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Georgia traffic tickets

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

Point systemYes
License at risk15 ptsin 24 months
Driver Improvement (defensive driving) courseYesavailable, with limits
Insurance after 1 ticket+15%on $2,208 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 a range, and the court picks the amount. Pick the court named on your ticket.

Every other Georgia county court

Phone, pay-online link and traffic school steps for 3 more courts. Tap a county to open it.

Chatham County912-652-7425Pays online

Recorder's Court of Chatham County. Your notice shows the amount.

Address
133 Montgomery St., Room 101, Savannah, GA 31401
Phone
912-652-7425
Hours
Office 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Cashier Monday-Friday 8:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Pay or look up your ticket ↗ savannahga.gov ↗

Clayton County(770) 430-6911Pays online

State Court of Clayton County - Clerk of State Court (Traffic Division). Your notice shows the amount.

Address
Harold R. Banke Justice Center, 9151 Tara Boulevard, Room 1CL181, Jonesboro, GA 30236-4912
Phone
(770) 430-6911
Hours
Office: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Traffic payments accepted 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Pay or look up your ticket ↗ claytoncountyga.gov ↗

DeKalb County404-294-2099Pays online

State Court of DeKalb County, Division B (Traffic). Your notice shows the amount.

Address
DeKalb County Courthouse (Robert "Bobby" Burgess Building), 3630 Camp Circle, Decatur, GA 30032
Phone
404-294-2099
Hours
8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Pay or look up your ticket ↗ dekalbgastatecourt.gov ↗

What are your options with a Georgia ticket?

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

  1. Pay the fine before your court date

    For any charge not marked as a mandatory court appearance, you can pay the court before your court date instead of going. The payment must reach the court by the date and time of your hearing.

    What it does: Paying settles the case without a trial. The court reports the conviction to DDS, which adds the points for that violation. Insurers can see it on your driving record.[16][17][1]

  2. Plead nolo contendere (no contest)

    Go to court on your court date and enter a no contest plea. You don't admit the violation but don't fight it.

    What it does: DDS accepts one no contest plea for a moving violation every 5 years without adding points. A second one within 5 years gets points. The case still shows on your driving record, where insurers can see it, and it does not avoid the Super Speeder fee.[16][4][7]

  3. Take defensive driving before court (zero-point order)

    Finish a DDS-certified 6-hour classroom defensive driving course after you get the ticket and before your court date, or when the court orders it. Give the court your original certificate. You can use this once every 5 years.

    What it does: The court cuts the base fine by 20 percent and no points are added. The conviction still goes on your record, and mandatory suspensions still apply.[2][3][4][6]

    Cost: $95 course fee set by DDS

  4. Take defensive driving to reduce points

    After a conviction, finish a DDS-certified 6-hour classroom course and send the original certificate to DDS in person or by mail. Online courses don't count. You can do this once every 5 years.

    What it does: DDS takes up to 7 points off your total, but not below zero. The conviction stays on your record, and a points suspension already in place is not lifted.[2][6]

    Cost: $95 course fee set by DDS

  5. Plead not guilty and go to trial

    Go to court on the date on your citation and plead not guilty. The court may hold the trial that day or set a later date. For a misdemeanor traffic charge you can have a judge decide, or ask for a jury, which moves the case to State or Superior Court.

    What it does: The state must prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. If it can't, there is no conviction. If you are found guilty, the court tells DDS and the points go on your record.[16][17]

What does Georgia law allow for speeding?

1–5 mph overOn your notice[12]
6–10 mph overUp to $25 fine + $17 or more[12]
11–14 mph overUp to $100 fine + $38 or more[12]
15–18 mph overUp to $125 fine + $45 or more[12]
19–23 mph overUp to $150 fine + $52 or more[12]
24–33 mph overUp to $500 fine + $150 or more[12]
34+ mph overOn your notice[12]

Georgia courts set their own fines, and state law adds to every one.[19][21][22][24][20][23][7][8][4][9]

Every fine on the Georgia schedule (8)
TicketState fineWith court costs
Speeding, 1–5 mph overPrinted as: First speeding offense, 5 mph or less over - maximum fineO.C.G.A.On your notice[12]Plus court costs
Speeding, 6–10 mph overPrinted as: First speeding offense, more than 5 up to 10 mph over - maximum fineMaximum only.Up to $25[12]Up to $25 fine + $17 or more
Speeding, 11–14 mph overPrinted as: First speeding offense, more than 10 up to 14 mph over - maximum fineMaximum only.Up to $100[12]Up to $100 fine + $38 or more
Speeding, 15–18 mph overPrinted as: First speeding offense, more than 14 but less than 19 mph over - maximum fineMaximum only.Up to $125[12]Up to $125 fine + $45 or more
Speeding, 19–23 mph overPrinted as: First speeding offense, 19 to less than 24 mph over - maximum fineMaximum only.Up to $150[12]Up to $150 fine + $52 or more
Speeding, 24–33 mph overPrinted as: First speeding offense, 24 to less than 34 mph over - maximum fineMaximum only.Up to $500[12]Up to $500 fine + $150 or more
Speeding, 34+ mph overPrinted as: Speeding 34+ mph overOn your notice[12]Plus court costs
Speeding in highway work zone - 40-6-188 (fine range $100-$2,000)On your notice[10]Plus court costs

With court costs is an estimate. State add-ons of 28% of the fine plus $10 for the pension fund (10% on fines over $100). County jail funds and local court costs add more.[19][21][22][24] Your notice shows the exact total.

How many points is a speeding ticket in Georgia?

All 27 point values
  • Passing a stopped school bus6 pts[1][2]
  • Improper passing on hill or curve4 pts[1][2]
  • Disregard of traffic control device or signal3 pts[1][2]
  • Running a red light3 pts[1]
  • Running a stop sign3 pts[1]
  • Failure to yield3 pts[1]
  • Unsafe lane change3 pts[1]
  • Following too closely3 pts[1]
  • Illegal U-turn3 pts[1]
  • Move over violation3 pts[1]
  • Handheld phone use1 pt[1][3]
  • Hands-free / wireless device violation, 2nd conviction2 pts[1][3]
  • Hands-free / wireless device violation, 3rd or subsequent3 pts[1][3]
  • Child restraint not properly used, 1st offense1 pt[1][2]
  • Child restraint not properly used, 2nd or subsequent2 pts[1][2]
  • Open container of alcohol while driving2 pts[1][2]
  • Unsecured load resulting in accident2 pts[1][2]
  • HOV lane violation, 4th and subsequent offense1 pt[1][2]
  • All other moving violations3 pts[2][3]
How points work in Georgia

DDS assesses 2 to 6 points per conviction (a few offenses carry 1 point) under O.C.G.A. 40-5-57 and DDS Rule 375-3-3-.01. Points are measured by offense date. Speeding less than 15 mph over the posted limit (i.e., 14 mph or less) and 'too fast for conditions' carry no points, and no points are assessed to non-Georgia residents. Georgia residents are assessed points for out-of-state violations that would carry points in Georgia. DDS accepts one nolo contendere plea for a moving violation per 5-year period without assigning points (the conviction still posts). When a license is suspended for points, the point total resets to zero.[1][2][3][4]

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

When can you lose your license?

  1. 15 ptsin 24 monthsLicense suspended[1][2][3][4][14]
  2. 4 ptsin 12 monthsUnder age 18[3][4]
Full wording of each rule
  • 15 points in 24 months: License suspended. First points suspension within 5 years is 1 year, but reinstatement is available immediately on completing a DDS-approved defensive driving course. A limited driving permit may be available on a 1st or 2nd points suspension.
  • 4 points in 12 months: Under age 18: license suspended

Getting your license back after a suspension costs $210 in Georgia, before any course or court costs.[18]

Drivers under 21

Under O.C.G.A. 40-5-57.1, a driver under 21 on the conviction date is suspended for a single conviction of reckless driving, aggressive driving, speeding 24+ mph over, unlawfully passing a school bus, improper passing on a hill or curve, any other 4-point offense, DUI, hit and run, racing, or fleeing/eluding. A nolo contendere plea counts as a conviction for these suspensions, and a 1st non-DUI suspension is 6 months. Drivers under 18 are also suspended for 4+ points in any 12 months. A limited permit for an under-21 speeding suspension is possible only if the driver is 18 or older, was 24-33 mph over, and the sentencing judge approves.[3][4]

Can Driver Improvement (defensive driving) course keep a ticket off your record in Georgia?

It can help. Two uses. (1) Points reduction: DDS reduces the point total by up to 7 points, but not below zero, after you submit the original certificate in person or by mail to P.O.[2][3][4][6]

How often: Points reduction: once every 5 years. Zero-point order: once every 5 years, measured violation date to violation date. The two can be used in the same 5-year period.

Official list of approved schools ↗

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

Who qualifies, CDL drivers and cost

Two uses. (1) Points reduction: DDS reduces the point total by up to 7 points, but not below zero, after you submit the original certificate in person or by mail to P.O. Box 80447, Conyers, GA 30013. (2) Points avoidance / zero-point order: if you finish the course after the citation and before court, or when the court orders it, the court reduces the base fine by 20% and no points are assessed. The conviction still posts to the record. A zero-point order does not avoid mandatory suspensions.[2][3][4][6]

Who can use it: Points reduction is for licensed Georgia residents. It requires a DDS-certified 6-hour classroom course. Online courses and non-DDS courses (such as AARP) are not accepted for license purposes. Zero-point orders should not be used for out-of-state drivers. A points reduction does not lift a points suspension already imposed.[2][3][4][6]

Commercial (CDL) drivers: Not confirmed: The DDS court manual refers to a 'masking prohibition regarding CDL holders' (federal anti-masking rule), but no DDS source checked states whether CDL holders can use points reduction or zero-point orders. Verify with DDS: https://dds.georgia.gov/points-and-points-reduction[4]

Cost: $95. DDS says clinics must charge $95 for a course taken for license reinstatement, points reduction, or court purposes.[6]

Do school and work zones cost more?

School zones

Georgia does not double school-zone fines. Under O.C.G.A. 40-14-18, automated school-zone speed cameras can cite only more than 10 mph over, on school days during class hours plus one hour before and after. The civil penalty is $75 for a first violation (plus processing fees up to $25) and $125 for a second or later violation. It is noncriminal and not counted for points.[11]

Work zones

Georgia does not double work-zone fines. Speeding in a highway work zone, whether under a reduced limit or not, is a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature. It is punishable by a fine of $100 to $2,000, up to 12 months in jail, or both. It applies only when the required signage is posted and either workers or hazards (barriers, work vehicles, drop-offs) are present. Points follow the normal speeding bands.[10][1] (Statute text is from FindLaw (current as of 2024-03-28), not the official O.C.G.A.)

When is your ticket due?

  1. Date on noticePay or respondset by the court[3][4]
    Details

    Appear in court or resolve the citation by the date printed on it. If you miss it: Failure to appear: bench warrant and license suspension

  2. 28daysLicense suspended if ignoredfrom the notice date[4]
    Details

    Clear the FTA with the court after DDS's certified-mail notice. If you miss it: Indefinite suspension until the court reports the case adjudicated. Reinstatement fee is $100 ($90 online or by mail).

  3. 30daysCourt reports a missed datefrom the notice date[4]
    Details

    Grace period after the court mails a failure-to-appear notice. If you miss it: After 30 days the court may issue a bench warrant and report the FTA to DDS

  4. 120daysSuper Speeder fee duefrom the notice date[7][8][3][9][4]
    Details

    Pay the $200 Super Speeder fee to DDS. If you miss it: License or driving privilege suspended. Reinstatement requires a $50 fee plus the $200 fee. No limited permit is available.

What happens if you don't respond

Georgia residents: the court mails a notice with a 30-day grace period, then may issue a bench warrant and report the FTA to DDS. DDS sends a certified-mail notice, and if the FTA is not cleared within 28 days the license is suspended indefinitely. Reinstatement requires the court's release plus $100 ($90 online or by mail), and no limited permit is available. Non-residents: DDS reports the FTA to the home state, which suspends under the Nonresident Violator Compact until Georgia confirms the case is adjudicated.[3][4]

Work out your exact dates → · Already missed it?

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

Non-residents get no Georgia points but must still pay the Super Speeder fee. Unpaid fees or FTAs suspend their Georgia privilege, and DDS reports to the home state. Georgia residents get points for out-of-state violations that would carry points in Georgia. DDS treats out-of-state convictions reported to it as Georgia convictions for suspensions, and it forwards non-resident convictions to the home state even though Georgia is not in the DLC.[2][3][4][7][13]

How out-of-state tickets work →

How much will it raise your insurance in Georgia?

One speeding ticket raised a full-coverage premium by about 15% on average in Georgia[1], from a clean-record average of $2,208 a year.[1] If that increase stays for three years, that's about $994 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 Georgia?

DDS assesses 2 to 6 points per conviction (a few offenses carry 1 point) under O.C.G.A. 40-5-57 and DDS Rule 375-3-3-.01. Points are measured by offense date. Speeding less than 15 mph over the posted limit (i.e., 14 mph or less) and 'too fast for conditions' carry no points, and no points are assessed to non-Georgia residents. Georgia residents are assessed points for out-of-state violations that would carry points in Georgia. DDS accepts one nolo contendere plea for a moving violation per 5-year period without assigning points (the conviction still posts). When a license is suspended for points, the point total resets to zero.

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

15 points in 24 months: License suspended. First points suspension within 5 years is 1 year, but reinstatement is available immediately on completing a DDS-approved defensive driving course. A limited driving permit may be available on a 1st or 2nd points suspension.

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

Driver Improvement (defensive driving) course: Two uses. (1) Points reduction: DDS reduces the point total by up to 7 points, but not below zero, after you submit the original certificate in person or by mail to P.O. Box 80447, Conyers, GA 30013. (2) Points avoidance / zero-point order: if you finish the course after the citation and before court, or when the court orders it, the court reduces the base fine by 20% and no points are assessed. The conviction still posts to the record. A zero-point order does not avoid mandatory suspensions. Limit: Points reduction: once every 5 years. Zero-point order: once every 5 years, measured violation date to violation date. The two can be used in the same 5-year period.

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

Georgia is not a member of the Driver License Compact. Non-residents get no Georgia points but must still pay the Super Speeder fee. Unpaid fees or FTAs suspend their Georgia privilege, and DDS reports to the home state. Georgia residents get points for out-of-state violations that would carry points in Georgia. DDS treats out-of-state convictions reported to it as Georgia convictions for suspensions, and it forwards non-resident convictions to the home state even though Georgia is not in the DLC.

How much does a speeding ticket raise insurance in Georgia?

About 15% 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

Georgia law and DMV sources (24)
  1. Georgia DDS - Points Schedule, Georgia Department of Driver Services.
  2. Georgia DDS - Points and Points Reduction, Georgia Department of Driver Services.
  3. Georgia Drivers Manual - Section 10: Losing Your Driving Privileges, Georgia Department of Driver Services.
  4. Georgia DDS Traffic Court Reference Manual 2021-2022 (v3), Georgia Department of Driver Services.
  5. Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. r. 375-3-3-.01 - Penalties for Violations of Uniform Rules of the Road, Georgia Department of Driver Services.
  6. Georgia DDS - Defensive Driving Program FAQs, Georgia Department of Driver Services.
  7. Georgia DDS - Reinstatement FAQs: Super Speeder, Georgia Department of Driver Services.
  8. Georgia.gov - Pay a Super Speeder Fine, State of Georgia.
  9. O.C.G.A. § 40-6-189 (Super Speeder) - FindLaw (secondary, text current as of 2024-03-28, official O.C.G.A. not fetchable), FindLaw (secondary).
  10. O.C.G.A. § 40-6-188 (Speeding in highway work zones) - FindLaw (secondary, text current as of 2024-03-28), FindLaw (secondary).
  11. O.C.G.A. § 40-14-18 (School zone speed detection devices) - FindLaw (secondary, text current as of 2024-03-28), FindLaw (secondary).
  12. O.C.G.A. § 40-6-1 (Penalties, speeding fine maximums) - FindLaw (secondary, text current as of 2024-03-28), FindLaw (secondary).
  13. AAMVA - Driver License Compact / Non-Resident Violator Compact Member Joinder Dates (last revised April 2026), American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.
  14. Georgia DDS - Reinstatement FAQs: Points Suspension First (Age 21 and Over), Georgia Department of Driver Services.
  15. Judicial Council of Georgia - Data & Records (court directories), Judicial Council of Georgia / Administrative Office of the Courts.
  16. Judicial Council of Georgia / AOC - Municipal Court Frequently Asked Questions (pleas, trials, paying before court), Judicial Council of Georgia / Administrative Office of the Courts.
  17. Georgia.gov - How Do I Contest a Traffic Citation?, State of Georgia.
  18. Georgia DDS - Reinstatement Fees and Payment, Georgia Department of Driver Services.
  19. O.C.G.A. § 15-21-73 (Peace officer, prosecutor and indigent defense add-on) - Justia (secondary), Justia (Georgia Code text).
  20. O.C.G.A. § 15-21-93 (County jail fund add-on) - FindLaw (secondary, text current as of March 28, 2024), FindLaw (Georgia Code text).
  21. O.C.G.A. § 15-21-131 (Local victim assistance add-on) - FindLaw (secondary, text current as of March 28, 2024), FindLaw (Georgia Code text).
  22. O.C.G.A. § 15-21-179 (Driver education add-on on traffic fines) - FindLaw (secondary, text current as of March 28, 2024), FindLaw (Georgia Code text).
  23. O.C.G.A. § 15-21-112 (Crime victims add-on on DUI fines) - FindLaw (secondary, text current as of March 28, 2024), FindLaw (Georgia Code text).
  24. O.C.G.A. § 47-17-60 (Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund) - FindLaw (secondary, text current as of March 28, 2024), FindLaw (Georgia Code text).
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).