How to get a speeding ticket off your record

How to keep a speeding ticket off your record

Here are five things drivers can do to keep a ticket off their record. Note that the options vary by state and the type of ticket.

Don't immediately pay the ticket

Paying your fine is the same as pleading guilty, and in most jurisdictions, you have at least 30 days to pay the fine or enter a plea. Use the time to explore your options:

• Check the website for the court clerk's office listed at the bottom of your ticket
• Find out how to enter a plea and get a court date
• Read up on your jurisdiction's options and find out what the court costs would be
• Find out if traffic school is an option

"First and foremost, don't pay your ticket, since it essentially admits guilt," says Bradley Groene, an attorney with Luftman, Heck & Associates in Cincinnati. Review your options and then make a decision.

Result: You may find a way to avoid paying the fine.

Ask for a deferred adjudication (deferral)

A deferral means the court finds you guilty but defers entering those findings for a certain time; a year is common.

• If you get through the deferral period without any citations, the ticket will be dismissed or marked adjudication withheld
• If you get another ticket in the deferral period, both tickets hit your record
• There is usually a fee of $100 to $150
• You're unlikely to be offered a deferral if you already had one or have certain violations on your record

You're a good candidate for a deferral if you have a clean record and are unlikely to get another ticket in the near future.

Result: You may be able to keep the ticket off your record and avoid an insurance increase.

Go to traffic or defensive driving school

If you have the option to go to traffic school and pass the course, your ticket may be dismissed.

• You'll have to pay course fees (up to $100) and court or administrative fees
• Some states limit how often you can go to traffic school; Florida, for example, limits you to once a year, and in California, it's 18 months
• A defensive driving course as an alternative resolution may be an option

Traffic school is a convenient way to avoid having a ticket on your record and a good course for many first-time offenders.

Result: You have to pay course fees but avoid the fine and insurance increase. Defensive driving, if permitted as an option, may even earn you an insurance discount.

Negotiate down to non-moving violation

In some jurisdictions, reducing your ticket to a non-moving violation is possible.

• Contact the court clerk or the prosecutor handling your case and ask to have your offense downgraded
• You may have to pay court costs and a fine
• Some states allow mitigation if you plead guilty and and ask the judge to lower your fine, but the infraction will still appear on your record,

This method may work if there were mitigating circumstances surrounding your ticket that may convince the court to reduce the penalty or fine.

Result: A non-moving violation that doesn't affect insurance rates, or at the very least a reduced fine.

Contest the ticket in court

You have the right to fight your ticket in court, where you can present your side of the story.

• Enter a not guilty plea and go to traffic court
• Present evidence like photos or witness testimony and tell your side
• Represent yourself or hire a traffic court lawyer at an average cost of $200 to $500

If you plan to go to court, make certain you are prepared. "Most people don't have experience with traffic law. It's very easy to make a mistake in explaining your side of what happened," Groene says.

Result: Your ticket could be dismissed, avoiding fines and insurance increases.

When will a speeding ticket show up on your insurance?

A speeding ticket will show up on your insurance on the next renewal, if your insurance company pulls your record. Insurance providers don't always pull your record on every renewal, but as soon as they find the ticket, you'll be charged on renewal.

"Most insurers will only pull your record once a year, even less if you have a clean record," says Kristofer Kirchen, president of Advanced Insurance Managers in Tampa, Florida.

While you may not see a ticket surcharge for one or two renewal periods, your car insurance company will inevitably get wind of your moving violation. When the company finds the ticket doesn't affect how long you will be charged for it; the surchargeAn increase in your auto insurance premium due to an at-fault accident or a moving violation. Learn more about how a surcharge affects your auto insurance premiums. period starts on the first renewal after the ticket is discovered and stays for the predetermined period from that date.

How much does it cost to get a speeding ticket off your record?

There's no direct cost for keeping a speeding ticket off your record, in that you can't simply pay a fee for it to go away. You may have to pay the following:

• Attorney fees: $200 - $500. If you choose to hire a lawyer to fight the ticket, you'll have to pay their fees. Many attorneys charge a flat fee for fighting a simple ticket.
• Court fees: Varies. If you go to court, even without a lawyer, you will likely pay court fees that vary by jurisdiction.
• Driving course fees: $20 - $100 or more. If you choose to take a defensive driving course to remove a ticket, you'll have to pay a fee. The National Safety Council's courses range from $20 - $100, but other training programs may differ.

What to do when you get a speeding ticket

When you are pulled over for speeding, follow these steps:

1. Cooperate and don't argue with the officer at the scene. Accept the ticket, but don't admit to the infraction.
2. Decide if you are going to fight the ticket. If so, make note of your court date and plan to appear.
3. Pay the fine. If you don't plan to fight the ticket, be sure to pay the fine on time.
4. Take a defensive driving course. Take a state-approved course if possible to reduce the impact. This may remove the ticket or simply earn you a discount on your insurance.

How do speeding tickets affect your driving record?

In many states, the DMV keeps track of drivers' records through a points system. The DMV gets notified whenever you’re convicted of a moving violation and adds points to your license. The number of points will depend on your state's particular scale and the infraction's seriousness.

For example, in Utah, speeding 10 miles per hour or less above the speed limit will result in 35 points on your record; 11 to 20 mph over the limit will result in 55 points, and more than 20 mph will result in 75 points. In Arkansas, however, speeding at those same intervals will result in points of four, five or eight, respectively.

These points can cause your car insurance rates to increase. And if you accumulate too many points, your driver's license could be suspended. Usually, you'll get a warning if you get close to that point.

Nine states do not currently use a driver's license point system:

• Hawaii
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• Washington
• Wyoming

You can avoid points on your driving license if you keep the ticket off your record. Even in states without a points system, a speeding ticket will still appear on your driving record, affecting your insurance rates.

How long does a speeding ticket stay on your driving record?

In many states, a moving violation stays on your record for three to 10 years. Less serious moving violations, such as running a stop sign, tend to stay on your record for much less time than something serious like a DUI. Serious offenses may remain on your record for life.

Regarding how long a speeding ticket or points will stay on your driving record, it depends on your state and how fast you were going. To find out, you can contact your local DMV and ask.

How to lower your car insurance after a ticket

Unfortunately, the only way to prevent a speeding ticket from affecting your insurance is to get it removed from your record. If you do wind up with a ticket on your record, there are still ways you can find cheap car insurance.

Shop around. Insurance companies use their own point systems for traffic violations, and they're all different. Comparing car insurance quotes can save you money. For example, looking at rates from six major carriers for a speeding violation of 16 to 29 mph over the limit, here is the average increase:

• State Farm – 21%
• Allstate – 18%
• Nationwide – 31%
• Farmers– 31%
• Progressive – 37%
• GEICO – 74%

Increase your deductible. If your insurance premiumThe payment required for an insurance policy to remain in force. Auto insurance premiums are quoted for either 6-month or annual policy periods. is now higher due to a speeding ticket, raising your deductibleThe deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket for a covered loss when you file a claim. is one way to offset that increase. Just be sure that if you do, you can afford the higher deductible if you need to file a claimAn insurance claim is a request you make to your insurance company for coverage after your car is damaged or you have an accident. You can file a claim online, by phone, or in writing..

Ask about other discounts. A ticket doesn’t make you ineligible for all car insurance discounts. Make sure you have explored all of the available options. Bundling your homeowners or renters insurance is the quickest way to get a discount.

Source

Sulte Law Firm. "How much does it cost to fight a speeding ticket?" Accessed September 2025

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