How much does a speeding ticket cost in California? See fines, fees and penalties
Violating California’s traffic laws can come with steep penalties.
The Judicial Council of California’s Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedule sets the base fines for traffic offenses — but the total cost is often much higher.
Once penalty assessments and additional county fees are added, the price for a traffic violation can vary, according to the Judicial Council of California website.
How much can you expect to pay for a speeding ticket in California?
Here are potential fees, penalties and prices:
What is considered speeding under California law?
California law requires drivers to adjust their speed based on surrounding conditions.
No one may drive faster than is safe for the current situation, according to California’s Vehicle Code.
Driving “at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property” could result in a speeding ticket, the law says.
According to the California Driver’s Handbook from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, there are several factors a driver should consider when deciding how fast to go.
These include the speed of other vehicles, the amount of traffic, the condition of the road, the presence of bicyclists or pedestrians, weather conditions and congestion on the road.
However, a driver should never go over the posted speed limit.
How fast can I drive on California roads?
According to the California Driver’s Handbook, the maximum speed limit on most highways is 65 mph — “unless otherwise posted.”
The limit drops to 55 mph on two-lane undivided highways and for vehicles towing trailers, the handbook says.
Driving at the speed as the flow of traffic can result in a speeding ticket, California Highway Patrol previously told The Bee.
Adhering to the maximum posted speed limit is the law.
If drivers do not follow the signage, CHP said, an officer can make an enforcement stop and issue a citation to a driver who is only going 1 mph over the posted speed limit.
If there is no posted speed limit on a road, CHP said, the prima facie speed law — California Vehicle Code 22352 — sets the default speed limit at 25 mph.
Exceptions include approaching a railway or crossing an intersection. In that case, the speed limit is 15 mph.
Do I have to slow down near parks? Schools?
Under California’s Vehicle Code, drivers must slow to 25 mph on streets next to public parks with playgrounds — but only during certain hours, varying by city and season.
The DMV says drivers must also slow to 25 mph within 500 feet of a school zone when children are present.
In some areas, posted signs might even require drivers to reduce their speed to 15 mph, depending on local regulations.
It’s also against the law to drive faster than the posted speed limit through a highway where construction workers are present and could be endangered by passing traffic.
In construction work zones, the speed limit should be reduced by 10 mph from the posted limit unless an exception is granted, the California Department of Transportation previously told The Sacramento Bee
How much is the base fine for a speeding ticket in California?
According to the 2025 Judicial Council of California’s Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedule, the base fine for a speeding ticket depends on how fast a driver was going over the limit.
Driving 1 to 15 mph over the speed limit carries a $35 base fine.
If you’re caught going 16 to 25 mph over the posted limit, you can expect to pay at least $70 in fines.
For those speeding 26 mph or more over the limit, the minimum fine jumps to $100.
What’s the total cost of a speeding ticket in California?
After penalty assessments and court fees are added, a speeding ticket in California can cost nearly $500, according to the Judicial Council’s Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedule.
You can end up paying about $208 for driving 1 to 15 mph over the speed limit.
Speeding 16 to 25 mph over the speed limit could cost you around $367.
If you’re caught going 26 mph or more over the limit, you can expect to pay about $490.
Are there additional penalties for speeding?
According to Shouse California Law Group, possible consequences for speeding in California include potentially having your driver’s license suspended and points being added to your DMV record.
In California, if a driver racks up a certain number of points on their record within one, two or three years, the DMV can label them a negligent operator and suspend or even revoke their license.
Points on a driver’s record are reported to their insurance company, which usually means higher rates, according to Progressive.
Drivers who violate California’s speeding laws don’t have to attend traffic school, but they can choose to do so voluntarily, according to Shouse California Law Group.
Can I avoid fees by going to traffic school?
“If a driver elects to go to traffic school, he must still pay his traffic fine,” Shouse California Law Group said.
However, completing traffic school prevents points from being added to your driving record, according to the Southern California law firm.
To go to traffic school, you must have a valid driver’s license, have a ticket for a moving violation and have committed the offense in a noncommercial vehicle.
You can find a list of approved online traffic schools on the DMV website.
Course prices typically range from $20 to $45.
What if I can’t pay a speeding ticket?
“If a court user can’t afford to pay a traffic fine, they have options,” the Judicial Council of California told The Bee.
According to the California Courts website, you can ask the court for help with a speeding ticket.
The court can:
- Lower fines
- Extend your payment due date
- Set up a payment plan
- Allow you to do community service instead of paying
“This is called an “ability to pay determination,” the website says.
This story was originally published November 10, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "How much does a speeding ticket cost in California? See fines, fees and penalties."
