by State
Each state has its own system for speeding tickets. With most, the ticket amount is based on how many miles you were driving over the speed limit. Some states charge by your offense number, and some let their municipalities decide. Note that the below charge only includes fines and not other penalties like points, license suspensions, imprisonment, and so on.
| State | Speeding ticket costs |
|---|---|
| Alabama | District court: $111 Circuit court: $131 plus lower court costs Municipal ordinance district court: $111 |
| Alaska | Varies by municipality |
| Arizona | Differs based on county |
| Arkansas | Varies by municipality |
| California | Varies by municipality |
| Colorado</a> | One to four miles over the speed limit: $36 fine, $6 surcharge Five to nine miles: $70 fine, $10 surcharge 10-19 miles: $135 fine, $16 surcharge 20-24 miles: $200 fine, $32 surcharge 25 or more miles: $150-$300, or $300-$1,000 in construction zones Over 75 mph: $150- $300, or $300-$1,000 in construction zones Unreasonable speed: $100 fine, $10 surcharge Too slow: $50 fine, $6 surcharge Over speed limit on bridge/elevated structure: $30 fine, $6 surcharge |
| Connecticut | One to nine miles over the speed limit: $35 minimum Above limit but under 55 mph: $103-$191 Too fast for conditions: $103 56-70 mph on limited access highway or 56-60 mph on all other highways: $123-$211 71-75 mph: $213 76-80 mph: $254 81-85 mph: $294 Endangering occupant: $213 Over 85 mph: $100-$300 for first offense, up to $600 for subsequent offenses |
| Delaware | Varies by municipality |
| District of Columbia | Up to 10 mile over the speed limits: $30 11-15 miles: $50 16-20 miles: $100 21-25 miles: $150 25-30 miles: $200 Unreasonable speed: $25 Too slow: $15 |
| Florida | One to five miles over the speed limit: $0, warning only Six to nine miles: $25 10-14 miles: $100 15-29 miles: $150 20-29 miles: $175 30 miles and over: $250 |
| Georgia | Fees vary by local jurisdiction except Super Speeder fee 75 mph or more on a two-lane road, or 85 mph or more on any road: $200 |
| Hawaii | 80 mph or more: $500-$1,000 for a first offense, $750-$1,000 for a second offense within five years, $1,000 for a third offense within five years |
| Idaho | One to 15 miles over the speed limit: $90 16 miles and over: $155 In a construction zone: $106.50 In a school zone: $156.50 |
| Illinois | Six to 10 miles over the speed limit: $50 maximum 10 miles and over: $100 maximum While passing schools: $150 minimum for first offense, $300 minimum for second and subsequent offenses While traveling through a highway construction or maintenance speed zone: $250 minimum for first offense, $750 minimum for second or subsequent offenses |
| Indiana | Varies by municipality |
| Iowa | One to five miles over the speed limit: $30 fine, $4.50 surcharge Six to 10 miles: $55 fine, $8.25 surcharge 11-15 miles: $105 fine, $15.75 surcharge 16-20 miles : $120 fine, $18 surcharge 20 miles and over: $135 plus $5 for each mile over speed limit |
| Kansas | Varies by municipality |
| Kentucky | Varies by municipality |
| Louisiana | Varies by city |
| Maine | One to nine miles over the speed limit: $114, $203 in school zone/construction zone 10-14 miles: $129, $233 in school zone/construction zone 15-19 miles: $170, $315 in school zone/construction zone 20-24 miles: $320, $435 in school zone/construction zone 25-29 miles: $278, $531 in school zone/ construction zone Imprudent speed: $134, $152 in school zone |
| Maryland | Varies by municipality |
| Massachusetts | First offense: $35 maximum Second offense; $35-$75 Subsequent offenses committed within a year: $75-$150 |
| Michigan | Varies by municipality |
| Minnesota | One to 10 miles over the speed limit: $40 fine, $75 surcharge 11-14 miles: $50 fine, $75 surcharge 15-19 miles: $60 fine, $75 surcharge 20-25 miles: $70 fine, $70 speeding surcharge, $75 surcharge 26-30 miles: $100 fine, $100 speeding surcharge, $75 surcharge 31 miles and over: $150 fine, $150 speeding surcharge, $75 surcharge School zone: $75 surcharge Work zone: $300 fine, $75 surcharge Less than minimum speed limit: $50 fine, $75 surcharge |
| Mississippi | Less than 10 miles over the speed limit: $0 10-20 miles: $10 20-30 miles: $20 30 miles and over: $30 |
| Missouri | One to five miles over the speed limit: $50.50 Six to 10 miles : $$60.50 11-15 miles: $70.50 16-19 miles: $100.50 20-25 miles: $155.50 Slow speed that impedes/blocks traffic movement: $60.50 Less than 40 mph on interstate highway: $60.50 |
| Montana | One to 10 miles over the speed limit: $40, or $20 in special zones 11-20 miles: $70 21-30 miles: $120 31 miles and over: $200 |
| Nebraska | One to five miles over the speed limit: $10 Five to 10 miles: $25 10-15 miles: $75 15-20 miles: $125 20-35 miles: $200 35 miles and over: $300 Within a maintenance, repair, construction, or school crossing zone: Fines double |
| Nevada | Varies by municipality |
| New Hampshire | Too slow: $62 for the first offense, $124 for the second offense Maintenance or highway construction zone: $310 One to five miles over the speed limit: $80.60 in a 70 mph or under zone One to 10 miles: $62 in a 55 mph or under zone, $80.60 in a 65 mph or under zone Six to 10 miles: $124 in a 65 or 70 mph or under zone 11-15 miles: $93 in a 55 mph or under zone, $186 in a 65 mph or under zone, $248 in a 70 mph or under zone 16-20 miles: $124 in a mph or under zone, $310 in a 65 mph or under zone, $372 in a 70 mph or under zone 21-25 miles: $248 in a 55 mph or under zone 21 miles and over: $434 in a 65 mph or under zone, $496 in a 70 mph or under zone 26 miles and over: $434 in a 55 mph or under zone |
| New Jersey | Too slow: $86 One to nine miles over the speed limit: $86 10-14 miles: $96 15-19 miles: $106 20-24 miles: $201 25-29 miles: $221 30-34 miles: $241 35-39 miles: $261 |
| New Mexico (excluding Bernalillo county) | One to 10 miles over the speed limit: $82 11-15 miles: $87 16-20 miles: $122 21-25 miles: $157 26-30 miles: $182 31-35 miles: $207 35 miles and over: $257 Construction or safety zone: Fines double |
| New York | Up to 10 miles over the speed limit: $45-$450 10-30 miles: $90-$300 30 miles and over: $180- $600 Inappropriate speed: $45-$150 |
| North Carolina | Highway work or school zone: $250 Otherwise, varies within state |
| North Dakota | School zone: $40 minimum Construction zone: $80 minimum One to five miles over the speed limit: $5 in 55 mph and lower zones, $2-$10 in 65 mph and lower zones, $5-25 in 70/75 mph and lower zones Six to 10 miles: $6-$10 in 55 mph and lower zones, $12-20 in 65 mph and lower zones, $30-$50 in 70/75 mph and lower zones 11-15 miles: $11-15 in 55 mph and lower zones, $25-$50 in 65 mph and lower zones, $59-$125 in 70/75 mph and lower zones 16-20 miles: $17-$25 in 55 mph and lower zones, $55-$75 in 65 mph and lower zones, $80-$100 in 70/75 mph and lower zones 21-25 miles: $28-$40 in 55 mph and lower zones, $80-$100 in 65 mph and lower zones, $105-$125 in 70/75 mph and lower zones 26-30 miles: $43-$55 in 55 mph and lower zones, $105-$125 in 65 mph and lower zones, $110-$150 in 70/75 mph and lower zones 31-35 miles: $58-$70 in 55 mph and lower zones, $130-$150 in 65 mph and lower zones, $155-$175 in mph and lower zones 36-45 miles: $73-100 in all zones 36 miles and over: $155 plus $5 for each mph over 45 in 65 mph and lower zones, $180 plus $5 for each mph over 45 in 70/75 mph zones 46 miles and over: $1010 plus $5 for each mph over 45 mph speed limit in all zones |
| Ohio | Varies by municipality |
| Oklahoma | One to 10 miles over the speed limit: $172 11-19 miles: $203 20 miles and over: $213 Residential area: $213 (Oklahoma City) |
| Oregon | Minimum: $65 Maximum: $2,000 |
| Pennsylvania | In a 25 mph speed zone: 35 mph: $45 36 mph: $47 37 mph: $49 38 mph: $51 39 mph: $53 40 mph: $55 41 mph: $57 42 mph: $59 43 mph: $61 44 mph: $63 45 mph: $65 46 mph: $67 47 mph: $69 48 mph: $71 49 mph: $73 50 mph: $75 51 mph: $77 52 mph: $79 53 mph: $81 54 mph: $83 55 mph: $85 56 mph: $87 57 mph: $89 58 mph: $91 59 mph: $93 60 mph: $95 In a 35 mph speed zone: 45 mph: $45 46 mph: $47 47 mph: $49 48 mph: $51 49 mph: $53 50 mph: $55 51 mph: $57 52 mph: $59 53 mph: $61 54 mph: $63 55 mph: $65 56 mph: $67 57 mph: $69 58 mph: $71 59 mph: $73 60 mph: $75 61 mph: $77 62 mph: $79 63 mph: $81 64 mph: $83 65 mph: $85 66 mph: $87 67 mph: $89 68 mph: $91 69 mph: $93 70 mph: $95 In a 40 mph speed zone: 50 mph: $45 51 mph: $47 52 mph: $49 53 mph: $51 54 mph: $53 55 mph: $55 56 mph: $57 57 mph: $59 58 mph: $61 59 mph: $63 60 mph: $65 61 mph: $67 62 mph: $69 63 mph: $71 64 mph: $73 65 mph: $75 66 mph: $77 67 mph: $79 68 mph: $81 69 mph: $83 70 mph: $85 71 mph: $87 72 mph: $89 73 mph: $91 74 mph: $93 75 mph: $95 In a 45 mph speed zone: 55 mph: $45 56 mph: $47 57 mph: $49 58 mph: $51 59 mph: $53 60 mph: $55 61 mph: $57 62 mph: $59 63 mph: $61 64 mph: $63 65 mph: $65 66 mph: $67 67 mph: $69 68 mph: $71 69 mph: $73 70 mph: $75 71 mph: $77 72 mph: $79 73 mph: $81 74 mph: $83 75 mph: $85 76 mph: $87 77 mph: $89 78 mph: $91 79 mph: $93 80 mph: $95 In a 55 mph speed zone: 65 mph: $45 66 mph: $47 67 mph: $49 68 mph: $51 69 mph: $53 70 mph: $55 71 mph: $57 72 mph: $59 73 mph: $61 74 mph: $63 75 mph: $65 76 mph: $67 77 mph: $69 78 mph: $71 79 mph: $73 80 mph: $75 81 mph: $77 82 mph: $79 83 mph: $81 84 mph: $83 85 mph: $85 86 mph: $87 87 mph: $89 88 mph: $91 89 mph: $93 90 mph: $95 In a 65 mph speed zone: 71 mph: $44.50 72 mph: $46.50 73 mph: $48.50 74 mph: $50.50 75 mph: $52.50 76 mph: $54.50 77 mph: $56.50 78 mph: $58.50 79 mph: $60.50 80 mph: $62.50 In a 70 mph speed zone: 76 mph: $44.50 77 mph: $46.50 78 mph: $48.50 79 mph: $50.50 80 mph: $52.50 81 mph: $54.50 82 mph: $56.50 83 mph: $58.50 84 mph: $60.50 85 mph: $62.50 81 mph: $64.50 82 mph: $66.50 83 mph: $68.50 84 mph: $70.50 85 mph: $72.50 86 mph: $74.50 87 mph: $76.50 88 mph: $78.50 89 mph: $80.50 90 mph: $82.50 86 mph: $64.50 87 mph: $66.50 88 mph: $68.50 89 mph: $70.50 90 mph: $72.50 91 mph: $74.50 92 mph: $76.50 93 mph: $78.50 94 mph: $80.50 95 mph: $82.50 91 mph: $84.50 92 mph: $86.50 93 mph: $88.50 94 mph: $90.50 95 mph: $92.50 96 mph: $94.50 97 mph: $96.50 98 mph: $98.50 99 mph: $100.50 100 mph: $102.50 |
| Rhode Island | One to 10 miles over the speed limit: $95 for first offense, plus $10 for each mile in exceed of limit for second offense, plus $15 per excess mile for any subsequent offenses within 12 months of first offense 10 miles and over: $205 minimum, plus $10 for each mile in exceed of limit for second offense, $15 per excess mile for the second offense within 12 months of first offense, or $20 per excess mile for the third and subsequent offenses within 12 months of the first offense |
| South Carolina | One to 10 miles over the speed limit: $30-$50, or $75-$100 in a highway work zone 10-15 miles: $50-$75, or $100-$150 in a highway work zone 15-20 miles: $75-$100, or $150-$200 in a highway work zone 20-24 miles: $100-$200, or $200-$300 in a highway work zone 24 miles and over: $200-$300, or $300-$500 in a highway work zone |
| South Dakota | Driving too slowly on interstate highway: $132.50 total Speeding on interstate and other highways, roadways (municipal streets/county roads), and 4-lane rural highways: One to five miles over the speed limit: $97.50 total Six to 10 miles: $117.50 total 11-15 miles: $137.50 total 16-20 miles: $157.50 total 21-25 miles: $177.50 total 26 miles and over: $232.50 total |
| Tennessee | Differs by county |
| Texas | Differs by county |
| Utah | On highways other than interstate: One to five miles over the speed limit: $97.50 On interstate: Six to 10 miles: $117.50 11-15 miles: $137.50 16-20 miles: $157.50 21-25 miles: $99-$177.50 26 miles and over: $154-$232.50 |
| Vermont | First-time offense maximum: $300 Second-time offense maximum: $500 |
| Virginia | $51 flat processing fee plus $6-$8 per mile over the speed limit. Exceeding speed limit: $6 per mile over speed limit Exceeding in school area: $7 per mile over speed limit Exceeding in residential district: $200 plus $8 per mile over the speed limit |
| Washington | If speed limit is 40 mph or less: One to five miles over the speed limit$43 Six to 10 miles: $48 11-15 miles: $63 16-20 miles: $83 21-25 miles: $108 26-30 miles: $133 31-35 miles: $158 35 miles and over: $188 If speed limit is over 40 mph: One to five miles over the speed limit: $33 Six to 10 miles: $43 11-15 miles: $58 16-20 miles: $73 21-25 miles: $88 26-30 miles: $108 31-35 miles: $133 36-40 miles: $158 |
| West Virginia | Varies by municipality |
| Wisconsin | First-time offenses: $30-$300 Second-time offenses: $80-$300 |
| Wyoming | One to nine miles over the speed limit: $35 minimum Above speed limit but under 55 mph: $103- $191 Too fast for conditions: $103 56-70 mph on limited access highway or 56-60 mph on all other highways: $123-$211 71-75 mph: $213 76-80 mph: $254 81-85 mph: $294 Endangering occupant: $213 85 mph and over: $100-$300 for a first offense, up to $600 for subsequent offenses |
What Kind of Violation Is a Speeding Ticket?
Speeding is classified as a moving violation rather than a non-moving violation because the car is in motion. Let’s explore other crimes that fall into each category.
Moving vs. Non-Moving Traffic Violations
All traffic violations, whether moving or non-moving, come with citations that may or may not include flat fees. Most non-moving violations, like parking tickets or improper vehicle equipment, do not add any points to your driving record. Moving violations like speeding or running a red light, on the other hand, come with citations that impact your driving record negatively.
Common moving violations include the following:
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence
- Running a red light
- Rolling or driving through a stop sign
DID YOU KNOW?
Teen drivers are 13 percent more likely to speed than the general population (43 percent vs. 30 percent). Teen drivers are also about 10 percent more likely to get into speeding-related fatal crashes than the rest of the population.3
Common non-moving violations include those listed below:
- Parking violations
- Improper equipment
- Broken parts
- Expired registration
- Seatbelt tickets
How Speeding Tickets Affect Auto Insurance
The more speeding tickets you get, the more likely your car insurance rates will increase, and the higher that increase will be. Whether or not you see a premium increase after a speeding violation depends on a number of factors:
- Your insurance provider
- How fast you were driving over the speed limit
- What state you’re in
- Your driving record
- Your insurance history
- Your policy length
For example, the cost of Progressive auto insurance increased by 15 percent for drivers with six-month policies who received their first tickets in three years.4
Auto Insurance Eligibility
If you accrue enough points on your driving record, you may have trouble signing up with an insurance company. Insurance providers may see you as a high-risk driver if you have a poor record, and they can either deny you coverage as a new customer, cancel your existing insurance if you have a revoked/suspended license, or increase your current insurance rates.
Fortunately, there are car insurance providers, including State Farm, Allstate, and Direct Auto, who curate their policies for high-risk drivers. Check out our list of the best high-risk auto insurance to help keep costs down after a speeding ticket.
Recap
Although you may have to live with a speeding ticket on your record for several years after the violation, there are ways to mitigate your penalties, remove points on your record, and still find affordable car insurance. The above guide will tell you everything you need to know about which states have the strictest speeding laws and how to improve your situation should you receive a speeding ticket.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many points is speeding in New York?
Here are the point brackets for speeding in New York:
- 1 to 10 mph over the limit: Three points
- 11 to 20 mph over the limit: Four points
- 21 to 30 mph over the limit: Six points
- 31 to 40 mph over the limit: Eight points
- More than 40 mph over the limit: 11 points
What is the best defense for a speeding ticket?
The best defense against a speeding ticket is to prove or leverage one of the following points:
- Speeding out of necessity: If you had no choice but to speed to avert a threat or danger, you might be able to defend yourself against a speeding ticket. Avoiding obstacles on the road, accidents, or aggressive tailgaters are all potential reasons that justify speeding.
- Speed limit obstruction: If a speed limit sign was obstructed by something (like a tree or spray paint), you might be able to defend yourself against a speeding ticket.
- Not speeding: You can argue that you were not speeding by proving that the officer’s radar gun was faulty or by offering GPS information that shows your speed limit was lower than the officer’s claim.
Can you pay to remove points from your driver’s license?
No, you cannot pay a fee in order to remove points from your driver’s license. Attending a traffic safety and not getting another traffic violation within a specified time are the main ways to remove points from your driver’s license.
Can I still drive with six points on my license?
It depends on what state you’re in. In Alaska and Florida, for example, your license will be suspended if you accrue 12 points in 12 months. In California, however, you can only accrue four points in 12 months before the state suspends your license.
Here’s the full list for every state, according to Metromile:
| State | Number of points resulting in a license suspension | Time frame of points |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 12-14 | Two years |
| Alaska | 12 | One year |
| Arizona | Eight | One year |
| Arkansas | 14 | Anytime |
| California | Four | One year |
| Colorado | 12 | One year |
| Connecticut | 10 | Two years |
| Delaware | 12-14 | Two years |
| District of Columbia | 10-11 | Anytime |
| Florida | 12 | One year |
| Georgia | 15 | Two years |
| Hawaii | N/A | N/A |
| Idaho | 12 | One year |
| Illinois | Three citations | One year |
| Indiana | 20 | Anytime |
| Iowa | Three moving violations | One year |
| Kansas | N/A | N/A |
| Kentucky | 12 | Two years |
| Louisiana | N/A | N/A |
| Maine | 12 | One year |
| Maryland | 8 | Two years |
| Massachusetts | Three speeding tickets | Two years |
| Michigan | 12 | Two years |
| Minnesota | N/A | N/A |
| Mississippi | N/A | N/A |
| Missouri | Eight | 18 months |
| Montana | 15 | Three years |
| Nebraska | 12 | Two years |
| Nevada | 12 | One year |
| New Hampshire | 12 | One year |
| New Jersey | 12 | Anytime |
| New Mexico | Seven | One year |
| New York | 11 | 18 months |
| North Carolina | 12 | Three years |
| North Dakota | 12 | Anytime |
| Ohio | 12 | Two years |
| Oklahoma | 10 | Five years |
| Oregon | N/A | N/A |
| Pennsylvania | Six | N/A |
| Rhode Island | N/A | N/A |
| South Carolina | 12 | Anytime |
| South Dakota | N/A | N/A |
| Tennessee | 12 | One year |
| Texas | Four moving violations | One year |
| Utah | 200 | Three years |
| Vermont | 10 | Two years |
| Virginia | 18 | One year |
| Washington | Six | One year |
| West Virginia | 12-13 | Anytime |
| Wisconsin | 12 | One year |
| Wyoming | N/A | N/A |
