How much is a speeding ticket in California? Estimate yours.
Expect roughly $226.16 to $467.90 for a California speeding ticket under 100 mph, and $860.80 over 100 mph, on the statewide 2026 schedule. The base fine is only $35 to $100 of that. Answer four questions for your estimate.
California ticket cost estimator
Free tool · nothing is savedThe step-by-step estimator needs JavaScript. If it does not appear, read your figures in the rules table below.
This tool gives an estimate only. It is not legal advice and it is not a quote from your court.
Check the numbers
The estimator reads from the table below. It is the same table in plain HTML, so you can check every figure without the tool.
Table: Ticket cost rules the estimator uses (statewide 2026 schedule and Santa Clara County speed chart)
| Violation | Code | Base fine | Statewide total bail | DMV points | Santa Clara chart total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speeding, 1 to 15 mph over the limit | VC 22350 / 22349 | $35 | $226.16 | 1 | $158 |
| Speeding, 16 to 25 mph over the limit | VC 22350 / 22349 | $70 | $350.03 | 1 | $287 |
| Speeding, 26 mph and over the limit (under 100 mph) | VC 22350 / 22349 | $100 | $467.90 | 1 | $410 |
| Speeding, over 100 mph | VC 22348(b) | $200 | $860.80 | 2 | Not in the county speed chart; statewide total used |
| Red light, steady red light or arrow | VC 21453(a), (c) | $100 | $467.90 | 1 | Not in the county speed chart; statewide total used |
| Right turn on red | VC 21453(b) | $35 | $226.16 | 1 | Not in the county speed chart; statewide total used |
Table: Flat fees the estimator uses
| Item | Value | How the estimator uses it |
|---|---|---|
| Court operations assessment (Penal Code 1465.8) | $40 | Included in the statewide totals. Not in the Santa Clara chart totals, which leave it out. |
| Conviction assessment (Government Code 70373) | $35 | Included in the statewide totals. Not in the Santa Clara chart totals, which leave it out. |
Statewide figures: Judicial Council Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedule, 2026 (Orange County Superior Court edition). County figures: Santa Clara Superior Court, 2026 Traffic Bail Schedule (speed chart). The county chart totals leave out the two flat fees above, which the county adds separately. The estimator uses the Santa Clara chart only for speeding under 100 mph when you pick Santa Clara County.
What gets added to the base fine?
The base fine is the smallest part of the total. The schedule adds state and county assessments and two flat fees to it.
The Santa Clara County 2026 speed chart shows the pieces for each speed band. All amounts below are from that chart, before the two flat fees.
Table: What gets added to the base fine?
| Component | 1 to 15 mph over | 16 to 25 mph over | 26 mph and over |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base fine | $35 | $70 | $100 |
| State penalty assessment | $40 | $70 | $100 |
| County penalty assessment | $28 | $49 | $70 |
| DNA fund | $20 | $35 | $50 |
| Court facility | $20 | $35 | $50 |
| 20% surcharge | $7 | $14 | $20 |
| Emergency medical services | $8 | $14 | $20 |
| Chart total | $158 | $287 | $410 |
Two flat fees come on top of the chart total. Penal Code 1465.8 adds a $40 operations assessment for each conviction. Government Code 70373 adds $35 per infraction conviction.
The county schedule cites these sections for its add-ons: Penal Code 1464 and 1465.7, and Government Code 70372, 76000, 76000.5, 76104.6 and 76104.7.
Does your county change the total?
Sometimes the number on a county page differs from the statewide table. The two lists are built differently.
- The statewide totals include the $40 court operations and $35 conviction assessments.
- The Santa Clara chart totals leave those two flat fees out and add them separately.
Santa Clara's schedule says the Judicial Council sets bail for Vehicle Code infractions, and the county lists only those that its court processes differently. The county's own page adds that the schedule does not show the total owed, because state assessments and fees are added.
Table: Does your county change the total?
| Speed over the limit | Statewide total | Santa Clara chart total (before flat fees) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 15 mph | $226.16 | $158 |
| 16 to 25 mph | $350.03 | $287 |
| 26 mph and over | $467.90 | $410 |
Your court notice has the final amount. See the Santa Clara County page for local contacts.
Points for each violation
A conviction adds points under Vehicle Code 12810. The statute assigns 1 point to other moving convictions and 2 points to speeding over 100 mph under 22348(b).
Table: Points for each violation
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding under 100 mph | 1 point |
| Speeding over 100 mph, 22348(b) | 2 points |
| Red light, 21453(a) or (c) | 1 point |
| Right turn on red, 21453(b) | 1 point |
| 21453(d) | 0 points |
Only one violation per occasion is counted. See points and insurance for the thresholds that trigger DMV action.
Insurance: what one ticket can do
A conviction can raise your premium. Insurers set their own rates, and no court schedule lists the change, so this estimate does not predict it. Ask your insurer.
The Good Driver Discount has its own rule. Under Insurance Code 1861.025, you qualify if you have been licensed for the previous three years and have not had more than one violation point count, more than one dismissal under Vehicle Code 1803.5, or an at-fault crash with injury or death in that period.
How we calculate this: sources and limits
Statewide base fines and totals come from the 2026 Judicial Council Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedule, read in the Orange County Superior Court edition. Santa Clara figures come from that county's 2026 Traffic Bail Schedule, effective January 1, 2026.
The estimate leaves out:
- The late charge. Under Vehicle Code 40310, a penalty not paid within 20 days carries a late charge of 50 percent.
- Priors. The Santa Clara schedule enhances the base fine by $10 for each prior moving violation with points within 36 months.
- Traffic school fees and the school's own charge.
- Any civil assessment, described on the failure to appear page. Santa Clara County has suspended imposing them since June 1, 2026.
Compare your result with the CVC 22350 and CVC 22349 pages, then decide using the school or contest guide.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my ticket more than the estimate?
The estimate leaves out items that can raise your total: a 50% late charge on penalties not paid within 20 days under Vehicle Code 40310, extra amounts for prior moving violations under some county schedules, and traffic school fees. Your court notice shows the amount that counts. Confirm it with the court.
How much is a ticket for 20 over in California?
Twenty over falls in the 16 to 25 mph band. The statewide 2026 schedule lists a base fine of $70 and a total bail of $350.03. A conviction adds 1 point. Your county may publish a different total, so check your notice.
What does 'total bail' mean?
Total bail is the full amount a schedule lists for a violation: the base fine plus the assessments and fees added to it. It is larger than the base fine. If you elect a trial by written declaration, Vehicle Code 40902 asks you to submit bail in the scheduled amount.
Is the estimate different for a red light?
Yes. The statewide 2026 schedule lists a base fine of $100 and a total of $467.90 for Vehicle Code 21453(a) and (c), and $35 and $226.16 for the right-turn rule in (b). Each carries 1 point. Compare your notice with the red light page for the subsection on your citation.
Do I lose the Good Driver Discount?
It depends on your point count. Insurance Code 1861.025 disqualifies a driver with more than one violation point count in the previous three years, as the statute counts it. One speeding conviction usually adds 1 point, so check your own record and ask your insurer about its rules.
Last reviewed · Reviewed by the californiaticketlawyerhelp editorial team