Insurance after a ticket in North Carolina.
The current statewide waiver schedule uses $10, $15, $30 or $50 speeding fines. A standard Chapter 20 infraction citation adds $191 in itemized court costs.
15 mph over in North Carolina
Published court estimateNorth Carolina statewide waiver schedule
The amount, line by line.
| Base fine | $30 |
|---|---|
| General Court of Justice fee | $147.50 |
| Facilities fee | $12 |
| Telecommunications and data fee | $4 |
| Law-enforcement retirement and insurance | $7.50 |
| Indigent defense fee | $5 |
| Citation service fee (one process) | $5 |
| Chapter 20 fee | $10 |
| Estimate shown | $221 |
Applies to eligible waiver dispositions for offenses on or after December 1, 2025, with 2026 costs. The $50 band is waivable only when actual speed is 55 mph or below. More than 15 mph over at a speed above 55, or actual speed above 80, requires court. Additional case-specific service, late, counsel and supervision fees are excluded.
Not a payment quote. The citation, charge, offense date and court determine the final amount.
Insurance illustration: $427.66 more per year, applying the 2026 study’s 39% state increase to the 2023 NAIC premium. Historical baseline and study sample differ; this is a scenario, not a quote.
The statutory fine and the payable amount.
G.S. 20-176(b) caps an ordinary Chapter 20 infraction penalty at $100 unless another specific penalty applies. The AOC waiver schedule used here sets narrower band fines before the itemized $191 infraction costs. More than 15 mph over while above 55 mph, or above 80 mph, is separately charged Class 3 misdemeanor speeding under G.S. 20-141(j1); a waiver total is withheld for that charge.
Governing schedule or statuteRetrieved 2026-09-30
The fine changes with the speed.
North Carolina statewide waiver schedule. Amounts follow the named schedule, with its scope shown beside the estimate.
| Speed above the limit | Published estimate | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 5 mph over | $201 | 3 |
| 10 mph over | $206 | 3 |
| 15 mph over | $221 | 3 |
| 20 mph over | Court sets the amount | 3 |
| 25 mph over | Court sets the amount | 3 |
| 30 mph over | Court sets the amount | 3 |
| 35 mph over | Court sets the amount | 3 |
| 40 mph over | Court sets the amount | 3 |
What published examples show.
These are named court schedules or worked examples. Compare the speed, road, zone and included charges before comparing the amounts.
| Court or example | Above the limit | Published amount | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide waiver: 5 mph over Retrieved 2026-09-30 | 5 mph | $201 | $10 fine plus $191 standard infraction costs; the cost source is separately itemized. |
| Statewide waiver: 15 mph over Retrieved 2026-09-30 | 15 mph | $221 | $30 fine plus $191 standard infraction costs; these are schedule examples, not independent news-case corroboration. |
Your record is a separate cost.
Ordinary non-commercial speeding at an actual speed above 55 mph carries 3 license points; other ordinary moving violations carry 2. School-zone speeding carries 3. Under G.S. 20-16(c), points are not assessed if the conviction instead results in suspension or revocation under another law. Insurance SDIP points are separate.
12 points within 3 years may result in suspension; after reinstatement, 8 points within 3 years can cause another suspension. Certain excessive-speed convictions trigger at least 30 days even without a prior point total. The exact offense and dates control.
The accumulation window is 3 years. Previously accumulated driver-license points are canceled when the driving privilege is reinstated. Insurance points use a separate system.
Read the official points rulesInsurance deserves its own line.
The 2026 ValuePenguin quote study reports a 39% average increase for one speeding ticket in North Carolina. Your insurer, coverage and driving history can produce a different result. Read the study and its sample.
The NAIC 2023 combined average premium for North Carolina is $1,096.56 per year. This historical measure combines liability, collision and comprehensive averages.
At $1,096.56 per year and 39%, the illustration adds $427.66 per year, about $35.64 per month.
Applying a 2026 quote-study percentage to the historical 2023 NAIC combined premium is illustrative math. These sources use different populations and coverage methods; this is not a measured post-ticket average or a current quote. No future premium increase is included in a court fine.
Choose your next step.
If a ticket goes unanswered.
Unresolved failure to appear is reported to DMV after 20 days. For a judge-ordered amount, unresolved failure to pay is reported after 40 days; revocation and the ways to resolve it depend on the court record. Seek a good-faith inability-to-pay determination if appropriate.
Official consequences and resolution instructionsThe questions
behind the ticket.
How much is 15 over in North Carolina?
The estimate shown is $221. Applies to eligible waiver dispositions for offenses on or after December 1, 2025, with 2026 costs. The $50 band is waivable only when actual speed is 55 mph or below. More than 15 mph over at a speed above 55, or actual speed above 80, requires court. Additional case-specific service, late, counsel and supervision fees are excluded.
Will my insurance go up?
A conviction can affect premiums, but your insurer uses its own rules. The 2026 ValuePenguin quote study reports a 39% average increase for one speeding ticket in North Carolina. Your insurer, coverage and driving history can produce a different result. A points-free outcome does not promise an unchanged premium.
Does traffic school remove points?
Deferral, reduction and driving-school options differ by judicial district and prosecutor. Some citations qualify for an online reduction or dismissal request. A prayer for judgment continued still requires costs and can still count for license or insurance purposes. Confirm eligibility before enrolling or paying your ticket.
Is this the amount I should pay?
No. The estimate explains a published schedule. Pay only the amount confirmed by the court handling the citation, through its official instructions.
What if I do not respond on time?
Use the court date printed on your citation. Eligible waivers must be completed by that date; the courts recommend processing an online waiver at least 24 hours beforehand so you can confirm receipt. Missing a deadline can add consequences. Ask the court about extensions or payment help before it passes.
The same speed in nearby states.
Check the source, not just the total.
Each verified rule carries its own URL and retrieval date. Your court may change its schedule after a review.
- Fine scheduleRetrieved 2026-09-30
- Statutory fine rangeRetrieved 2026-09-30
- Statutory fine range — supporting sourceRetrieved 2026-09-30
- PointsRetrieved 2026-09-30
- Suspension rulesRetrieved 2026-09-30
- Traffic schoolRetrieved 2026-09-30
- Insurance studyRetrieved 2026-09-30
- General Court of Justice feeRetrieved 2026-09-30
- NAIC historical state premiumRetrieved 2026-09-30
Not legal advice. Amounts are estimates from the cited schedules. Your citation and the court’s instructions control. This site is independent of courts, DMVs and insurers.