Speeding Ticket Fines Across the U.S. [Data]

Getting pulled over for speeding is never pleasant, but the worst part is often the financial consequences that follow. What most drivers don't know, however, is that speeding fines can vary dramatically depending on where you're pulled over, the severity of your infraction, or even what court fees look like in your area.

Although we hope you never receive a speeding ticket, it's essential to understand the potential costs associated with being stopped for driving too fast. Our team at FinanceBuzz compiled speeding ticket data from cities in all 50 states to find the most (and least) expensive states for speeding tickets in the U.S.

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Key findings:

Nevada tops the list with the highest average cost of speeding tickets at $290.
Highly populated states (California, Florida, Texas) are among the most expensive states to be caught speeding.
The national average of speeding tickets in America costs $157 for a 15-mph over-the-limit speeding ticket.

States with the most expensive speeding tickets

Different jurisdictions set their own fines and court costs for drivers found guilty of speeding. As a result, the amount speeders will have to pay for driving above the speed limit can vary greatly from one state to the next.

A heat map of the U.S., showing the cost of a speeding ticket in every state.

Drivers in Nevada should be particularly wary of speeding, as the cost for a ticket for going just 15 miles per hour over the speed limit will result in a total cost of $290, the highest in the country. Speeding ticket costs for the same level of infraction exceed $250 in a pair of other states — Florida ($254) and Nevada's southeastern neighbor of Arizona ($251). Two other nearby states — both with some of the largest populations in the country — come close, as a 15 mph speeding ticket costs $245 in Texas and $234 in California.

On the other end of the spectrum, a different southwestern state, New Mexico, is where a speeding ticket comes with the smallest price tag in the country. Going 15 miles over the limit in the Land of Enchantment results in a fine of just $30. The state with the second-lowest speeding ticket cost is North Dakota, where a speeding fine will cost the offending driver $45, which is 50% more expensive than the same ticket in New Mexico. Three other states have speeding costs of $75 or less for exceeding the speed limit by 15 mph: Washington ($58), Montana ($70), and Nebraska ($75).

Speeding ticket fine ranges

Not all speeding incidents are the same, as the faster someone goes while driving, the more danger they pose to themselves and others sharing the road with them. As a result, the authorities tend to issue larger fines the faster a speeder is going.

To illustrate how fines can and do escalate based on speed, we found the average fine for going 10 miles per hour over the limit in every state, as well as how much exceeding the speed limit by 40 miles per hour costs.

Across the country, a ticket for going 10 mph over the speed limit costs $130 on average, with the least expensive tickets being issued in New Mexico and Nebraska ($25 each) and the most expensive in California ($234). In addition to Nebraska and New Mexico, four other states charge speeders $50 or less for this level of speeding: Montana ($40), North Dakota ($40), Washington ($43), and the District of Columbia ($50). Conversely, there are five states in addition to California where fine and court cost totals exceed $200 for even a 10 mph infraction: North Carolina ($203), Florida ($204), Nevada ($223), Texas ($223), and Arizona ($231).

The average cost across the nation for a speeding ticket for going 40 miles per hour over the limit is $362, nearly triple the cost for going 10 mph over.

When it comes to the true speed demons, two states in particular are not playing around. Going 40 miles per hour over the speed limit in Illinois can result in total speeding ticket costs of $2,500, while the same violation costs $1,150 in New York.

Even in states where high-end speeding tickets come with a lower price tag, excessive speeds can still cost drivers in several other ways. From increasing the likelihood of a collision to points on your license and higher insurance premiums following a speeding conviction, the cost of being a bad driver due to driving at extreme speeds can amount to thousands of dollars per year.

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Full data set

State	Cost for Speeding 10 mph Over	Cost for Speeding 15 mph Over	Cost for Speeding 40 mph Over
Alabama	$178	$178	$198
Alaska	$117	$130	$327
Arizona	$231	$251	$417
Arkansas	$192	$192	$257
California	$234	$234	$486
Colorado	$151	$151	$300
Connecticut	$167	$191	$226
Delaware	$112	$117	$277
District of Columbia	$50	$100	$300
Florida	$204	$254	$279
Georgia	$84	$223	$420
Hawaii	$112	$197	$322
Idaho	$90	$90	$155
Illinois	$120	$120	$2,500
Indiana	$167	$167	$191
Iowa	$118	$176	$325
Kansas	$118	$148	$367
Kentucky	$163	$173	$243
Louisiana	$153	$168	$176
Maine	$129	$170	$278
Maryland	$90	$90	$530
Massachusetts	$100	$150	$400
Michigan	$135	$147	$205
Minnesota	$125	$145	$385
Mississippi	$186	$197	$238
Missouri	$93	$103	$188
Montana	$40	$70	$200
Nebraska	$25	$75	$300
Nevada	$223	$290	$620
New Hampshire	$62	$93	$434
New Jersey	$96	$106	$261
New Mexico	$25	$30	$200
New York	$183	$230	$1,150
North Carolina	$203	$218	$238
North Dakota	$40	$45	$115
Ohio	$121	$126	$178
Oklahoma	$151	$178	$226
Oregon	$115	$165	$440
Pennsylvania	$132	$142	$212
Rhode Island	$95	$205	$400
South Carolina	$120	$171	$359
South Dakota	$118	$138	$233
Tennessee	$159	$164	$181
Texas	$223	$245	$320
Utah	$130	$160	$570
Vermont	$105	$151	$415
Virginia	$111	$141	$291
Washington	$43	$58	$158
West Virginia	$157	$162	$225
Wisconsin	$175	$175	$439
Wyoming	$135	$190	$295

National Average	$130	$157	$362

Cut costs by slowing down

Looking to stay protected on the road without spending a fortune? Start by knowing where you're most likely to get a speeding ticket as it could impact your insurance rates more than you think.

Other tips on managing your auto bills:

Compare quotes to lower your premium. Take a closer look at the best insurance options for everyday drivers.
Obey traffic laws. One easy way to save money on your car insurance is by maintaining a safe driving record.
Keep up with car maintenance. From 0% APR offers to cashback rewards, these credit cards for auto repairs are worth considering.

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Methodology

Speeding fines and standard court costs were collected in each state for speeding infractions where the driver was going 10, 15, and 40 miles per hour over the speed limit. Wherever possible, speeding fine and court cost schedules were sourced from official government documents, either for entire states or for individual cities or counties within a specific state. In limited cases, we used data published by local law firms in specific states outlining the costs of speeding.

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