Fine + insurance math

How Much Is a Speeding Ticket, Really?

Every figure sourced and dated. Updated 2026-09-01.

The fine runs $75 to $400 nationally (California's all-in example: $274 at low speeds). The bigger cost is insurance: about 24% on average after one ticket, and up to 44% in California.

Total it honestly

Multiply the increase across your surcharge years before deciding the ticket is cheap. Whether fighting beats paying is its own math (lawyer flat fees: $200 to $500). Back to Traffic Tickets.

Plain disclosure: TheLawFacts is an informational publisher and advertising / lead-generation service. We are not a law firm, we do not give legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is formed by reading this site or submitting a request. We do not endorse or evaluate any attorney; attorneys who contact you have paid a flat advertising fee that never depends on your case or its outcome. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.

Sources for every figure on this page

$75 to $400: Insurify 2026: national speeding-fine range (published estimate, retrieved 2026-09-01).
24%: ValuePenguin 2026: average insurance increase after one speeding ticket (about $50/month full coverage) (published estimate, retrieved 2026-09-01).
44%: ValuePenguin 2026: the one-ticket increase in California; New York's is 11% (published estimate, retrieved 2026-09-01).
$200 to $500: Best Online Traffic School 2026: typical traffic-lawyer flat fee (published estimate, retrieved 2026-09-01).
$274: MyImprov 2026: California all-in cost, 1-15 mph over ($438 at 16-25, $567 at 26+) (published estimate, retrieved 2026-09-01).