Speeding tickets cost drivers. That might sound obvious, given that speeding tickets come with fines in Alberta. When you factor in the total speeding ticket cost, though, it often goes way further and is much more expensive than the fine that’s listed on your ticket.
Even minor infractions stay on your driving record for three years, and the insurance premiums you pay will rise should they appear on your record. In the long run, these insurance costs can often cost drivers significantly more than the initial fine they received.
That’s why it’s almost always worth fighting a ticket, especially when you have the experts at We Defend on your side. Bringing down fines, reducing demerit points, or even having the ticket thrown out are all possibilities, and it will set you back a lot less than just accepting the speeding ticket cost.
The High Cost of Speeding Tickets
Fines for Speeding
There’s a common misconception that drivers won’t be given speeding tickets unless they’re driving more than 10 kilometres over the speed limit, but that’s actually not true. In Alberta, you can be issued a speeding ticket for going even 1 kilometre over the posted limit, and the speeding ticket cost isn’t cheap, either.
Fines start at $81 and increase from there. By the time you’re going 20 kilometres over the speed limit, your speeding ticket cost could be $175, and that’s before you factor in the amount that increased insurance premiums will set you back.
- 1 km/hour over the speed limit: $81
- 15 km/hour over the speed limit: $126
- 30 km/hour over the speed limit: $249
- 45 km/hour over the speed limit: $432
Excessive Speeding Ticket Cost
If you get issued a ticket for driving more than 50 km/hour above the speed limit, it qualifies as an excessive speeding ticket, and the costs are severe.
There are thousands of high speed tickets issued in Alberta each year and a ticket comes with a mandatory court appearance where a judge can impose a fine or even a license suspension. While it’s not guaranteed, the fine can be up to $2,000 and the license suspension can be up to three months, so the excessive speeding ticket cost is substantial.
Demerit Points
Demerit points themselves don’t technically cost you money. Still, they affect your driving record, and if you receive 15 demerit points in a two-year period, it can lead to a suspended license.
A suspended license can be expensive and should be accounted for when considering the cost of a speeding ticket. You’ll need to find other ways of getting to work, making appointments, and doing basic daily tasks like going to the grocery store. If your job requires that you drive, a suspended license can even lead to the loss of employment.
How Speeding Tickets Affect Insurance
One of the most important speeding ticket costs to consider is the way they affect insurance premiums, and this is why it’s almost always worth it to fight your ticket.
Every conviction for a speeding ticket goes on your driving record and stays there for three years. Your insurance company will see it on your record, and it will affect the premiums you pay.
Alberta’s Auto Insurance Rate Board has a useful calculator for how much more you’ll pay in insurance when you get a speeding ticket. Still, you need to know that the more tickets you get, the more you’ll pay, even for minor convictions like driving less than 50 km/hour above the speed limit.
For major convictions like speeding in a school or playground zone or going 50 km/hour above the speed limit, the increases in insurance rates are even higher.
Important note: It is worth noting that while the speeding ticket costs of tickets issued by photo radar can be steep, they do not affect insurance.
Fight Your Speeding Ticket with We Defend
Speeding tickets cost a lot of money, especially when you factor in the way they affect your insurance premiums. Fortunately, you don’t just need to accept your speeding ticket and start re-doing your budget. Fighting a speeding ticket is almost always worthwhile and significantly less expensive than paying the ticket.
At We Defend, we’ve been helping Alberta drivers reduce or eliminate the fines and demerit points they’ve been given for speeding for decades, and we have a 98% success rate. We’ll protect your insurance rates and lower your penalties.
To start fighting your speeding ticket, call us at 587-209-8427 or contact us online.
FAQs About Speeding Tickets
How Much Is a Speeding Ticket in Canada?
Speeding ticket costs range from province to province, but the cost in Alberta starts at $81 for a ticket for driving 1 km/hour above the speed limit and goes up the faster you were found to have been going. There are hidden costs, too, and speeding tickets can often impact how much you pay for insurance.
What Is the Fine for Speeding in Alberta?
The fine for speeding in Alberta starts at $81 and can go up to $2,000 if you’re convicted of driving more than 50 km/hour above the speed limit. Demerit points come with speeding tickets, too, and insurance is often expensive.
Is It Worth Fighting a Speeding Ticket in Alberta?
It is almost always worth it to fight a speeding ticket in Alberta. It costs much less than doing nothing, and fighting a speeding ticket can lower your penalties and protect your insurance premiums. Having We Defend on your team gives you the best chance of a positive outcome and keeps your speeding ticket cost in Alberta down.