Missouri Speeding Ticket: Costs, Points, and What to Know

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

A Missouri speeding ticket costs a fine plus court costs, and a conviction adds 3 points under state law or 2 points under a city or county ordinance. Your ticket or the court lists the amount you owe. You can pay, contest the ticket in court, or ask the court whether it will order the Driver Improvement Program (DIP).

Key Facts

  • Points: 3 under state law, 2 under a city or county ordinance, at any speed. See points for speeding.
  • Offense class: a class C misdemeanor, or class B at 20 mph or more over. See how the law classifies speeding.
  • Cost: a fine plus court costs, with legal maximums of $750 and $1,000. See what it costs.
  • Work zones: $35 is added for a moving violation, or $250 instead for speeding with a worker there and signs posted. See work-zone add-ons.
  • Options: pay, contest, or ask the court about the DIP. See your three options.
  • The DIP: it keeps points off one ticket only when the court orders it. See the DIP in brief.

What a Missouri Speeding Ticket Costs

Your cost has two parts: the fine and the court costs. The Missouri Courts uniform fine schedule questions page says, “Court costs will be added in addition to the uniform fine assessed.”

The fine amounts come from a statewide schedule. The Missouri Courts Statewide Fine Schedule page says a Uniform Fine Schedule Committee sets it. The State Traffic Fine Schedule on that page took effect on Aug. 28, 2021.

This guide does not list schedule amounts. Your ticket, the court on your ticket or the online payment page shows your exact total.

The amount can change if you go to court. The same courts page says a judge “is free to assess any fine within the statutory limits” when you appear.

There is also a cap for small city and county cases. Under RSMo 479.353, the fine plus court costs for a “minor traffic violation” cannot go over $225. Our fines guide explains which tickets count as minor and what else affects the total.

How Missouri Law Classifies Speeding

A state speeding charge is a misdemeanor. RSMo 304.010 makes it a class C misdemeanor. At 20 mph or more over the posted limit, it becomes a class B misdemeanor.

The class sets the ceiling on the penalty:

  • Class C: a fine of up to $750 under RSMo 558.002, and up to 15 days in jail under RSMo 558.011.
  • Class B: a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 6 months in jail.

These are ceilings, not set amounts.

Tickets at 20 or more over have their own guide: speeding 25 over in Missouri.

Work-Zone Add-Ons

A ticket in a work zone can cost more. Under RSMo 304.582, the court adds one of two fines to the regular fine:

  • $35 for a moving violation in a construction or work zone, or $75 for a second or later one.
  • $250 instead for speeding or passing when a highway worker was there and the required signs were posted, or $300 for a second or later one.

You pay one add-on or the other, not both. The same section says these add-ons do not raise court costs or points.

Points for Speeding

The Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) adds points after a conviction. People sometimes call it the Missouri DMV, but the DOR is the agency that keeps your record.

Under RSMo 302.302, speeding is worth:

  • 3 points when the charge is under state law.
  • 2 points when the charge is under a county or city ordinance.

Points do not rise with your speed. The DOR Form 899 points list has no mph tiers, and “Excessive Speeding” is also 3 points.

A court can certify 2 more points when a violation causes injury or property damage. Points count from the date of conviction under RSMo 302.304.

When Points Add Up

The DOR watches your total over set time windows:

  • 4 points in 12 months: the DOR mails a “point accumulation advisory letter.”
  • 8 points in 18 months: your license is suspended.
  • 12 in 12, 18 in 24 or 24 in 36 months: your license is revoked.

For example, three state-law speeding tickets in 18 months add 9 points. That passes the 8-point suspension level. Our guide to points and suspensions covers what happens next.

Five stages of a Missouri speeding ticket, from the citation and court date to points on the DOR record

Your Three Options

Missouri Courts’ responding to your ticket page says, “You MUST respond to your ticket by the court date shown on the citation.”

Which path fits your case is your call. Some drivers talk with a Missouri attorney before they decide. The options guide compares the paths in more depth.

Paying the Ticket

Paying in full before the court date is a guilty plea under Supreme Court Rule 38.10. That means a conviction, so the DOR adds the points. Courts report convictions to the DOR within 7 days under RSMo 302.225.

Some tickets can be paid online. Missouri Courts’ pay tickets online page says clicking Plead and Pay to see your fine is “NOT pleading guilty.” Finishing the payment is a guilty plea.

Under RSMo 476.385, paying through the centralized violations bureau set up under that section also counts as consent to any DIP the court orders. You may attend it online or in person.

Contesting in Court

Contesting means you appear in court on the date shown. The judge then decides the case. If you are found guilty, the judge may set any fine within the legal limits.

Asking the Court About the DIP

Only the court on your ticket can order the DIP. Ask the court before you enroll in any course. Our guide to the DIP for a speeding ticket explains how to ask.

The DIP in Brief

The Driver Improvement Program comes from RSMo 302.302.5. When the court orders it and verifies you finished, the DOR accepts it “in lieu of the assessment of points” for that one ticket.

Here is what the law and the official pages say:

  • The conviction stays. The Missouri Safety Center DIP process sheet says it “WILL NOT remove the ticket from the drivers record, only the points.”
  • The fine stays. The DIP does not lower or replace the fine.
  • Time limits apply. Finish within 60 days of the conviction date. It counts no more than once in any 36-month period.
  • Format. You may take it online or in person.
  • Standard. The DIP must meet or exceed the National Safety Council’s eight-hour “Defensive Driving Course” standards.
  • Not for CDL drivers. Anyone who has or must have a commercial driver’s license cannot use it, in any vehicle.
  • Motorcycles. A motorcycle ticket needs a rider training course instead.

The court sends the DOR a record of completion within 15 days after you finish. A MoDOT designee approves course providers under 7 CSR 60-3.010. The DOR FAQ points readers to the Missouri Safety Center list.

The Safety Center sheet also says the DIP “does not apply to out-of-state licensed drivers receiving a Missouri ticket.” Read the full rules in our DIP guide.

If You Miss the Court Date

Missing your date can affect your license. Missouri Courts say failing to respond “may also result in suspension of your driver’s license.” They also say “a warrant may be issued for your arrest.”

For a moving violation that is not a minor traffic violation, RSMo 302.341 sets the steps:

  • The court mails you a notice within 10 days.
  • You have 30 days from that mailing to resolve the case and pay.
  • If you do not, the DOR suspends your license until the court sets the suspension aside or the case is resolved and paid.

Our failure to appear guide covers the rest. To find a ticket you lost, see our ticket lookup guide.

Insurance After a Speeding Ticket

A ticket can also reach your insurance bill. The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI) says, “Nothing affects your auto insurance rates more than your driving record.”

It adds that a moving violation can lead to a higher premium or a cancelled policy. We found no Missouri rule that sets how much a rate goes up. Ask your insurer, and read our insurance guide.

Summary card of Missouri speeding ticket rules: points, misdemeanor class, legal maximums, work-zone add-ons and the DIP

Missouri Ticket Guides in This Series

Each guide covers one question:

What We Found on the Official Pages

On the Missouri DOR and courts pages we checked on October 27, 2026, one name was out of date. The DOR FAQ still said “the court or the Fine Collections Center may authorize” the DIP.

Missouri Courts says the Fine Collection Center “stopped accepting new citations” on May 1, 2019. Each county now has a circuit violations bureau under Rule 38.10. The statute gives the court the power to order the DIP, and the statute controls.

Form 899, Revised 08-2026, showed speeding at 3 points with no speed tiers. It matched RSMo 302.302.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Each item comes from Missouri law:

  • Paying without knowing it is a plea. Full payment before the court date is a guilty plea.
  • Thinking speed sets the points. Speeding is 3 or 2 points at any speed.
  • Enrolling before the court orders it. The DIP counts only when the court orders and verifies it.
  • Expecting the DIP to clear the ticket. The conviction stays on the record.
  • Missing the 60-day window. The course must be done within 60 days of the conviction date.
  • Ignoring the court date. A missed date on a moving violation can lead to a suspension.

How Requirements Can Vary

Missouri’s point values, suspension levels and Driver Improvement Program rules come from Missouri law (RSMo 302.302 and 302.304) and apply statewide. Whether a court orders the DIP for your ticket, and how your case is handled, is up to the court on your ticket. Fines and court costs depend on the court and the charge.

Laws, forms and court practice can change. Check your ticket, any court order, the Missouri DOR website and the Missouri Revised Statutes before you enroll or pay.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many points is a speeding ticket in Missouri?

A speeding conviction is 3 points under state law and 2 points under a city or county ordinance. The value does not change with speed. A court can add 2 points if someone was hurt or property was damaged.

Is a speeding ticket a misdemeanor in Missouri?

Under state law, yes. RSMo 304.010 makes speeding a class C misdemeanor, or class B at 20 mph or more over the limit.

How much is a speeding ticket in Missouri?

The fine comes from the court’s schedule, and court costs are added on top. Your ticket or court lists your amount. The legal maximum is $750 for class C and $1,000 for class B.

Does paying the ticket count as a conviction?

Yes. Paying in full before the court date is a guilty plea under Rule 38.10. The DOR then adds the points.

Can the DIP keep points off my speeding ticket?

Only if the court orders it and verifies you finished. Then the DOR does not add points for that one ticket. The conviction and the fine stay.

Can CDL holders use the DIP for a speeding ticket?

No. RSMo 302.302.5 bars anyone who has or must have a commercial driver’s license. This applies in any vehicle, including a personal car.

Conclusion

A Missouri speeding ticket brings a fine, court costs and 3 or 2 points after a conviction. Read your ticket, note the court date and contact the court with questions about your case. If the court has ordered the DIP and you qualify, you can take the Missouri Driver Improvement Program online.

Sources

Billy Forte is the owner of Driving Logic, a driver improvement course provider serving Missouri and other U.S. states.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Driver Improvement Program rules, point values, fines and penalties depend on your ticket, court and case facts, and they can change. Use official Missouri DOR, Missouri Revised Statutes and court sources, and consult a qualified Missouri attorney for advice about your own case.