What happens if I plead "no contest" instead of "guilty"? Pleading no contest, in essence, has the same outcome of a guilty plea.A no contest plea is more of a civil issue. If you were in an accident a guilty plea is an automatic admission of liability. If you plead "no contest," your plea alone will not be used against you in a civil lawsuit. The court will find you guilty in either case and impose the same fine. However, the No Contest plea cannot be used as an admission. Pleading no contest is similar to guilty, but cannot be used as an admission in a civil lawsuit. All pleas not entered in open court must be in writing. Your traffic ticket attorney will enter a no-contest or guilty plea on your behalf.