How long does a speeding ticket stay on your record?
Three to five years in most states. A few keep it longer.
Updated 13 November 2026
A speeding ticket goes on your driving record once you are convicted, and paying the ticket counts as a conviction. How long it stays is set by the state that issued your license.
Three different clocks
- The conviction, which shows on your driving record for the period in the table below.
- The points, which in most states stop counting sooner. See how long points stay on your license.
- Your insurer's own look-back, commonly three to five years.
How long a ticket stays on your record, state by state
| State | How long a ticket stays on the record |
|---|---|
| Alabama | A traffic conviction stops counting for points after 2 years but remains on the driver record. |
| Alaska | The Insurance Record shows convictions for 3 or 5 years depending on the type, while the Full Individual Record shows all convictions on file. |
| Arizona | A conviction stays on the driving record for 5 years from the conviction date. |
| Arkansas | The insurance record shows traffic violations for a 3-year period. |
| California | Most traffic convictions stay on the driver record for 3 years from the violation date. Serious violations stay longer. |
| Colorado | The standard driving record covers the past 7 years and includes tickets and traffic convictions. |
| Connecticut | Most traffic violations stay on the driving history for 3 years. |
| Florida | Most traffic citation convictions stay on the Florida driving record for 3 to 5 years, with more serious violations kept longer. |
| Hawaii | The Hawaii driver history record shows moving traffic violations and crashes reported within the past three years. |
| Idaho | A standard Idaho driving record covers the most recent three years. |
| Illinois | Moving violations stay on the driving record for 4 to 5 years from the conviction date. |
| Iowa | Convictions appear on the driving record for at least the last five years. |
| Kansas | Minor offenses such as speeding stay on the Kansas driving record for 3 years. |
| Kentucky | A conviction stays on the driving record for five years from the conviction date. |
| Louisiana | Minor traffic convictions stay on the Louisiana driving record for 3 years from the conviction date; other major convictions stay for 5 years. |
| Maine | The standard Maine driving record lists convictions and other entries from the past 3 years. |
| Michigan | Most traffic convictions stay on the Michigan driving record for at least 7 years. |
| Minnesota | Convictions, suspensions and revocations stay on the Minnesota driving record for at least 5 years. |
| Missouri | A ticket conviction may be removed from the Missouri driver record 3 years after the conviction date. |
| Montana | Traffic convictions stay on a Montana driving record for life, even after the points expire. |
| Nebraska | Convictions stay on the Nebraska driving record for five years. |
| Nevada | A moving violation conviction stays on the permanent Nevada driving record after its points expire. |
| New Jersey | The Driver History Abstract lists moving violations and points from the past five years. |
| New York | Most traffic convictions show on the standard abstract until the end of the year of conviction plus 3 more years. |
| North Dakota | Non-commercial, non-criminal traffic violations stay on the North Dakota driving record for 3 years. |
| Ohio | Moving violation convictions stay on the Ohio driver abstract for 36 months from the conviction date. |
| Oklahoma | The Oklahoma motor vehicle record (MVR) shows only the three years of driving history before the date of the request. |
| Oregon | A conviction for a minor offense stays on the certified court print record for five years. |
| Rhode Island | Most traffic violations are removed from the Rhode Island driving record three years after the case is decided. |
| South Dakota | A standard South Dakota driving record release covers the most recent three years of driving history. |
| Texas | The 3-year driver record lists all moving violations for three years from the date of the offense. |
| Utah | Most items on the driving record display for 3 years. |
| Virginia | A conviction for speeding 1 to 9 mph over the limit stays on the DMV record for 5 years. |
| Washington | Most convictions and violations stay on the driving record for 5 years from the conviction date. |
| West Virginia | A traffic conviction stays on the West Virginia driving record for five years. |
| Wisconsin | Most convictions are eligible for removal from the driving record five years after the conviction date. |
| Wyoming | The standard driving record shows moving violations for three years. |
Checked 13 November 2026 against each state's own publications. A state is listed only where we could confirm its rule. States change these rules, and your own record shows what applies to you.
See your own record
Your record shows exactly what is on file for you. Pick the state that issued your license.
Related
- Does a speeding ticket go on your record?
Yes, once you are convicted, and paying the ticket counts as a conviction. What keeps a speeding ticket off your record, and how long it stays.
- How long do points stay on your license?
In most states that use points, they count against you for one to three years. See how long points stay on your license in your state.
- How long do accidents stay on your record?
Usually three to five years on your driving record, depending on the state. Insurers also keep their own claims history for up to seven years.
- Can you expunge your driving record?
In most states you cannot remove a valid entry from your driving record early. What does come off, and what expunging a criminal case changes.