The arizona speeding ticket cost depends on exactly how fast you were going over the limit, where you were ticketed, and the court costs your county adds on top. This guide breaks down the real arizona speeding ticket cost in plain English — the exact base fine for each speed bracket, the fees added at the courthouse, the school-zone and work-zone penalties, and the point and insurance hit that follow. All figures are estimates for general guidance, verified against Arizona sources as of June 2026.
In This Arizona Guide:
Arizona Speeding Ticket Cost by Speed Bracket
Here is the typical arizona speeding ticket cost in Arizona, broken down by how far over the posted limit you were caught driving. These are base fines from the Arizona fine schedule — your final total will be higher once court costs and fees are added.
| How Fast Over the Limit | Typical Base Fine |
|---|---|
| 1-10 mph over | $142 |
| 11-20 mph over | 192 to 292 |
| 21+ mph over | 392 to 495 |
| Court costs & fees (added) | 79 base court fee plus mandatory surcharges (including a 78% surcharge on the base fine, a 20 dollar probation surcharge, and a 13 dollar state law enforcement surcharge) that can more than double the base fine |
How Arizona speed limits work: Arizona uses a basic speed law combined with prima facie limits under ARS 28-701. Drivers must not exceed a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances. Posted speed limits serve as prima facie evidence of unreasonable speed, meaning exceeding them is presumed illegal but can theoretically be rebutted with evidence that the speed was safe
What a Arizona Speeding Ticket Really Costs
The number printed on your citation is rarely the full arizona speeding ticket cost. Once you add court costs and mandatory fees (about 79 base court fee plus mandatory surcharges (including a 78% surcharge on the base fine, a 20 dollar probation surcharge, and a 13 dollar state law enforcement surcharge) that can more than double the base fine), the out-the-door total is higher than the base fine.
And the fine is only the upfront part — the points and the multi-year insurance increase usually cost you more over time than the ticket itself.
First offense vs. repeat: For civil speeding, first offenses typically carry lower base fines (75 to 149 range) while repeat offenses may be assessed in a higher range (150 to 250). For criminal speeding, jail time is rare on a first offense but becomes more likely on repeat offenses. Reckless driving (ARS 28-693) escalates from a Class 2 misdemeanor on first offense to a Class 1 misdemeanor on a second offense within 24 months
Beyond the fine, a Arizona speeding ticket adds about 3 points to your license and stays on your record for Convictions remain on the Arizona MVD driving record for 39 months (just over 3 years). Points remain active for 12 months for suspension-threshold purposes. See our Arizona driving points guide for the full point and suspension rules.
School Zones, Work Zones & Enhancements
School zone: Fines are doubled in school zones per ARS 28-797. The prima facie speed limit near school crossings is 15 mph. Exceeding 35 mph approaching a school crossing triggers criminal speeding (Class 3 misdemeanor) under ARS 28-701.02
Work zone: Fines are doubled in posted work and construction zones per ARS 28-710, even when no workers are physically present
When a Arizona Speeding Ticket Becomes Reckless or Criminal
Going far over the limit can turn a simple ticket into a criminal charge. In Arizona, Criminal speeding (Class 3 misdemeanor) under ARS 28-701.02 is triggered by any of: (1) driving 85 mph or more anywhere in the state, (2) exceeding the posted limit by 20 mph or more in a business or residential district, or (3) exceeding 35 mph approaching a school crossing.
Penalties include up to 30 days in jail, a fine up to 500 plus surcharges (total often 500 to 1200), 3 points on the driving record, and a criminal record A criminal speed charge carries much higher fines, more points, and possible jail time, so the Arizona speeding ticket cost is far higher at the top brackets.
How a Ticket Affects Your Insurance in Arizona
In Arizona, a speeding ticket typically raises your car-insurance premium by about 25 to 35 percent on average, with minor speeding (1-14 mph over) averaging around 11 percent and severe or criminal speeding potentially exceeding 35 percent. A single ticket costs Arizona drivers an estimated 1071 dollars more per year in premiums for three years or more — often costing far more than the ticket itself.
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Insurers treat a speeding conviction as a sign of higher risk, so the surcharge can outlast the points on your license. A ticket can raise your premium for years — compare cheaper car insurance at Car Cover Guide before you decide whether to just pay your Arizona ticket.
How a Arizona Speeding Fine Is Calculated
The Arizona speeding ticket cost is built from several parts, which is why two drivers going the same speed can owe different totals. The base fine is set by how far over the limit you were — that is the number in the table above. On top of that, courts add court costs and administrative fees, and many counties tack on local surcharges or assessments that fund court technology, victim programs, or state safety funds. The result is an out-the-door total that is usually well above the base fine.
Speed limits themselves work in one of a few ways. Under an absolute speed limit, going even one mph over is a violation. Under a prima facie limit, you can argue the posted speed was unsafe for the conditions, while a basic speed law simply requires a speed that is reasonable and prudent.
Knowing which rule Arizona uses can matter if you decide to contest the ticket. Whatever the base fine, the real Arizona speeding ticket cost includes the points and the multi-year insurance increase, not just the amount on the citation.
If you are comparing the Arizona speeding ticket cost against your other options, remember the cheapest path is not always paying the fine. A higher fine you can dismiss through traffic school may cost less overall than a smaller fine you simply pay, because paying locks in the points and the insurance increase. Run your numbers before you decide.
What to Do About Your Arizona Speeding Ticket
Once you have a Arizona speeding ticket, you generally have three choices, and the right one depends on the points involved, your driving record, and your insurance:
- Pay it — the fastest option, but paying is an admission of guilt that adds points and can raise your premium for years.
- Fight it — contesting can get the ticket reduced or dismissed, especially if the officer does not appear or the evidence is weak. See how to fight a speeding ticket in Arizona.
- Take traffic school — if you qualify, a state-approved course can keep points off your record. See the Arizona traffic school guide.
Before deciding, it helps to know the full cost — use our speeding ticket cost calculator and the Arizona points guide to see how close a ticket puts you to a suspension. There is no single right answer for everyone; the best choice depends on how many points the ticket adds, what your record looks like, and how much your insurance would rise.
Other Arizona rules to know: Arizona has a robust defensive driving school (traffic survival school) option available once every 12 months that can dismiss a ticket entirely with no points, no insurance impact, and no MVD record entry. Criminal speeding charges may also qualify for defensive driving school with judge approval. Arizona also uses photo radar (speed cameras) extensively in the Phoenix metro area, with typical camera ticket fines around 165 plus approximately 30 in fees.
Notably, Arizona does not have a specific mph threshold for reckless driving under ARS 28-693 — reckless driving is conduct-based (reckless disregard for safety) rather than speed-based. Fine amounts vary by court jurisdiction since Arizona does not have a single statewide fine schedule — each municipal and justice court sets its own schedule
Official Arizona Sources & Resources
- Arizona DMV: https://azdot.gov/mvd/services/driver-services/driver-improvement/penalties
- Arizona Court Fine Schedule: https://www.azcourts.gov/Portals/0/2)_Penalty_Schedule.pdf
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: nhtsa.gov
- Cornell Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/wex
Statute reference: ARS 28-701 (basic speed law), ARS 28-701.02 (criminal speeding), ARS 28-693 (reckless driving), ARS 28-797 (school zones), ARS 28-710 (work zones)
This Arizona speeding ticket cost guide was last verified against official sources in June 2026. Always confirm the exact amount on your citation with the court listed on it.
More Arizona Traffic Ticket Guides
- Arizona Driving Points & Suspension
- How to Fight a Speeding Ticket in Arizona
- Arizona Traffic School & Dismissal
- Speeding Ticket Cost Calculator
- All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal advice. Fines, points, and procedures are estimates for general guidance and change when state laws change. Always verify the exact amount and process with your state DMV or the court listed on your citation, and consult a licensed traffic attorney in your state for advice on your specific situation.