What traffic school is and when California requires it
Traffic school is a court-ordered or insurance-requested educational program you attend after receiving a traffic ticket. In California, you can use traffic school to keep a minor traffic violation off your driving record — which protects your insurance rates and prevents points from accumulating on your license.
You are not required to attend traffic school. Instead, you can pay the fine and accept the violation on your record. But if you choose traffic school, the court will dismiss the ticket after you complete the course and submit proof to them. The violation then does not appear on your driving history that insurers and employers see.
Traffic school is available only for minor violations — typically speeding under 100 mph, rolling stops, or unsafe lane changes. It is not available for serious offenses like reckless driving, driving under the influence, or at-fault accidents.
Key Takeaways
- Traffic school lets you dismiss a minor traffic ticket in California by completing an approved course instead of paying the fine and accepting the violation.
- You can attend traffic school only once every 18 months, and only if the violation is minor and you have no other traffic school dismissal in the past 18 months.
- California approves hundreds of traffic schools — some online, some in-person — and you choose which one to attend after the court approves your request.
- The course typically takes 4 to 8 hours and costs between $20 and $50, though you still pay the court fine even after completing traffic school.
- You must request traffic school before your court date or by the important date on your ticket, and the court must approve your request before you enroll.
Who is allowed to attend traffic school in California
California law limits who can use traffic school. You are allowed to attend if this is your first traffic school dismissal in the past 18 months, the violation is minor, and you were not at fault in an accident. You cannot attend traffic school for violations like speeding 100 mph or more, reckless driving, driving without a license, or hit-and-run.
If you have already dismissed one ticket through traffic school in the past 18 months, you cannot use traffic school again until that 18-month window closes. This rule applies even if you received the ticket from a different county or court.
Some violations are automatically ineligible. These include driving under the influence, driving with a suspended or revoked license, at-fault accidents, and commercial vehicle violations. If your ticket falls into one of these categories, the court will not approve your traffic school request.
How to request traffic school from the court
You must request traffic school before your court date or by the important date printed on your ticket. Do not wait until after your court date — the court will not approve a late request. The important date is usually 10 to 30 days after you receive the ticket, depending on the county.
Contact the court listed on your ticket by phone, mail, or in person. Tell them you want to request traffic school. Some courts let you request it online through their website. Ask the court for the list of approved traffic schools in your area — they will give you a list of schools they accept.
The court will tell you whether your request is approved or denied. If approved, you will receive a letter or notice saying so. Keep this approval notice — you will need to show it when you enroll in traffic school. If denied, you can pay the fine or request a court hearing to contest the ticket.
Finding and enrolling in an approved California traffic school
California approves hundreds of traffic schools, and you can choose any school on the court's approved list. Schools operate online, in-person, or both. Online schools let you complete the course at your own pace from home, while in-person schools hold classes at fixed times and locations.
When you enroll, bring your court approval notice and ticket. The school will verify that the court approved you before they let you start. You will pay the school's fee at enrollment — this is separate from the court fine you still owe. School fees typically range from $20 to $50, though some schools charge more.
Ask the school how long the course takes and when you can complete it. Most courses take 4 to 8 hours. Online schools let you spread this over several days or weeks. In-person schools usually require you to attend one or more sessions on specific dates. Make sure you can finish before the court's important date — usually 30 to 90 days after approval.
Completing the course and submitting proof to the court
After you finish the traffic school course, the school will give you a Certificate of Completion. This is the document the court needs to dismiss your ticket. Some schools mail the certificate, some email it, and some give it to you in person. Ask the school how they will deliver it and how long it takes.
You must submit the certificate to the court by the important date on your approval notice. You can mail it, deliver it in person, or submit it online if the court accepts online filing. Keep a copy for your records. The court will process the certificate and send you a notice saying the ticket has been dismissed.
Even after traffic school dismisses the ticket, you still owe the court fine. The court will not refund the fine. You pay the fine separately, either before or after you complete traffic school — the court will tell you when payment is due. Some courts let you pay online, by mail, or in person.
What happens to your driving record after traffic school
Once the court dismisses the ticket, the violation does not appear on your driving record that insurers and employers see. This means your insurance company will not use this ticket to raise your rates, and your employer will not see it in a background check.
However, the California Department of Motor Vehicles keeps a record that you attended traffic school and had a ticket dismissed. This record is not visible to insurers or employers, but it is used to enforce the 18-month rule — you cannot attend traffic school again until 18 months have passed since your dismissal.
If you are concerned about insurance rates, contact your insurance company after the court dismisses the ticket. Give them a copy of the dismissal notice. Some insurers will remove the ticket from your rate calculation once they see the dismissal, though this depends on your policy and company.
Traffic school costs and what you pay
You pay two separate fees: the school fee and the court fine. The school fee is what you pay the traffic school to take the course. This typically ranges from $20 to $50, though some schools charge up to $100. The court fine is what you owe the court for the violation itself, and this does not change whether you attend traffic school or not.
The court fine varies by violation and county. A speeding ticket fine might be $100 to $300 before penalties and fees. The court adds penalty assessments and court costs on top of the base fine, so your total fine is usually higher than the base amount.
Some traffic schools offer discounts if you enroll early or take the course online. Ask about discounts when you call to enroll. You cannot get the court fine reduced or waived by attending traffic school — traffic school only dismisses the ticket from your record, not the fine itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I attend traffic school if I already have points on my license?
Yes. Traffic school does not remove points you already have — it only prevents this new ticket from adding points. If you have accumulated points from previous tickets, those remain on your record. However, points do expire after a certain time, so older violations eventually stop counting toward your total.
What if I do not finish traffic school by the court important date?
Contact the court and ask for an extension. Some courts will grant a short extension if you have a valid reason. If you miss the important date without an extension, the court may reinstate the ticket and you will owe the fine. The school cannot extend the important date — only the court can.
Do I have to tell my insurance company I attended traffic school?
No, you do not have to tell them. However, if you want them to remove the ticket from your rate calculation, you should send them a copy of the court's dismissal notice. Some insurers will adjust your rates once they see the dismissal, but this depends on your policy and company.
Can I attend traffic school for a ticket I received in another state?
No. California traffic school is only for violations that occurred in California and were issued by a California court. If you received a ticket in another state, you must handle it through that state's court system.
What if the court denies my traffic school request?
If the court denies your request, you can pay the fine or request a court hearing to contest the ticket. You cannot appeal the denial of traffic school — the court's decision is final. If you want to fight the ticket, you will need to appear in court and present your defense to a judge.