How a Speeding Ticket Impacts Insurance in Texas

In Texas, a typical speeding ticket costs $150 to $300, depending on how far over the speed limit you were driving. Fines generally start around $25 to $50 for going 1-10 mph over, and increase by about $5 to $10 per additional mile per hour over the limit. Additional fees may apply if you were speeding in a school zone, construction zone, or on certain highways.

You can expect premiums for car insurance in Texas to increase by around 7 percent following a speeding ticket, a relatively low increase compared to other states.

These numbers are averages and will vary based on the provider, your driving history, credit score, ZIP code, sex, and many other factors. Expect to pay higher average car insurance rates the more miles per hour (mph) over the speed limit you were driving. Get an insurance quote from a specific company to find out how much you’ll pay.

Finding the best Texas car insurance companies with a speeding ticket on your record will be difficult, as it designates you as a high-risk driver who will cost insurance companies more money. In the expectation of more claims, companies will charge you a higher premium. So how can you find cheap auto insurance after a speeding conviction?

1. Take a driving safety class. If you receive a notice from the Texas court system that you are eligible to get a ticket dismissed by taking a driving safety class, it’s the best option. Classes are six hours long, and you can find one online. While you’ll still have to pay any fines or fees associated with the speeding violation, sending a certificate of completion to your insurance provider and the court system will keep your rates low.²
2. Compare quotes from multiple insurers. After a speeding ticket, some insurance companies may raise your rates more than others. Shopping around and comparing quotes from at least three providers can help you find a company that’s more forgiving of minor violations—or even specializes in insuring high-risk drivers at competitive rates.
3. Ask about usage-based insurance. Some Texas insurers offer usage-based or telematics programs that track your driving habits through a mobile app or plug-in device. If you drive safely over a monitored period—avoiding hard braking, speeding, and late-night driving—you could earn a discount that offsets any rate increase from the ticket.
4. Get minimum coverage. The minimum car insurance required in Texas is liability coverage, specifically, $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 of property damage coverage.³ Getting minimum coverage will cost you the least in premiums, but it may cost you more in total if you cause an accident, as liability coverage pays for costs outside of your vehicle only.

Speeding in Texas is a Class C misdemeanor with the following penalties:

• First or second offense: $500 fine maximum
• Third offense or subsequent within 24 months: $2,000 fine maximum, jail for a maximum of 180 days, or both⁴

Your exact fine will depend on where the offense occurred. For example, in Houston, the fines for speeding are as follows:⁵

Although Texas no longer uses a point system, speeding is still a moving violation that goes on your driving record. Accumulating too many moving violations in a short period can lead to license suspension:

To avoid trial, plead guilty or no contest. However, if you believe that you didn’t break the law, you can plead not guilty and go to trial.

Plead Guilty or No Contest

With a plea of guilty or no contest, you’ll simply pay the fine. For violations that occurred on Texas highways, you should contact the court for payment options. For more information about the court, type in your driver’s license information at the time of the citation into the citation search function at the Texas Department of Public Safety. For violations that occurred on municipal streets, your traffic ticket should have information on how to pay it.

Not Guilty Plea

If you plead not guilty, the state will have to prove “beyond reasonable doubt” that you are guilty in order to convict you. From there, the process will have two parts:

• Pre-trial conference: You’ll be able to decide if you want a trial by judge or jury, and whether you want to hire an attorney to represent you. You’ll have a chance to explain your side of the story, and the prosecutor will give you options like a plea bargain or a driving safety course. They may recommend that the state dismiss the charge. The pre-trial is your last chance to accept the plea bargain. If you don’t, you’ll continue to a trial.
• Trial: During the trial, the state files a sworn complaint against you. You can either represent yourself (pro se) or hire an attorney. If you’re found guilty, you may have to pay the maximum fine plus any additional fees for office overtime, jury fees, etc. If you’re found not guilty, you won’t have to pay any fines or fees.⁶

If finding cheap car insurance in Texas is difficult with a speeding ticket on your record, the following violations will make it even harder:

• Running a red light or stop sign
• Failure to obey a sign or signal
• Driving at night without lights on
• Not wearing a seatbelt
• Having an open container of alcohol
• Driving without a driver’s license, registration, or inspection sticker
• Driving without insurance

Speeding tickets in Texas typically cost between $150 and $300, with higher fines for speeding in school zones, construction zones, or excessive speeding. On average, car insurance with a speeding ticket in Texas is $2,527 annually, a 7 percent increase compared to having a clean record. Although Texas no longer uses a point system, speeding violations stay on your driving record and can cause your car insurance rates to increase.

To reduce your insurance costs after a ticket, consider:

• Taking a state-approved driving safety course
• Lowering your coverage to the legal minimum (if appropriate)
• Comparing quotes from different insurers
• Signing up for a usage-based insurance program

If your rate went up after a speeding ticket, get a personalized quote to see if switching providers could save you money.