What Should I Do if I Get a Traffic Ticket in Another State?

Getting a ticket out of state should generally be treated with the same severity level as getting one in your home state, as you’ll likely face the consequences of a ticket regardless of where you received it. You’ll likely want to pay the traffic ticket or contest it in court, as ignoring the ticket could result in heavy fines, dropped insurance coverage and/or the suspension of your license, among other consequences.

Keep reading to learn more about your options when getting an out-of-state traffic ticket and how it can impact your driving record and insurance rates.

On This Page

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  What Happens if I Get a Traffic Ticket in Another State?

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  Will an Out-of-State Traffic Ticket Go on My Driving Record?

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  What Happens if I Don’t Pay the Fine for a Ticket Out of State?

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  Will My Insurance Rates Be Affected if I Get a Traffic Ticket Out of State?

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  FAQs

What Happens if I Get a Traffic Ticket in Another State?

When you get a ticket in another state, your options are limited, as you can pay the fines associated with the ticket, challenge the ticket in court or ignore the ticket. Keep in mind, for contesting out-of-state tickets, you or an attorney will likely need to return to the county court in which you were served the ticket, which can be costly and impractical if you don’t live nearby. Some states may allow you to contest a ticket with a written declaration instead of appearing in person.

Most states are members of both the Driver's License Compact (DLC) and the Nonresident Violator Compact (NVC), ensuring widespread cooperation and traffic law enforcement across state lines.

The DLC, which includes all states except Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, allows your home state to be notified of any traffic tickets you receive in another state, affecting your driving record as if the violation occurred locally. The NVC, with all states except Alaska, California, Michigan, Montana, Oregon, and Wisconsin as members, further enforces this by permitting states to suspend your license if you fail to pay an out-of-state fine.^[1]

Only Michigan and Wisconsin are not members of either agreement. However, you can still face fines and consequences, such as the suspension of your driving privileges solely within that state.^[2] While they may be unable to suspend your license for driving offenses or unpaid fines, they can still report your infractions to your home state, which could result in consequences depending on your home state’s laws.^[2][3]

What Happens if I Get a Parking Ticket in Another State?

If you get a parking ticket while traveling out of state, you’ll likely want to pay the ticket or contest it in court. Parking tickets can be pricey, costing between $60 to $240 on average, but could cost up to $500 in states like California.^[4][5] However, if they’re resolved, parking tickets don’t normally go on your driving record and typically won’t impact your insurance rates.

Contesting the ticket may only be worth it if the cost of travel to court and potential legal fees is less than the fine.

What Happens if I Get a Speeding Ticket in Another State?

Speeding ticket fines can range from $15 to over $1,000 depending on your state, whether it was a first or subsequent offense and where the speeding occurred, among other factors.^[6] However, even if you pay the ticket, it could still result in points being put on your record and a 25% average increase in your insurance premiums.^[7]

Fighting the speeding ticket may be worth consideration, given the consequences and increased costs compared to a nonmoving violation, and successfully contesting the ticket can prevent points from being added to your license. You’ll need to weigh the costs of traveling to appear in court or legal fees for an attorney to represent you in the state where you received the ticket, which can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on the case.^[8]

What Happens if I’m in a Rental and Get a Ticket in Another State?

If you receive a parking ticket, the violation is typically applied to the vehicle. In this instance, you’ll likely want to resolve the ticket quickly and inform the rental car company of the incident. Should you let the ticket go directly to the rental car company, they’ll likely pay the ticket and hold you responsible for the bill, potentially with additional fees.

For moving violations, like speeding tickets, the offense is typically placed on the driver and not the vehicle, so the rental company may not get involved if the ticket is treated like usual. If you fail to pay the ticket or the ticket was given through a license plate camera, like one spotting you running a red light, the ticket may go to the rental company, which could result in a bill and additional fees.

If you plan to contest a ticket you received driving a rental car, ensure you let the rental company know as soon as possible. Keep in mind that if you fail to win your case, you’ll still be responsible for paying any fines and fees.

Will an Out-of-State Traffic Ticket Go on My Driving Record?

In most cases, a traffic ticket for a moving violation will appear on your driving record regardless of the state in which you receive it due to compacts that allow out-of-state tickets to follow you to your home state. However, just like for a home state traffic ticket, if you can contest the ticket in court successfully, the infraction will likely be waived and not go on your driving record.

What Happens if I Don’t Pay the Fine for a Ticket Out of State?

Ignoring a nonmoving violation could result in consequences, such as the county placing a vehicle-immobilizing device on your car, sometimes called a “boot.” These devices are then removed once you’ve paid your fine.

For an out-of-state ticket for speeding or some other moving violation, you should not ignore it or you risk your license being suspended, increased fines, increased insurance premiums, dropped insurance coverage and potential imprisonment. States that are part of the DLC and NVC can share information about your ticket with your home state, which can result in your state seeking action against you for tickets received outside its borders.

Even if you don’t plan on returning to the state where you received your ticket, the state could send it to a collection agency, which may impact your credit score and, depending on your state, increase your car insurance premium as a result.

The ticket could also prevent you from renewing your license or result in a suspended license, depending on your state’s laws and how they handle parking ticket infractions, especially if you’re a repeat offender.

Will My Insurance Rates Be Affected if I Get a Traffic Ticket Out of State?

Traffic tickets you get while driving out of state can impact your insurance rates, as in your home state. Your insurer is unlikely to care where you got a traffic ticket and will likely increase your rates, as such tickets indicate you’re a high-risk driver. However, not all states add minor traffic violations from other states to your driving record, which may keep your insurance company from raising your rates if they don’t see it.

If you can successfully contest a traffic ticket in court in person or through an out-of-state attorney, the infraction will likely be cleared from your driving record and should prevent an insurance rate increase.