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Last updated: November 23, 2024

How Long Does a Speeding Ticket Stay on Your Record?

Speeding may save you time, but it’ll cost you.

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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.

Editor’s note (last updated November 14, 2024): We have updated this page with the laws, fines, and guidance on speeding ticket violations.

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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 Seven years (Two years for license suspension)
Connecticut Three years
Delaware Two years
District of Columbia Two years
Florida Five years
Georgia Two years
Hawaii 10 years
Idaho Three years
Illinois Four 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 Two to seven years
Minnesota Five to 10 years
Mississippi Three years
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 Points can be reduced after one year with an approved driving course (conviction permanent)
New Mexico One year
New York Points removed after one year and six months (conviction for three years)
North Carolina Three years
North Dakota Three to five 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 Up to five years
South Dakota Three years
Tennessee Points removed after two (conviction up to five)
Texas Three years
Utah Three years
Vermont Two years
Virginia Five years
Washington Three to five years
West Virginia Five years on record, points removed after two years
Wisconsin Five years
Wyoming Four years

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 and New Jersey, 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).1

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 Varies by municipality
Alaska Varies by municipality, typically up to $300
Arizona Differs based on county
Arkansas Varies by municipality
California Varies by municipality
Colorado One to four miles over the speed limit: $30 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: $162

10 miles: $167

15 miles: $191

20 miles: $216

22 miles: $226

85 miles: $328

Construction, utility, or school zone: $50-$90

Delaware Varies by municipality, typically $20 for first offense and $25 for subsequent offenses
District of Columbia Up to 10 mile over the speed limits: $50

11-15 miles: $100

16-20 miles: $150

21-25 miles: $200

25-30 miles: $400

Unreasonable speed: $100

Florida One to five miles over the speed limit: $0, warning only

Six to nine miles: $25

10-14 miles: $279

15-29 miles: $329

20-29 miles: $354

30 miles and over: $429

Georgia Five to ten miles over the speed limit: $30

11-18 miles: $89

19-23 miles: $145

24-30 miles: $285

31-40 miles: $425

Over 41 miles: $1,355

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 One to 20 miles over the speed limit: $120

21 to 25 miles: $140

26 to 34 miles: $1,500

35 miles: $2,500

Indiana Varies by municipality
Iowa 11-20 miles over the speed limit: $75

21-25 miles: $100

26-30 miles: $250

30 miles: $500

Double fines for speeding in a work zone

Kansas Varies by municipality
Kentucky Varies by municipality
Louisiana Varies by municipality
Maine One to nine miles over the speed limit: $119

10-14 miles: $137

15-19 miles: $185 in school zone/construction zone

25-29 miles: $263

Maryland One to nine miles over the speed limit: $80

10-19 miles: $90

20-29 miles: $160

30-39 miles: $290

40 miles: $530

Exceeding posted limit of 65 or 75 by 10-19 miles: $160

Exceeding posted limit of 65 or 75 by 20-29 miles: $290

Massachusetts Standard violation: $50 plus $10 for every mile in excess of 10 miles over the limit

Construction zone violation: $100 plus $20 for every mile in excess of 10 miles over the limit

Michigan Varies by municipality
Minnesota One to 10 miles over the speed limit: $125 fine, $75 surcharge

11-14 miles: $135 fine, $75 surcharge

15-19 miles: $145 fine, $75 surcharge

20-25 miles: $225 fine, $70 speeding surcharge, $75 surcharge

26-30 miles: $285 fine, $100 speeding surcharge, $75 surcharge

31 miles and over: $385 fine, $150 speeding surcharge, $75 surcharge

Mississippi Varies by municipality
Missouri One to five miles over the speed limit: $73

Six to 10 miles: $83

11-15 miles: $108

16-19 miles: $133

20-25 miles: $208

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 5 miles over the speed limit: $100

10 miles: $200

15 miles: $300

20 miles: $400

21 miles: $420

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: $25

11-15 miles: $30

16-20 miles: $65

21-25 miles: $100

26-30 miles: $125

31-35 miles: $150

35 miles and over: $200

Construction or safety zone: Fines double

New York Up to 10 miles over the speed limit: $45-$150

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 One to five miles over the limit: $5

Six to 10 miles: $5 plus $1 for each mile per hour in excess of 5 miles per hour exceeded

11-15  miles: $10 plus $1 for each mile per hour in excess of 1 miles per hour exceeded

16-20 miles: $15 plus $2 for each mile per hour in excess of ten miles per hour exceeded

21-25 miles: $25 plus $3 for each mile per hour in excess of 25 miles per hour exceeded

26-35 miles: $40 plus $3 for each mile per hour in excess of 35 miles per hour exceeded

36-45 miles: $70 plus $3 for each mile per hour in excess of 35 miles per hour exceeded

46 miles: $100 plus $5 for each mile per hour in excess of 45 miles per hour.

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: $115

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:

One to 10 miles: $130

11-15 miles: $160

16-20 miles: $210

21-25 miles: $280

26 miles and over: $380

Vermont Minimum: $53

Maximum: 737

Minimum in a work zone: $59

Maximum in a work zone: $1,427

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: $125

Six to 10 miles: $126

11-15 miles: $166

16-20 miles: $207

21-25 miles: $259

26-30 miles: $310

31-35 miles: $361

35 miles and over: $423

If speed limit is over 40 mph:

One to five miles over the speed limit: $105

Six to 10 miles: $125

11-15 miles: $156

16-20 miles: $187

21-25 miles: $218

26-30 miles: $259

31-35 miles: $310

36-40 miles: $361

40 miles and over: $423

West Virginia Varies by municipality
Wisconsin Minimum: $200

Maximum: $800

Wyoming One to five miles over the speed limit: $5 per mile over the limit

Six to ten miles over the speed limit: $30 fine plus $2 for every mile over the limit

11-20 miles over the speed limit: $45 fine plus $5 for every mile over the speed limit

21 miles and over: $95 plus $5 for every mile over the speed limit

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.2

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

The price of insurance after a speeding ticket also varies significantly depending on your state. In Texas for example, car insurance increases by about 13 percent on average after a speeding ticket. Michigan drivers, however, can expect a much higher increase of about 52 percent.

FYI

Even if the points on your license have expired, a speeding ticket may still raise the cost of your insurance.

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:

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 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 10 One year
Indiana 20 Anytime
Iowa Three moving violations One year
Kansas Three moving violations One year
Kentucky 12 Two years
Louisiana N/A N/A
Maine 12 One year
Maryland 8 Two years
Massachusetts 7 Three 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 12 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 11 N/A
Rhode Island N/A N/A
South Carolina 12 Anytime
South Dakota 15 One Year
Tennessee 12 One year
Texas Four moving violations One year
Utah 200 Three years
Vermont 10 Two years
Virginia 18 One year
Washington Six moving violations One year
West Virginia 12 Anytime
Wisconsin 12 One year
Wyoming Four moving violations One year
Ali Saleh
Written by:Ali Saleh
Staff Writer & Editor
Ali Saleh is a copywriter with nearly 10 years of experience in content writing, editing, and journalism. Ali’s work has been featured on a number of notable sites and publications, including MSN, Business.com’s award-winning newsletter, and Groove Korea, South Korea’s largest English-print magazine. Today, he writes for dozens of brands, providing expert guides and informative articles on auto insurance, healthcare, recruiting technology, business, and more. Ali holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from North Carolina State University.

Citations

  1. Delaware Online Defensive Driving Course. DriveSafe Online. (2023).
    https://www.drivesafeonline.org/delaware/defensive-driving-courses/

  2. Motor Vehicle Safet Issues – Speeding. National Safety Council Injury Facts. (2023).
    https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/motor-vehicle-safety-issues/speeding/