Speeding fines in South Carolina range from $15 to $200 depending on how far over the posted limit you were driving, but the base fine is only the beginning. Court costs and surcharges usually push the total well past the sticker number, every conviction adds points to your license, and your insurance rate can climb 20 to 25 percent for three to five years. Work zones, commercial licenses, and out-of-state tickets each add their own layer.
What You’ll Pay Based on Speed
South Carolina statute sets four fine tiers based on how far over the limit you were caught driving:
- Up to 10 mph over: $15 to $25
- More than 10 but under 15 mph over: $25 to $50
- More than 15 but under 25 mph over: $50 to $75
- More than 25 mph over: $75 to $200, plus up to 30 days in jail
The top tier is the only one carrying jail time, and it’s also the level at which judges are most likely to require you to appear in person rather than mail in payment.1South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code 56-5-1520 – General Rules as to Maximum Speed Limits; Lower Speeds May Be Required
Court Costs and Surcharges
The base fine is almost never what you actually hand over. Every misdemeanor traffic conviction in South Carolina carries a mandatory $25 surcharge that cannot be waived or reduced.2South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code 14-1-212 – Surcharges on Fines Courts pile on additional assessments that fund law enforcement, victim services, and court operations, and the total in added costs often exceeds the base fine itself. Even the lowest-tier ticket with a $15 base fine typically runs well over $100 once everything is added. Missing the payment deadline can trigger further penalties and, in some cases, a bench warrant.
Points on Your Driving Record
Every speeding conviction adds points to your record, scaled to how fast you were going:
- Up to 10 mph over: 2 points
- More than 10 but under 25 mph over: 4 points
- 25 mph or more over: 6 points
The point brackets don’t line up perfectly with the fine brackets. A ticket that falls in the second fine tier can still cost you four points if your speed was in the 11-to-24 mph range.3South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code 56-1-720 – Point System Established; Schedule of Points for Violations
Points fade over time. When the SCDMV calculates your total, violations from the past 12 months count at full value. Violations between 12 and 24 months old count at half. Anything older than 24 months drops off entirely.4South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code of Laws Title 56 Chapter 1 – Section 56-1-750
When You Lose Your License
Twelve points triggers an automatic suspension. The length depends on how far past the threshold you’ve gone:
- 12 to 15 points: 3 months
- 16 or 17 points: 4 months
- 18 or 19 points: 5 months
- 20 or more points: 6 months
The SCDMV notifies drivers as their point total climbs, so a suspension shouldn’t come as a surprise. If you think your point count is wrong, you have the right to request a review of your driving record.5South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code of Laws Title 56 Chapter 1 – Section 56-1-740
A points-based suspension can also carry an SR-22 requirement. That’s a form your insurer files with the SCDMV proving you carry the state’s minimum liability coverage. It typically stays in effect for three years and pushes premiums up considerably.
Cutting Points with a Defensive Driving Course
You can remove four points from your record by completing an approved defensive driving course. The rules are specific. The course must be the National Safety Council’s eight-hour program or an approved equivalent, it must be taken in person in South Carolina (online options are limited to the NSC’s virtual classroom), and you can only use this reduction once every three years.6SCDMV. Points System
Timing matters. The course has to be completed after the violation date, and if you’re trying to head off a suspension, you need to finish before it takes effect. For a driver sitting close to 12 points, that four-point reduction can be the difference between keeping your license and losing it for months.
Work Zone Speeding Carries Much Steeper Fines
Speeding in a posted work zone turns a routine ticket into something much more expensive. When signs are posted at the start of an active work zone, the base fine jumps to $75 to $200, with up to 30 days in jail on the table.
If your speeding endangers a highway worker, the penalties climb sharply, and they are mandatory minimums a judge cannot reduce:
- No injury to the worker: $500 to $1,000
- Worker suffers physical injury: $1,000 to $2,000
- Worker suffers great bodily injury: $2,000 to $5,000
The violation also adds points: two for a work zone speeding offense, or four if a worker was injured.7South Carolina Legislature. 2017-2018 Bill 4033 – Speeding in Work Zones8SCDMV. New Message Shines Light on Protecting Workers and Drivers in South Carolina Highway Work Zones
When Speeding Becomes Reckless Driving
Driving more than 25 mph over the limit isn’t just the top fine tier. If the circumstances suggest willful or reckless disregard for safety, an officer can charge you with reckless driving instead of, or on top of, a standard speeding violation. Reckless driving carries a fine of $25 to $200 or up to 30 days in jail for a first offense. A second reckless driving conviction within five years triggers an automatic three-month license suspension.9South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code of Laws Title 56 Chapter 5 – Section 56-5-2920
Reckless driving is a separate criminal offense, not just a traffic violation. It shows up on background checks, can affect employment, and gives insurers a stronger reason to raise rates or drop coverage entirely.
Commercial Drivers Face a Separate Set of Penalties
If you hold a commercial driver’s license, the stakes are higher. South Carolina follows federal rules classifying speeding 15 mph or more over the limit as a “serious traffic violation” for CDL purposes.10South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code 56-1-2110 – Disqualification of Drivers of Commercial Motor Vehicles
Two serious violations within three years result in a 60-day CDL disqualification. Three within the same window extend the disqualification to 120 days. These apply whether or not you were driving a commercial vehicle when you got the ticket.11eCFR. 49 CFR 383.51 – Disqualification of Drivers For a driver whose income depends on that license, two tickets in three years can mean two months without work.
Out-of-State Tickets and the License Compact
South Carolina belongs to the Driver License Compact, an agreement among most states to share traffic conviction data. A South Carolina speeding ticket will be reported to your home state’s licensing agency if you hold an out-of-state license, and most home states will add their own points based on the report. The same works in reverse for South Carolina license holders ticketed elsewhere.
Ignoring an out-of-state ticket is a particularly bad move. Under the Non-Resident Violator Compact, failing to resolve a ticket from a participating state can lead to a license suspension in your home state that stays in place until you clear the original violation and pay any reinstatement fees.
The Insurance Hit Is Usually the Biggest Cost
Over time, the insurance surcharge from a speeding ticket typically dwarfs the fine. Insurers routinely check driving records when setting premiums, and a single conviction can raise your rate by roughly 20 to 25 percent. For a driver paying $2,000 a year, that’s $400 to $500 in extra premium annually, and the surcharge usually lasts three to five years.
Employers who require driving as part of the job also pull motor vehicle records. Many treat three or more moving violations in 36 months as disqualifying, and even two in 24 months can move you to probationary status. Delivery drivers, sales representatives, and anyone assigned a company vehicle can lose the position over accumulated tickets.
Fighting the Ticket
You can contest a speeding ticket by requesting a hearing in magistrate or municipal court.12SC.gov. Traffic Tickets and Court Payments Because speeding is a misdemeanor in South Carolina, the state must prove the violation beyond a reasonable doubt.
The strongest defenses often go after the equipment. Radar and LIDAR units must be properly calibrated, and the officer using them must hold a current certification.13SLED (South Carolina Law Enforcement Division). Procedural Memorandum Private Security Officer Use of Radar Speed Measurement Devices Missing, outdated, or irregular calibration records can make the reading inadmissible, and an expired officer certification weakens the evidence considerably. Other defenses include arguing that speed limit signs were missing, obstructed, or improperly placed, or showing you were speeding to avoid an imminent hazard. Dashcam footage can support your case if it’s unaltered and the person who recorded it can vouch for it.
If you win, no fine and no points. If the ticket holds up, you pay the fine plus all court costs. Either way, contesting means at least one court appearance and the time that goes with it. For a driver near the 12-point line, or a CDL holder facing a serious violation, that time is usually worth spending.