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Speeding 1-15 Over in Texas: What Happened to Surcharges and Rates

What Happened to the Texas Surcharge Program

Texas eliminated the Driver Responsibility Program on September 1, 2019. Under that program, a speeding ticket 1-15 over the limit triggered a $100 annual state surcharge for three consecutive years, billed separately from your insurance premium and paid directly to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The program was repealed under HB 2048 after years of criticism for disproportionately affecting low-income drivers and generating over $1.3 billion in unpaid surcharges. If you received a ticket after September 2019, you will not receive a surcharge notice from the state. All outstanding surcharges from prior violations were waived when the program ended.

This does not mean the ticket has no financial consequence. Your insurance carrier bases rate increases on the conviction itself, not on whether the state imposed a surcharge. The two systems operate independently — the surcharge program is gone, but the insurance rating impact remains active.

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How a Speeding 1-15 Over Conviction Affects Your Insurance Rate in Texas

A speeding ticket 1-15 over the limit in Texas is classified as a moving violation and adds two points to your driving record under the Texas point system. Your insurance carrier does not use the state's point system directly, but the conviction appears on your Motor Vehicle Record and triggers a rate increase at your next renewal.

Typically, a single speeding 1-15 over conviction raises your premium by 15-25% in Texas, depending on your carrier, age, and prior record. For a driver paying $1,200 annually, that translates to an additional $180-$300 per year. The increase lasts for three years from the conviction date in most cases, though some carriers apply it for five years.

Carriers apply the increase at renewal, not immediately. If your policy renews 60 days after the conviction date, the rate change takes effect on the renewal date. The conviction remains visible on your MVR for three years, but you may qualify for accident forgiveness or safe driver discounts that reduce the impact if you have no other violations during that period.

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Why You're Finding Conflicting Information About Surcharges

Most online resources about Texas traffic violations still reference the Driver Responsibility Program because it was in effect from 2003 to 2019. Thousands of articles, forum posts, and outdated state documents still describe the $100 annual surcharge as if it's current.

If you're searching immediately after receiving a ticket, you're seeing a mix of pre-2019 and post-2019 information without clear version control. The state did not retroactively update older publications, and many third-party sites have not refreshed their content. The result is confusion about whether you owe the state directly, whether your insurance will increase, or both.

Under current law, you owe the court the fine listed on your citation — typically $150-$200 for a speeding 1-15 over ticket in most Texas jurisdictions. You do not owe the state a separate annual surcharge. Your insurance company will apply its own rate increase based on the conviction, which is unrelated to what you pay the court.

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What the Conviction Does to Your Driving Record

A speeding 1-15 over conviction in Texas appears on your driving record as a two-point moving violation. The Texas Department of Public Safety maintains this record, and insurance carriers access it when calculating your premium at renewal.

The conviction stays on your record for three years from the conviction date. If you accumulate six or more points within three years, you may receive a warning letter from DPS. If you reach eight or more points, your license can be suspended for up to one year, though this is rare with a single 1-15 over ticket unless you have other violations stacking.

Some drivers qualify for defensive driving to dismiss the ticket and keep it off their record entirely. Texas courts allow this option once every 12 months for eligible violations. If you take a state-approved defensive driving course and submit your certificate before your court date, the ticket is dismissed, no conviction appears on your MVR, and your insurance company never sees it. This option is not automatic — you must request permission from the court within the deadline printed on your citation.

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How Long the Rate Increase Lasts

Most Texas carriers apply the rate increase for three years from the conviction date. Some carriers extend it to five years, particularly for drivers under 25 or those with prior violations. The increase is not permanent, but it compounds if you receive additional tickets during the lookback period.

If you receive a second speeding ticket within three years of the first, both convictions appear on your record simultaneously and your rate increases further. A driver with two speeding violations typically sees a combined increase of 35-50%, and some carriers move the driver into a non-standard or high-risk tier.

After the conviction drops off your MVR, your rate returns to the base level for your risk profile, assuming no new violations. You do not need to request the decrease — it applies automatically at renewal once the conviction ages out of the carrier's lookback window.

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What To Do Right Now

1. Check your citation deadline and request defensive driving if eligible. You typically have 20-30 days from the citation date to contact the court and request permission to take defensive driving. If approved, complete the course before your court appearance date and submit the certificate. If you miss this window, the conviction becomes permanent and your carrier will apply the rate increase.

2. Do not ignore the ticket or assume it will not affect your insurance. Even though the state surcharge program is gone, the conviction still appears on your MVR. If you pay the fine without contesting or taking defensive driving, your carrier sees the conviction at your next renewal and raises your rate for three years. A dismissed ticket costs you $100-$150 in course fees; a conviction costs you $180-$300 per year in premium increases.

3. Contact your carrier before renewal to confirm how the conviction affects your rate. Some carriers offer accident forgiveness or violation forgiveness programs that waive the first ticket if you have been claims-free for a set period. Others allow you to offset the increase with new discounts — bundling, telematics, or safe driver programs. If your carrier raises your rate more than 25%, compare quotes from non-standard carriers that specialize in drivers with violations.

4. If your rate increases significantly, get comparison quotes from at least three other carriers. Violation surcharges vary widely by company. A carrier that increases your rate by 30% may not be your cheapest option after the ticket. Non-standard carriers like Dairyland, The General, and National General often offer lower rates for drivers with one or two violations than standard carriers applying surcharges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I still have to pay a surcharge for a speeding ticket in Texas?

No. Texas eliminated the Driver Responsibility Program surcharge on September 1, 2019. You pay the court fine listed on your citation, but the state no longer bills a separate annual surcharge for speeding violations. Your insurance carrier may still raise your rate based on the conviction.

How much will my insurance go up after a speeding ticket 1-15 over in Texas?

A speeding ticket 1-15 over typically raises your premium by 15-25% in Texas, depending on your carrier and driving history. For a driver paying $1,200 per year, that means an additional $180-$300 annually. The increase lasts three years in most cases, though some carriers apply it for five.

Can I take defensive driving to keep a speeding ticket off my insurance?

Yes, if the court approves your request. Texas allows defensive driving once every 12 months for eligible violations. If you complete the course and submit your certificate before your court date, the ticket is dismissed and never appears on your driving record. Your insurance company will not see it.

How long does a speeding ticket stay on my record in Texas?

A speeding conviction stays on your Texas driving record for three years from the conviction date. Insurance carriers typically apply the rate increase for the same three-year period, though some extend it to five years. After it ages out, your rate returns to normal at renewal.

What happens if I get a second speeding ticket within three years in Texas?

Both convictions appear on your record simultaneously and your insurance rate increases further. Two speeding tickets typically raise your premium by 35-50% combined, and some carriers move you into a high-risk tier or non-renew your policy. You may need to shop non-standard carriers for coverage.