How Much Is A Speeding Ticket in Texas?

A Texas speeding ticket for driving 10 mph over the posted speed limit costs, on average, $236. Fines vary by city and county, how fast you were driving and if the violation occurred in a certain area, like a school or construction zone. On top of paying hefty fines, drivers may face higher car insurance rates for three years after pleading guilty to the violation.

SmartFinancial analyzed fine schedules of five major cities in Texas to compile how much a speeding ticket can cost you. We also share a few ways to get that ticket removed from your driving record.

Average Costs for a Speeding Ticket in Texas

The average cost for driving 10 miles per hour (mph) over the speeding limit will be different when driving on a road with a posted speed limit, in a school zone or construction zone.

• Speeding in a posted zone: $236
• Speeding in a school zone: $265
• Speeding in a construction zone: $333

Speeding ticket fines will vary by city. For example, a $281 fine may apply for driving 20 mph over the speed limit in Austin, but increases to $309 in Houston. Similarly, a fine may increase for speeding in a certain area, like a school zone. In Austin, a $317 fine can increase to $357 for driving 15 mph over the limit in a school zone.

A Texas speeding ticket for driving 10 mph over the posted speed limit costs, on average, $236.

Speeding Ticket Costs in Texas Major Cities

Each city in Texas may enforce its own fine schedules, which can lead to differing fines based on where you were caught speeding. We’ve compiled the total cost (base fine plus court costs) for speeding violations in five major cities in Texas: Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio.

Austin

MPH Over Limit	Posted Zone	School Zone	Construction Zone (Workers Present)
1-5 mph	$197	$237	$257
6-9 mph	$227	$267	$317
10-14 mph	$272	$327	$407
15-19 mph	$317	$357	$497
20-24 mph	$334	$359	$534
25+	$334	$359	$534

Dallas

MPH Over Limit	Posted Zone	School Zone	Construction Zone (Workers Present)
1-10 mph	$231	$251	Not to exceed $400
11-15 mph	$256	$276	Not to exceed $400
16-20 mph	$281	$301	Not to exceed $400
20+ mph	$334	$334	Not to exceed $400

Fort Worth

MPH Over Limit	Posted Zone	School Zone (AM/PM)	Construction Zone (Workers Present)
1-5 mph	$142-$174	AM: $142-$174  PM: $167-$199	$150-$214
6-9 mph	$182-$206	AM: $182-$206 PM: $207-$231	$230-$278
10-14 mph	$214-$246	AM: $214-$246 PM: $239-271	$294-$358
15-19 mph	$254-$286	AM: $254-$286 PM: $271-$279	$374-$438
20-24 mph	$294-$326	AM: $294-$326 PM: $319-$351	$454-$518
25+ mph	$334+	AM: $334+ PM: $359+	$534+

Each city in Texas may enforce its own fine schedules, which can lead to differing fines based on where you were caught speeding.

Houston

MPH Over Limit	Posted Zone	School Zone	Construction Zone (Workers Present)
1-5 mph	$224	$254	$269
6-9 mph	$234	$274	$294
10-14 mph	$259	$289	$329
15-19 mph	$284	$309	$414
20-29 mph	$309	$334	$464
30+ mph	$334	$359	$534

San Antonio

MPH Over Limit	Posted Zone	School Zone	Construction Zone (Workers Present)
1-5 mph	$203	$243	$302
6-9 mph	$203	$243	$302
10-14 mph	$203-$223	$243-$263	$302-$367
15-19 mph	$228-$248	$268-$288	$377-$417
20-24 mph	$253-$273	$293-$313	$427-$467
25+ mph	$278+	$318+	$477+

What To Do After Getting a Speeding Ticket in Texas

The steps you will take after getting a speeding ticket will change depending on whether you plead guilty or contest the ticket.

If You Plan to Plead Guilty

Start by noting the court date specified on your speeding ticket. Unless you pay your fines early, you must appear in court on this date or risk additional penalties.

Next, search your city’s online search system to review the fine you must pay. You will need the citation number, offense date, your license number and your date of birth. Your city may accept payment in person, online or by mail.

You may not need to appear in court if you pay your fine early. Otherwise, you will need to appear in court on your scheduled date and should be prepared to pay the fine in full. If you’re unable to pay the entire fine, the judge may offer the following options:

• Schedule the full payment to be completed at a later date.
• Establish a payment plan (down payment may be required).
• Complete community service instead of paying the fine.

If You Plan to Contest the Ticket

Contesting the citation and pleading not guilty will schedule a future trial that may or may not involve a jury. You will need to present evidence that proves your innocence or grounds for dismissal, such as:

• Photo of a posted speed limit sign obstructed from view
• Witness testimonies
• Telematics records that prove you were not speeding at the time of the alleged offense

Contesting Texas speeding tickets can be tricky, so you may want to rely on the expertise of an attorney.

Unless you pay your fines early, you must appear in court or risk additional penalties.

What Are the Consequences of a Speeding Ticket in Texas?

Getting caught speeding in Texas can result in the following consequences:

• Fines: Fines will increase or decrease based on how fast and where you were speeding.
• Higher auto insurance premiums: Speeding is a common high-risk indicator and insurers apply a premium surcharge that can last up to three years after the violation occurred according to 21st Century insurance.
• SR-22 Filing Requirements: Speeding while committing a major driving violation, like driving while intoxicated or driving without auto insurance or a valid driver’s license, may require you to file Form SR-22 — a certificate of financial responsibility that proves you’re maintaining minimum insurance requirements in Texas. SR-22 filers typically face higher insurance premiums and may need to file this form for several years depending on the violation.
• Imprisonment (for non-compliance): Courts may not assign jail time for speeding, but you may be imprisoned if you did not pay your speeding ticket fines or appeared in court.

Driving Safely Pays Off

Avoid speeding altogether to avoid paying fines and higher insurance rates, spending time in court and completing a driver course. You can save further by qualifying for a safe driver discount if you maintain a clean driving history for several consecutive years.

Even if you got your ticket dismissed, the violation may still be noted on your claims history if you filed a claim with your insurance company — you were speeding and struck another vehicle or fence, for instance. When shopping around, your future insurance company will have access to your claims history and will likely offer a higher quote to reflect the speeding event.

How To Get a Speeding Ticket Off Your Record in Texas

A traffic ticket dismissal may be possible if the court accommodates deferred disposition requests. A deferred disposition is a suspended sentence that can dismiss your traffic ticket if you plead guilty and meet several conditions, such as:

• Paying the fine
• Posting bond
• Completing a driver safety course
• Maintaining a clean driving record until the deferred date.

Contesting Texas speeding tickets can be tricky, so you may want to rely on the expertise of an attorney.

The process for requesting deferred disposition will depend on the court and may be done in person, by phone or by mail. Requesting deferred disposition by mail may not be possible for certain types of speeding violations. For example, deferred disposition requests by mail in Houston are denied if the following apply:

• Speeding 26 mph or more over the posted speeding limit
• Passing a school bus
• Not carrying insurance
• Speeding in a construction zone with workers around

Key Takeaways Speeding ticket fines can start at $204 when driving in an area with a posted speed limit, with fines increasing the faster you were driving. Expect higher speeding ticket fines if a police officer cites you for speeding in a school zone or construction zone. Offenders may dismiss speeding points by requesting a deferred disposition, which typically involves paying the fine and completing a defensive driving course.

Are you paying higher insurance rates because of a speeding ticket? Traffic violations will increase your insurance rates but shopping around with SmartFinancial’s FREE online tools can help you find an insurance policy that fits your budget. Just enter your zip code below or call 855.214.2291 to receive your free car insurance quotes.

Methodology

SmartFinancial calculated average fines for driving 10 mph over the speed limit in Texas using the traffic fine schedules in five major cities:

• Austin: Active Charge List
• Dallas: Court Fines and Pleas
• Fort Worth: Fine Schedule
• Houston: Schedule of Fines
• San Antonio: Traffic Fines and Court Costs

Dallas was omitted when calculating the average cost for speeding in a construction zone, as no fine schedule was specified — only that fines will not exceed $400.

Fort Worth had fine schedules for speeding in a school zone during the morning and afternoon/evening. Fines for speeding during the afternoon/evening were used in calculating average costs.

Fines posted are total costs, which includes the base fine plus court costs. Actual fines and court costs can vary based on the violation and may be adjusted at the judge’s discretion.