How Much Is a Speeding Ticket in California?

Base fines start at $238 — but after California's mandatory penalty assessments and insurance rate increases, the real 3-year cost of a single speeding ticket can exceed $2,000. Here's the full breakdown.

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$238–$490 Base fine range

~$490–$1,000+ Total after assessments

1 pt / 36 mo DMV point duration

Fine Breakdown

Base fines set by California law. Estimated totals include mandatory penalty assessments. Exact totals vary by county.

Violation / Scenario	Base Fine	Est. Total	DMV Points	3-Yr Insurance Impact
1–15 mph over limit	$238	~$490	1 pt	~$900–$1,800
16–24 mph over limit	$367	~$750	1 pt	~$900–$1,800
25+ mph over limit	$490	~$1,000	1 pt	~$900–$1,800
Over 100 mph	$900	~$2,000+	2 pt	~$3,000–$6,000

Base fines are set by California Vehicle Code. Estimated totals reflect mandatory penalty assessments (state penalty PC 1464, county assessment Gov. Code 76000, court construction surcharge, and others). 3-yr insurance impact is an estimate based on a 20–40% rate increase for a 1-point violation held for 36 months; actual impact varies by insurer and current premium.

Insurance Impact

The fine is only part of the real cost — here's what a DMV point does to your insurance.

Whether you're a first-time offender or not matters here. For a clean-record driver, a single 1-point speeding ticket typically triggers a 20–30% rate increase at renewal — averaging $300–$500/yr more. For a driver who already has a point on record, a second point can push the increase to 40–60%, and some carriers will tier you into a higher-risk category entirely. The point posts to your DMV record within 30–60 days of conviction; your insurer sees it the next time they run an MVR, usually at renewal. Dismissing or reducing the ticket before conviction is the only way to prevent the point from posting.

Read the Law

Full statute text, code details, and legal context for this violation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a speeding ticket in California?

A California speeding ticket starts at a $238 base fine for going 1–15 mph over the limit. After California's mandatory penalty assessments the total typically reaches $490. Going 16–24 mph over results in a $367 base fine (~$750 total); 25+ mph over reaches $490 base (~$1,000 total). Speeds over 100 mph carry a $900 base fine (~$2,000+ total) and a mandatory court appearance.

I'm a first-time offender — will the insurance increase still apply?

Yes, but the magnitude depends on your insurer and policy. Most carriers apply a surcharge at your next renewal regardless of prior record. However, a clean-record driver typically sees a smaller increase (20–30%) than someone with a prior point. Some carriers offer a "first offense" forgiveness rider — check your policy. If you dismiss or reduce the ticket before conviction, no point posts and no surcharge applies regardless of your history.

Will a speeding ticket raise my insurance rate?

Yes — once the point posts to your DMV record, your insurer will see it at your next Motor Vehicle Report (usually at renewal) and apply a surcharge. A 1-point violation typically raises rates 20–40%. For a driver paying $1,500/yr, that's $300–$600 more annually for 3 years — $900–$1,800 total. The only way to avoid this is to prevent the point from posting: dismiss, reduce to a non-point infraction, or complete traffic school (if eligible).

Does traffic school help with a California speeding ticket?

Traffic school (Traffic Violator School) can mask the point from your insurance company — but it does not dismiss the ticket or eliminate the fine. You still pay the full fine plus a TVS fee ($50–$80 typically), and you can only use traffic school once every 18 months. A Trial by Written Declaration, if successful, dismisses the ticket entirely — no fine, no point, no TVS needed. If the TBWD is not successful, you can still explore TVS afterward.

Is it worth fighting a California speeding ticket?

The math usually favors fighting. Add up the fine (~$490), the 3-year insurance impact (~$900–$1,800), and the TVS cost if used (~$300 total) — the real cost of accepting a speeding ticket ranges from $1,390 to $2,590. TDismiss files a Trial by Written Declaration for $89. Even a partial outcome — reducing a 1-point moving violation to a non-point infraction — eliminates the insurance impact and saves $900–$1,800.

Other California Ticket Cost Guides

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Courts, fines, and local context vary by city. Find your city for court details and local defense options.