What is your Texas ticket actually going to cost?
Most drivers see only the fine. The real cost is fine + court costs + three years of insurance surcharge. Most tickets cost 3–10x the printed amount once insurance is factored in.
2. Driver age
3. Other tickets in the last 3 years
Where the cost comes from
Fine + court costs
The fine printed on your citation is set by the court's schedule. Texas courts also add court costs and state fees on top — typically $80–$120 — that aren't shown on the ticket.
Insurance surcharge
The conviction stays on your Texas Driver Record for 3 years. Insurers re-rate at every renewal during that window, raising your premium by anywhere from 10% to 50% depending on the violation.
What dismissal removes
Defensive driving dismissal closes your case without a conviction. The conviction never reaches your driver record — so the insurance surcharge never starts.
What dismissal doesn't cover
You still pay the court fees and (in most courts) a reduced administrative fee. But the fine itself is dismissed and the insurance surcharge — usually the biggest cost — is avoided.
These are estimates only
Actual fines vary by court and county; insurance surcharges vary by carrier, age, ZIP, and prior history. Use these numbers as a planning baseline, not a guarantee. Confirm the exact amount on your citation with the issuing court.
Got a Texas ticket? Run the eligibility check.
60-second quiz tells you whether your court will accept defensive driving for your specific violation.