Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte
A Delaware speeding ticket carries a $20 fine for a first offense, plus $1, $2 or $3 for each mph over the limit once you are more than 5 mph over, and you can pay it or plead not guilty and go to court. Court costs and assessments are added to that fine, so the amount you owe is the one on your ticket. The Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) then adds 2 to 5 points for a conviction, with one no-point rule for a first minor ticket paid through the VAC or by mail.
Key Facts
- The fine: 21 Del. C. 4169(c) sets a $20 base for a first offense and $25 for a repeat within 24 months, plus a per-mph amount. See the fine table.
- Extra costs: court costs and assessments are added to the fine. See court costs.
- Points: 2, 4, 5 or 5 points by speed band, under Regulation 2208. See speeding points.
- Your choices: pay through the Voluntary Assessment Center (VAC) within 30 days, or plead not guilty and go to court. See your options.
- Very high speeds: 90 mph or more is reckless driving, and suspensions start at 25 mph over. See very high speeds.
- Defensive driving: a course gives a 3-point credit for future violations. It does not change the fine. See defensive driving.
How Much Is a Delaware Speeding Ticket?
The fine comes from a formula in 21 Del. C. 4169(c). It has a base fine and an amount for each mph over the limit.
For a first offense, the base fine is $20. For a repeat offense within 24 months, the base is $25. The per-mph amount depends on how far over the limit you were.
| Speed over the limit | First offense | Repeat within 24 months |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 5 mph | $20 base only | $25 base only |
| 6 to 15 mph | $20 + $1 per mph over | $25 + $2 per mph over |
| 16 to 19 mph | $20 + $2 per mph over | $25 + $3 per mph over |
| 20 mph or more | $20 + $3 per mph over | $25 + $4 per mph over |
The statute words the bands as “more than 5 but less than 16” mph, “more than 15 but less than 20” mph and more than 19 mph over.
A Worked Example
Here is the fine for one case, using only the statute. Say a driver is 10 mph over the limit on a first offense.
- The base fine is $20.
- The per-mph amount is 10 x $1.
- The fine is $30.
That $30 is the fine alone. It is not what the driver pays, because court costs and assessments go on top.
Court Costs Are Added
The statute sets fines, not the full bill. Court costs and assessments are added on top, and we do not list totals.
So read the amount on your own ticket. The Delaware ticket instructions explain how to pay that amount.
Delaware Default Speed Limits
21 Del. C. 4169(a) sets these default limits:
- 25 mph in business districts.
- 20 or 25 mph in residence districts, at the discretion of the agency that owns the road.
- 20 mph in posted school zones.
- 50 mph on two-lane roads.
- 55 mph on four-lane and divided roads.
- 65 mph on the SR 1 segment described in 4169(d).
Points for a Speeding Ticket
A conviction also adds points to your driving record. The court does not assess points; the DMV does. The DMV Point and Speed System page lists these values from Regulation 2208:
- 1 to 9 mph over: 2 points.
- 10 to 14 mph over: 4 points.
- 15 to 19 mph over: 5 points.
- 20 mph or more over: 5 points, and it may lead to other actions, including suspension.
There is one no-point rule. A first speeding ticket for 1 to 14 mph over within 3 years gets no points when paid through the VAC or by mail. It only applies to Class D license holders, and CDL holders still get points.
Points count at full value for 12 months and at half value for the next 12. Our guide to Delaware speeding ticket points covers the mail-in rule and each band in more detail.
Very High Speeds: Reckless Driving and Suspensions
Driving 90 mph or more is reckless driving under 21 Del. C. 4175(b). Under 4175(d), a first offense brings a fine of $150 to $300, a traffic safety course, or both.
Reckless driving is also 6 points. Our reckless driving guide covers that charge.
Regulation 2208, section 4.7, also sets serious speeding rules:
- 20 to 24 mph over: an advisory letter, if the driver has fewer than 12 points.
- 25 mph over: a 1-month suspension, plus 1 more month for each added 5 mph.
- 50 mph or more over, or 100 mph or more: a 1-year suspension.
The DMV says a driver at 25 to 29 mph over may take a Behavior Modification course instead. At 30 mph or more over, the suspension is mandatory. See how many points suspend a license for the full action list.
Your Options After a Speeding Ticket
This section lists the facts of each path, not which one fits your case.
Pay Through the Voluntary Assessment Center
The VAC lets you pay without going to court. Under 21 Del. C. 709(i), payment “is an admission of guilt, a waiver of the right to a hearing, and a complete satisfaction of the violation.”
In plain words, paying leads to a conviction. The court or the VAC must receive payment within 30 days of the arrest.
You can pay online, by phone, by mail, at a kiosk or at a JP Criminal Court. Our ticket lookup guide walks through each way to pay. What paying means for your record is the topic of our Voluntary Assessment Center guide.
Plead Not Guilty and Go to Court
You may plead not guilty instead. The JP Court Traffic FAQs say to sign the ticket and mail or fax it by the court date. By doing so, “you are requesting a court trial and must appear in court to defend the charge(s).”
The Delaware court system overview says the Justice of the Peace Court “hears certain misdemeanors and most motor vehicle cases (excluding felonies).” Our traffic court guide covers hearings and appeals.
Probation Before Judgment
Probation before judgment (PBJ) may be available in court. Under PBJ, the JP Court FAQ says “there is no conviction and no points are assessed.”
PBJ has several eligibility limits under 11 Del. C. 4218. It is not available to CDL holders charged with a motor vehicle offense, or to a person granted PBJ for an offense under the same title within five years of the current offense.
The JP Court Traffic FAQs say PBJ is requested in court, not by mail.
Charges You Cannot Pay by Mail
Some charges cannot go through the VAC. Under 21 Del. C. 709(e), these include reckless driving, DUI and speed exhibitions, among others.
Those charges need a court appearance. Speed exhibitions go to the Court of Common Pleas, which also hears appeals from the JP Court.
Commercial Driver License Holders
CDL holders face stricter rules. The DMV says “CDL holders will receive points” even on a first minor ticket paid through the VAC or by mail, and PBJ is not open to them.
Federal law adds a limit. Under 49 CFR 384.226, a state “must not mask, defer imposition of judgment, or allow an individual to enter into a diversion program” that keeps a CDL holder’s conviction off the record.
What Happens If You Do Not Pay
Under 21 Del. C. 709(j)(1), the DMV refuses to renew a Delaware resident’s license if a ticket goes unpaid. For a nonresident, the DMV may suspend driving privileges in Delaware.
Some tickets require a court appearance. For those, the ticket instructions warn that if you do not appear, “your driving privileges may be suspended and a warrant for your arrest may be issued without further notice.”
Defensive Driving and a Speeding Ticket
A defensive driving course approved by the Delaware DMV does not change a speeding fine. It also does not take points off your record. What it gives is a credit for the future.
Under Regulation 2208, section 4.2.2, a 3-point credit goes on the record after the course. It takes effect on the date you finish.
The DMV says the credit is “only applied to future violations, in certain circumstances.” It also says the credit “does not decrease your overall point values.” Our defensive driving course guide explains the course itself.
Other Delaware Ticket Types
Two other tickets have their own fine rules. An officer-issued red light ticket is 3 points, while a camera ticket has none; see our red light ticket guide. A first handheld phone ticket is $100 with no points, per our cell phone law guide.
What We Found on the Official Pages
On the official pages we checked on October 28, 2026, one detail stood out. The JP Court FAQ calls the mail-in no-point rule “DMV Policy #45” and adds, “The Court does not assess points.” The DMV page says the rule “Only applies to Class D license holders.”
Common Mistakes
Each item below comes from a Delaware law, rule or official page:
- Counting only the $20 base. Above 5 mph over, a per-mph amount is added.
- Treating the fine as the full bill. Court costs and assessments are added.
- Thinking payment is not a conviction. Payment “is an admission of guilt,” per 21 Del. C. 709(i).
- Missing the deadline. Payment must arrive within 30 days of the arrest.
- Expecting the no-point rule with a CDL. CDL holders still get points.
- Expecting a course to cut the fine or the points. The 3-point credit only applies to future violations, in certain circumstances.
How Requirements Can Vary
Delaware’s point system, defensive driving course rules and insurance discount come from state law and state regulations (Regulations 2208, 2224 and 607, and section 2503 of Title 18 of the Delaware Code) and apply statewide. How your ticket is handled is up to the court on your ticket. The fines in the Delaware Code do not include court costs and assessments, so the amount due is on your ticket.
Laws, regulations and DMV fees can change. Check your ticket, any DMV letter, the Delaware DMV website and the Delaware Code before you take a course or pay a ticket.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a speeding ticket in Delaware?
The fine is $20 for a first offense, plus $1, $2 or $3 per mph over once you are more than 5 mph over. A repeat within 24 months starts at $25, plus $2, $3 or $4 per mph. Court costs and assessments are added, so check your ticket for the amount due.
How many points is a speeding ticket in Delaware?
It is 2 points at 1-9 mph over, 4 at 10-14 over and 5 at 15 mph or more over. A first ticket at 1-14 mph over within 3 years gets no points when paid by mail or through the VAC. That rule is for Class D license holders only.
Is 90 mph reckless driving in Delaware?
Yes, under 21 Del. C. 4175(b). Under 4175(d), a first offense brings a $150 to $300 fine, a traffic safety course, or both.
Can probation before judgment keep points off?
Under PBJ, “there is no conviction and no points are assessed,” per the JP Court FAQ. PBJ is not open to CDL holders charged with a motor vehicle offense or to a person granted PBJ for an offense under the same title within five years of the current offense. Ask the court on your ticket or a Delaware attorney about your own case.
Does a defensive driving course lower my speeding fine?
No. A course approved by the Delaware DMV does not change the fine. It adds a 3-point credit that is “only applied to future violations, in certain circumstances,” per the DMV.
Conclusion
A Delaware speeding ticket fine follows the 4169(c) formula, with court costs added and DMV points after a conviction. For drivers who want to learn about the voluntary course, the Delaware defensive driving course at Driving Logic is coming soon. If you need a course now, choose one from the DMV’s approved list, and ask the court on your ticket or a Delaware attorney about your own case.
Related Articles
- Delaware Traffic Ticket Lookup: How to Find and Pay a Ticket
- Voluntary Assessment Center Delaware: What Paying Means
- Delaware Red Light Ticket: Camera vs. Officer Tickets
- Reckless Driving Delaware: Penalties, Fines and Points
- Delaware Traffic Court: JP Court, Hearings and PBJ
- Delaware Cell Phone Law: Fines and Points for Drivers
- Delaware Speeding Ticket Points: By MPH Over
- How Many Points to Suspend License in Delaware? What Happens
The PBJ limits summarized here are not exhaustive. Prior convictions and the charge can also affect eligibility; the court decides whether PBJ is available under section 4218.
Sources
- Delaware Justice of the Peace Court — Traffic FAQs
- Delaware Ticket Instructions (DELJIS, PDF)
- 2 DE Admin Code 2208 — Driver Improvement Problem Driver Program
- Delaware DMV — Point and Speed System
- Delaware Courts — Overview of the Court System
Billy Forte is the owner of Driving Logic, an online driver education course provider serving drivers in several U.S. states.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Delaware course rules, point values, fines and penalties depend on your ticket, court, DMV notice and case facts, and they can change. Use official Delaware DMV, Delaware Code and court sources, and consult a qualified Delaware attorney for advice about your own case.