The promise: We win or your money back
When you book an eligible traffic ticket case on OTR and your attorney does not get you a favorable outcome, we refund your legal fee. That is our money-back guarantee.
No other nationwide legal service offers this. Most law firms keep your fee regardless of the result. At OTR, we put our money where our mouth is — because we trust our SmartMatch system and our 97% success rate.
The guarantee is designed so you can book with confidence. You are not risking your money by choosing to fight your ticket. If we win, your ticket is handled and your record is protected. If we do not win, you get your money back.
Our partner attorneys stand behind this guarantee
The money-back guarantee is not something OTR does on its own. Every partner attorney and law firm on our platform understands the guarantee, agrees to it, and stands fully behind it.
Our partner firms agree upfront that when a certain type of result is not achieved on an eligible case, their legal fee is not considered earned. The refund is a shared commitment between OTR and the law firm.
This matters because it means the attorney working on your case has the same skin in the game that you do. They are motivated to get you the best possible outcome — not just because it is the right thing to do, but because the guarantee is built into how they work with OTR. It is a true partnership, and it is one more reason you can trust the process when you book.
Will I know if my case is eligible before I book?
Yes. Always. There are no surprises.
When you enter your ticket details in our booking wizard, you will see clearly whether your case is eligible for the money-back guarantee before you make any payment. If your case is not eligible, we will tell you upfront so you can make an informed decision.
What counts as a "win"?
A case is considered a win when your attorney gets you a better result than what the original charge would have carried. Here are the most common winning outcomes:
- Case dismissed
The charge is dropped entirely
- Points reduced or eliminated
Fewer or no points on your record
- Charge reduced to a non-moving violation
The ticket no longer appears on your driving record
- Charge reduced to a lesser offense
For example, a misdemeanor reduced to a civil infraction
- Attorney secured a deal or eliminated a consequence that was not previously available
If your attorney gets the court to agree to something you would not have had access to on your own, that is a win — even if the ticket itself is not fully dismissed
- Deferral, diversion or similar granted
The court delays judgment; complete the requirements and the charge is dismissed or goes unreported
- Traffic school or defensive driving course
Completing a course keeps the ticket off your public record. Attorneys may use this as a backup plan.
- Plea in abeyance
The court holds the plea; meet certain conditions and the charge is dismissed
- Fine reduced
Your fine was reduced by an amount equal to or greater than your legal fee
All of these are favorable outcomes. Your attorney improved your situation. Because these are wins, the money-back guarantee does not apply.
Here are two examples:
- 📋 Example 1: Your ticket is initially not eligible for a deferral or traffic school. Your attorney negotiates with the judge and gets the court to make your ticket eligible for one of those programs. Even though the ticket was not dismissed outright, your attorney opened a door that was previously closed to you. We consider that a successful outcome.
- 📋 Example 2: Your ticket carries a mandatory 30-day license suspension. Your attorney is able to get the court to waive or eliminate that suspension. Even if the ticket remains on your record, avoiding a license suspension is a meaningful result that your attorney achieved for you. We consider that a favorable outcome as well.
When does the money-back guarantee apply?
The guarantee applies when your case is lost — meaning the original violation is committed to your record with no improvement in the charge, the points, or the fine.
In simple terms: if your attorney goes to court and the result is no better than what you started with, you get your legal fee back.
Full refund vs. partial refund
Depending on the outcome, you may receive a full refund or a partial refund of your legal fee.
Full refund
You receive a full refund of your legal fee when:
- Your case is lost with no change at all — no reduction in the charge, points, or fine
Partial refund
You receive a partial refund when:
- Your case is lost (the ticket is still committed to your record) but your attorney was able to get your fine reduced
In this situation, you already saved money on the fine. The refund is adjusted to account for that savings.
💰 How the partial refund is calculated
Partial refund = Legal fee − Fine savings
Fine savings = Original fine − Reduced fine
Example:
- Your original fine: $300
- Your legal fee: $250
- Your attorney gets the fine reduced to $200 (a savings of $100)
- But the ticket is still committed to your record (a loss)
Your refund: $250 legal fee − $100 fine savings = $150 refund
You paid $250 for your attorney, saved $100 on the fine, and get $150 back.
What is NOT eligible for the money-back guarantee?
The guarantee does not apply in the following situations:
Serious criminal matters
The money-back guarantee applies to traffic tickets and minor traffic violations only. More serious charges — such as DUIs, hit and run, reckless driving, drug charges, and other criminal matters — are not eligible. This is because offering a money-back guarantee on serious criminal matters is not legally permitted in most jurisdictions.
New York City Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB) courts
Tickets contested in NYC's five boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island) are handled through the Traffic Violations Bureau, which operates differently from other courts. Cases in TVB courts are either fully dismissed or fully committed — there is no negotiation or reduction. Because of how these courts work, the money-back guarantee does not apply. The rest of New York state is eligible.
Non-moving violations
Non-moving violations (such as a broken taillight or expired registration) generally do not carry points or affect your insurance. Because the stakes are lower, the money-back guarantee does not apply to these ticket types.
Cases where the attorney and client agreed to waive the guarantee
In some situations — for example, time-sensitive cases where the attorney needs to begin work immediately — the attorney may ask you to waive the money-back guarantee as a condition of taking the case. If you agree, the guarantee would not apply. This is always your choice, and it will be clearly communicated before you agree.
What gets refunded?
The money-back guarantee covers your legal fee — the fee you pay to your attorney through the OTR platform. It does not cover:
- Court fines, fees, or costs
- Any payments made outside the OTR platform
Only fees paid through the OTR platform are protected by the guarantee. This is one of the reasons we always recommend booking and paying through the app or website — it keeps you covered.
Quick reference: Am I eligible for a refund?
✅ You ARE eligible for a refund if:
- Your case was eligible for the guarantee (shown before booking)
- Your ticket was a civil traffic violation or minor misdemeanor
- Your case was lost with no favorable change to the charge, points, or fine
- You paid your legal fee through the OTR platform
❌ You are NOT eligible for a refund if:
- Your ticket was dismissed, reduced, deferred, or sent to traffic school
- Your points were reduced or eliminated
- Your fine was reduced by an amount equal to or greater than your legal fee
- Your case involved a criminal charge (DUI, felony, etc.)
- Your case was in a NYC TVB court
- Your ticket was a non-moving violation
- You agreed to waive the guarantee
- Your attorney secured a deal or eliminated a consequence that was not previously available to you
- You paid your legal fee outside the OTR platform
Why we offer this guarantee
We believe that no one should be penalized for choosing to fight a traffic ticket. Paying a ticket is pleading guilty. Fighting it is exercising your legal right. We do not think you should have to risk money to do that.
The money-back guarantee exists because we are confident in our system. With over 500,000 cases handled and a 97% success rate, the vast majority of clients who book with OTR walk away with a favorable outcome. For the small percentage who do not, the guarantee makes sure you are not worse off for having tried.
This is one of the things that makes OTR different. Most law firms keep your money regardless of the result. We earn your fee by earning you a better outcome.
Additional terms for Florida
All cases in the state of Florida are handled by OTR Florida Law, a Florida-based law firm. Their money-back guarantee is consistent with the terms described on this page. If you book a Florida case through OTR, the same guarantee applies.
Have questions about your case?
If you are not sure whether your case qualifies for the money-back guarantee, or if you have questions about your case outcome, our support team is here to help.
Ready to book risk-free?
Visit our booking wizard to enter your ticket details and get an instant quote. You will see whether your case is eligible for the money-back guarantee before you pay — so you can book with confidence.
