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10 Cities with the Most Expensive Speeding Tickets

LA tops our list

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By Susan Meyer Info
Updated March 25, 2026
Quality verified Reviewed By Beth Swanson Info
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Susan Meyer

Senior Editorial Manager

Susan is a licensed insurance agent and has worked as a writer and editor for over 10 years across a number of industries. She has worked at The Zebr…

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  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
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Beth Swanson

Insurance Analyst

Beth joined The Zebra in 2022 as an Associate Content Strategist. A licensed insurance agent, she specializes in creating clear, accessible content t…

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  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
  • Associate in Insurance (AINS)
  • Professional Risk Consultant (PRC)
  • Associate in Insurance Services (AIS)
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  1. Cities with most expensive speeding tickets
  2. 10 cities with least expensive tickets
  3. Speeding and insurance
  4. Methodology

Speeding Can Cost You

Speeding while driving is a serious issue across the U.S. In fact, nearly 30% of all traffic fatalities involve speeding.[1] That's why states and insurance companies alike crack down on drivers after they get a speeding ticket. But drivers in some areas face a bigger financial impact than others. 

To see how different parts of the country compare to each other, we looked at four data points impacting the total cost of speeding tickets. 

  • Maximum fine for 15 miles over the speed limit: Fines often vary based on how many miles over the speed limit you were driving. We chose 15 mph over the limit as a base for all areas. 
  • Average insurance premium after a speeding ticket: This is the cost of each city's average auto insurance premium after getting a ticket for driving 16 mph or more over the speed limit.
  • Average percent increase in insurance premium: This shows how big of a percentage increase drivers in each city see on average after the same type of speeding ticket. 

Find out which city's drivers are in for the steepest fees when it comes to speeding. We've got the top 10, followed by the 10 cheapest cities for speeding-related costs.

The 10 Cities with the Most Expensive Speeding Tickets

These are the U.S. cities where speeding will cause the most expensive short- and long-term consequences. 

Cities with the Most Expensive Speeding Tickets

Source: The Zebra

#1: Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles drivers beware: while a speeding ticket itself will only set you back a couple hundred dollars, you can expect a steep increase afterwards. The average premium jumps over 44%, from $3,431 to $4,953.

LA by the numbers

  • Maximum fine for speeding 15mph: $234
  • Average insurance after a speeding ticket: $4,953
  • Average insurance increase: 44.36%

#2: Detroit, Michigan

Detroit has the most expensive auto insurance policies after getting a speeding ticket. The average annual cost skyrockets to $8,417, representing a 48.33% increase. However, the maximum cost of the speeding ticket is just $190.

Detroit by the numbers

  • Maximum fine for speeding 15mph: $190
  • Average insurance after a speeding ticket: $8,417
  • Average insurance increase: 48.33%

#3: Las Vegas, Nevada (tied)

Insurance hikes are milder after speeding in Las Vegas, rising just 24%. That's middle of the road compared to the other cities we reviewed, but that does take your annual cost to just over $4,801—one of the more expensive totals in the country. On top of that, the city has one of the highest ticket price maximums of $300.

Las Vegas by the numbers

  • Maximum fine for speeding 15mph: $300
  • Average insurance after a speeding ticket: $4,801
  • Average insurance increase: 24.31%

#3: Providence, Rhode Island (tied)

Providence drivers need to watch out because their state has the highest maximum speed limit fine on our list for going 15 miles over, potentially totaling $505. The average increase in insurance premium is $4,424, representing a 24.62% price jump.

Providence by the numbers

  • Maximum fine for speeding 15mph: $505
  • Average insurance after a speeding ticket: $4,424
  • Average insurance increase: 24.62%

#5: San Francisco, California

San Francisco is the next of several California cities topping our list of expensive fines. This is largely due to the state's maximum ticket price of $234. San Francisco also stands out because the average premium increases quite a bit after a speeding infraction: 42.82%. That brings the annual cost to $4,107 for auto insurance.

San Fransisco by the numbers

  • Maximum fine for speeding 15mph: $234
  • Average insurance after a speeding ticket: $4,107
  • Average insurance increase: 42.82%

#6: Sacramento, California

Sacramento has an even higher percentage increase for car insurance after speeding behind the wheel. You'll pay 43.70% more on average. The good news is that prices start off a little lower, so the premium comes to just $3,864.

Sacramento by the numbers

  • Maximum fine for speeding 15 mph: $234
  • Average insurance after a speeding ticket: $3,864
  • Average increase in insurance: 43.70%

#7: Riverside, California

You won't pay quite as much in Riverside in car insurance compared to Sacramento; the average premium jumps to just over $3,660. But that's a bigger price hike compared to starting prices, costing 43.81% more than a policy without a speeding ticket on file.

Riverside by the numbers

  • Maximum fine for speeding 15 mph: $234
  • Average insurance after a speeding ticket: $3,661
  • Average increase in insurance: 43.81%

#8: San Jose, California

San Jose's auto insurance premiums increase from $2,425 to $3,470 after getting a speeding ticket. The new price sits in the middle of all the cities we analyzed. But the percentage increase is still quite high at just over 43%.

San Jose by the numbers

  • Maximum fine for speeding 15 mph: $234
  • Average insurance after a speeding ticket: $3,470
  • Average increase in insurance: 43.12%

#9: Phoenix, Arizona (tied)

Phoenix ties for ninth place and while there's limited data on speeding ticket fines in Arizona, the insurance data shows some expensive premium costs. Drivers pay an additional 28% after speeding, bringing the annual total to just over $4,100.

Phoenix by the numbers

  • Maximum fine for speeding 15 mph: Not available
  • Average insurance after a speeding ticket: $4,102
  • Average increase in insurance: 28.09%

#9: San Diego, California (tied)

In addition to paying your speeding ticket in San Diego, the city also charges a $52 fee. It also has one of the highest increases in insurance premiums, jumping almost 44%. That means the average driver will pay $3,345 per year for auto coverage.

San Diego by the numbers

  • Maximum fine for speeding 15 mph: $234
  • Average insurance after a speeding ticket: $3,345
  • Average increase in insurance: 43.59%

10 Cities with the Least Expensive Speeding Tickets

Not all cities are as strict about speeding fines. These 10 cities have the lowest combination of fines and insurance premium increases. 

  1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  2. Cincinnati, Ohio
  3. Indianapolis, Indiana
  4. Cleveland, Ohio
  5. San Antonio, Texas
  6. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  7. Kansas City, Missouri
  8. Houston, Texas
  9. Nashville, Tennessee
  10. Columbus, Ohio

Speeding Tickets and Insurance Prices

Speeding tickets will likely cause your insurance rates to increase. How long your rates will be affected depends on where you live, your insurer, and the severity of the violation. The average amount of time these violations will stay on your record is around 3-5 years. 

Here's the average amount insurance increases by each state after different speeding violations. 

Average rates after a speeding ticket by state
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Accident/ViolationAvg. Monthly Premium
Speeding 16 - 20 MPH over limit $206
Speeding in school zone $203
Speeding 21 - 25 MPH over limit $215
Speeding 11 - 15 MPH over limit $204
Speeding 6 - 10 MPH over limit $203

Source: The Zebra

Methodology

The Zebra used four data points to analyze the top 50 MSAs by population related to speeding tickets. We substituted with state data for fines, and not all states listed court or processing fees associated with speeding tickets. The maximum fine for 15 miles over the speed limit was found by researching state-level data

The average insurance premium after a speeding ticket and the average increase in insurance premium came from The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates, which utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biannually by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.

The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.

For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.

Sources

  1. Speeding Injury Facts. [NSC]