True Ticket CostIndependent · not a court or government site

Minnesota traffic tickets

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

Speeding ticket$115–$375state schedule
License at risk5 ptsin 12 months
Driver improvement clinic (court-ordered)No
Insurance after 1 ticket+23%on $2,664 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.

Every other Minnesota county court

Phone, pay-online link and traffic school steps for 4 more courts. Tap a county to open it.

Anoka County(763) 760-6700Pays online

Anoka County District Court (Tenth Judicial District). Fines follow the Minnesota statewide schedule.

Address
Anoka County Courthouse, 2100 3rd Ave., Anoka, MN 55303
Phone
(763) 760-6700
Hours
Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Pay or look up your ticket ↗ mncourts.gov ↗

Dakota County(651) 377-7180Pays online

Dakota County District Court (First Judicial District). Fines follow the Minnesota statewide schedule.

Address
Dakota County Judicial Center, 1560 W. Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033
Phone
(651) 377-7180
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., all locations

Pay or look up your ticket ↗ mncourts.gov ↗

Ramsey County(651) 266-8266Pays online

Ramsey County District Court (Second Judicial District), Criminal and Traffic Division. Fines follow the Minnesota statewide schedule.

Address
Ramsey County Courthouse, 15 West Kellogg Blvd, Room 130, St. Paul, MN 55102
Phone
(651) 266-8266

Pay or look up your ticket ↗ mncourts.gov ↗

Washington County(651) 413-8030Pays online

Washington County District Court (Tenth Judicial District). Fines follow the Minnesota statewide schedule.

Address
Washington County Courthouse, 14949 62nd Street North, P.O. Box 3802, Stillwater, MN 55082
Phone
(651) 413-8030
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Pay or look up your ticket ↗ mncourts.gov ↗

What are your options with a Minnesota ticket?

Paying is the fastest route, and it usually puts the ticket on your record. Continuance for dismissal is the main way to avoid that.

  1. Pay the fine

    Pay the Minnesota Court Payment Center online, by phone, by mail or in person within 30 days of the ticket reaching the court system.

    What it does: Paying is a guilty plea and a conviction that DVS counts toward habitual-violator totals, unless the statute keeps it off your record (for example 10 or less over in a 55 zone).[15][4][8]

    Cost: The fine plus the $75 surcharge and county law library fee. Online and phone payments add a convenience fee.

  2. Meet with a hearing officer

    Call the Court Payment Center to book a hearing officer appointment (often on Zoom) or walk in where offered, before the 30-day due date.

    What it does: The hearing officer can offer a reduced fine, a payment plan, community work service, or a continuance for dismissal. Most cases settle without court.[13]

  3. Continuance for dismissal

    Offered by a hearing officer or prosecutor based on your record. You pay prosecution costs and must stay violation-free for a set period.

    What it does: The charge is dismissed at the end if you meet the terms, so no conviction reaches your driving record.[13]

    Cost: Prosecution costs set case by case.

  4. Plead not guilty and go to court

    Ask for a court date through the Court Payment Center or a hearing officer before the ticket is delinquent. A petty misdemeanor is tried by a judge without a jury.

    What it does: If found not guilty, no fine and no conviction. If convicted, the judge sets the fine (up to $300 for a petty misdemeanor) plus the $75 surcharge.[13][6]

  5. Payment plan or community work service

    Ask the Court Payment Center or a hearing officer if you cannot pay in full by the due date.

    What it does: The conviction still counts, but you avoid late fees and collections.[15][13]

What does the Minnesota state schedule charge for speeding?

1–10 mph over$115[4]
11–14 mph over$125[4]
15–19 mph over$135[4]
20–25 mph over$215[4]
26–30 mph over$275[4]
31+ mph over$375[4][5]

Every non-parking traffic citation adds a $75 state surcharge to the fine, charged once per case.[4][14]

Every fine on the Minnesota schedule (21)
TicketYou pay
Speeding, 1–10 mph overPrinted as: Speeding 1-10 miles over limitTotal = $40 fine + $75 surcharge.$115[4]
Speeding, 11–14 mph overPrinted as: Speeding 11-14 miles over limit$125[4]
Speeding, 15–19 mph overPrinted as: Speeding 15-19 miles over limit$135[4]
Speeding, 20–25 mph overPrinted as: Speeding 20-25 miles over limitIncludes a $70 speeding surcharge plus the $75 surcharge.$215[4]
Speeding, 26–30 mph overPrinted as: Speeding 26-30 miles over limitIncludes a $100 speeding surcharge plus the $75 surcharge.$275[4]
Speeding, 31+ mph overPrinted as: Speeding 31 miles and above over limitPayable unless the officer marks endangerment.$375[4][5]
Speeding in a school zoneFine from the speeding bands plus a school zone surcharge equal to the fine (at least $25) and the $75 surcharge.On your notice[4][5]
Speeding in a work zone$375[4]
Duty to drive with due care: speed greater than reasonable$115[4]
Traffic control signal violation (red indication), petty misdemeanor defaultThe red-signal subsection has no line of its own, so the list's default petty misdemeanor fine of $50 applies (Policy A).$125[4]
Driver fails to stop at STOP sign$125[4]
Driver approaches intersection fails to yield right-of-way$125[4]
Following vehicle too closely$125[4]
Fail to drive in correct lane$125[4]
Turning and starting violations$125[4]
Hold or use wireless communications device while drivingSecond and later offense: $275 fine, $350 total.$125[4]
Seat belt use required$100[4]
Fail to produce proof of insurance (misdemeanor)Uninsured vehicle (owner or driver) is also $200 fine, $275 total.$275[4]
Vehicle registration, license plate violation$105[4]
Careless driving (misdemeanor)$175[4]
Passing a stopped school bus (misdemeanor)Not on the payables list for drivers.At least $500[10]

How many points is each Minnesota ticket?

Minnesota does not use points. Driver and Vehicle Services counts traffic-offense convictions.[2][8]

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

When can you lose your license?

  1. 3 ptsin 24 monthsWarning letter or preliminary hearing[2]
  2. 4 ptsin 12 months30-day suspension if a warning letter was sent before[2]
  3. 5 ptsin 12 months90-day suspension[2]
  4. 7 ptsin 24 months180-day suspension.[2]
  5. 8 ptsin 24 monthsOne-year suspension[2]
Full wording of each rule
  • 3 points in 24 months: Warning letter or preliminary hearing (also triggered by 2 misdemeanor convictions).
  • 4 points in 12 months: 30-day suspension if a warning letter was sent before (also 5 convictions in 24 months).
  • 5 points in 12 months: 90-day suspension (also 6 convictions in 24 months).
  • 7 points in 24 months: 180-day suspension.
  • 8 points in 24 months: One-year suspension (8 or more convictions).
  • Driving over 100 mph: license revoked for 6 months.

Getting your license back after a suspension costs $20 in Minnesota, before any course or court costs.[9]

Drivers under 21

No separate under-21 count. A provisional license holder (under 18) who is convicted of a crash-related moving violation, an alcohol offense, or more than one other moving violation cannot move up to a full license until 12 months pass without a conviction or the driver turns 18. Provisional drivers may not use a phone at all while driving, even hands-free.[12]

Can driver improvement clinic (court-ordered) keep a ticket off your record in Minnesota?

No. No record benefit on its own. A judge may order the clinic along with or instead of other penalties.[6]

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

Who qualifies, CDL drivers and cost

No record benefit on its own. A judge may order the clinic along with or instead of other penalties. Refusing a court order to attend can lead to a suspension of up to 30 days.[6]

Who can use it: Up to the trial court after a conviction under the traffic code or a matching city ordinance.[6]

Do school and work zones cost more?

School zones

Extra surcharge. Speeding in a posted school zone adds a surcharge equal to the fine, and at least $25, on top of the normal speeding fine and $75 state surcharge. School zone limits apply when children are present.[5][4]

Work zones

Fixed $300 fine. Speeding in a work zone when workers are present is $300 plus the $75 surcharge, $375 total on the payables list. On roads posted 50 mph or more, the limit drops to 45 mph in a work zone when a lane is closed and workers are present.[5][4]

When is your ticket due?

  1. 30daysPay or respondfrom the notice date[14][15][11]
    Details

    Pay or contest (schedule a hearing officer or court date). If you miss it: A $5 late fee is added after 30 days, then a $25 delinquency fee. Unpaid fines go to collections with a 20% collection fee. For a petty misdemeanor, not appearing within 30 days counts as a guilty plea and waives trial.

  2. 14daysDVS suspension takes effect after written noticefrom the notice date[3]
    Details

    DVS suspension takes effect after written notice. If you miss it: You may ask in writing for a hearing, which DVS holds within 20 days of the request.

  3. 30daysClear a failure to appear on a misdemeanor citation after the DVS noticefrom the notice date[7][3]
    Details

    Clear a failure to appear on a misdemeanor citation after the DVS notice. If you miss it: DVS may suspend the license until you show you complied with the court. This does not apply to petty misdemeanors.

  4. Date on noticeLast day to appealset by the court
    Details

    Appeal a conviction

What happens if you don't respond

For a petty misdemeanor ticket (most speeding and moving violations), not responding within 30 days counts as a guilty plea and a waiver of trial. Late fees are added ($5, then $25) and the debt goes to collections with a 20% fee. DVS cannot suspend a license just because a traffic fine was not paid, or because a person missed court on a petty misdemeanor. For a misdemeanor citation, DVS notifies the driver and may suspend the license if the driver does not appear in court within 30 days of that notice. A bench warrant can issue when a court-required hearing is missed.[11][14][7][13]

Work out your exact dates → · Already missed it?

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

Minnesota is in both compacts. DVS can suspend a Minnesota license for an out-of-state offense that would be grounds for suspension here. When another compact state reports that a Minnesota driver failed to appear on a citation, DVS gives 30 days to appear or pay before it may suspend.[1][3][7]

How out-of-state tickets work →

How much will it raise your insurance in Minnesota?

One speeding ticket raised a full-coverage premium by about 23% on average in Minnesota[1], from a clean-record average of $2,664 a year.[1] If that increase stays for three years, that's about $1,838 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 Minnesota?

Minnesota does not use points. Driver and Vehicle Services counts traffic-offense convictions. Two misdemeanors, or 3 or more traffic convictions within 24 months, bring a warning letter or a preliminary hearing. After a warning letter, 4 convictions in 12 months or 5 in 24 months bring a 30-day suspension, and the suspension grows to 90 days, 180 days and one year as the count rises. Some convictions never reach your record: speeding 10 mph or less over in a 55 mph zone, or 5 mph or less over in a 60 mph zone, is not kept on a non-commercial driver's record. Camera tickets are not recorded either.

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

5 points in 12 months: 90-day suspension (also 6 convictions in 24 months).

Is there traffic school for tickets in Minnesota?

No record benefit on its own. A judge may order the clinic along with or instead of other penalties. Refusing a court order to attend can lead to a suspension of up to 30 days.

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

30 days from the notice. If you miss it: A $5 late fee is added after 30 days, then a $25 delinquency fee. Unpaid fines go to collections with a 20% collection fee. For a petty misdemeanor, not appearing within 30 days counts as a guilty plea and waives trial.

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

Minnesota is a member of the Driver License Compact, so convictions in other member states are reported to Minnesota. Minnesota is in both compacts. DVS can suspend a Minnesota license for an out-of-state offense that would be grounds for suspension here. When another compact state reports that a Minnesota driver failed to appear on a citation, DVS gives 30 days to appear or pay before it may suspend.

How much does a speeding ticket raise insurance in Minnesota?

About 23% 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

Minnesota law and DMV sources (15)
  1. AAMVA DLC/NRVC Member Joinder Dates (rev. April 2026), AAMVA.
  2. Minn. R. 7409.2200 Habitual Violators, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes.
  3. Minn. Stat. §171.18 Suspension, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes.
  4. 2026 State Payables List, Traffic/Criminal (effective 1/1/2026), Minnesota Judicial Council (filed with the Legislative Reference Library).
  5. Minn. Stat. §169.14 Speed limits (school zone surcharge subd. 5a, work zone subd. 5d, 100+ mph revocation subd. 1a), Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes.
  6. Minn. Stat. §169.89 Penalties (petty misdemeanor, driver improvement clinic), Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes.
  7. Minn. Stat. §171.16 Court may recommend suspension (failure to pay, failure to appear), Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes.
  8. Minn. Stat. §171.12 subd. 6 Certain convictions not recorded, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes.
  9. Minn. Stat. §171.20 subd. 4 Reinstatement fee, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes.
  10. Minn. Stat. §169.444 School bus stop arm (penalties subd. 2), Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes.
  11. Minn. Stat. §169.91 Notice to appear, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes.
  12. Minn. Stat. §171.055 Provisional license, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes.
  13. Hennepin Violations Bureau: Contesting and Other Options, Minnesota Judicial Branch.
  14. Hennepin Violations Bureau: Late Fees and Collections, Minnesota Judicial Branch.
  15. Hennepin Violations Bureau: Pay a Ticket or Fine, Minnesota Judicial Branch.
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).