Texas defensive driving course›Speeding ticket guide›Ticket cost
How much is a speeding ticket in Texas? $200–$300 to pay. The real bill comes later.
The fine is $1 to $200 by law, set by your court based on how fast you were going. Court costs push most paid tickets to $200–$300.
But that's only what's printed on the citation. The biggest cost shows up on your insurance bill, for about three years. Here's each layer, and the cheaper way out.
By Road Ready Safety, TDLR provider CP1234 · Checked against Tex. Transp. Code §§521.292, 542.401, 542.4031, 542.404 and Tex. Local Gov't Code §§133.102, 134.103 · Updated October 6, 2026
What's actually in a Texas speeding ticket?
Three layers. You see the first two. The third is the one that costs the most.
How much is a speeding ticket per mph over?
There's no statewide rate. Every city and JP court sets its own schedule under the $200 cap, usually a few dollars more per mph. Your exact number is on your court's fine schedule, or one call to the clerk.
A work-zone ticket with workers present also shuts both dismissal options. Work-zone guide. For everyone else, the fine is the small part. Here's the part that isn't.
How much does a speeding ticket raise insurance in Texas?
It depends on your insurer and your profile. A first speeding conviction commonly adds 10–15% for about three years. Pick yours and see the full price of paying.
Dismissing saves you about $669.
Estimate. Your court's dismissal costs may be lower; the courts in our directory run $100–$184 all-in. Younger drivers and drivers with prior tickets usually see bigger increases.
The conviction also counts toward a license suspension: four moving violations in 12 months, or seven in 24 (§521.292). So can you dismiss yours?
When does paying actually make sense?
Only when the dismissal door is closed, and even then paying usually isn't your best move.
What does Road Ready Safety charge?
$25, and that's the only number you'll see at checkout.
- The 6-hour TDLR-approved course (CP1234) Verify on TDLR ↗
- Certificate the moment you finish, court and insurance copies
- Unlimited quiz retakes
- No delivery, rush or record fees
- Full refund if you request it before you complete the course or get your certificate
- Two costs we can't include: the court's fee and the DPS record, because the court and DPS collect those. Our full pricing policy
Quick answers
How much is a speeding ticket in Texas?
The fine is $1–$200 (Transp. Code §542.401), set by your court’s schedule. With court costs, most paid tickets total $200–$300. Work zones with workers present double by law; many cities set higher school-zone amounts.
Is it cheaper to take defensive driving than pay the ticket?
Usually by hundreds. Dismissal runs about $181 at most (≈$144 court costs + $25 course + $12 record) and leaves no conviction. Paying is $200–$300 plus higher insurance for about three years.
Do speeding ticket prices vary by city in Texas?
Yes. Fine schedules are local, and city add-ons vary. Across the 383 courts in our directory, dismissal totals run $100–$184. Find your court
What happens if I don’t pay my speeding ticket?
It grows: a failure-to-appear charge, a possible warrant with a $50 fee, and an OmniBase hold that blocks your license renewal. Can’t afford it? Ask the court about a payment plan or community service.
Your next step
With a letter template →Your court’s exact numbers
Ticket cost calculator →Where the fees go
Court costs breakdown →The whole process
Speeding ticket guide →
General information, not legal advice. Procedures vary by court and judge; confirm with the court on your citation. Road Ready Safety is a TDLR-licensed course provider (CP1234), not a court. Sources: Tex. Transp. Code §§521.292, 542.401, 542.4031, 542.404; Tex. Local Gov't Code §§133.102, 134.103; published fine schedules of the Texas courts referenced; our verified court dataset (383 courts). Updated October 6, 2026.