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Got a California traffic ticket? Start here.

You have until the due date on your citation to act. Find your ticket type below to see the cost, the DMV points and your options: pay, traffic school, or contest. Most moving violations add 1 point; paying is a conviction.

A police officer speaking with a driver through the car window during a traffic stop
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Find the right next step

The step-by-step quiz needs JavaScript. These are the questions it asks. Jump to the lawyers section to see the firms.

  1. Which ticket are you sorting out?
    • Speeding
    • Red light or camera
    • A court date I missed
    • Something else
  2. How close is your due date?
    • Within the next 7 days
    • Further away than that
    • It has already gone by
    • I cannot find it
  3. What do you want most from this?
    • Keep a point off my record
    • Pay as little as I can now
    • Stay out of the courtroom

I got a ticket for…

Pick the line that matches your citation. Each page gives the cost, the points and the next steps for that situation.

What will this cost me?

Open the estimator
  • Speeding, 1 to 15 mph over the limit$226.16Statewide total bail
  • Speeding, 26 mph and over the limit (under 100 mph)$467.90Statewide total bail
  • Speeding, over 100 mph$860.80Statewide total bail

Statewide 2026 totals. The base fine is only part of each figure.

What happens to my record?

Speeding tickets under 100 mph run from $226.16 to $467.90 on the statewide 2026 schedule. Over 100 mph the total is $860.80. The ticket cost estimator gives you a figure and the points for your ticket.

A conviction for most moving violations adds 1 point to your DMV record. Under Vehicle Code 12810.5, the DMV can send a notice of intent to suspend at 3 points in 12 months, 5 in 24 or 7 in 36, and can order probation at 4, 6 or 8 in the same windows.

What do I do before the due date?

Your citation or court notice sets the deadline. Work through these steps in order.

  1. Find the due date on your citation or notice and write it down.
  2. Find your court. The citation names it. Look up the case in that court's online system or call its traffic clerk. The courts page lists contacts for four counties.
  3. Choose one option: pay, go to traffic school, or contest. The route comparison sets the options side by side.
  4. Act in writing or online before the due date. Using a court website does not extend a deadline; the Los Angeles court says so on its traffic page.

Already past the date? Go straight to missed your court date.

Pay, school, or contest?

Paying ends the case but records a conviction. Traffic school is open only to eligible drivers. Contesting keeps the case open.

Find your court

Check the court named on your citation, then open its page here for phone numbers and online tools.

Who can take this off my plate?

Some drivers hire a lawyer to handle the ticket. These firms list traffic ticket work on their own websites.

Our picks for you

These firms list traffic ticket work on their own websites. The picks are not a ranking.

  1. Ticket Crushers, A Law Corporation

    4.9 on Google · 605 reviews

    Adam Cohen, Esq. (founder). Adam Cohen founded the firm in 2015. The firm says an attorney from its office appears on your behalf for non-criminal violations.

    Speeding tickets and speeding over 100 mphRed light and red light camera ticketsFailure-to-appear notices and suspended-license problemsNegligent operator hearingsCommercial driver citationsCriminal defense and DUI defenseFlat fee from $149Bilingual service available (Spanish)

    Review rating and count taken from the firm’s site on 2026-10-13.

    (866) 842-5384Get a flat-fee quote

  2. The Nieves Law Firm

    • 1100 11th St., 3rd Fl., Rm 311, Sacramento, CA 95814 (Sacramento office)(916) 545-1989
    • thenieveslawfirm.com

    Its Sacramento traffic page says it represents clients with a speeding ticket or a red light violation.

  3. Stephen G. Rodriguez & Partners

    • 633 W 5th St, 28th Floor, Suite 2874, Los Angeles, CA 90071(213) 481-6811
    • lacriminaldefenseattorney.com

    Its speeding-ticket page says it offers a complimentary consultation to drivers facing a speeding ticket in Los Angeles.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to deal with a California ticket?

You have until the due date printed on your citation or court notice. Your notice sets the date, and it can differ from one case to the next. Miss it and the case can become a failure to appear. Vehicle Code 40310 also requires a 50 percent late charge on traffic penalties not paid within 20 days.

Is paying a ticket an admission of guilt?

Paying is treated as a conviction. The Sacramento Superior Court describes paying in full as a bail forfeiture: a conviction is reported to the DMV and the option to contest ends. Check how your own court describes payment before you pay.

Can I handle a ticket without going to court?

Often, yes. Vehicle Code 40902 lets you elect a trial by written declaration for any alleged infraction. The Sacramento and Los Angeles courts also list online services for paying, requesting traffic school or contesting. Check your notice, because some cases require a court appearance.

What if I lost my citation?

Search for the case on your court's online system. Santa Clara County has a Case Info website at portal.scscourt.org/traffic. Los Angeles asks for a citation or driver's license number. Sacramento uses its Public Case Access System. Look up the due date before you do anything else.

Last reviewed · Reviewed by the californiaticketlawyerhelp editorial team