How Much Is a Speeding Ticket in California? [2025]

California drivers pay anywhere between $234 and $2,126 or more for a speeding ticket. Yikes!

Read to find out how much a speeding ticket in California costs based on your speed and other factors. 

Want to find out the cost of your speeding ticket fast? Check out our California Speeding Ticket Cost Calculator.

California Speeding Ticket Cost Breakdown

How much you pay for a speeding ticket can also be influenced by:

• Whether it was a first or subsequent offense (for speeding over 100 miles per hour)
• Where you were caught speeding (e.g., construction and safety zones)

These figures are averages and estimates, and the actual costs can be even higher. The court will also impose penalty assessments that can run into thousands of dollars. Additional fees may apply for DUI tests and other legal procedures, depending on the severity of your offense. 

Note also that in some jurisdictions, like San Francisco, new speed cameras can automatically catch speeders and deliver tickets of up to $500.

Let’s see a few examples. 

How Much Is a 90 mph Speeding Ticket in California?

For a 90-mph speeding ticket in California (16-25 mph over the limit), the base fine is $70, with penalty assessment fees totaling around $293.

Fines may be higher if the violation occurs in a safety, construction, or highway maintenance zone.

How Much Is a 95 mph Speeding Ticket in California?

A 95-mph speeding ticket in California (26+ mph over the limit) carries a base fine of $100, with additional fees totaling $386 or more.

How Much Is a 100 mph Speeding Ticket in California?

If you’re caught speeding over 100 mph in California, expect a base fine of $500 to $1,000 plus penalty assessment fees. The exact fine depends on whether it’s your first or a repeat offense:

• First offense: $500 fine, two demerit points, and up to 30 days of license suspension.
• Second offense (within 3 years): $750 fine, plus a possible license suspension of up to 6 months.
• Third offense (within 5 years): $1,000 fine, with a 12-month license suspension.

These penalties can also lead to higher insurance rates and long-term driving record impacts.

How Much Is a First-Time Speeding Ticket in California?

The cost of a first-time speeding ticket in California is $35 to $500 plus assessment fees. 

But may have to pay higher fines for speeding in designated low-speed zones. For instance, a $35 fine can double if you speed in a construction zone. 

How Many Points Is a Speeding Ticket in California?

Most speeding tickets in California add 1 point to your driving record. However, there are exceptions:

• Speeding over 100 mph: A first offense results in 2 points.
• Speeding while under the influence (DUI): Leads to an immediate license suspension, regardless of point history.

License Suspension Due to Points

California drivers risk license suspension or revocation if they accumulate:

• 4 points within 1 year
• 6 points within 2 years
• 8 points within 3 years

Stricter Rules for Minors (Under 18)

Young drivers face harsher penalties and may have their license suspended or revoked if they:

• Receive 3 points within 1 year
• Get a traffic ticket and fail to pay the fine
• Are convicted of a DUI involving any amount of alcohol or drugs

Impact on License Renewal

Having points on your record may also affect your California driver’s license renewal, potentially requiring extra steps to maintain driving privileges.

How Long Does a Speeding Ticket Stay on Your Record?

In California, the points from a speeding ticket remain on your record for three years. 

After three years, the point from a regular speeding ticket can no longer be used against you. And after three years and three months, you can request that the DMV remove the ticket from your record altogether.

Points for more severe offenses, like reckless driving or speeding while under the influence, will remain on your record for 10 years.

Misdemeanor, Felony, Reckless Driving?

In California, most traffic violations are classified as misdemeanors or infractions. Speeding is an infraction, but under certain circumstances, it can lead to misdemeanor or felony charges. 

For example, if you’re stopped for speeding and are going so fast that the officer believes you are driving recklessly, you might be at risk for a misdemeanor ticket. 

And if you receive a speeding ticket and don’t pay your fine or appear in court by the due date, you could be charged with failure to appear. That’s a misdemeanor and carries more severe penalties than an infraction. (If you’ve lost your ticket, find out how to check the due date on a speeding ticket in California.)

Now let’s assume you’re driving faster than 100 miles per hour and cause an accident in which someone is injured or killed. In such cases, you may be found guilty of a felony. The fines will be significantly higher, and you might face jail time. 

How Much Does Insurance Increase After a Speeding Ticket in California?

A study by Nerdwallet found that the average 35-year-old driver will see a 37% increase in their annual car insurance premiums after a single speeding ticket. That study found that the true cost of a speeding ticket averages 35 times more than the cost of the ticket itself!

The Cost of Out-of-State Speeding Tickets

Forty-seven states and Washington D.C. belong to the Driver License Compact, meaning they exchange information about traffic violations. 

Getting a speeding ticket in any of these states will add one or two points to your California driving record. However, the fine will be collected by the state where you received the ticket, so you may have to pay a different amount than what you’d pay in California for the same offense. 

Depending on your circumstances, you can either contest the charge or attend traffic school in the state where you got the ticket to mask a point from your record. 

How Do I Beat a Speeding Ticket in California?

The best way to fight a speeding ticket in California is by proving that you weren’t actually speeding. This can be difficult to do – you’ll need evidence and/or witnesses that can help convince a judge to decide in your favor. Here’s a step-by-step:

Step 1: Review Your Ticket

• Carefully read your ticket for details, including:
  • The alleged speed and posted speed limit.
  • The location and time of the violation.
  • The method used to determine your speed (radar, pacing, LIDAR, etc.).
  • The court date and location where you must respond.

Step 2: Check Your Options Before the Deadline

You typically have 21 days from the ticket date (or the court’s appearance date) to respond. Your options are:

• Pay the fine (waives your right to contest).
• Request traffic school (if eligible).
• Fight the ticket in court (by requesting a trial).

Step 3: Request a Court Trial (Not a Guilty Plea)

To fight the ticket, you must plead “not guilty” and request a trial. You can do this in person, online (if available in your county), or by mail.

• Check the courthouse listed on your citation for filing instructions.
• Some courts require you to post bail (the fine amount) before granting a trial date.

Step 4: Gather Evidence to Support Your Case

To improve your chances of winning, collect strong evidence:
✅ Dashcam footage (if available).
✅ Witness statements (if passengers or bystanders can confirm your account).
✅ Photos of the area (e.g., missing speed limit signs, poor road conditions).
✅ Weather and traffic conditions (if they affected speed perception).
✅ Speedometer calibration records (if you believe your vehicle’s speedometer was inaccurate).
✅ Radar gun calibration records (to challenge law enforcement’s speed measurement).

Step 5: Consider a Trial by Written Declaration (Optional)

Trial by written declaration allows you to fight the ticket without going to court. Here’s how to request it:

• Submit Form TR-205 to the court before the deadline.
• If unsuccessful, you can request an in-person trial (called a Trial de Novo).

Step 6: Prepare for Your Court Hearing

If you choose an in-person trial, show up on time and dress professionally. Arguments that may help dismiss your ticket include:

• The officer mistook your car for another vehicle.
• The radar or LIDAR wasn’t properly calibrated.
• You had a valid emergency (not just being late for work).
• Speed limit signs were missing or unclear.
• If the officer doesn’t show up, the judge may dismiss your case automatically.

Step 7: Receive the Judge’s Decision

If you win, your ticket is dismissed, and you don’t pay any fines. If you lose, you can:

• Request a Trial de Novo (new trial, if you started with a written declaration).
• Ask for traffic school to reduce the impact on your record.
• File an appeal (only if there was a legal error).

If your ticket is for speeding over 100 mph or reckless driving, an attorney can help reduce or dismiss penalties.

Can I Go to Traffic School for a Speeding Ticket in California?

If you’ve been caught speeding, attending traffic school is the best way to avoid points on your record and prevent insurance hikes. In California, you’re eligible for traffic school if you were going 25 mph or less over the limit. Even if you were driving faster than that, a judge may still grant you permission to attend.

Why Take Traffic School?

By completing a DMV-approved traffic school, you can:

✅ Mask one point on your driving record
✅ Prevent your car insurance rates from increasing
✅ Keep your record clean for future background checks

How It Works

1️⃣ Check your eligibility – If eligible, plead guilty and pay your fine, including any traffic school fees.
2️⃣ Enroll in a California DMV-approved traffic school (like Best Online Traffic School).
3️⃣ Complete the course and pass the final exam – 99% of our students pass on the first try!
4️⃣ We submit your certificate directly to the court and DMV – no extra steps for you.

Why Choose Best Online Traffic School?

• Study at your own pace – Finish in as little as 2-3 hours.
• 100% online and mobile-friendly – No need to visit a classroom.
• Only pay when you pass – No upfront fees.
• Courses available in English, Spanish, and Chinese – Serving all California counties, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, and Alameda.
• DMV-licensed (#E1314) – Trusted and approved across California.
• Don’t Let a Ticket Cost You More Than It Should!
• Dealing with a speeding ticket can be stressful, but traffic school doesn’t have to be. Join tens of thousands of satisfied students who have completed Best Online Traffic School and kept their records clean.

➡️ Start now and see how easy it is!

FAQs about Getting a Speeding Ticket in California

Want to find out more? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions.