Updated October 10, 2026: replaced commercial insurance-rate estimates with California statutes and the Judicial Council's 2026 bail schedule.
The fine on a speeding ticket is only part of what a conviction means. California law makes your driving record the most important factor in setting car insurance rates, and the DMV reports a speeding conviction for three years or more.
What a Speeding Ticket Costs in Court
Under the Judicial Council's 2026 Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedule, a speeding ticket under California's basic speed law (Vehicle Code 22350), or under Vehicle Code 22349 on a highway with a 55 or 65 mph limit, totals:
- $234 for 1 to 15 mph over the limit ($35 base fine)
- $363 for 16 to 25 mph over ($70 base fine)
- $486 for 26 mph or more over ($100 base fine)
- $896 for driving over 100 mph under Vehicle Code 22348(b) ($200 base fine)
The totals include state and county penalty assessments, a surcharge, and court fees added to the base fine. Counties may add local amounts, and some zones, such as highway construction zones, carry higher amounts, so your notice shows the exact total.
Your Driving Record Comes First in Insurance Rates
Proposition 103, codified in Insurance Code 1861.02(a), requires California auto insurance rates to be set using factors in decreasing order of importance. The first factor is your driving safety record. The next two are the number of miles you drive each year and your years of driving experience.
The same law requires a Good Driver Discount of at least 20% below the rate you would otherwise be charged (Insurance Code 1861.02(b)). Under Insurance Code 1861.025, you qualify only if you have been licensed for the previous three years and, during those three years, had no more than one violation point and were not principally at fault in an accident that caused injury or death. A DUI conviction in the past 10 years also disqualifies you.
A single one-point speeding conviction does not by itself disqualify you. A second point within three years does, and so does a single two-point conviction, such as driving over 100 mph.
See whether your speeding ticket has grounds to contest.
Check eligibilityHow Long a Speeding Conviction Stays on Your Record
A speeding conviction counts as one point on your DMV record (Vehicle Code 12810(f)); driving over 100 mph counts as two (Vehicle Code 12810(d)). Paying the ticket counts as a conviction, because Vehicle Code 13103 treats forfeiting bail the same as a conviction.
Under Vehicle Code 1808(b), the DMV discloses a conviction for three years from the date of the violation for one-point violations, seven years for two-point violations, and 10 years for DUI. Points also count toward the DMV's negligent operator thresholds: the DMV presumes a driver is a negligent operator at 4 points in 12 months, 6 in 24, or 8 in 36 (Vehicle Code 12810.5).
Speed Camera Tickets Are Different
There is an important distinction between a traditional speeding ticket and a speed camera notice issued under AB 645's pilot program in Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, Glendale, Long Beach, and San Francisco. A camera violation is subject only to a civil penalty of $50 to $500, and it cannot lead to a license suspension or a DMV violation point (Vehicle Code 22426). The system's photographs and records are confidential and may be used only for purposes the law authorizes (Vehicle Code 22425(l)).
A speeding ticket issued by a police officer is different: if you are convicted, including by paying the ticket, the conviction goes on your DMV record with the point values above.
Understanding the Full Cost
A speeding conviction has two parts: the court total set by the bail schedule, and a point on your driving record, which the DMV reports for three years or more and which falls under the first factor insurers must use to set your rate. The law does not set a single amount for how much your premium changes; that depends on your insurer's rates.
What You Can Do
If you receive a speeding ticket in California, several options exist. If the court allows traffic school (Vehicle Code 41501), the conviction for a first one-point violation in any 18 months is kept confidential: the DMV assigns no point and discloses it only to a court (Vehicle Code 1808.7). This does not apply to commercial driver's license holders or to violations in a commercial vehicle. Traffic school requires paying the bail plus a $49 fee and smaller court fees (Vehicle Code 42007.1). Drivers also have the right to contest a citation through Trial by Written Declaration under CVC 40902, which allows you to present your case in writing without appearing in court.
Understanding the full financial impact of a speeding ticket — beyond just the fine — can help you make a more informed decision about how to respond.
TicketClear is a document preparation service, not a law firm. This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you need legal advice, please consult a licensed attorney.