North Carolina Traffic Fines
& Penalty Ranges
8 common North Carolina violations with typical fine ranges, plus how the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NC DMV) handles points.
🔎North Carolina Traffic Fines at a Glance
- Typical fines
- $25–$500
- Point system
- Yes
- Traffic school
- Available
- Records kept by
- North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NC DMV)
Of the 8 North Carolina violations below, the lowest typical fine is for seat belt violation ($25–$50) and the highest is for speeding > 25 mph over or > 80 mph ($100–$500).
Speeding fines climb across 3 tiers, from $30–$220 (speeding 10 mph over (in 55 zone)) to $100–$500 (speeding > 25 mph over or > 80 mph).
Ranges only, not legal advice. Your actual North Carolina fine depends on the county, the court, and your record, and court costs are added on top. For a criminal charge such as DUI or reckless driving, consult a licensed North Carolina attorney.
📋Common North Carolina Violations & Typical Fines
Base-fine ranges; North Carolina court costs are extra.
| Violation | Typical Fine |
|---|---|
Speeding 10 MPH over (in 55 zone) Includes ~$190 court costs. 3 license / 2 insurance | $30–$220 |
Speeding 11–15 MPH over 3 license / 4 insurance | $50–$240 |
Speeding > 25 MPH over OR > 80 MPH Class 3 misdemeanor — possible court appearance required. 4 license / 4 insurance | $100–$500 |
Running a red light 3 license / 1 insurance | $100–$250 |
Running a stop sign 3 license / 1 insurance | $100–$250 |
Seat belt violation No license/insurance points; court costs may apply. | $25–$50 |
Texting while driving Texting (manually entering text) is banned statewide; hand-held use otherwise allowed for adults. | $100–$200 |
Driving without insurance Plus license/registration revocation and reinstatement fees. | $50–$250 |
Estimate what your North Carolina ticket will really cost
The fine on the ticket is rarely the total. Pick the violation to add court costs, points, suspension risk and the likely insurance impact in North Carolina.
Includes ~$190 court costs.
Pick the speeding tier that matches how fast you were going over the limit. North Carolina typically breaks speeding into different tiers — choose the right one above for the most accurate estimate.
Based on the fine ranges listed on this page. Open the full estimator to compare other states.
🎯How North Carolina's Point System Works
North Carolina uses TWO separate point systems: Driver License Points (assessed by the NC DMV — 1–5 per violation) AND Insurance Points (assessed by the NC Rate Bureau — 1–12 per violation). Both can apply to the same ticket and have different consequences.
12 driver-license points within 3 years can result in license suspension; 8 points after a license is restored may also trigger suspension. Insurance points raise your auto premium by a percentage scaled to the points.
🎓Traffic School & Defensive Driving
North Carolina courts may grant a "Prayer for Judgment Continued" (PJC) — a unique NC mechanism where the conviction is entered but no judgment is imposed. Limited to 1 PJC per household every 3 years for insurance purposes; 2 per 5 years for driver-license point purposes.
📝Got a North Carolina Ticket?
- Before paying a moving violation, check whether you qualify for North Carolina's traffic-school option (see above) — it can keep the conviction off your record.
- Each conviction counts toward North Carolina's suspension threshold, so a cheap ticket can still matter.
🔗Official North Carolina Sources
For exact, current penalties, check the official North Carolina sources:
Sourced from public North Carolina statutes and North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NC DMV) publications; may not reflect the latest amendments. usdriverguide.com is not affiliated with the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NC DMV), any North Carolina court, or any law enforcement agency. Full disclaimer.