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Last updated: December 19, 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.
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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 |
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
Delaware Online Defensive Driving Course. DriveSafe Online. (2023).
https://www.drivesafeonline.org/delaware/defensive-driving-courses/Motor Vehicle Safet Issues – Speeding. National Safety Council Injury Facts. (2023).
https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/motor-vehicle-safety-issues/speeding/
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