{
  "slug": "traffic-ticket-cost",
  "title": "Traffic Ticket True Cost Calculator",
  "heading": "Traffic Ticket Cost Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/traffic-ticket-cost",
  "summary": "Fine plus the insurance surcharge you'll pay for years afterward.",
  "description": "The fine is the small part. A moving violation typically raises your premium for three to five years, and that surcharge usually dwarfs the ticket itself. Compare paying it against fighting it or taking traffic school.",
  "formula": "True cost = fine + court costs + (annual premium × surcharge% × surcharge years).",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=traffic-ticket-cost",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "fine",
      "label": "Fine + court costs",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 250,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "premium",
      "label": "Annual insurance premium",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 1800,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "surcharge",
      "label": "Premium increase",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 22,
      "unit": "%",
      "min": 0,
      "max": 100
    },
    {
      "id": "years",
      "label": "Years surcharged",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 3,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 0,
      "max": 7
    },
    {
      "id": "school",
      "label": "Traffic school cost",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 120,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "total",
      "label": "True cost if you just pay",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "ins",
      "label": "Insurance surcharge total",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "schoolPath",
      "label": "Cost with traffic school",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "savings",
      "label": "Saved by masking the point",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Fine + court costs: 250 $",
      "Annual insurance premium: 1800 $",
      "Premium increase: 22 %",
      "Years surcharged: 3",
      "Traffic school cost: 120 $"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "True cost if you just pay: $1,438",
      "Insurance surcharge total: $1,188",
      "Cost with traffic school: $370",
      "Saved by masking the point: $1,068"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter fine + court costs ($).",
      "Enter annual insurance premium ($).",
      "Enter premium increase (%).",
      "Enter years surcharged.",
      "Enter traffic school cost ($).",
      "Read your true cost if you just pay on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "fine": 150,
        "premium": 1100,
        "surcharge": 13,
        "years": 2,
        "school": 70
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "fine": 250,
        "premium": 1800,
        "surcharge": 22,
        "years": 3,
        "school": 120
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "fine": 400,
        "premium": 2900,
        "surcharge": 35,
        "years": 5,
        "school": 190
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Does traffic school always work?",
      "a": "Where offered, it usually keeps the point off your record so insurers never see it. Eligibility is typically limited to one course every 12 to 18 months and excludes serious violations."
    },
    {
      "q": "How long do tickets affect insurance?",
      "a": "Most carriers look back three to five years for minor moving violations, and longer for DUI or reckless driving."
    }
  ],
  "related": [],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Traffic Ticket True Cost Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/traffic-ticket-cost)"
}