California's DMV maintains an official list of traffic schools you can attend to dismiss a traffic ticket or reduce your insurance rates
The California Department of Motor Vehicles publishes a searchable list of traffic schools approved to offer traffic violator school courses. This list appears on dmv.ca.gov and includes only schools that meet state requirements for instruction, materials, and instructor qualifications. When you search the list, you can filter by county, city, or school name to find options near you.
Not every traffic school on the internet is on this list. Only schools that have completed the DMV's approval process and maintain compliance can appear there. If you attend a school not on the official list, the court may not accept your completion certificate, and you will not receive the ticket dismissal or insurance discount you were seeking.
The list does not tell you which school is cheapest, fastest, or best-reviewed — it only confirms which ones are legally authorized. You will need to contact schools directly to compare price, course format (online, in-person, or hybrid), and how long completion takes.
Key Takeaways
- The DMV's official traffic school list on dmv.ca.gov is searchable by county and city, and only includes schools approved by the state.
- Attending a school not on the DMV list means the court will likely reject your completion certificate and you will not get your ticket dismissed.
- The DMV list confirms a school is legal but does not compare prices, course length, or format — you contact schools directly for those details.
- You must have court permission before attending traffic school; the court tells you whether you are allowed and which type of course you need.
- Completion certificates must be sent to the court by a specific important date, usually 30 days from the date you received permission.
How to search the DMV's traffic school list
Go to dmv.ca.gov and look for the traffic school search tool, usually found under the "Tickets & Violations" or "Driver Education & Traffic School" section. The search page asks you to enter a county, city, or school name. You can search by any of these — if you know the school name, type it in; if you only know your city, select the county and city and the list will show all approved schools in that area.
The results show the school name, address, phone number, and sometimes a website link. Some schools offer only in-person classes; others offer online, hybrid, or evening options. The list itself does not include course fees, class schedules, or how long the course takes. You will need to call or visit the school's website to get that information.
If you cannot find a school in your area, expand your search to nearby cities or counties. Some people travel 30 or 40 minutes to attend a school with a schedule or price that works for them. The court does not require you to attend a school in your own county.
What you need before you contact a traffic school
Before you call or visit a school's website, you need written permission from the court. This permission comes in the form of a traffic ticket or citation that includes a note saying you are allowed to attend traffic school, or a separate court document. The court decides whether you are allowed to attend based on the type of violation, your driving record, and whether you have attended traffic school in the past five years.
When you contact a school, have your citation or court document ready. The school will ask for your ticket number, the violation code, the court that issued the ticket, and the date of the violation. Some schools also ask whether you want to attend in person or online, and whether you have any accessibility needs.
Do not assume you can attend traffic school just because you want to. If the court has not given you permission, the school cannot enroll you, and even if you complete the course, the court will not accept the certificate. If you are unsure whether you have permission, call the court listed on your ticket and ask.
The difference between online and in-person traffic school
Online traffic school lets you complete the course from home on your own schedule, usually over a few days or weeks. You watch videos, read materials, and take quizzes on a computer or phone. Most online schools allow you to pause and resume, and some let you speed up the video. Completion typically takes 4 to 8 hours of actual instruction time, though you can spread it across multiple sessions.
In-person traffic school is a classroom course, usually held on a weekend or weekday evening. You attend for 4 to 8 hours in one or two sessions, listen to an instructor, and take a final test in the classroom. In-person classes are sometimes faster to complete in a single day, but they require you to be in a specific place at a specific time.
Hybrid courses combine online and in-person elements — for example, you might watch videos at home and attend one in-person session for the test. The court accepts all three formats equally. Your choice depends on your schedule, learning style, and whether you prefer to pay a bit more for convenience (online is often pricier) or save money by attending in person.
How to verify a school is actually on the DMV list
Some traffic schools advertise heavily online or appear high in search results, but that does not mean they are on the DMV's official list. To confirm, search dmv.ca.gov directly rather than trusting the school's own website claim. If a school says it is DMV-approved but does not appear in the official search results, do not enroll.
Scams exist in the traffic school space. Some websites promise to dismiss your ticket without you attending school, or claim they can remove the violation from your record permanently. California law does not allow this. Traffic school dismisses the ticket from your driving record for insurance purposes, but the court still has a record that you received the citation. If something sounds too good to be true, it is.
Before you pay, confirm the school's phone number and website by searching the DMV list, not by clicking a link from an ad or search result. Call the school directly and ask them to confirm your ticket details and the course cost. Legitimate schools are happy to answer questions before you pay.
What happens after you complete traffic school
When you finish the course, the school issues a completion certificate. This certificate must be sent to the court that issued your ticket, usually within 30 days of the date you received permission to attend traffic school. Some schools mail the certificate for you; others give it to you and you mail it yourself. Ask the school which they do before you enroll.
Once the court receives the certificate, the ticket is dismissed from your driving record for insurance purposes. This means your insurance company will not see the violation when calculating your rates. However, the court and the DMV still have a record that you received the ticket — it does not disappear completely.
If you do not submit the certificate by the important date, the court may reinstate the ticket, and you could face fines or points on your license. Mark the important date on your calendar and follow up with the school if you do not receive the certificate within a week of completing the course.
Traffic school costs and what affects the price
Traffic school fees vary widely depending on the school, the format, and your county. Online courses typically cost between $30 and $80, while in-person classes may cost $50 to $150 or more. Some courts set a maximum fee that schools in that county can charge; others do not. The DMV list does not show prices, so you have to contact schools directly to compare.
Cheaper does not always mean lower quality, and expensive does not may provide faster completion. A $40 online course and a $100 online course may cover the same material and take the same time. The difference is often in how the school markets itself or whether they offer rush processing (completing and mailing your certificate within a few days for an extra fee).
Some schools offer discounts if you pay upfront, or if you refer a friend. Ask about discounts when you call, but do not let a discount push you toward a school that is not convenient for you. Saving $20 is not worth it if the course format does not fit your schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find a traffic school outside California and still get my ticket dismissed?
No. The court that issued your ticket will only accept a completion certificate from a school on the California DMV's official list. Out-of-state traffic schools are not approved in California, even if they are approved in their own state. You must attend a school listed on dmv.ca.gov.
What if I cannot find a traffic school in my city on the DMV list?
Expand your search to nearby cities or the next county over. Schools do not have to be in your city or county. Many people attend traffic school in a different area if the schedule or price is better. The court does not restrict where you attend, only that the school is on the official DMV list.
Do I have to tell my insurance company I attended traffic school?
No. Once the court dismisses the ticket, you do not report it to your insurance company. The insurance company will not see the violation when they review your driving record. This is the main reason people attend traffic school — to keep the ticket off their insurance record and avoid a rate increase.
What if I fail the final test at traffic school?
Most traffic schools allow you to retake the test at no extra cost. If you fail, the school will tell you to review the material and try again. You do not pay again, and the school does not report the failure to the court. Once you pass, you receive your completion certificate.
How long does it take to get my completion certificate after I finish the course?
If you attend in person, you usually receive the certificate the same day or within a few days. Online schools typically mail or email the certificate within 3 to 7 business days. Some schools offer rush processing for an extra fee, which can get the certificate to you within 24 hours. Ask the school their timeline before you enroll.