Got a Traffic Ticket in Reno, NV? Here’s What To Do Next
A plain-English guide for Reno (Washoe County) drivers: where to pay, whether to fight it, whether traffic school can save your record, and when a lawyer is worth it.
The 30-second answer
You usually have four options: pay the fine, contest it yourself, take traffic school, or hire a lawyer. The right choice depends on whether it’s a moving violation and whether you have a good-driving record to protect.
👉 Use the free decision tool below — it tells you which option fits your ticket.
1Where do I pay the ticket?
Never pay through a random site. Use the court’s official portal:
🔗 Reno Municipal Court - payments (post and forfeit, payment plans)
Your ticket names the court handling your case. If you’re not sure which court, use the official finder:
🔗 Reno Municipal Court - traffic citations (civil infractions vs criminal violations)
Reno / Washoe County details, verified against Reno Municipal Court
- Reno citations go to the Reno Municipal Court, not a county court - start from the court's Traffic Citations page. Read the citation first: Nevada now separates civil infractions from criminal traffic offences, and they follow different routes.
- Civil infractions get 90 days to respond. If you take no action by the 90-day response date, the court enters a default judgment: you are found in violation, fines and penalties are assessed, and the case can no longer be contested.
- Paying early is called a ‘Post and Forfeit’ - and it means exactly what it says. By paying before your hearing you waive the right to a hearing, admit guilt, and a conviction is reported to the DMV. You cannot later change your plea or undo the conviction, and it is not the same as posting bail.
- Pay, request a new arraignment date or find your case through the court's Payments page. For bail, bond or a fine quote, call a court clerk at (775) 334-2290, option 6, or use the court's chat line.
- If any violation is a mandatory appearance (noted next to the violation on the ticket), you must appear in person at the time listed - paying will not substitute for the hearing.
- The court offers payment plans if you cannot pay in full by the hearing date, and a Virtual Clerk Counter open Monday-Thursday, 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 2:00-5:00 p.m., so you can handle routine business without going to the courthouse.
- For the record, not just the fine: ask whether a DMV-approved traffic safety course can cut 3 demerit points from your total (3-11 active points, once a year) - and confirm it is not a court-ordered course, which does not earn the reduction.
- DUI is a criminal traffic offence at this court, handled on the criminal calendar with a mandatory appearance - not something a fine payment resolves.
2How much will it cost?
Nevada splits citations into civil infractions and criminal traffic offences, and the fine depends on the violation and the court. The citation shows your response date - Reno gives civil infractions 90 days to respond.
Don’t just look at the fine. For a moving violation, the real cost is the fine plus the insurance increase, which can last up to three years. Nevada counts demerit points: 12 or more in a 12-month period can suspend your licence. A civil infraction conviction still reports to the DMV, so paying is not a way to keep the record clean.
3Should I fight it, or just pay?
| Option | Best when | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Just pay | It’s a non-moving / fix-it ticket, or you don’t mind the point | Just the fine |
| Contest it yourself | The officer’s account is wrong, or the sign/light was unclear | Free (your time) |
| Traffic school | You’re eligible and want to keep the point off your record | Fine + small course fee |
| Hire a lawyer | A moving violation + a record you can’t afford to damage | $250-$500 typical for a simple moving violation |
Free decision tool: what should you do?
Answer three questions. There is nothing to type — no name, no citation number. We only record which options people choose (anonymously, so we know which cities and questions need work); the recommendation itself is calculated in your browser.
4Can traffic school save my record?
Nevada does not dismiss a ticket with a course, but the DMV gives a 3-point demerit reduction for a DMV-approved traffic safety course when you have 3-11 active points, generally once every 12 months. A course taken under a court plea agreement does not earn that reduction, so ask the clerk exactly which route your citation allows.
🔗 Check the official list of approved schools: https://renomunicipalcourt.com/court-services/traffic-citations.php
How traffic school works in every state we cover →
5Do I need a lawyer?
For a simple moving violation a lawyer typically costs $250-$500 typical for a simple moving violation. It’s usually worth it when the insurance increase, or your job (CDL, company car), outweighs that fee.
6Do I have to show up in court?
It depends on the ticket. Many moving violations can be handled online or by mail; others require a court date. Check the court named on your ticket before the deadline — missing a deadline can add penalties or suspend your license.
Another Nevada city we cover
Common questions
Will paying the ticket raise my insurance?
For a moving violation, usually yes — often for up to three years. Non-moving and parking tickets usually don’t.
What if I just ignore it?
Don’t. Unpaid tickets can lead to extra fines, a suspended license, or a warrant. Every option above is better than ignoring it.
Is this legal advice?
No. This is general information to help you understand your options. For advice about your specific case, talk to a licensed attorney in Nevada.
Tell us what’s missing for Reno and we’ll add it — email privacy@ticketsimplified.com.
⚠️ Items still to verify for Reno: whether your citation is a civil infraction or a criminal traffic offence, and whether it is a mandatory-appearance violation; the fine, fees and assessments on your case (the court's chat line can quote them); the 90-day response date for a civil infraction before a default judgment is entered. Last checked 2026-10-12.