Missouri Speeding Ticket Options: Pay, Contest or DIP

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

Your Missouri speeding ticket options are to pay the ticket, contest it before a judge, or request that the court order the Driver Improvement Program (DIP). Each path has a different effect on points, cost and your record. The choice for your case is yours, and the court on your ticket or a Missouri attorney can answer questions about it.

Key Facts

Respond on time: every path starts with responding by the court date. See responding first.
Paying: full payment is a guilty plea, so points go on. See paying the ticket.
Contesting: you appear in court, and the judge decides. See contesting.
Asking about the DIP: only the court can order it. See the DIP path.
CDL holders: the DIP is not available to them in any vehicle. See who cannot use it.

Missouri Speeding Ticket Options at a Glance

Each row below reflects Missouri law or a Missouri Courts page.

Path	What it means	Points result	Who decides
Pay	A guilty plea and a conviction	3 (state law) or 2 (ordinance)	You, by paying
Contest	A court hearing on the charge	Points only after a conviction	The judge
Ask about the DIP	A request that the court order the course	No points for that ticket, if accepted	The court

For costs, see our speeding fines guide. For the big picture, see the Missouri speeding ticket overview.

Respond by the Court Date

All three paths share one rule. The courts’ page on responding to a ticket puts it in capital letters: drivers “MUST respond” by the court date on the citation.

That page also lists what can follow if you do not respond. It names a possible license suspension and says a warrant “may be issued.”

RSMo 302.341 sets a timeline for moving violations other than minor traffic violations. First, the court mails a notice within 10 days.

If the case is not resolved and paid within 30 days, the DOR suspends the license. Our failure to appear guide explains the details.

Option 1: Pay the Ticket

Paying ends the case without a trial, but it has a legal effect. Under Supreme Court Rule 38.10, full payment before the court date counts as a guilty plea and waiver of trial.

Under RSMo 476.385, paying through the centralized violations bureau set up under that section counts as a guilty plea and a conviction. The court reports a conviction to the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) within 7 days under RSMo 302.225. The DOR then adds the points:

3 points for a charge under state law.
2 points for a charge under a city or county ordinance.

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.” Completing the payment is a guilty plea.

Paying through that centralized bureau has one more effect. Under RSMo 476.385, it counts as consent to any DIP the court orders, online or in person.

Option 2: Contest the Ticket

Contesting means you go to court and the judge hears the case. You appear on the court date shown on the ticket.

The fine can differ from the schedule. When you appear, the courts’ uniform fine schedule Q&A says the judge may set any fine up to the legal maximum.

Points follow the outcome. Under RSMo 302.302, the DOR adds points “only after a conviction or forfeiture of collateral.” Some drivers choose to talk with a Missouri attorney before a hearing.

If the Charge Is Changed

Some people believe a careless and imprudent driving charge adds no points. The official sources say otherwise.

It carries points. DOR Form 899 lists “Careless & Imprudent” at 2 points and “Careless & Imprudent 304.016” at 4 points.
It is a moving violation. It is not a non-moving violation.
It is a misdemeanor. RSMo 304.012 makes it a class B misdemeanor, or class A if an accident is involved.
Speeding is a lower class. Speeding under RSMo 304.010 is class C, rising to class B only at 20 mph or more over.

Our careless and imprudent driving guide explains the charge.

Option 3: Ask the Court About the DIP

The DIP is not something you choose alone. Under RSMo 302.302.5, it counts only “when so ordered and verified by any court having jurisdiction.”

When the court orders it and you finish on time, the DOR accepts it “in lieu of the assessment of points” for that one ticket. Here is what stays the same:

The conviction. The Missouri Safety Center process sheet says the DIP “WILL NOT remove the ticket from the drivers record, only the points.”
The fine. You still pay the fine and court costs.

The law also sets limits:

Deadline. Finish within 60 days of the conviction date.
Frequency. It counts no more than once in any 36-month period.
Format. Online or in person.
Reporting. Within 15 days after you finish, the court forwards a completion record to the DOR.

Questions to Ask the Court

The court on your ticket is the source for your case. These are plain questions about process, not legal strategy:

Will the court order the DIP for this ticket?
What is the conviction date that starts the 60 days?
How does the court want proof that you finished?
Does the court need anything else from you, such as the fine and court costs?

Our guide to court-ordered driver improvement explains what an order means.

Who Cannot Use the DIP

The statute and official pages leave some drivers out:

CDL holders. No DIP for anyone who has or must have a commercial driver’s license, in any vehicle. The DOR commercial driver page covers CDL rules.
Commercial-vehicle tickets. Any violation in a commercial motor vehicle is excluded.
Motorcycle tickets. These need a motorcycle-rider training course instead.
Out-of-state licensed drivers. The Safety Center sheet says the DIP “does not apply” to them.

The DIP also covers only some violations. It applies to speeding, the careless and imprudent driving line and other unlisted moving violations. See the eligibility guide.

Five steps for handling a Missouri speeding ticket, from reading the citation to checking the DOR record

How Each Path Affects Your Point Total

Points count from the conviction date under RSMo 302.304. The DOR watches your total over time:

Advisory letter: sent when you reach 4 points within a year.
Suspension: at 8 points within a year and a half.
Revocation: at 12 points within a year, 18 within two years or 24 within three.

For example, two state-law speeding convictions add 6 points. If the court orders the DIP for one and the DOR accepts it, that ticket adds no points. The other still adds 3.

What Each Path Costs

Money is the same on every path in one way: the fine and court costs do not go away. The amount can differ by path.

Paying. You pay the scheduled fine plus court costs. Your ticket or court lists the total.
Contesting. If you are found guilty, the judge sets the fine within the legal limits: up to $750 for class C and $1,000 for class B.
A court-ordered DIP. You still owe the fine and court costs. We found no official Missouri source that sets a DIP course price.

City and county tickets that meet the minor traffic violation tests have a cap. The fine plus court costs cannot pass $225.

After You Choose

The court reports a conviction to the DOR, and the DOR keeps the point record. To learn your point total, the DOR FAQ says to call 573-526-2407 or email [email protected].

You can also order your driver record from the DOR for $2.82. If the court ordered the DIP, keep proof that you finished. The DOR FAQ says “you or the program may mail the completion form.” RSMo 302.302.5 has the court forward a completion record within 15 days, and the statute controls.

Factors Some Drivers Weigh

These are facts that can matter to a choice. They are not advice for your case.

Your current points. How close you are to 8 points in 18 months.
Your license type. CDL holders cannot use the DIP.
Your DIP history. Whether you used it in the last 36 months.
The charge. State law or ordinance, and whether it is 20 or more over.
The place. A work zone adds $35 to the fine, or $250 instead when a highway worker was there and the required signs were posted (RSMo 304.582).
Your insurance. The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI) says the driving record affects rates most. See our insurance guide.

Summary card comparing what paying, contesting and a court-ordered DIP each change on a Missouri ticket

What We Found on the Official Pages

On the Missouri Courts and DOR pages we checked on October 27, 2026, the courts’ pages were clear on payment. The courts’ ticket payment page separated viewing a fine from paying it.

One DOR line was out of date. Its FAQ still named the Fine Collections Center next to the court, but that center has taken no new citations since May 1, 2019. RSMo 302.302.5 puts the order in the court’s hands, and the statute controls.

Form 899, Revised 08-2026, listed two careless and imprudent lines. Both carried points: 2 for one line and 4 for the 304.016 line.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

These come straight from Missouri rules:

Paying and expecting no points. Payment is a guilty plea and a conviction.
Letting the court date pass. A missed date can lead to a suspension.
Enrolling before asking the court. Only a court order makes the DIP count.
Counting from the wrong date. The 60 days run from the conviction date.
Thinking careless and imprudent adds no points. It carries 2 or 4 points.
Using the DIP with a CDL. It is barred in any vehicle.

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

Is paying a Missouri speeding ticket an admission of guilt?

Yes. Under Rule 38.10, full payment before the court date counts as a guilty plea. The conviction then goes to the DOR, and points are added.

What happens if I contest the ticket?

You appear in court and the judge decides the case. If you appear, the judge may set any fine within the legal limits. Points are added only after a conviction.

Can I just take the DIP without asking the court?

The DIP counts only when the court orders it and verifies you finished. Ask the court on your ticket before you enroll.

How long do I have to finish the DIP?

The course must be done within 60 days of the conviction date. The court then sends a completion record to the DOR within 15 days.

Does careless and imprudent driving carry points?

Yes. The DOR’s points form gives it 2 points, or 4 on the line tied to section 304.016. It is also a class B misdemeanor under RSMo 304.012, or class A with an accident.

What are my Missouri traffic ticket options if I have a CDL?

You can pay or contest the ticket, but the DIP is off the table. RSMo 302.302.5 excludes CDL holders, and people required to hold a CDL, even in a personal car.

Does the DIP lower the fine?

No. The DIP only keeps points off one ticket when the court orders it. The fine and court costs still apply.

Conclusion

You can pay a Missouri speeding ticket, contest it before a judge, or request a court-ordered DIP. Respond by the court date, and ask the court or a Missouri attorney about your own case. Drivers who qualify and whose court has ordered the DIP 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.