What you'll pay for a speeding ticket in California
A speeding ticket in California costs between $238 and $490 for a first offense, depending on how far over the limit you were driving. The base fine itself is smaller — $35 to $100 — but California adds court costs, penalty assessments, and state surcharges that roughly triple the total. The exact amount depends on the county where you received the ticket, because each county sets its own court fees.
If you were going 1 to 15 miles per hour over the limit, you'll pay the lowest fine. Going 16 to 30 miles per hour over costs more. Speeds 31 miles per hour or higher over the limit are treated as reckless driving and carry much steeper fines — sometimes $500 to $1,000 or more. A second speeding ticket within three years will also increase what you owe.
Key Takeaways
- Base fines for speeding range from $35 to $100, but court fees and state assessments add $150 to $400 more, bringing typical totals to $238 to $490.
- The total cost varies by county because each county court sets its own fees, so two identical tickets in different counties will cost different amounts.
- Going more than 30 miles per hour over the limit triggers reckless driving charges with fines starting at $500 and potentially reaching $1,000 or higher.
- A second speeding ticket within three years increases the base fine, and insurance rate increases often cost more than the ticket itself over time.
How the total breaks down: base fine plus fees
The base fine is what the law sets for the violation itself. In California, that's $35 for going 1 to 15 mph over, $70 for 16 to 30 mph over, and $100 for 31 mph or more over the limit. But you don't pay just that amount.
On top of the base fine, California adds a court operations assessment (usually $35 to $40), a court facilities assessment (usually $25 to $30), and a state penalty assessment that is 20 percent of the base fine plus the court assessments combined. Some counties also add local penalty assessments. These fees exist to fund court operations and state programs, but they mean your actual bill is roughly three times the base fine.
If you pay the ticket without contesting it, you'll receive a bill from the court in the county where you got the ticket. The bill will show the breakdown of base fine, each fee, and the total due. Payment is usually due within 30 days.
Why the cost varies by county
California law sets the base fine amounts statewide, but each county court sets its own court operations and facilities assessment fees within state limits. This means a speeding ticket in Los Angeles County will cost a different total than the same ticket in Kern County or Alameda County.
The difference is usually $50 to $150 between counties, not thousands, but it's real. If you want to know the exact total for your specific ticket, the court that issued it can tell you. You can find your county court's contact information on the California Courts website by searching for your county name plus "superior court."
Speeding 31 mph or more over the limit: reckless driving charges
If you were driving 31 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit, California law treats this as reckless driving, not ordinary speeding. The base fine jumps to $100 to $300, and the total with all assessments typically reaches $500 to $1,000. You may also face points on your license and potential jail time, though jail is rare for a first reckless driving offense.
Reckless driving is a misdemeanor, which means it appears on your criminal record, not just your driving record. This can affect employment, housing, and insurance far more than a straightforward speeding ticket would. If you received a reckless driving citation, speaking with a traffic attorney before paying or pleading is worth considering.
Insurance rate increases often cost more than the ticket
The fine you pay to the court is only part of the cost. After a speeding ticket, your car insurance rates typically increase by 10 to 30 percent, depending on your insurer and driving history. That increase usually lasts three years.
If your insurance costs $1,200 per year and your rate goes up 20 percent, you'll pay an extra $240 per year for three years — that's $720 total, on top of the $300 ticket. Some insurers increase rates less, and some more, so it's worth calling your agent to ask what impact this ticket will have on your specific policy. In many cases, the insurance hit is larger than the court fine.
What happens if you don't pay
If you don't pay the ticket by the due date, the court will send you a notice. If you still don't pay, the court can suspend your driver's license and report the debt to a collection agency. A suspended license means you cannot legally drive, and the suspension stays in effect until you pay the ticket and any late fees.
If you cannot pay the full amount by the due date, contact the court that issued the ticket. Most courts offer payment plans that let you pay in installments over several months. You can also request a hearing to contest the ticket if you believe it was issued in error.
Requesting a hearing or traffic school
You have the right to request a hearing before a judge to contest the ticket. You must request this within a certain time frame — usually 30 days from the ticket date — by contacting the court listed on your citation. At the hearing, you can present your side of what happened, and the officer who issued the ticket may or may not appear.
In some cases, you may be able to attend traffic school instead of paying the full fine or having points added to your record. Traffic school typically costs $50 to $200 and takes a few hours to complete online or in person. You're usually only allowed to use traffic school once every 18 months. Ask the court whether traffic school is an option for your ticket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I look up what my specific ticket will cost before I pay it?
Yes. The citation you received lists the county court that issued it. Call that court's traffic division and give them your citation number. They can tell you the exact total amount due, including all fees for your county. You can also check the court's website, which often has a payment portal where you can enter your citation number to see the balance.
Does paying the ticket mean I admit guilt?
Paying the ticket is treated as a plea of no contest, which means you don't admit guilt but you accept the penalty. This still results in points on your driving record and can affect your insurance. If you want to fight the ticket, you must request a hearing instead of paying.
Will traffic school remove the ticket from my record?
Traffic school removes the point from your driving record if you complete it and the court approves it, but it does not erase the ticket itself. Your insurance company may still see that you received the ticket. Traffic school is most useful for keeping points off your record and preventing your rates from increasing as much as they otherwise would.
What if I got a ticket in one county but live in another?
You still owe the fine to the court in the county where you received the ticket. You can usually pay by mail, phone, or online through that court's website. You don't need to appear in person unless you request a hearing to contest the ticket.
How long does a speeding ticket stay on my driving record?
A speeding ticket stays on your California driving record for three years from the date of the violation. After three years, it no longer affects your insurance rates, though it may still appear on background checks for employment or housing purposes.