What you pay when you book
Every case on OTR includes two fees:
- Legal fee
This is the fee your attorney charges to represent you. It is set by the attorney, not by OTR, and it goes directly to your partner attorney or law firm. This fee covers the attorney's full representation — preparation, court appearances, negotiations, and all paperwork. You will never be asked to pay an additional legal fee directly to your attorney after booking.
- OTR service fee
This is a small platform fee charged by OTR, ranging from $10 to $50 depending on the case. It helps us maintain the platform, support team, and SmartMatch system that powers every case.
Both fees are shown clearly in your instant quote before you pay. There are no hidden charges. For a quick breakdown of what is and is not covered, see What is included in your OTR fee?
If you are a Fastlane member, you pay nothing at all when booking an eligible traffic ticket case — no legal fee and no service fee. Your monthly membership fee covers everything, for both you and your Copilot. For non-eligible case types (DUIs, misdemeanors, etc.), Fastlane members receive a 25% discount off the standard legal fee.
⚠️ Always pay through the platform:
Any payments made outside the OTR platform are not protected by OTR.
How your instant quote works
When you enter your ticket or charge details in the booking wizard, OTR's SmartMatch algorithm runs in the background and identifies the best-suited attorney for your case. The instant quote you see is that specific attorney's legal fee plus the OTR service fee. It is the exact price you will pay if you book — not an estimate.
Quotes are valid for 30 minutes. If your quote expires before you complete booking, you can request a new one. SmartMatch will run again with the latest availability data, and the price may change if a different attorney is now the best match. For more on how this works, see How SmartMatch finds the right attorney for your case.
What affects your legal fee
Legal fees vary widely — and that is normal. Your fee is determined by the attorney that SmartMatch selects for your case, based on a fee schedule that the attorney has set for every combination of court and violation type. Partner firms can update their fee schedules at any time, which is another reason why quotes expire and prices can differ between visits. Here are the main factors that affect pricing:
State and geography
Legal fees vary significantly from state to state. Here are some approximate averages for a standard traffic ticket:
| State | Average legal fee |
|---|
| Texas | Under $100 |
| Florida | Under $100 |
| Washington | ~$150 |
| Georgia | ~$250 |
| Colorado | ~$500 |
| Arizona | ~$700 |
Even within a state, fees vary from county to county. More populated areas tend to have more competitive fees because there are more attorneys competing for cases. Remote or underserved counties — where fewer attorneys practice — tend to have higher fees. For example, the major cities in Texas have much more competitive fees than the state's rural desert counties.
Type of charge
The more serious the violation, the higher the legal fee. A standard speeding ticket costs significantly less than a DUI, reckless driving charge, or drug possession case. Cases with multiple charges from a single incident (for example, a speeding ticket while you’re also on the phone) may also cost more than a single-charge case.
License type
If you hold a CDL (commercial driver's license), your legal fee may be higher. CDL cases require more experience, the stakes are higher (your career depends on your license), and the legal work involved is often more complex.
Aggravating factors
Certain circumstances can affect your legal fee. When booking, you may see additional surcharges for:
- Failure to Appear (FTA) fee
Charged when the case has a failure to appear on record
- Warrant surcharge
Charged when the case has an open arrest warrant attached
- CDL surcharge
CDL cases require more work and the stakes are higher
- Late or overdue case fee
Charged when the court date has already passed or a default judgment has been entered. See booking on short notice.
- Multiple violation surcharge
Charged when a single incident includes multiple violations (for example, a speeding ticket while on a suspended license)
These surcharges are shown in your quote before you book.
OTR is typically the most competitive option
Despite the wide range of legal fees across the country, OTR tends to offer the most competitive pricing in every market we serve. This is because SmartMatch prioritizes the best-performing attorney for your case — and when multiple attorneys have similar track records, it matches you with the most competitively priced one.
We also offer price matching. If you find the same service offered at a lower price elsewhere, let us know and we will do our best to match it. For details on how price matching works and what qualifies, see Will Off The Record match a lower price?
What happens if your fee changes after booking
There are two situations where your fee may change after you have already booked:
Your case is declined and rematched
If your attorney declines your case and SmartMatch assigns it to the next best attorney, the new attorney may charge a higher legal fee. If that happens, you will be asked to approve the difference before we proceed. We will never charge you additional funds without your express consent. If you choose not to pay the higher fee, we cancel your case and issue a full refund.
If the information you provided during booking was incomplete or incorrect, your attorney will notice during their case review and send you a counter offer requesting the correct fee.
For example: you indicate that you were charged with speeding 20 mph over the limit, but your ticket is actually for speeding over 100 mph. The legal fee for 20-over might be around $200, while the fee for 100+ mph is closer to $500. Your attorney will correct the information and send a counter offer for the updated amount. If you accept, you are charged the difference and the attorney proceeds. If you decline, the attorney will likely decline the case.
Another common example: you did not identify as a CDL holder during booking. If your case requires a CDL surcharge, you will receive a counter offer for the additional amount.
🔒 Your consent is always required.
Whether it is a rematching fee increase or a counter offer, we will never charge you additional funds without your express permission. You always have the option to decline and receive a full refund.
What is NOT included in your fees
The fees you pay when booking a case on OTR cover your attorney's legal representation and the OTR platform. They do not include:
- Court fines and state fees
Any fines, court costs, processing fees, or administrative fees imposed by the court or the state as part of your case resolution
- Government-imposed charges
License reinstatement fees and any other charges ordered by the court or a government agency
These costs are separate from your legal fee and are imposed by the court, not by OTR or your attorney. For more on this distinction, see Off-platform payments explained.
Ready to see your price?
Visit our booking wizard to enter your ticket or charge details and get an instant quote. You will see your exact legal fee and OTR service fee before you pay — and you can book in minutes.
