Key Takeaways:
- Traffic school duration in California is eight hours for classroom instruction. If you join an online school, you can complete the course in as little as two or three hours.
- A typical course covers topics like defensive driving, road rage, California driving laws, and collision avoidance. It consists of several modules and quizzes, plus a final exam.
- Students have 60 minutes to take the final test and must get a score of at least 70% to pass.
- If you attend online traffic school, you can study from any device, at your own pace. Depending on the court, you’ll have 60 to 90 days to complete the course.
A quick and simple way to mask one point from your license is to attend traffic school. If you’re given this option, you’ll complete a course that covers topics like road signs and their meanings, distracted driving, DUI prevention, and speed limits.
But how long is traffic school in California? And what can you expect once you start the course?
Here’s what you should know before enrolling.
How Long Does California Traffic School Take?
It takes between two and eight hours to complete traffic school, depending on:
- Whether you study online or in person
- Your existing understanding of traffic safety laws
- Your reading speed and learning abilities
- Your availability
Now let’s go over different scenarios to help you get a better idea of how long it takes to complete traffic school.
Traffic school can help you keep a clean driving record, prevent insurance increases, and more! Learn more below.
In-Person Traffic Courses
If you opt for classroom instruction, you must complete an eight-hour course.
According to the California DMV’s Outline of Required Topics and Standards for Approved Traffic Violator School Course OL 613:
“Each course must provide a minimum of 340 minutes of time for classroom instruction or a 42,500-word count for non-classroom instruction expressly devoted to traffic safety and provide a minimum of 60 minutes for completion of the required final test.”
Some schools offer one eight-hour training program, whereas others spread the course over two or more days. The curriculum is pretty standard, but each school presents the information differently.
Online Traffic School Courses
Online traffic courses are not subject to the eight-hour rule. Instead, they must have at least 42,500 words, although most programs also include videos, animations, and explanatory images.
If you enroll online, you can study from anywhere, at your own pace. And you can finish the course in less time than you would if you took the course in person.
For example, the average completion time at Best Online Traffic School ranges from 90 minutes to three hours. That’s significantly less compared to classroom instruction, which takes at least eight hours to complete.
What to Expect When Joining an Online Traffic School
Online traffic schools offer short, interactive lessons in video and text format. These cover a variety of topics, including:
- California traffic laws
- Careless driving and its consequences
- Distracted driving
- Collision avoidance
- Road rage
- Driving maneuvers
- Defensive driving techniques
The training program ends with a final test that must be completed within 60 minutes. Per the California DMV, the test must have a minimum of 25 questions related to at least eight topic areas covered by the course.
For instance, our traffic school course consists of 12 lessons and quizzes plus a final exam. You have unlimited attempts at passing the quizzes. Each quiz has four questions, and you need to get at least three correct to pass.
The final test has 25 multiple-choice questions, in which you need to get at least 70% correct to pass. There are NO timers as you take either the quizzes or the final exam.
Once you finish the course, you’ll receive same-day submission to the court and DMV. Plus, we’ll give you a traffic school completion certificate on the spot.
How to Request Traffic School
Let’s say you just got a traffic ticket for speeding in a school zone. What you should do next is call the phone number on the ticket and ask if you can attend traffic school. If the answer is yes, follow these steps:
- Plead guilty to your traffic ticket
- Pay all court fines and fees
- Choose a DMV-approved traffic school
- Sign up and complete the course
The court will also set a deadline for traffic school completion. This can be anywhere between 60 and 90 days. If you’re worried about missing your due date, you may be eligible for a traffic school extension.
How to Tell If You Are Eligible for Traffic School
Not all drivers are eligible for traffic school. This option is only available to those who:
- Have not attended traffic school within the last 18 months
- Committed the offense while driving a personal vehicle
- Got cited for a one-point moving violation
- Pled guilty to the ticket
- Pay the court fine and administrative fee for traffic school
Drivers who were under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the offense cannot attend traffic school. The same goes for those who got a ticket for driving more than 25 miles per hour over the limit.
Note that if you’re eligible for traffic school but decide not to enroll, your car insurance premiums will likely go up.
Also, make sure you plead guilty – even if that means paying a fine. If you plead not guilty and lose your trial, the court judge may or may not give you the option to attend traffic school.
How Traffic School Works
Traffic school is an accelerated learning program for drivers of all skill levels. It consists of a short but comprehensive course that, once completed, will mask one point from your record. As a result, it can help prevent your auto insurance rates from going up following a traffic violation.
Overall, traffic school can help you become a better driver and keep points off your license. What’s more, some car insurers offer discounts to those who complete a state-approved course, such as Best Online Traffic School.
At Best Online Traffic School, you have two attempts to pass the test. If you fail the second time, your account will be deactivated.
However, you can register again and take the course. There is no penalty for doing this, and your court and DMV submission will still be valid.
This means that you essentially have unlimited retries. Plus, our “Don’t Pay Until You Pass” Guarantee means you pay absolutely nothing until you pass.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know more about traffic school duration, go ahead and take a course. It’s the easiest way to mask points from your license and keep your insurance premiums in check.
FAQs About How Long Traffic School Takes in California
Need more information? Here are a few answers to some frequently asked questions.
How long do you have to complete traffic school in California?
Traffic school duration in California is eight hours. However, this rule only applies to classroom instruction. Students who take the course online can finish in as little as two hours, as there are no timers.
What is the average cost of traffic school in California?
Most traffic schools charge around $40 to $70 plus additional fees for:
- Unlimited exam retakes
- Electronic certificate copy
- Same-day submission to the court and DMV
At Best Online Traffic School, we provide these services (and others!) for free. You’ll only pay a flat rate of $19.99 after passing the final exam. 99.9% of our students pass on the first attempt.
What is the 8-hour traffic school in California?
In California, traditional traffic schools must provide eight hours of classroom instruction.
This rule doesn’t apply to online schools, as they support self-paced learning. However, online traffic courses must be at least 42,500 words to meet the DMV’s requirements.
How long do you have to do traffic school after you get a ticket?
When the court grants you permission to attend traffic school, they will also set a deadline for completing it. This will typically be within 60 to 90 days. It’s also possible to request an extension beyond this deadline if needed.
Can you request traffic school after a ticket is paid?
Yes, you should be able to request traffic school after paying for your ticket. Just make sure you don’t wait too long to do it. The sooner you contact the court, the higher your chance of getting approved.
