How much does a Florida speeding ticket cost in total?

The court fine is just the headline number. Adding court costs, a 3-year insurance increase of $300–$900, BDI traffic school ($30–$60), and time off work for court, the realistic total runs $730–$1,730. Hiring Unilegal for $99 — and winning a dismissal or withhold — typically saves $600+ over the life of the citation.

How many points is a Florida speeding ticket?

Under §322.27: speeding 1–14 mph over the limit is 3 points, 15+ mph over is 4 points, and speeding that causes a crash is 6 points. School-zone enhanced tiers count separately. Twelve points in 12 months triggers a 30-day license suspension.

Can I fight a Florida speeding ticket without going to court?

Yes. When you hire Unilegal we file a written not-guilty plea on your behalf and our attorney appears at any hearing. You never need to enter the courthouse. Most civil speeding cases resolve in 60–90 days from upload to outcome notification.

What is HB 351 and how does it affect a Florida speeding ticket?

HB 351 (Ch. 2025-77, effective July 1, 2025) created the new criminal offense of dangerous excessive speeding at Fla. Stat. §316.1922 — driving 50+ mph over the posted limit or 100+ mph in a way that threatens safety. First conviction is a 2nd-degree misdemeanor (up to 30 days jail); second within 5 years escalates to a 1st-degree misdemeanor (up to 90 days). This is separate from the older §316.1926 civil routing.

Will paying a Florida speeding ticket make my insurance go up?

Almost always. Florida insurers surcharge premiums for adjudicated moving violations for 3 years. The 2025–2026 Bankrate / Insurance.com / The Zebra carrier data shows +8% to +19% for 1–15 mph over and +19% to +31% for 15+ mph over. School zone, 30+ mph over, and 50+ mph push surcharges higher.

Should I take Florida traffic school instead?

If you've used a BDI election in the last 12 months or hit your 5-times lifetime cap, you can't. Otherwise it's a reasonable choice for clean drivers facing a single low-tier speeding ticket — adjudication is withheld and no points hit your record. For repeat tickets, school-zone enhanced tiers, or 30+ mph over, attorney contest usually produces a better long-term outcome.

What if I don't pay or contest within 30 days?

You lose your election. After 30 days the Clerk enters civil judgment, a $16 late fee accrues, and FLHSMV typically issues a D-6 driver's-license suspension under §322.245. Driving on a D-6 is a separate criminal offense under §322.34.

Florida traffic defense · Fla. Stat. §316.183

Florida Speeding Ticket Defense

TL;DR

A Florida speeding ticket carries 3–4 license points, a fine of $100–$369+ depending on county and mph over, and a 3-year insurance increase of $300–$900 — costs that compound to $730–$1,730 total. Unilegal defends speeding tickets statewide for a flat $99 with most cases resolved in 60–90 days, no courthouse visit. (2026)

Fla. Stat. §316.183 — the statute

“No person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing.”
— Fla. Stat. §316.183

Penalties and points

Tier	Fine / classification	Points
1–14 mph over	$129–$219	3
15–19 mph over	$254–$269	4
20–29 mph over	$279–$294	4
30+ mph over	$369 + court	4
50+ mph over (HB 351)	Criminal (§316.1922)	Misdemeanor
School zone (doubled)	$155–$306+	Same + enhancement

Insurance impact: Florida drivers see premium increases of +8% to +45% over 3 years depending on speed and carrier — typical lifetime cost $300–$900 (Bankrate / Insurance.com / The Zebra, 2025–2026 Quadrant data).

Common defenses

Every speeding ticket defense case has its own facts. These are the defense strategies our attorneys most commonly raise — none of them are guaranteed to win, but each is worth examining before you decide to pay.

Radar or LIDAR calibration challenges

Florida radar and LIDAR devices must be calibrated according to FCC regulations and manufacturer specs. If the calibration log is missing, expired, or the operator wasn't recertified within the required window, the speed reading may be inadmissible.

Officer certification + training records

Officers who use speed-measuring devices must complete state-approved training under §316.1905. We request the citing officer's certification record — gaps or lapses are a basis to challenge the citation's foundation.

Speed limit signage problems

Florida's traffic-control device manual requires speed limit signs to meet specific MUTCD spec for placement, retroreflectivity, and visibility. Missing, obscured, or improperly placed signage is a defense, especially in school zones and construction zones.

Citation errors and missing details

Florida Uniform Traffic Citations have required fields. Omission of the violation code, incorrect location description, or VIN/license-plate mismatches can result in dismissal under §318.14.

Withhold of adjudication via attorney appearance

Even when the violation is solid, an attorney can often negotiate a withhold of adjudication that keeps points off your driving record. This is the most common positive outcome in contested civil speeding cases.

Florida fact sheet

Statutory base fine: Set by §318.18 — varies $25 (6–9 mph) to $250 (30+ mph)
Most expensive county: Miami-Dade — $144 to $369 total
Lowest-cost county tier: Monroe / Palm Beach — close to statewide statutory minimums
BDI eligibility: Yes — once per 12 months, 5x lifetime under §318.14(9)
Days to respond: 30 from citation issuance
License-points window: 12 in 12 months → 30-day suspension (§322.27)

Your three options

Option 1

Pay the fine

Fastest resolution but pleads guilty. Points hit your record; insurer typically surcharges premiums for 3 years.

Option 2

Elect traffic school

Basic Driver Improvement under §318.14(9). Withholds adjudication — no points, no insurance reporting. Limited to once per 12 months and 5 times in a lifetime.

Option 3

Contest with Unilegal

Plead not guilty and let a Florida attorney challenge the citation. We file, appear, and negotiate — typically a withhold of adjudication that keeps points off the record.

Flat fee — civil violation

Any Civil Ticket. Any County. $99. Period.

$99 flat fee — covers attorney assignment, filing, hearing appearance, and outcome notification.

Florida Bar–licensed attorney assigned to your case
Filed within 24 business hours or your money back
All 67 Florida counties — your local Clerk of Court, our attorney appearing

See full pricing

Frequently asked questions

Ready to fight your speeding ticket defense?

Upload your ticket. We'll handle it.

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Sources & citations

[1]Fla. Stat. §316.183 — Speed limits; reasonable and prudent driving requirement. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.183.html · accessed 2026-05-31 ↩
[2]Fla. Stat. §318.18 — Schedule of civil penalties; tier base fines. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0318/Sections/0318.18.html · accessed 2026-05-31 ↩
[3]Fla. Stat. §322.27 — Florida point assessment schedule. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0322/Sections/0322.27.html · accessed 2026-05-31 ↩
[4]Florida CS/CS/CS/HB 351 (2025), Ch. 2025-77 Laws of Florida — Dangerous Excessive Speeding; creates §316.1922. https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/351 · accessed 2026-05-31 ↩
[5]Fla. Stat. §316.1922 — Dangerous excessive speeding criminal offense. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.1922.html · accessed 2026-05-31 ↩
[6]Fla. Stat. §318.14(9) — Basic Driver Improvement traffic school election. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0318/Sections/0318.14.html · accessed 2026-05-31 ↩
[7]Fla. Stat. §322.245 — D-6 license suspension for failure to comply with traffic summons. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0322/Sections/0322.245.html · accessed 2026-05-31 ↩