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[Skip to main content](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic#main-content) [ *Judicial Branch of California*](https://www.courts.ca.gov/ "Judicial Branch of California") - [Supreme Court](https://www.courts.ca.gov/supremecourt.htm) - [Courts of Appeal](https://www.courts.ca.gov/courtsofappeal.htm) - [Superior Courts](https://www.courts.ca.gov/superiorcourts.htm) - [Judicial Council](https://www.courts.ca.gov/policyadmin-jc.htm) [  *California Courts \| Self Help Guide*](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/ "Home") - Type of Case - [Adoption](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/adoptions) - [Appeals](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/appeals) - [CARE Act](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/care-act) - [Child Custody](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/child-custody) - [Child support](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/child-support) - [Civil Lawsuits](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/civil-lawsuit) - [Conservatorship](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/helping-person-impairment-or-disability) - [Criminal](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/criminal-law) - [Debt](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/debt-lawsuits/process) - [Divorce](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/divorce-california) - [Eviction](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/eviction) - [Gender recognition](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/gender-recognition) - [Guardianship](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/guardianship) - [Immigration](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/immigration) - [Juvenile dependency](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/juvenile-dependency) - [Juvenile justice](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/juvenile-justice) - [Name Change](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/name-change) - [Parentage](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/parentage) - [Restraining Order](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/restraining-orders) - [Small Claims](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/small-claims-california) - [Traffic](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic) - [Wills and estates](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/wills-estates-probate) - Court Information - [Court basics](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/court-basics) - [Your day in court](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/tips-your-day-court) - [Request an interpreter](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/ask-interpreter) - [Services at court](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/court-basics/help-at-court) - [Find court forms](https://www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm) - [Fee Waivers](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/fee-waiver) - [Español](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/es/transito) [Previous Page]() [Index: All Pages](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic/index) # Traffic tickets in California **Scam alert:** The court will **never** text, call, or email you to ask for payment. **Don’t click links** or give personal info. [How to spot a scam](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic/scam-warning) If you get a traffic ticket in California, you have choices depending on the type of ticket. You can: - Pay the ticket (including traffic school) - Fix any issues in a fix-it ticket - Ask the court for a trial if you don't agree with the ticket Each option has different results. This page helps you understand your choices and what to expect. **Jump to:** - [What is a traffic ticket?](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic#ticket) - [Option 1: Pay the ticket](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic#option1) - [Option 2: Fix any issues](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic#option2) - [Option 3: Ask for a trial](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic#option3) - [How points on your record affect your car insurance](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic#points) - [If you do nothing](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic#ignore) - [Key takeaways](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic#key) PRINT EMAIL TEXT **This page is only about traffic tickets.** It does **not** cover: - **Parking tickets** – Contact the city or county agency that gave you the ticket. - **DUI tickets** – Driving under the influence tickets are handled in [**criminal court**](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/criminal-law). ## [What is a traffic ticket?]() A police officer gives you a **traffic ticket** when they believe you broke a traffic law, like speeding or running a red light. Your ticket will say: - What law the officer says you broke - Which court is handling your case - What to do and by when ### 📌 You’ll get a court notice The court will send you a **notice,** called a **reminder** or **courtesy notice**, that explains: - How much you owe (called “bail”) - Your due date - Your options, including if you're eligible for traffic school It may take 30 days or longer to get this notice. If you don’t get the notice, contact the court in the county where you got the ticket. ## [Option 1: Pay the ticket]() If you pay the ticket, you are saying either - you did what the ticket says you did, or - you don’t want to argue about it. This means that you agree that you're ****guilty**** of what the ticket says. Some courts call this ****forfeiting bail****. If your ticket adds a point to your DMV record, it can make your **car insurance cost more**. [But you may have options to keep this from happening, read more.](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic#school) ### You can usually pay: - Online - By mail - In person at the court 📌 If you pay **online**, you have to pay on the court's website. Check the court’s website for how to pay in the county where you got the ticket: ### Look up or pay a traffic ticket County where you received the ticket Go Don’t know which county? [Find it by city or zip code](https://www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm). ### What if I can’t afford to pay? You can ask the court for help. The court may: - Give you more time to pay - Lower the amount you owe - Offer a payment plan - Let you do community service instead [Learn more about your payment options](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic/ask-lower-fine) ### What if I have to choose between pleading guilty or no contest? When you use MyCitations to ask for a lower fine or if you go to court and the judge asks you how you plead, you may may be asked if you want to plead **guilty** and **no conte**st. You get the same result either way—a conviction. The ticket goes on your record, and you may have to pay the same fine or take the same steps to clear it. - **Guilty** means you admit you did what the ticket says. - **No contest** means you don’t admit it, but you’re not going to argue against it either. The main difference is if someone tries to **sue you for something related to the ticket**: - If you plead **guilty**, they can use that as proof that you did what the ticket says. - If you plead **no contest**, they may still need to prove what happened. ## [Option 2: Fix any issues in a fix-it ticket]() A **fix-it ticket** is for something you can correct, like a broken taillight or expired registration. To take care of it, you usually need to: - Fix the problem - Get the back of your ticket signed (this is called a certificate of correction) - Send the signed ticket to the court (or have the court sign it if it's a ticket for car insurance problems) - Pay a small fee The court will check your proof and let you know if anything else is needed. [Learn more about fix-it tickets](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/fix-it-ticket) ## [Option 3: Ask for a trial]() If you don’t agree with the ticket, you can ask the court for a trial. This means you want to explain what happened, that what the officer said you did cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and you want to ask the judge to find you not guilty. This is called pleading **not guilty**. Worried that asking for a trial means you can’t go to traffic school or get a lower fine? You can still ask for **traffic school** or a **lower fine** even if you choose to go to trial. The final decision will be up to the judge. ### Two ways to have a trial You can choose: - ### In-person trial You and the police officer both go to court. You each explain what happened. The judge decides if you are guilty or not. > ✅ You do **not** have to pay bail before an in-person trial. > [Learn about in-person trials](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic/court-trial) - ### Trial by written declaration You and the officer each write and file a statement and can provide other evidence. The judge reads the statements and evidence and makes a decision. You do not have to go to court. > ⚠️ **You must pay bail first** to use this option. The court will return your money if the judge says you're not guilty. > **Exception: MyCitations tool** > > Some courts let you use a tool called **MyCitations** to do a trial by declaration. > > If your court uses this tool for trials by declaration: You do **not** have to pay bail before your trial. You will be told if this option is available. [Learn about trials by declaration](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic/trial-declaration) ## [How points on your record affect your car insurance]() If you’re found guilty, it’s called a ****conviction****. If you chose not to fight the ticket and pay it, which is called ****forfeiting bail****, it is treated as a conviction. For some types of tickets, like speeding or running a red light, the conviction will go on your ****DMV record**** and **add a point** to it. Points can: - Stay on your record for **3 to 7 years** - Cause your **car insurance** to go up - Even lead your insurance company to **cancel your policy** ### [How traffic school can help]() If you’re eligible and **finish traffic school** by the deadline, the point is still on your record, but it's **hidden from insurance companies**, so it usually **won't affect your insurance rates.** The court will let you know if you’re eligible. [Learn more about traffic school](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic/traffic-school) ## [If you do nothing]() If you ignore your ticket, the court may: - Add up to \$100 as a late fee (called a "civil assessment") - Charge you with “Failure to Appear” - Add the violation to your DMV record If you missed your due date for a good reason, like being sick, contact the court right away. They may cancel the extra fees. If you can’t afford to pay the fine, [ask the court for help](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic/ask-lower-fine). They may lower the amount, give you more time, offer a payment plan, or allow community service instead of paying. ## [Key takeaways]() - You can **pay the ticket** or **ask the court for a trial** - In general, you do **not** need to pay bail for an in-person trial - You **must** pay bail for a trial by declaration (unless your court uses MyCitations) - **Fix-it tickets** let you show proof you corrected the problem and pay a small fee - **Traffic school** may help keep your car insurance prices from going up - You can ask for help if you **can’t afford to pay** - Don’t ignore your ticket—it can lead to more fines and penalties Was this helpful? success alert banner: ### Have a question about Traffic? Look for a "Chat Now" button in the right bottom corner of your screen. If you don’t see it, disable any pop-up/ad blockers on your browser. CALIFORNIA COURTS \| SELF HELP GUIDE [ *Judicial Branch of California*](https://www.courts.ca.gov/ "Judicial Branch of California") - [Accessibility](https://courts.ca.gov/about/accessibility) - [Terms of Use](https://www.courts.ca.gov/11529.htm) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.courts.ca.gov/11530.htm) © 2026 This notice is sometimes called a "courtesy" or "reminder" notice You admit you broke the law and agree to pay the fine. You give up your right to fight the ticket in court. Forfeiting bail means paying bail, which is usually the ticket amount, without disputing the ticket. A conviction means the court says you broke the law. Forfeiting bail means paying bail, which is usually the ticket amount, without disputing the ticket. Your DMV record is a record of your driving history.

**This page is only about traffic tickets.** It does **not** cover: - **Parking tickets** – Contact the city or county agency that gave you the ticket. - **DUI tickets** – Driving under the influence tickets are handled in [**criminal court**](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/criminal-law). ## [What is a traffic ticket?]() A police officer gives you a **traffic ticket** when they believe you broke a traffic law, like speeding or running a red light. Your ticket will say: - What law the officer says you broke - Which court is handling your case - What to do and by when ### 📌 You’ll get a court notice The court will send you a **notice,** called a **reminder** or **courtesy notice**, that explains: - How much you owe (called “bail”) - Your due date - Your options, including if you're eligible for traffic school It may take 30 days or longer to get this notice. If you don’t get the notice, contact the court in the county where you got the ticket. ## [Option 1: Pay the ticket]() If you pay the ticket, you are saying either - you did what the ticket says you did, or - you don’t want to argue about it. This means that you agree that you're ****guilty**** of what the ticket says. Some courts call this ****forfeiting bail****. If your ticket adds a point to your DMV record, it can make your **car insurance cost more**. [But you may have options to keep this from happening, read more.](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic#school) ### You can usually pay: - Online - By mail - In person at the court 📌 If you pay **online**, you have to pay on the court's website. Check the court’s website for how to pay in the county where you got the ticket: ### What if I can’t afford to pay? You can ask the court for help. The court may: - Give you more time to pay - Lower the amount you owe - Offer a payment plan - Let you do community service instead [Learn more about your payment options](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic/ask-lower-fine) ### What if I have to choose between pleading guilty or no contest? When you use MyCitations to ask for a lower fine or if you go to court and the judge asks you how you plead, you may may be asked if you want to plead **guilty** and **no conte**st. You get the same result either way—a conviction. The ticket goes on your record, and you may have to pay the same fine or take the same steps to clear it. - **Guilty** means you admit you did what the ticket says. - **No contest** means you don’t admit it, but you’re not going to argue against it either. The main difference is if someone tries to **sue you for something related to the ticket**: - If you plead **guilty**, they can use that as proof that you did what the ticket says. - If you plead **no contest**, they may still need to prove what happened. ## [Option 2: Fix any issues in a fix-it ticket]() A **fix-it ticket** is for something you can correct, like a broken taillight or expired registration. To take care of it, you usually need to: - Fix the problem - Get the back of your ticket signed (this is called a certificate of correction) - Send the signed ticket to the court (or have the court sign it if it's a ticket for car insurance problems) - Pay a small fee The court will check your proof and let you know if anything else is needed. [Learn more about fix-it tickets](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/fix-it-ticket) ## [Option 3: Ask for a trial]() If you don’t agree with the ticket, you can ask the court for a trial. This means you want to explain what happened, that what the officer said you did cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and you want to ask the judge to find you not guilty. This is called pleading **not guilty**. Worried that asking for a trial means you can’t go to traffic school or get a lower fine? ### Two ways to have a trial You can choose: - ### In-person trial You and the police officer both go to court. You each explain what happened. The judge decides if you are guilty or not. > ✅ You do **not** have to pay bail before an in-person trial. > [Learn about in-person trials](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic/court-trial) - ### Trial by written declaration You and the officer each write and file a statement and can provide other evidence. The judge reads the statements and evidence and makes a decision. You do not have to go to court. > ⚠️ **You must pay bail first** to use this option. The court will return your money if the judge says you're not guilty. > **Exception: MyCitations tool** > > Some courts let you use a tool called **MyCitations** to do a trial by declaration. > > If your court uses this tool for trials by declaration: You do **not** have to pay bail before your trial. You will be told if this option is available. [Learn about trials by declaration](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic/trial-declaration) ## [How points on your record affect your car insurance]() If you’re found guilty, it’s called a ****conviction****. If you chose not to fight the ticket and pay it, which is called ****forfeiting bail****, it is treated as a conviction. For some types of tickets, like speeding or running a red light, the conviction will go on your ****DMV record**** and **add a point** to it. Points can: - Stay on your record for **3 to 7 years** - Cause your **car insurance** to go up - Even lead your insurance company to **cancel your policy** ### [How traffic school can help]() If you’re eligible and **finish traffic school** by the deadline, the point is still on your record, but it's **hidden from insurance companies**, so it usually **won't affect your insurance rates.** The court will let you know if you’re eligible. [Learn more about traffic school](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic/traffic-school) ## [If you do nothing]() If you ignore your ticket, the court may: - Add up to \$100 as a late fee (called a "civil assessment") - Charge you with “Failure to Appear” - Add the violation to your DMV record If you missed your due date for a good reason, like being sick, contact the court right away. They may cancel the extra fees. If you can’t afford to pay the fine, [ask the court for help](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/traffic/ask-lower-fine). They may lower the amount, give you more time, offer a payment plan, or allow community service instead of paying.