What Virginia's online traffic school programs do
Virginia's DMV-approved online traffic schools let you complete a state-sanctioned driver improvement course from your computer instead of in a classroom. The course teaches traffic safety and Virginia driving laws, and when you finish, the school sends your completion certificate directly to the DMV. This certificate can reduce points on your driving record, lower your insurance rates, or satisfy a court requirement — depending on why you took the course.
The key difference from a regular online course is the DMV approval. Virginia's Department of Motor Vehicles maintains a list of schools that meet state standards for content, testing, and instructor qualifications. Only certificates from these approved schools count toward DMV point reduction or court orders.
You can take the course at your own pace, usually finishing in a few hours to a few days. Most programs let you log out and return later, so you do not have to complete it all at once.
Key Takeaways
- Virginia's DMV maintains an official list of approved online traffic schools on its website, and only certificates from these schools count toward point reduction or court requirements.
- The course typically costs between $20 and $50, takes three to eight hours to complete, and you can finish it on your own schedule.
- After you pass the final test, the school sends your certificate to the DMV electronically, and you do not have to submit it yourself.
- You can take an approved online course once every 12 months to reduce points, but taking it more than once in that period will not add extra benefits.
- Some courts require you to take traffic school as part of a ticket resolution, and you must use an approved school or the court will not accept the certificate.
Finding an approved Virginia traffic school online
The Virginia DMV publishes a current list of approved online traffic schools on its official website. You can search by school name or browse the full roster. Each approved school has a DMV course number, which confirms it meets state requirements.
Before you enroll, check whether the school is approved for your specific reason for taking the course. Most approved schools offer point reduction courses, but not all offer courses for court-ordered completion or defensive driving. The DMV list notes what each school is approved to teach.
Price varies between schools — typically $20 to $50 — but all approved schools cover the same Virginia content and meet the same testing standards. Some schools offer discounts for military members, students, or seniors, so it is worth checking before you pay.
How the enrollment and testing process works
When you enroll, you will create an account with the school and pay the course fee. You then log in and work through the course material at your own pace. Most programs break the content into sections with videos, reading, and interactive elements.
At the end of the course, you take a final test. The test is usually multiple choice and covers Virginia traffic laws and safe driving practices. You must pass with a score of 70 percent or higher — if you do not pass on your first try, most approved schools let you retake the test after reviewing the material again.
Once you pass, the school generates your completion certificate and sends it to the DMV electronically. You do not have to print it or mail it yourself. The school will also email you a copy for your records.
How point reduction works after you complete the course
Virginia allows you to reduce up to three points from your driving record by taking an approved online traffic school course. The reduction happens automatically once the DMV receives your certificate — you do not have to request it.
You can take a point reduction course once every 12 months. If you take the course twice in one year, only the first completion will count toward point reduction. However, if you are required by a court to take traffic school, that course does not count against your 12-month limit for point reduction courses.
The point reduction typically appears on your driving record within two to four weeks after the school submits your certificate. You can check your record on the DMV website to confirm the points have been removed.
When a court requires you to take traffic school
Some traffic violations allow you to resolve the ticket by taking an approved traffic school course instead of paying a fine or going to court. The court will tell you whether this option is available for your ticket, and if it is, the judge or ticket will specify that you must use a DMV-approved school.
If the court orders you to take traffic school, you must enroll within the timeframe the court gives you — usually 30 to 60 days. You should enroll as soon as possible after receiving the order, because the school needs time to submit your certificate back to the court.
Once you complete the course and pass the test, the school sends your certificate to both the DMV and the court. The court will close your case once it receives the certificate. Do not wait to hear from the court — check your case status online or call the court clerk after two weeks to confirm they received it.
What happens if you do not complete the course on time
If a court ordered you to take traffic school and you do not finish by the important date, the court may reinstate the original charge or fine. You could also face additional penalties or a license suspension.
If you enroll but realize you cannot finish by the important date, contact the school when ready to ask about extensions. Some schools can request a important date extension from the court on your behalf, but this is not may provide. It is faster to contact the court directly and ask for more time before the important date passes.
If you miss the important date, you will need to contact the court that issued the order to find out what happens next. Do not ignore the important date — the consequences compound quickly.
How insurance rates and your driving record connect to traffic school
Taking an approved traffic school course and reducing points on your record may lower your car insurance rates, but the reduction depends on your insurance company's policies. Some insurers offer discounts for completing traffic school; others only care about the points on your record itself.
After you complete the course and the points are removed from your DMV record, you should contact your insurance company and ask whether your rate will change. Provide them with your new driving record so they can recalculate your premium. The discount is not automatic — you have to ask for it.
If you took the course because a court ordered it, the court order itself does not affect your insurance rates. Only the point reduction on your DMV record matters to insurers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take an online traffic school course if I have a learner's permit?
No. You must have a valid Virginia driver's license to take an approved online traffic school course. If you have a learner's permit, you are not yet may be able to access. Once you pass your road test and receive your license, you can take the course.
What if I fail the final test?
Most approved schools let you retake the test after you review the course material again. There is usually no extra charge for retakes. You have a set number of attempts — typically three to five — before you must contact the school for help or restart the course.
Do I need to print my certificate or send it to the DMV?
No. The approved school sends your certificate to the DMV electronically after you pass the test. The school will email you a copy for your records, but you do not have to submit anything to the DMV yourself. If a court ordered the course, the school also sends the certificate to the court.
Can I take an online traffic school course more than once to reduce more points?
You can take a point reduction course once every 12 months, and each course reduces up to three points. If you have more than three points on your record, you can take another course after 12 months have passed since your first completion. Taking the course more than once in a 12-month period will not give you extra benefits.
What if the school I want to take is not on the DMV approved list?
You must use a school on the official DMV-approved list. If you take a course from a school that is not approved, the certificate will not count toward point reduction, and a court will not accept it as completion of a court order. Always check the DMV list before you enroll and pay.