Written by Dan Marticio
Dan Marticio is an insurance specialist for SmartFinancial. His past experience writing in small business and personal f.
Edited by Fran Majidi
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Updated September 6, 2022Expert Reviewed
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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.
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 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.
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.
MPH Over Limit
Posted Zone
School Zone
Construction Zone (Workers Present)
MPH Over Limit
Posted Zone
School Zone
Construction Zone (Workers Present)
Not to exceed $400
Not to exceed $400
Not to exceed $400
Not to exceed $400
MPH Over Limit
Posted Zone
School Zone (AM/PM)
Construction Zone (Workers Present)
AM: $142-$174
PM: $167-$199
AM: $182-$206
PM: $207-$231
AM: $214-$246
PM: $239-271
AM: $254-$286
PM: $271-$279
AM: $294-$326
PM: $319-$351
AM: $334+
PM: $359+
Each city in Texas may enforce its own fine schedules, which can lead to differing fines based on where you were caught speeding.
MPH Over Limit
Posted Zone
School Zone
Construction Zone (Workers Present)
MPH Over Limit
Posted Zone
School Zone
Construction Zone (Workers Present)
Affordable Car Insurance for High Risk Drivers in TexasThe steps you will take after getting a speeding ticket will change depending on whether you plead guilty or contest the ticket.
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:
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:
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.
Getting caught speeding in Texas can result in the following consequences:
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.
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:
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:
Texas no longer assigns points against your driving record for speeding and other traffic violations. The point system was established under the Driver Responsibility Program, which was repealed in Sept. 2019.
Pleading guilty to a speeding ticket in Texas will result in paying a fine. If you are unable to make payment in full by the court date, you may request to postpone the payment, arrange a payment schedule or complete community service in place of making a payment.
Completing a safe driving course after receiving a speeding ticket in Texas is not always required but is recommended for dismissing the violation from your record.
Key Takeaways
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.
SmartFinancial calculated average fines for driving 10 mph over the speed limit in Texas using the traffic fine schedules in five major cities:
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.
Dan Marticio is an insurance specialist for SmartFinancial. His past experience writing in small business and personal finance verticals has earned him bylines on prominent fintech brands, including LendingTree, ValuePenguin, Fundera, The Balance, and NerdWallet. His guides always aim to assist everyday consumers and entrepreneurs make informed decisions about their finances and business.
