A speeding ticket can raise your insurance rates by an average of 29.6% in Ohio. Shopping for new rates should be your first step after paying your fine.

Written by Kornelia Drianovski

Edited by Jessica Barrett

Reviewed by Brice Regling

Updated on Jan 31, 2024

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2 steps to deal with a speeding ticket in Ohio
Calculate your Ohio speeding ticket penalties
A speeding ticket can increase your car insurance rates after renewal
The best car insurance companies after a speeding ticket in Ohio
FAQs

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A speeding ticket in the state of

Ohio

carries fines up to $250 for first offenses, along with 2 to 4 demerit points on your Ohio

driving record

. You can pay the fine—and take on a potential 29.6%

car insurance

increase—or fight it in court.

2 steps to deal with a speeding ticket in Ohio

Step 1: Decide whether to pay or fight the ticket

If you prepay your ticket, you’re essentially pleading guilty to speeding and whatever applicable demerit points will be added to your Ohio driving record.

Step 2: Shop for car insurance before your next renewal

Your auto insurance company will only find out about your speeding ticket when your policy is up for renewal—but your rates will go up by an average of 29.6% at that time.

Learn more:

The best way to shop for auto insurance in 2024

How to pay your ticket

If you were indeed driving above the speed limit, paying for your fine before the court date is one of the simplest ways to deal with a speeding ticket.

To pay your ticket, you have a few options:

Pay online:

Search for your case number on the court website indicated on your ticket

Select your case

Go to the bottom of the screen where it says “Amount Defendant Owes”

Click the box labeled “Pay Online”

Select the button that says “Pay Online Now”

Input your payment information as prompted

Pay by mail:

Address an envelope to the traffic court on your

citation

Mail your completed traffic ticket and a court-approved payment, such as a money order

Include proof of active insurance in the envelope

Pay in person:

Go to the traffic court location indicated on your citation

Provide them with your completed ticket

Give them proof of up-to-date insurance

Pay the fine using a court-approved method, such as a money order

Keep in mind: Once you’ve made the payment, the court will add points to your driving record to reflect the conviction.

How to get a speeding ticket dismissed

If you feel you received your speeding ticket by mistake, you can decide to appear in court to dispute the ticket. The most effective arguments for getting a speeding ticket dismissed include:

Defective radar or officer error: If you can prove that your ticket was issued due to malfunctioning traffic cameras or improper use of radar, it could be dismissed.

Defective speedometer: If you didn’t know that you were speeding because your vehicle’s speedometer was broken, you may be able to get your ticket dismissed.

Medical emergencies: If you were speeding due to a medical emergency, the court may grant you a dismissal.

Keep in mind: Your speeding ticket is more likely to get dismissed if you’ve maintained a clean driving record with no previous traffic violations or traffic citations.

Not knowing Ohio’s traffic laws is not a good speeding ticket defense. Whether you’re an out-of-state or first-time driver, don’t try to fight your ticket by claiming ignorance.

Learn more:

How to get a clean driving record (and save on insurance)

Calculate your Ohio speeding ticket penalties

When you get a speeding ticket in Ohio, you’ll face two main types of penalties:

Safe driving can earn you points in more ways than one.

If you’re trying to improve your record after a speeding ticket, use a telematics tool like Jerry’s DriveShield to track your driving habits, including speeding, harsh acceleration, and phone use.

A speeding ticket can increase your car insurance rates after renewal

Once you’ve paid (or fought) your ticket, it’s time to start preparing for the impact on your car insurance.

Step 1: Check your renewal date

A speeding ticket won’t raise your car insurance rates right away. The next time your policy is up for renewal, your insurer will review your

motor vehicle report (MVR)

for new traffic infractions and add a surcharge to your premium.

Step 2: Wait for your renewal notice

When your renewal date approaches, your current insurer will send you a renewal notice with your updated premium information. You can choose to pay that rate or look for a lower offer.

Step 3: Compare rates from other providers

If you’re not happy with your renewal rate, compare quotes from three or more insurers to find a better rate—even with the speeding ticket on your driving record.

In Ohio, car insurance rates go up by an average of 29.6% when you renew your policy after a speeding ticket. But not all insurance companies

calculate rates the same way

—so you may be eligible for a lower rate from a different company after your speeding ticket.

A simple way to quickly search for lower rates is to use the

Jerry

app. You’ll be able to build a profile with your new driver information and see real quotes from a range of providers based on your current record.

Jerry also offers a helpful feature for any driver trying to clear points off their record: automatic reshopping.

By turning on this function, you’ll get new quotes instantly whenever your policy is up for renewal, along with notifications any time a new insurer with lower potential rates is available in your area.

As you wait for your demerit points to age off your driving record, automatic reshopping can help you stay on top of your insurance costs.

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The best car insurance companies after a speeding ticket in Ohio

Here’s how major insurance companies tend to handle rate renewals after a speeding ticket:

Insurance company	Average rate increase after a speeding ticket
Allstate	15%
USAA	17%
American Family	22%
Nationwide	26%
State Farm	26%
Farmers	31%
Auto-Owners	36%
Travelers	37%
GEICO	38%
Progressive	43%

Remember: Every insurance company deals with traffic offenses differently. Depending on your existing record, the number of years you’ve been with your insurer, and whether or not you plead guilty to your speeding ticket, your insurance premium could go up by less—or more—than this table shows.

Average monthly and annual payment reduction amounts and Interest rate improvement amounts are based on average payment and interest reduction Jerry customers experienced between 4/1/2023 and 9/30/2023. Your actual savings may be different.

FAQs

Could I lose my driver’s license over a speeding ticket?

While it is possible to have your license suspended over a speeding ticket, it’s relatively unlikely.

Ohio uses a point system, wherein drivers who earn over 12 points in two years incur a license suspension. While major violations like DUI’s could mean immediate license revocation, a minor speeding ticket is only worth two points. In fact, you may not even get points on your record if you’re speeding within 10 mph of the speed limit.

Is it worth fighting my speeding ticket

Fighting a speeding ticket is a time- and resource-intensive process. In general, fighting your ticket isn’t worth the effort. But if you’re innocent and the ticket could cause bigger problems, like a license suspension, then it’s probably worth the fight. That said, you’ll usually be better off paying the fine.

How much is a 20 over speeding ticket in Ohio?

Costs for speeding tickets vary by county, but you can typically expect to be charged anywhere between $120 to $200 for speeding 20 mph over the posted limit in Ohio.

How do you get a speeding ticket dismissed in Ohio?

If you’d like to fight your ticket rather than pay it, you’ll have to make a court appearance to submit a plea of not guilty. The best arguments for getting your traffic ticket dismissed include a defective radar, officer error, a broken speedometer, and medical emergencies.

Keep in mind that you’ll be expected to appear in municipal court on multiple occasions and you may face worse charges if you’re found guilty. Moreover, missing any court date could get your license suspended or entitle the court to issue a warrant for your arrest.

How many points is 25 over the speed limit in Ohio?

In Ohio, 25 mph over the speed limit will amount to 2 demerit points.

What if you can’t afford to pay your speeding ticket?

If you can’t afford the ticket and the situation is relatively minor, you may be able to take a driving course instead of paying the fine. To find out if you’re eligible for a driving course, you must appear in court and ask the presiding judge.

If the judge approves your request, you may have your charges reduced, your fine dismissed, or your license points removed.