Paid $500 for a traffic lawyer vs. just paying the ticket myself

Got a speeding ticket last month doing 45 in a 30 zone near downtown Austin. I figured a lawyer could get it reduced so I paid $500 flat fee to one who guaranteed results. He got it dropped to a nonmoving violation but now I'm wondering if I could have just paid the $200 ticket and moved on. What's your experience with paying lawyers vs. eating the fine?

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pats235mo ago

Bruh $500 for a ticket lawyer in Austin? That's wild to me. I paid $300 for one when I got caught doing 85 in a 65 on I-35 and thought that was steep. But if he got it down to nonmoving then your insurance probably didn't take a hit right? My buddy just paid his $250 ticket outright and his premium went up like $40 a month for two years. So that $200 ticket really cost him way more in the long run. You probably came out ahead even if it stung upfront.

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sama805mo ago

So did your insurance actually not go up? @pats23 is right about the math but I think you gotta check your renewal first. My buddy paid $400 for a lawyer in San Antonio, got it reduced to a parking ticket, and his premium still jumped because the company saw the original offense on his record somehow. Not all dropped violations stay hidden from insurers I guess. You might have saved money if yours stayed off the radar, but I'd wait a full billing cycle before calling it a win. Did your lawyer specifically promise no insurance impact or just say "nonmoving violation"?

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