Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte
Your tennessee speeding ticket cost is set by three things: the fine allowed for the offense class, the costs your court adds, and whether you were in a special zone. Tennessee has no statewide schedule that prices a ticket by speed. For a regular speeding ticket, state law caps the fine at $50, and each court sets its own costs.
Key Facts
- The fine: a regular speeding ticket is a Class C misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $50. See fine limits.
- Court costs: each court sets its own, so ask the clerk on your ticket. See court costs.
- Special zones: a work zone with workers present means a $250 to $500 fine. See special zones.
- Speed and points: a higher speed adds more points, not a bigger statewide fine. See speed and points.
- Side costs: a $5 driving record, a court-required course fee, or reinstatement fees. See other costs.
What Shapes a Tennessee Speeding Ticket Cost
A ticket’s price is not one number from Tennessee. It is a mix of state limits and local charges.
Think of the bill in three layers:
- The fine. State law sets the highest fine for each offense class.
- Court costs. The court that hears your case adds these.
- Zone rules. A work zone or special residential zone has its own fine.
Your own case may add more, such as a course fee if a court requires one. The sections below explain each layer. For the bigger picture on points and options, see the Tennessee speeding ticket guide.
Fine Limits by Offense Class
Tennessee sorts minor crimes into classes. Each class has a top jail term and a top fine under TCA 40-35-111(e).
A traffic violation with no other penalty set is a Class C misdemeanor (TCA 55-10-301(a)). That covers a regular speeding ticket. Careless driving (TCA 55-8-136) is also a Class C misdemeanor.
| Offense class | Jail up to | Fine up to | Traffic example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class C misdemeanor | 30 days | $50 | Regular speeding ticket |
| Class B misdemeanor | 6 months | $500 | Reckless driving, plus a $50 fine the court must add |
| Class A misdemeanor | 11 months, 29 days | $2,500 | Aggravated reckless driving |
The law says jail, a fine, or both. The court picks the penalty within these limits.
Special Zone Fines
Two zones carry their own penalty under TCA 55-8-152. These are set amounts or ranges in state law.
| Zone | Offense class | Fine in state law |
|---|---|---|
| Work zone when workers are present | Class B misdemeanor | $250 to $500 |
| Special municipal residential zone | Class C misdemeanor | $200 |
So the same speed can cost more on a road with workers present. The general limits are 65 mph, and 70 mph on controlled-access state highways with 4 or more lanes (TCA 55-8-152(a), (c)). Work zones also have their own point values on the TDOSHS Schedule, covered below.
Court Costs Are Set by Each Court
Court costs are the local part of the bill. Each court sets its own costs. No state page lists one total for every court.
To learn your total:
- Find the court named on your ticket. By law, every citation must show the court where it will be heard.
- Contact that court’s clerk. The Tennessee Courts Clerks List lists clerks by county and court type.
- Ask what the fine and costs are for your charge.
If you cannot find your ticket, see how to look up a Tennessee traffic ticket.
Speed Changes Points, Not a Statewide Fine
Going faster does change one thing by statewide rule: your points. The TDOSHS Schedule of Points Values sets them by how far over the limit you were.
For a car, the values run 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 points, from 1 to 5 mph over up to 46 mph or more over. A ticket with no speed shown is 3 points. In a work zone, the values are 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8.
Points are not money, but they can lead to costs later. An adult with 12 or more points in any 12-month period gets a notice of proposed suspension. For each speed tier, see how many points a speeding ticket is.
Other Costs Tied to a Ticket
Some costs sit outside the fine and court costs. Each one below comes from state law or a TDOSHS page.
Your Driving Record
The TDOSHS MVR page lists a $5 fee online, in person or by mail. Online orders are for Tennessee residents. Mail is the only option for a certified copy.
A Court-Required Course
If a court requires a driver education course, “a reasonable fee between fifty dollars ($50.00) and one hundred seventy-five dollars ($175) may be assessed” (TCA 55-10-301(b)(2)). The same law says “no one shall be refused admittance for inability to pay.” This court course option does not apply to anyone who holds a Class A, B or C license, for any violation except parking, or to anyone driving a commercial motor vehicle (TCA 55-10-301(c)-(d)). For more on course costs, see the course cost guide.
Reinstatement Fees After a Suspension
TDOSHS may suspend a license for failing to appear or for not paying fines and costs (TCA 55-50-502(a)(1)(H)-(I)). Under TCA 55-12-129, the fee is $65 for each failure-to-satisfy-a-citation suspension, capped at $400 at one time. For other reinstatement fees, the TDOSHS payment plan and SR-22 rules, see the license reinstatement guide.
How Paying Fits Into the Cost
Paying the ticket is one way to settle the bill, but it has rules. With the court’s approval, a person may submit the fine and costs to the court clerk instead of appearing (TCA 55-10-207(f)).
Paying has a result beyond the money. Under TCA 55-50-102(16), “the payment of a fine or court cost” counts as a conviction. The points for your speed then go on your record.
Not paying and not appearing does not make the cost go away. The court may issue an arrest warrant or declare a judgment of forfeiture no larger than the fine and costs (TCA 55-10-207(g)). For more on each path, read pay, contest or ask about driving school.
Questions to Ask the Court Clerk
The clerk of the court on your ticket is the best source for your own total. These questions cover each cost layer:
- What are the fine and court costs for my charge?
- Does the court approve paying instead of appearing for this ticket?
- What is the date I must pay or appear by?
- Will the court order or allow a driver education course?
- If a course is required, which approved entities are on the county list?
The clerk must give a list of approved entities in the county to anyone ordered to attend a course (TCA 55-10-301(b)(4)). After the course, the clerk reports completion to TDOSHS (TCA 55-10-301(b)(5)).
Point Removal Does Not Change the Fine
A course after a speeding ticket works on points, not money. Under TCA 55-8-207, a person convicted of speeding who finishes a department-approved course within 90 days of the conviction has the points for that conviction removed.
The limits are firm. It removes up to 5 points, for one speeding offense per course, once in a four-year period.
It applies to speeding only. The TDOSHS Remove Speeding Points page adds: “Only the points will be removed, the conviction will remain.” Providers must send certificates of completion to TDOSHS within 30 days of completion.
The fine and court costs are still owed. Since July 1, 2026, Public Chapter 993 also lets a driver who pays a speeding ticket instead of appearing register for a department-approved course. Department-approved courses must be available online through the TDOSHS website.
When the Ticket Is Not for Speeding
Other charges follow other rules. Two examples help show the range:
- Reckless driving is a Class B misdemeanor, and the court “shall assess a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00)” on top of any other penalty (TCA 55-10-205). See reckless driving penalties.
- A seat belt ticket has its own amounts set by TCA 55-9-603 when paid instead of appearing. See what a seat belt ticket costs.
What We Found on the Official Pages
On the official pages we checked on October 27, 2026, we found no statewide fine schedule for speeding. The amounts in state law are the class limits, the special zone fines and the court-required course fee range.
The TDOSHS MVR page, last updated August 14, 2026, listed the same $5 fee for online, in-person and mail requests. No TDOSHS page we read listed court costs. Those come from each court.
Common Mistakes When Estimating the Cost
Each item below comes from Tennessee law or a TDOSHS page:
- Using a total from another court. Each court sets its own costs.
- Thinking 20 mph over has a set statewide fine. Speed changes points, not a state fine.
- Missing the work zone rule. Workers present means a $250 to $500 fine.
- Assuming a course replaces the fine. Point removal takes off points only.
- Ignoring the ticket. A suspension can add reinstatement fees.
- Forgetting the record fee. A copy of your MVR costs $5.
How Requirements Can Vary
Tennessee point values, the Driver Improvement Program and the speeding point-removal rule come from state law and TDOSHS rules (TCA 55-50-505, TCA 55-8-207 and Rule 1340-01-04) and apply statewide. Whether a court orders a course for your ticket, which course it orders, and how your case is handled are up to the court on your ticket or the TDOSHS letter you received. Fines and court costs depend on the court and the charge.
Laws, rules and court practice can change. Check your ticket, any court order or TDOSHS letter, the TDOSHS website and the Tennessee Code before you enroll or pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest fine for a regular Tennessee speeding ticket?
A regular speeding ticket is a Class C misdemeanor. Its fine can be up to $50 under TCA 40-35-111(e). Court costs are separate and set by each court.
Does going faster raise the fine?
No statewide rule sets a higher fine for more speed. Speed changes your points, which run from 1 to 8 in a car. The court decides the fine within the class limit.
How much is a work zone speeding ticket?
Speeding in a work zone when workers are present is a Class B misdemeanor. State law sets the fine at $250 to $500. Court costs are added by the court.
Why do court costs differ?
Each court sets its own costs. That is why two drivers with the same speed can pay different totals. Ask the clerk of the court named on your ticket.
Does a driver education course lower my fine?
The speeding point-removal rule removes points, not the fine. A court may require a course in addition to or in lieu of part of a penalty. What that means for your case is up to the court.
What other costs can come with a speeding ticket?
A copy of your driving record is $5. A court-required course may carry a fee between $50 and $175. If your license is suspended for an unpaid citation, reinstatement fees apply.
Can I pay unpaid fines on a plan?
Unpaid court fines are handled with the court or court clerk (TCA 55-50-502(d)). The TDOSHS payment plan covers reinstatement fees only, for drivers who owe more than $75 in those fees.
Conclusion
A Tennessee speeding ticket costs the fine, up to $50 for a regular ticket, plus the costs your court sets. A work zone with workers present raises the fine to $250 to $500, and higher speeds add more points.
If your court ordered a 4-hour Driver Education Course, or you want speeding point removal under TCA 55-8-207, confirm the court accepts an online course or check the TDOSHS 4-hour list. Then you can take the Tennessee Driver Education Course online.
Related Articles
- How Much Is a Speeding Ticket in Tennessee? Costs, Points
- Tennessee Traffic Ticket Options: Pay, Contest, or Ask About Driving School
- How Much Is a Seatbelt Ticket in Tennessee?
- Tennessee Traffic Ticket Lookup: How to Find Your Ticket and Court
Sources
- Tennessee State Courts (Administrative Office of the Courts)
- Tennessee Courts — Clerks List
- TDOSHS — Schedule of Points Values
- TDOSHS — Obtaining a Driving Record (MVR)
- TDOSHS — Traffic School: How to Remove Points (4-Hour)
- TDOSHS — Payment Plan for Reinstatement Fees
Billy Forte is the owner of Driving Logic, an online driver education course provider serving Tennessee and other U.S. states.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Tennessee course rules, point values, fines and penalties depend on your ticket, court, TDOSHS notice and case facts, and they can change. Use official TDOSHS, Tennessee Code and court sources, and consult a qualified Tennessee attorney for advice about your own case.