Whether you’re driving in bustling Seattle or somewhere a bit more remote and in nature, driving too fast in Washington can result in a speeding ticket. Once you see the lights flashing behind you and you get pulled over, an officer may have no mercy on your pleas for forgiveness. After getting the citation, now you have to worry about the speeding ticket cost in Washington and how it will affect your insurance. Read on to learn the cost of a speeding ticket in Washington and how it may impact you.
How much is a speeding ticket in Washington state?
If you get pulled over, your first thought might be “How much is a speeding ticket in Washington?!” Speeding ticket costs vary by state, and in Washington can depend on how fast you were going and how many miles per hour over the stated speed limit you were going.
According to Washington Courts’ Monetary Penalty Schedule for Infractions, here are the base fines for speeding in Washington:
For stated speed limits of 40 miles per hour (mph) or lower:
- $43 if going 1 to 5 mph above the stated speed limit
- $48 if going 6 to 10 mph above the stated speed limit
- $63 if going 11 to 15 mph above the stated speed limit
- $83 if going 16 to 20 mph above the stated speed limit
- $108 if going 21 to 25 mph above the stated speed limit
- $133 if going 26 to 30 mph above the stated speed limit
- $158 if going 31 to 35 mph above the stated speed limit
- $188 if going more than 35 mph above the stated speed limit
For stated speed limits of above 40 miles per hour:
- $33 if going 1 to 5 mph above the stated speed limit
- $43 if going 6 to 10 mph above the stated speed limit
- $58 if going 11 to 15 mph above the stated speed limit
- $73 if going 16 to 20 mph above the stated speed limit
- $88 if going to 21 to 25 mph above the stated speed limit
- $108 if going to 26 to 30 mph above the stated speed limit
- $133 if going 31 to 35 mph above the stated speed limit
- $158 if going 36 to 40 mph above the stated speed limit
- $188 if going more than 40 mph above the stated speed limit
These are just the base charges, and there will likely be additional fines and fees tacked onto your speeding ticket. For example, the courts of Washington list an additional $48 fine for “Speed Too Fast for Conditions.”
The ticket amount can vary within Washington by jurisdiction and if you’re speeding in a particular area like in a town street, school zone, or in certain hazardous weather conditions.
For example, the Municipal Court of Seattle website lists speeding too fast and going 6 to 10 mph over the limit in a 40 mph or less zone as costing $139. In Seattle, going 11 to 15 mph over the limit in the same zone will cost you $169. In a zone with speed limits over 40 mph and going 16 to 20 mph over the limit will set you back $190, and in an under 40 mph area, that will go up to $210.
In Seattle, speeding tickets can go up from there between $262 to $426.
Source/credit: Municipal Court Seattle (pg 22)
So as you can see, the speeding ticket cost in Washington can start with a low base rate but go up with additional fees and fines and can be even more costly in Seattle.
What should you do after getting a speeding ticket in Washington?
After getting a speeding ticket in Washington, you need to take action within 15 days to avoid further trouble. If not, you could get hit with an additional fine of $52. You have three options with your speeding ticket:
- Agree to the traffic infraction and pay the associated fine. If you’re in Seattle, you can pay for your ticket online.
- Agree to the traffic infraction and ask for a mitigation hearing to explain your case.
- Deny the traffic infraction and ask for a contested hearing.
Once you select an option on your citation, you can mail it back with the funds or drop it off at the court in your district.
If you fail to take action, you can have additional fees added to your speeding ticket and lose your right to a hearing. If you get too many speeding tickets, you could get your license suspended as well.
Average car insurance rates after getting a speeding ticket in Washington
The state of Washington doesn’t use a point system for traffic infractions, but that doesn’t mean infractions won’t go on your driving record and affect your car insurance rates.
According to financial site Bankrate, after getting a speeding ticket in Washington your car insurance rate could increase 10% to 19%. If you’re an 18-year-old with full coverage, you can expect a 10% increase in car insurance premiums at the time of renewal. If you’re a 40-year-old with full coverage, you can expect a 19% increase.
Of course, this can vary by insurer and depend on your previous driving history as well. You may be able to go to traffic school to help minimize or avoid the impact on your insurance rates, if eligible.
The bottom line
If you get a speeding ticket in Washington, it’s important to tackle the issue right away. Don’t just keep the ticket in your wallet or dashboard and forget about it. If you want to take care of it and move on, agree to the infraction and pay the ticket. The speeding ticket cost in Washington can vary, so verify how much the total will be. If you want to explain your case or disagree with the decision, you can request a mitigation hearing or a contested hearing.
If your car insurance rates increase after a speeding ticket when it’s time to renew you can shop around for other options. Metromile offers low-mileage drivers competitive rates. You pay gas by the gallon, why not pay for insurance by the miles? Using Metromile you can. Check out insurance that makes sense and get a free quote.
Melanie Lockert is a freelance writer, podcast host of the Mental Health and Wealth show, and author of Dear Debt. She’s a cat mom to two jazzy cats, Miles and Thelonious, an amateur boxer, music lover, and needs coffee to function.