What a speeding ticket can cost you
The fine and court costs are only the start. A speeding conviction is reported to the Division of Motor Vehicles. It can add points to your driver license, and your insurance company can add its own insurance points, which raise your premium. For many drivers, the insurance increase costs far more than the fine.
How much it costs depends on how fast the ticket says you were going, the speed limit, the type of road, and your driving record.
License points and insurance points.
North Carolina has two separate point systems, and people often mix them up.
- DMV license points are added to your driving record. If you collect too many within a set period, DMV can suspend your license.
- Insurance points are used by insurance companies to set your premium. They are counted differently from DMV points and can raise your rate for years.
A ticket can carry license points, insurance points, both, or neither, depending on the charge you are convicted of. That is why the final charge matters so much. A reduction from speeding to a non-moving violation, for example, can change both numbers. We explain what each possible outcome means for your record and your insurance before you choose.
When your license is at risk
North Carolina law treats some speeding tickets more seriously than others. Under G.S. 20-16.1, a conviction for going more than 15 mph over the limit while driving faster than 55 mph, or for driving faster than 80 mph, brings a 30-day DMV suspension. Very high speeds can also lead to a reckless driving charge in addition to speeding.
The law also limits some options for the highest speeds. For example, a driver charged with going more than 25 mph over the limit cannot get a prayer for judgment continued (G.S. 20-141(p)). If your ticket shows a high speed, talk to a lawyer before your court date so you understand exactly what is at stake.
A suspension does not always mean you cannot drive at all. After a first such conviction, a judge may grant a limited driving privilege. We check whether that applies to you.
Work zones, school zones, and commercial drivers
Speeding in a highway work zone or a school zone can carry higher penalties than ordinary speeding. Drivers with a commercial driver license face stricter rules, even when the ticket was written in a personal car. Some options that help other drivers may not protect a CDL. If you drive for a living, tell us at the start.
Options that may be available
We never promise a result. Depending on the facts and the court, outcomes we look at include:
- A reduction to a lower speed or to a non-moving violation, such as improper equipment, which may carry fewer or no points.
- A prayer for judgment continued, when it is allowed and makes sense for you.
- A trial, when there is a real question about the speed, the radar or other device, or how the officer measured it.
Your driving record matters. A clean record often opens more options than a record with recent tickets.
Out-of-state drivers
Many speeding tickets in Guilford County are written on the interstates to drivers from other states. A North Carolina conviction can be reported to your home state and can affect your license and insurance there. Ignoring the ticket can lead to a missed court date and license trouble. We can often handle the case without you making a second trip, but we confirm that with you in writing.
What to do right after the ticket
- Do not pay the ticket online until you understand what a conviction will cost you.
- Write down what you remember: the road, the weather, the traffic, where the officer was, and what was said.
- Keep the citation. It lists your court date, the county, and the charge.
- Get a copy of your driving record, or let us get it for you.
- If you drive for work or hold a CDL, tell us right away.
Call before your court date, not the day before. Some options take time to set up.
How we help
We read the citation, pull your driving record, and look at how the speed was measured. Then we tell you the hard truth about your choices and what each one means for your license and insurance. We explain our fee in writing before you hire us.
Call (336) 281-2008 or request a consultation. Have your ticket and court date ready. Hablamos español.
This page is general information about North Carolina law, not legal advice. Every case is different, and no lawyer can promise a result.
Questions people ask us
Will a speeding ticket suspend my license in NC?
Most ordinary speeding tickets do not cause a suspension by themselves. A ticket at a high speed, or far over the limit, can lead to a DMV suspension, and too many points over time can as well. We check your exact charge and record and explain the risk.
Can I get a PJC for a speeding ticket?
Sometimes. A prayer for judgment continued is not allowed when the charge is more than 25 mph over the limit, and how often you can use one is limited. Whether it is a good choice depends on your record and the charge.
Can a speeding ticket be reduced to improper equipment?
In some cases the prosecutor agrees to reduce a speeding ticket to a non-moving violation such as improper equipment. It depends on the speed, your record, and the court. We tell you whether it is realistic before you decide.
Do I have to come back to North Carolina for my ticket?
Often a lawyer can handle a speeding ticket without the driver in court, but not always. It depends on the charge and the court. We tell you in writing whether you need to appear.
Does a speeding ticket raise my insurance?
In most cases a speeding conviction can add insurance points, which raise your premium. How much depends on the speed and your record. Some outcomes carry fewer or no insurance points.