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Alabama traffic tickets

Points, traffic school, deadlines and what a ticket does to your insurance in Alabama.

Speeding ticketAbout $189–$250estimate with court costs
License at risk12 ptsin 24 months
Defensive driving schoolYesavailable, with limits
Insurance after 1 ticket+25%on $2,172 a year

What will my ticket really cost? Check my points

What kind of ticket did you get?

Which court is on your ticket?

One statewide schedule sets most fines. Pick the court named on your ticket.

What are your options with an Alabama ticket?

Paying is the fastest route, and it usually puts the ticket on your record. Defensive driving school is the main way to avoid that.

  1. Pay the fine and court costs

    Pay before your court date online at AlaPay.com, by phone at 1-877-252-7294, or by money order to the circuit clerk. Only offenses on the county's list can be paid without going to court.

    What it does: Paying is a guilty plea. It is a conviction and the points go on your record. It also ends any chance of defensive driving school.[4][3]

    Cost: The scheduled fine plus county court costs. Card payments carry a convenience fee.

  2. Use RESOLVE, the state's online ticket system

    Go to resolve.alacourt.gov before the court date. You can upload proof of insurance, a valid license or a repair, ask for driving school, or ask for a trial.

    What it does: Some tickets are dismissed on proof, sometimes after paying court costs. Others go to court or to driving school.[4]

  3. Ask for defensive driving school

    Ask through RESOLVE, the district attorney or the judge before your court date. Do not pay the ticket first.

    What it does: If approved, the ticket is dismissed after you finish the course and pay court costs, so no conviction and no points.[4][7][8]

    Cost: Court costs plus the course fee.

  4. Plead not guilty and ask for a trial

    Choose the not guilty option on RESOLVE or appear on your court date and ask for a trial date. The first court date is not the trial.

    What it does: If you win, no fine and no points. If you lose, you may owe more than the scheduled amount, including subpoena fees.[4]

  5. Appeal to circuit court

    File a written notice of appeal with the district or municipal court clerk within 14 days of sentencing and post a new bond.

    What it does: The circuit court hears the case again from the start.[6]

What does the Alabama state schedule charge for speeding?

1–24 mph overAbout $189–$230[3]$20 fine + costs
25+ mph overAbout $209–$250[3][2]$40 fine + costs

Court costs are added to every scheduled fine and vary by county.[3][4]

Every fine on the Alabama schedule (15)
TicketState fineWith court costs
Speeding, 1–24 mph overPrinted as: Speeding less than 25 mph over the limitMagistrate schedule fine.$20[3]$189–$230
Speeding, 25+ mph overPrinted as: Speeding 25 or more mph over the limit$40[3][2]$209–$250
Speeding in a construction zoneSame $250 fine whether under or over 25 mph over.$250[3]$419–$460
Speed exceeding reasonable and prudent$20[3]$189–$230
Running a red light$20[3]$189–$230
Running a stop sign$20[3]$189–$230
Failure to yield right-of-way$20[3]$189–$230
Following too closely$20[3]$189–$230
Improper lane change$20[3]$189–$230
Making a U-turn$20[3]$189–$230
Improper turn$20[3]$189–$230
Texting while driving$25[3]$194–$235
Failure to wear a safety beltNo court costs apply to this offense, so county totals are about $46.$25[3][4]$25
Operating a vehicle without insuranceIf you fix it: Many courts dismiss or lower it. Show proof of insurance.[3]$50[3]$219–$260
Expired tag$20[3]$189–$230

With court costs is an estimate. The 5 largest Alabama courts add $169 to $210 in court costs to the same fines. Your notice shows the exact total.

How many points is a speeding ticket in Alabama?

All 21 point values
  • Failing to obey construction or maintenance zone markers, flagger or officer3 pts[2]
  • Improper lane2 pts[2]
  • Inability to control vehicle2 pts[2]
  • Making an improper turn2 pts[2]
  • Failing to signal or using the wrong signal2 pts[2]
  • Emergency vehicles2 pts[2]
  • Drinking alcohol while operating a vehicle2 pts[2]
  • Improper operation of a motorcycle2 pts[2]
  • Coasting2 pts[2]
  • Unsafe operation2 pts[2]
  • Admin per se6 pts[2]
  • Alcohol-related driving conviction that did not require license revocation6 pts[2]
  • All other moving violations2 pts[2]
How points work in Alabama

Points go on your record when you are convicted, and paying a ticket counts as a guilty plea. Speeding up to 25 mph over is 2 points and 26 or more over is 5. Twelve or more points in any 2 years leads to a suspension of 60 days to 1 year. A conviction stops counting toward suspension after 2 years but stays on your record.[2][4]

Commercial driver? Points and disqualifications work differently. How tickets affect a CDL →

When can you lose your license?

  1. 12 ptsin 24 months12-14 points[2]
  2. 15 ptsin 24 months15-17 points[2]
  3. 18 ptsin 24 months18-20 points[2]
  4. 21 ptsin 24 months21-23 points[2]
  5. 24 ptsin 24 months24+ points[2]
Full wording of each rule
  • 12 points in 24 months: 12-14 points: 60-day suspension
  • 15 points in 24 months: 15-17 points: 90-day suspension
  • 18 points in 24 months: 18-20 points: 120-day suspension
  • 21 points in 24 months: 21-23 points: 180-day suspension
  • 24 points in 24 months: 24+ points: 365-day suspension

Getting your license back after a suspension costs $100 in Alabama, before any course or court costs.[5]

Drivers under 21

Not published: ALEA's point page lists one schedule for all license holders and no separate under-21 point limit.[2]

Can defensive driving school keep a ticket off your record in Alabama?

It can help. If the court approves it, the ticket is dismissed once you finish the course and pay court costs.[7][8]

Official list of approved schools ↗

Is it worth it for your ticket? Get a yes or no →

Who qualifies, CDL drivers and cost

If the court approves it, the ticket is dismissed once you finish the course and pay court costs. Jefferson County says this keeps the points off your Alabama record.[7][8]

Who can use it: Up to each court. Ask through RESOLVE (resolve.alacourt.gov) or the district attorney before your court date and do not pay the ticket first, because paying is a guilty plea and ends the option. Jefferson County, for example, requires no moving violation in the past 3 years, no DUI arrest and no CDL.[4][7]

Cost: Court costs plus the course fee. Neither is set statewide.[7][8]

Do school and work zones cost more?

Work zones

Higher fines. In a construction zone the magistrate schedule sets a $250 fine for nearly every listed traffic offense, compared with $20 to $40 for speeding elsewhere. Court costs are added on top.[3]

When is your ticket due?

  1. Date on noticePay or respondset by the court[4]
    Details

    Pay, resolve online or appear in court by the court date on your ticket. If you miss it: Missing it can mean a late fee, a license suspension and a warrant for your arrest.

  2. 14daysLast day to appealfrom conviction[6]
    Details

    Appeal a district or municipal court conviction to circuit court for a new trial. If you miss it: After 14 days the conviction stands. You must also post a new appeal bond.

What happens if you don't respond

If you do not pay or resolve the ticket before the court date and do not appear, you are in contempt of court. The court can add a late fee, ALEA can suspend your license, and a warrant can be issued. After you pay, the circuit clerk sends a clearance letter that you submit to ALEA to get your license back, plus the reinstatement fee.[4][5]

Work out your exact dates → · Already missed it?

Will an out-of-state ticket follow you home?

Alabama is in both the Driver License Compact and the Nonresident Violator Compact. Alabama courts accept payment from out-of-state drivers online at AlaPay or by phone.[1][4]

How out-of-state tickets work →

How much will it raise your insurance in Alabama?

One speeding ticket raised a full-coverage premium by about 25% on average in Alabama[1], from a clean-record average of $2,172 a year.[1] If that increase stays for three years, that's about $1,629 on top of the fine.

Averages from ValuePenguin State of Auto Insurance in 2026, not a quote. Insurers differ, and many look back three to five years.

Where are the official pages?

What else do people ask?

How do points work in Alabama?

Points go on your record when you are convicted, and paying a ticket counts as a guilty plea. Speeding up to 25 mph over is 2 points and 26 or more over is 5. Twelve or more points in any 2 years leads to a suspension of 60 days to 1 year. A conviction stops counting toward suspension after 2 years but stays on your record.

How many points before your license is at risk in Alabama?

12 points in 24 months: 12-14 points: 60-day suspension.

Can traffic school keep a ticket off my record in Alabama?

Defensive driving school: If the court approves it, the ticket is dismissed once you finish the course and pay court costs. Jefferson County says this keeps the points off your Alabama record.

Will an out-of-state ticket follow me home to Alabama?

Alabama is a member of the Driver License Compact, so convictions in other member states are reported to Alabama. Alabama is in both the Driver License Compact and the Nonresident Violator Compact. Alabama courts accept payment from out-of-state drivers online at AlaPay or by phone.

How much does a speeding ticket raise insurance in Alabama?

About 25% on average for full coverage, according to ValuePenguin State of Auto Insurance in 2026. Your insurer's rate can differ a lot from the average.

Sources

Alabama law and DMV sources (8)
  1. AAMVA DLC/NRVC Member Joinder Dates (rev. April 2026), AAMVA.
  2. Driver License Point System, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA).
  3. Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration, Rule 20: Magistrates' fine schedule, Supreme Court of Alabama.
  4. Alabama Traffic Service Center: Frequently Asked Questions, Alabama Administrative Office of Courts.
  5. Driver Records, Crash Reports, and Driver License Reinstatements, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA).
  6. Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 30.3: Notice and perfection of appeal, Supreme Court of Alabama.
  7. Jefferson County (Birmingham Division) Traffic Court: Defensive Driving School, Alabama Administrative Office of Courts.
  8. Tuscaloosa County Traffic Court, Alabama Administrative Office of Courts.
Insurance sources (4)
  1. State of Auto Insurance in 2026, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
  2. Car Insurance Rate Increases with a Speeding Ticket in 2026, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
  3. How Does a DUI Affect Your Auto Insurance Rates in 2026?, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
  4. How Much Will My Car Insurance Rates Go Up After a Crash in 2026?, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).