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Florida traffic tickets

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

Speeding ticketAbout $129–$369estimate with court costs
License at risk12 ptsin 12 months
Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) courseYesavailable, with limits
Insurance after 1 ticket+13%on $3,732 a year

What will my ticket really cost? Check my points

What kind of ticket did you get?

Which court is on your ticket?

State law sets the base fine, and counties add court costs. Pick the court named on your ticket.

Every other Florida county court

Phone, pay-online link and traffic school steps for 2 more courts. Tap a county to open it.

Lee County

Lee County Clerk of Court & Comptroller - Traffic. Your notice shows the amount.

Polk County863-733-8045Pays online

Polk County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller - Traffic. Your notice shows the amount.

Address
Polk County Courthouse, 255 N. Broadway Ave., Bartow, FL 33830-3912
Phone
863-733-8045
Hours
Offices: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Phone payment center: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Traffic school
Elect Basic Driver Improvement on the citation choice form within 30 calendar days and pay the civil penalty at the same time (by mail, in person or online). The civil penalty is owed in addition to the course fee. The course must be completed and the completion certificate filed with the Clerk within 90 days of selecting traffic school. Missing it brings additional fees and license suspension. CDL holders may not elect.

Pay or look up your ticket ↗ polkclerkfl.gov ↗

What are your options with a Florida ticket?

Paying is the fastest route, and it usually puts the ticket on your record. Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) course is the main way to avoid that.

  1. Pay the civil penalty

    Pay the clerk of court by mail or in person within 30 days of the date on the citation.

    What it does: Paying counts as admitting the infraction. The clerk reports it to FLHSMV, which adds the points for that violation to your driving record.[2][1]

  2. Elect Basic Driver Improvement (BDI)

    Tell the clerk within 30 days of the citation that you choose the course, then finish an FLHSMV-approved BDI course and file the certificate by the clerk's deadline, usually 60 to 90 days from the citation. You can do this once every 12 months and eight times in your life. CDL holders and speeds 30 mph or more over the limit are not eligible.

    What it does: Adjudication is withheld, which is not a conviction, and no points are added. The civil penalty is cut by 18 percent. If you don't finish on time, you are found guilty and the points are added.[2][6][14][15][4]

    Cost: The reduced civil penalty and court costs, plus the course price and a $2.50 state fee collected by the school

  3. Contest the ticket at a hearing

    Ask the clerk for a hearing within 30 days of the citation. A county judge or hearing officer decides, and the state must prove the infraction beyond a reasonable doubt. Some serious infractions, such as a crash causing serious injury or death or speeding 30 mph or more over the limit, always need a hearing.

    What it does: If the infraction isn't proven, there is no penalty and no points. If it is, the judge can set a penalty of up to $500 ($1,000 for speeding in a school or construction zone), order driver improvement school, or both. The points are then reported to FLHSMV.[2][7]

    Cost: By asking for a hearing you give up the fixed penalty amount from the state schedule

  4. Set up a payment plan with the clerk

    Within 30 days of the citation, sign up for a payment plan with the clerk of court instead of paying in full.

    What it does: Same as paying: you admit the infraction and the points are added. Missing plan payments leads to a license suspension.[2][4]

  5. Show proof of a valid license or registration

    For tickets for driving without a valid license or registration, you can plead no contest and show the clerk proof that you now have a valid license or registration, instead of paying the fine or going to court. You can use this once every 12 months and three times in your life. It is not open to CDL holders.

    What it does: Adjudication is withheld, so it is not a conviction.[2]

What does the Florida state schedule charge for speeding?

1–5 mph overOn your notice[3]
6–9 mph overAbout $129–$144[3]$25 fine + costs
10–14 mph overAbout $204–$219[3]$100 fine + costs
15–19 mph overAbout $254–$269[3]$150 fine + costs
20–29 mph overAbout $279–$294[3]$175 fine + costs
30+ mph overAbout $354–$369[3][7]$250 fine + costs

On top of the 318.18 civil penalty, statewide add-ons apply: court costs of $35 (moving), $18 (nonmoving) or $4 (pedestrian).[3][5]

Every fine on the Florida schedule (23)
TicketState fineWith court costs
Speeding, 1–5 mph overPrinted as: Unlawful speed, 1-5 mph overWarning.On your notice[3]Plus court costs
Speeding, 6–9 mph overPrinted as: Unlawful speed, 6-9 mph over$25[3]$129–$144
Speeding, 10–14 mph overPrinted as: Unlawful speed, 10-14 mph over$100[3]$204–$219
Speeding, 15–19 mph overPrinted as: Unlawful speed, 15-19 mph over$150[3]$254–$269
Speeding, 20–29 mph overPrinted as: Unlawful speed, 20-29 mph over$175[3]$279–$294
Speeding, 30+ mph overPrinted as: Unlawful speed, 30 mph and above overMandatory court hearing under 318.19(5) (2026 text): cannot simply pay by mail, and BDI election is unavailable.$250[3][7]$354–$369
School zone speeding, 1–5 mph overPrinted as: Unlawful speed in a legally posted school zone, up to 5 mph over$50[3]$154–$169
School zone speeding, 6–9 mph overPrinted as: School zone, 6-9 mph over (double)$50[3]$154–$169
School zone speeding, 10–14 mph overPrinted as: School zone, 10-14 mph over (double)$200[3]$304–$319
School zone speeding, 15–19 mph overPrinted as: School zone, 15-19 mph over (double)$300[3]$404–$419
School zone speeding, 20–29 mph overPrinted as: School zone, 20-29 mph over (double)$350[3]$454–$469
School zone speed cameraFlat $100.$100[3]$204–$219
Work zone speeding, 6–9 mph overPrinted as: Construction zone, 6-9 mph over (double)$50[3]$154–$169
Work zone speeding, 10–14 mph overPrinted as: Construction zone, 10-14 mph over (double)$200[3]$304–$319
Work zone speeding, 15–19 mph overPrinted as: Construction zone, 15-19 mph over (double)$300[3]$404–$419
Work zone speeding, 20–29 mph overPrinted as: Construction zone, 20-29 mph over (double)$350[3]$454–$469
Failure to stop at a traffic signal, enforced by a law enforcement officer$158[3]$262–$277
Moving violation not requiring a mandatory appearance (not otherwise specified)$60[3]$164–$179
Nonmoving traffic violation$30[3][11][12]$134–$149
Pedestrian regulation infraction318.18(1).$15[3]$119–$134
Failure to stop for a school bus$200[3]$304–$319
Passing a school bus on the side children enter and exitMandatory hearing.$400[3][7]$504–$519
Failure to maintain required security / proof of insurance318.18 text reviewed does not state a specific civil penalty for 316.646.If you fix it: Up to $10, to have it dismissed. Show insurance valid at the time of the stop.[3]On your notice[3]Plus court costs

With court costs is an estimate. The 4 largest Florida courts add $104 to $119 in court costs to the same fines. Your notice shows the exact total.

How many points is a speeding ticket in Florida?

All 13 point values
  • Unlawfully driving a vehicle through a railroad-highway grade crossing6 pts[1]
  • All other moving violations (including parking on a highway outside the limits of a municipality)3 pts[1]
  • Any other moving violation (excluding unlawful speed and wireless device use) resulting in a crash4 pts[1]
  • Handheld phone use0 pts[11][1]
  • No seat belt0 pts[12][1]
How points work in Florida

FLHSMV assigns points on conviction (or admission by payment) under the F.S. 322.27(3) point system. Points are computed by offense date and remain on the driver record for at least 5 years from the date of disposition. A withheld adjudication after a Basic Driver Improvement election assesses no points. Out-of-state convictions are recorded with the same points as an equivalent Florida conviction.[1][2][13]

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

When can you lose your license?

  1. 12 ptsin 12 monthsSuspension of not more than 30 days[1][13]
  2. 18 ptsin 18 monthsSuspension of not more than 3 months[1][13]
  3. 24 ptsin 36 monthsSuspension of not more than 1 year[1][13]
Full wording of each rule
  • 12 points in 12 months: Suspension of not more than 30 days
  • 18 points in 18 months: Suspension of not more than 3 months (counts points already used for a 12-point suspension)
  • 24 points in 36 months: Suspension of not more than 1 year (counts points already used for earlier suspensions)

Getting your license back after a suspension costs $45 in Florida, before any course or court costs.[16]

Drivers under 21

Under 18: a Class E licensee age 15-17 who accumulates 6 or more points (excluding parking) within 12 months is restricted to business-purposes-only driving for at least 1 year, extended 90 days per additional point. Withdrawn at 18 if no other grounds.[10] (Florida's statute is an under-18 rule, not an under-21 rule.)

Can Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) course keep a ticket off your record in Florida?

It can help. Adjudication is withheld, no points are assessed, and the 318.18(3) civil penalty is reduced by 18 percent (2026 text).[2][4]

How often: Once in any 12-month period (no election in the preceding 12 months). No more than eight elections in a lifetime.

Official list of approved schools ↗

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

Who qualifies, CDL drivers and cost

Adjudication is withheld, no points are assessed, and the 318.18(3) civil penalty is reduced by 18 percent (2026 text). A withheld adjudication is not a conviction. If you elect BDI but do not complete it in the time set, you are adjudicated guilty, points are assessed, and you must pay back the 18% reduction plus a processing fee of up to $18.[2][4]

Who can use it: Drivers without a commercial driver license or commercial learner's permit, cited in a noncommercial vehicle, for a noncriminal infraction. Not available for: speeding 30+ mph over, mandatory-hearing infractions, and certain license/registration/insurance offenses (320.0605, 320.07(3)(a)/(b), 322.065, 322.15(1), 322.61, 322.62). Must be elected within 30 days of the citation. After that the option is forfeited.[2][7][14]

Commercial (CDL) drivers: No[2][14]

Cost: Course fee set by the approved provider, plus a $2.50 FLHSMV assessment fee collected by the school. The civil penalty (reduced 18%) and court costs are still paid to the clerk. Any clerk election/processing fee is set locally (see county files).[6][2][14][15]

Do school and work zones cost more?

School zones

Speeding in a school zone or designated school crossing: fine is double the 318.18(3)(b) amount. Up to 5 mph over in a legally posted school zone is a flat $50. School-zone speed cameras: flat $100, no points. After a hearing the court may impose up to $1,000. A moving violation committed while unlawfully using a wireless device in a school safety zone adds 2 points.[3][2][1]

Work zones

Speeding in a posted construction zone (posting must state the limit and the doubled fines): fine is double the 318.18(3)(b) amount, only if construction personnel are present or operating equipment on or immediately adjacent to the road. Court may impose up to $1,000 after a hearing. Also: enhanced penalty zones add $50. Posted toll-collection zones double.[3][2]

When is your ticket due?

  1. 30daysPay or respondfrom the ticket date[2][3][4]
    Details

    Pay the civil penalty, enter a clerk payment plan, or elect a hearing. If you miss it: Missing it adds a $16 delinquent fee and the clerk reports the failure to FLHSMV, which suspends the license.

  2. 10daysCourt reports your coursefrom conviction[2]
    Details

    Clerk reports the disposition to FLHSMV (points posted)

  3. 20daysLicense suspended if ignoredfrom the notice date[4]
    Details

    License suspension after failure to pay/appear/attend school. If you miss it: Clerk notifies FLHSMV within 10 days of the failure. FLHSMV's suspension order takes effect 20 days after it is provided. Reinstatement requires clearing the case with the clerk plus a $60 service charge.

  4. 30daysChoose traffic schoolfrom the ticket date[14]
    Details

    Elect Basic Driver Improvement in lieu of points. If you miss it: Right to elect BDI is forfeited and points are assessed.

  5. 180daysLast day to ask for a hearingfrom the ticket date[4]
    Details

    Latest date to request a hearing, even after a suspension. If you miss it: After 180 days the court may still grant a hearing at its discretion. Late fees still apply.

  6. Date on noticeFinish traffic schoolset by the court[15][4]
    Details

    Complete the BDI course and file the certificate. If you miss it: Adjudicated guilty, points assessed, and the 18% reduction plus up to $18 processing fee must be paid.

What happens if you don't respond

Failing to pay within 30 days, to comply with a payment plan, to attend driver improvement school, or to appear at a hearing: the clerk notifies FLHSMV within 10 days, FLHSMV suspends the license effective 20 days after the order, a $16 delinquent fee is added, and reinstatement requires a clerk compliance certificate plus a $60 service charge. An unreinstated suspension stays on the record 7 years.[4][3]

Work out your exact dates → · Already missed it?

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

A Florida driver's ticket from another state is sent to Florida and added to the driver record, with points if the offense is point-assessable under 322.27(3). Florida does not let any school remove points for an out-of-state citation. Under the NRVC, a nonresident who ignores a Florida ticket can have the home state suspend their license.[13][1][9]

How out-of-state tickets work →

Visiting Florida? What a ticket here means back home

Will a Florida ticket go on my home state record?

If you pay the ticket, it counts as a conviction and Florida shares it with the state that issued your license. Your home state then treats it the way its own law says, so whether points are added depends on your state.[2][8][18]

Can I take the Florida driving course online from another state?

Yes. Florida does not limit the Basic Driver Improvement course to Florida license holders, and many state-approved providers teach it online. You must choose it within 30 days of the ticket, and CDL holders and drivers cited 30 mph or more over the limit cannot use it.[2][6][14][17]

Does the Florida course keep points off my home record?

Florida withholds adjudication and adds no points, and Florida law says a withheld adjudication is not a conviction. Your home state decides how it treats the case, so the Orange County clerk asks out-of-state drivers to check with their own DMV before choosing the course.[2][8][17]

How much does the course save me?

The fine is cut by 18 percent, so a $100 speeding fine becomes $82. Court costs are not reduced, and you also pay the school its course price plus a $2.50 state fee.[2][6]

Can I pay without coming back to Florida?

Yes, for most tickets. You can pay the county clerk by mail within 30 days of the ticket, and large clerks such as Orange County also take payment online. Tickets that need a mandatory hearing, such as speeding 30 mph or more over the limit, require a court date.[2][7][17]

What happens if I ignore it after I go home?

The clerk tells the state, which suspends your right to drive in Florida. Florida can also report it to your home state, which can suspend your license until you settle the ticket. Once you pay, the clerk mails out-of-state drivers a clearance letter to send to their own licensing agency.[4][9][17]

How much will it raise your insurance in Florida?

One speeding ticket raised a full-coverage premium by about 13% on average in Florida[1], from a clean-record average of $3,732 a year.[1] If that increase stays for three years, that's about $1,455 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 Florida?

FLHSMV assigns points on conviction (or admission by payment) under the F.S. 322.27(3) point system. Points are computed by offense date and remain on the driver record for at least 5 years from the date of disposition. A withheld adjudication after a Basic Driver Improvement election assesses no points. Out-of-state convictions are recorded with the same points as an equivalent Florida conviction.

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

12 points in 12 months: Suspension of not more than 30 days.

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

Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) course: Adjudication is withheld, no points are assessed, and the 318.18(3) civil penalty is reduced by 18 percent (2026 text). A withheld adjudication is not a conviction. If you elect BDI but do not complete it in the time set, you are adjudicated guilty, points are assessed, and you must pay back the 18% reduction plus a processing fee of up to $18. Limit: Once in any 12-month period (no election in the preceding 12 months). No more than eight elections in a lifetime.

How long do I have to pay or respond to a ticket in Florida?

30 days from the citation. If you miss it: Missing it adds a $16 delinquent fee and the clerk reports the failure to FLHSMV, which suspends the license.

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

Florida is a member of the Driver License Compact, so convictions in other member states are reported to Florida. A Florida driver's ticket from another state is sent to Florida and added to the driver record, with points if the offense is point-assessable under 322.27(3). Florida does not let any school remove points for an out-of-state citation. Under the NRVC, a nonresident who ignores a Florida ticket can have the home state suspend their license.

How much does a speeding ticket raise insurance in Florida?

About 13% 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

Florida law and DMV sources (18)
  1. Fla. Stat. §322.27 (Authority of department to suspend or revoke driver license, point system), 2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Legislature.
  2. Fla. Stat. §318.14 (Noncriminal traffic infractions, procedures), 2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Legislature.
  3. Fla. Stat. §318.18 (Amount of penalties), 2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Legislature.
  4. Fla. Stat. §318.15 (Failure to comply with civil penalty or to appear, penalty), 2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Legislature.
  5. Fla. Stat. §318.21 (Disposition of civil penalties by county courts), 2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Legislature.
  6. Fla. Stat. §318.1451 (Driver improvement schools), 2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Legislature.
  7. Fla. Stat. §318.19 (Infractions requiring a mandatory hearing), 2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Legislature.
  8. Fla. Stat. §322.44 (Driver License Compact), 2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Legislature.
  9. Fla. Stat. §322.50 (Nonresident Violator Compact), 2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Legislature.
  10. Fla. Stat. §322.161 (High-risk drivers, restricted licenses), 2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Legislature.
  11. Fla. Stat. §316.305 (Wireless communications devices, prohibition), 2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Legislature.
  12. Fla. Stat. §316.614 (Safety belt usage), 2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Legislature.
  13. FLHSMV: Points & Point Suspensions, Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
  14. FLHSMV: What is Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) and how do I find the approved listing of BDI course providers?, Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
  15. FLHSMV: Driver Improvement Courses, Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
  16. Fla. Stat. §322.21 (License fees, procedure for handling and collecting fees), subsection (8) reinstatement service fees, 2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Legislature.
  17. Orange County Clerk of Courts - Traffic Ticket Options, Orange County Clerk of Courts.
  18. Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller - Traffic Tickets, Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller.
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).