What counts as DMV-approved online traffic school in Los Angeles
The California Department of Motor Vehicles does not directly approve or maintain a list of online traffic schools. Instead, the Traffic Violator School (TVS) program is overseen by individual courts in Los Angeles County. When you take a traffic school course to dismiss a ticket, you must choose a school approved by the specific court that issued your citation — not by the DMV.
Each Los Angeles court maintains its own list of approved traffic schools. Some courts allow online courses; others require in-person attendance. The court listed on your ticket notice is the one whose approval matters. You cannot take a course approved by one court and have it count toward a ticket issued by a different court.
Online traffic school courses in Los Angeles are typically four to eight hours long, completed over one or more days, and cost between $25 and $75. The course covers California traffic laws, safe driving practices, and collision prevention. After you finish, the school sends a completion certificate directly to your court.
Key Takeaways
- The court that issued your ticket approves traffic schools, not the DMV — check your ticket notice to find which court and which approved schools it lists.
- Los Angeles Superior Court and municipal courts each maintain separate lists of approved online traffic schools, and a school approved by one court may not be approved by another.
- Online courses in Los Angeles typically cost $25 to $75, take four to eight hours to complete, and send your certificate directly to the court.
- You must finish the course and receive your certificate before the important date on your ticket notice, or the court will not dismiss the violation.
- Taking traffic school does not remove the violation from your driving record — it only prevents a point from being added to your record.
How to find the approved school list for your Los Angeles court
Start by locating the court name on your ticket notice or citation. The notice will say "Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles" followed by a specific courthouse name — for example, "Los Angeles Superior Court, Downtown Los Angeles" or "Inglewood Courthouse." This courthouse name is what you need.
Go to the Los Angeles Superior Court website (lacourt.org) and search for "traffic school" or "traffic violator school." Most courthouses post their approved school list on the court's traffic division page. You can also call the traffic court clerk at the courthouse listed on your ticket and ask them to email or mail you the current approved list.
If your ticket was issued by a municipal court in a city like Santa Monica, Pasadena, or Long Beach, that city's municipal court maintains its own list. Search "[City Name] Municipal Court traffic school" to find the correct court website and approved vendors.
Steps to enroll in an online course
Once you have confirmed that a school is approved by your court, visit the school's website and create an account. You will need your ticket number, driver's license number, and the date of your violation. Some schools ask for your court case number as well, which is also on your ticket notice.
Choose the online course option and pay the fee. Most schools accept credit cards and debit cards. After payment, you can usually start the course when ready or schedule it for a later date. The course will be broken into sections that you complete at your own pace, though some schools require you to finish within a set number of days.
Work through all course modules and pass the final exam. Most courses require a score of 70 percent or higher on the exam. If you do not pass on your first attempt, you can usually retake it without paying again. Once you pass, the school will generate your completion certificate.
What happens after you finish the course
The traffic school will send your completion certificate to your court electronically or by mail, depending on the school and court. You do not need to deliver it yourself. The certificate includes your name, driver's license number, ticket number, course completion date, and the school's certification number.
The court will receive the certificate and update your case. If everything is in order, the traffic violation will be dismissed and no point will be added to your driving record. You will receive a notice from the court confirming the dismissal, usually within two to four weeks.
Keep a copy of your completion certificate for your records. If the court does not dismiss the violation within the expected timeframe, contact the traffic court clerk with your certificate number and ask them to verify receipt.
important date and what happens if you miss them
Your ticket notice lists a important date by which you must complete traffic school. This important date is typically 30 to 90 days from the date you received the ticket, but it varies by court. If you do not finish the course and submit your certificate by this date, the court will not dismiss the violation.
If you miss the important date, you have a few options. You can contact the court traffic division and ask for a important date extension, though courts grant these only in limited circumstances — usually if you have a documented medical emergency or other hardship. You can also request a trial or pay the fine, though paying the fine means the violation stays on your record and a point is added.
Do not wait until the last day to enroll. Most online courses take four to eight hours to complete, and technical issues or a failed exam can delay your certificate. Enroll at least two weeks before your important date.
Online versus in-person traffic school in Los Angeles
Online traffic school is faster and more flexible than in-person classes. You can complete it at home on your own schedule, and there is no commute. In-person classes are held at specific times and locations and typically take a full day (six to eight hours) in a classroom.
Both online and in-person courses must be approved by your court, and both result in the same outcome: dismissal of the violation if you complete the course and pass the exam. Your choice depends on whether your court approves online courses and whether you prefer the flexibility of online learning or the structure of a classroom.
Some Los Angeles courts approve only in-person traffic school. If your court is one of them, you will not be able to take an online course, regardless of how convenient it would be. Always check your court's approved list before enrolling.
What traffic school does and does not do
Traffic school dismisses the violation from your case, which prevents a point from being added to your driving record. A point on your record can raise your insurance rates and, if you accumulate too many points, lead to license suspension.
Traffic school does not remove the violation from your driving history entirely. Insurance companies and law enforcement can still see that you received a ticket and took traffic school. It also does not reduce or eliminate the fine — you still pay the full ticket amount.
You can take traffic school only once every 18 months in California. If you receive another ticket within 18 months of completing a traffic school course, you cannot take traffic school again for that second ticket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take online traffic school if my ticket was issued in Los Angeles County but I live out of state?
Yes. You can take an online course approved by the Los Angeles court that issued your ticket from anywhere with an internet connection. The course does not require you to be in California. You will still need to pay the ticket fine and complete the course by the important date on your notice.
What if I cannot find my court's approved traffic school list online?
Call the traffic court clerk at the courthouse listed on your ticket. They can email or mail you the current list of approved schools. The phone number is on your ticket notice or on the Los Angeles Superior Court website.
Do I have to pay the ticket fine before I take traffic school?
Requirements vary by court. Some courts require you to pay the fine first; others allow you to pay it after you complete traffic school. Check your ticket notice or call the court to confirm the payment order for your specific case.
What if I fail the final exam in online traffic school?
Most schools let you retake the exam at no additional cost. You can usually retake it when ready or within a few days. If you fail multiple times, contact the school's customer service — they may offer a refund or alternative completion method.
Will traffic school affect my insurance rates?
Taking traffic school prevents a point from being added to your driving record, which helps keep your insurance rates from rising. However, some insurance companies may still see the ticket itself and adjust your rates. The point prevention is the main benefit.