Dealing with a traffic ticket can be nerve-racking, especially if you already have several points on your license. Luckily, there’s an easy way to mask the ticket from car insurance providers and other third parties. All you need to do is complete a traffic school course.
But are you eligible for traffic school? Traffic school eligibility in California depends on the nature of your offense and other factors, such as the type of driver’s license you hold.
Let’s go over these requirements to help you determine if you qualify.
Am I Eligible for Traffic School?
When you receive a traffic ticket, the court will send you a notice. Check this document to see if you’re eligible for traffic school and how much time you have to complete it. If you don’t receive the notice, contact the court to inquire about your eligibility.
California drivers must meet the following requirements to qualify for traffic school:
- Plead guilty to the traffic violation
- Hold a valid non-commercial driver’s license
- Have NOT taken traffic school in the last 18 months
- Have been cited for a minor moving violation, such as running a stop sign
- The violation didn’t occur while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- The ticket was issued for an infraction, not a misdemeanor
For a complete breakdown of the requirements, see the California Rules of Court, Rule 4.104.
Who Doesn’t Qualify for Traffic School Courses?
If you meet any of the following criteria, you may not attend traffic school:
- You were ticketed for a two-point violation, such as reckless driving.
- You were driving a commercial vehicle at the time of the event.
- You have been charged with a traffic misdemeanor or felony.
- You were caught speeding 25+ mph over the limit.
- You were under the influence when you committed the offense.
- You received a ticket for a non-moving violation (e.g., faulty headlights or illegal parking).
- You were driving with a suspended or expired license or with no license at all.
- You have attended traffic school within the past 18 months.
Ultimately, it’s up to the judge to decide whether or not you qualify for traffic school. For example, there are instances where a defendant may plead not guilty, lose the trial, and still be allowed to take traffic school courses.
Traffic school can help you keep a clean driving record, prevent insurance increases, and more! Learn more below.
Am I Eligible for Traffic School If I Hold a Commercial Driver’s License?
Commercial drivers may attend traffic school in California only if they received a ticket while driving a non-commercial vehicle. For example, maybe you hold a commercial drivers license (CDL) and you got ticketed for speeding while driving the family car.
If you meet these requirements and complete traffic school, you won’t get a point added to your license. However, the conviction will still appear on your DMV record and, therefore, may affect your auto insurance premiums.
What Types of Tickets or Offenses Are Eligible for Traffic School in California?
Traffic school is a viable option for most drivers charged with one-point moving violations. These are classified as infractions under California law.
An example would be a speeding ticket for driving 1 to 25 mph over the speed limit. That’s a traffic infraction that will add one point to your license.
But if you were caught speeding over 100 miles per hour, you’d be charged with a two-point offense, which would make you ineligible for traffic school.
Let’s see other examples.
Types of Traffic Tickets That May Qualify
Assuming you meet all the other requirements, you’ll likely be eligible for traffic school for the following traffic tickets:
- Speeding ticket of 1-25 mph over the limit
- Texting while driving
- Red light camera tickets
- Driving too slowly
- Driving against the traffic
- Driving on the sidewalk
- Crossing a solid white line
- Following too closely (tailgating)
- Unsafe lane changes
- Driving into a bike lane
Be aware that if you commit any of these offenses under the influence, you’ll lose your right to attend traffic school.
Types of Tickets That May Not Qualify
Generally, four main categories of traffic offenses don’t qualify for traffic school. These include:
- Misdemeanors
- Felonies
- Non-moving violations (such as parking violations or expired vehicle registration)
- Two-point traffic offenses
For instance, reckless driving and DUIs are typically charged as misdemeanors. In some cases, they may be classified as felonies. They’ll also add two points to your California driving record. This means they make you ineligible for traffic school
The same applies to drivers who engage in speed contests, evade law enforcement, or leave the scene of an accident. And, as mentioned earlier, you may not enroll in traffic school if you were caught driving with a suspended, revoked, or expired license.
Does Traffic School Clear Your Record in California?
Traffic school doesn’t clear your driving record. The ticket will still be visible to courts and you’ll still have to pay the fine.
The primary benefit of attending traffic school is that the ticket won’t appear on the public version of your driving record. Basically, it will be hidden from auto insurers, potential employers, and other parties.
As a result, your car insurance rates won’t increase after a traffic violation. Plus, you won’t have to worry that a potential employer could see your conviction and refuse to hire you because of it.
Additionally, the ticket received won’t count toward the total points on your DMV driving record, which may help prevent your license from being suspended.
Does Traffic School Reduce Ticket Cost?
Traffic school doesn’t reduce the fines and fees associated with a traffic ticket. In fact, you have to plead guilty and pay your ticket before starting the course.
However, completing traffic school still helps mitigate the financial impact of a traffic violation. This is because it can keep your insurance rates from rising. It will also prevent employers from seeing the point on your record and not hiring you as a result.
Does Traffic School Prevent Your Insurance Rates from Increasing?
By completing traffic school, you can prevent your car insurance rates from going up after receiving a traffic ticket.
For example, a single speeding ticket can raise your car insurance premiums by around 46%. If you attend traffic school, your insurance rates will remain the same.
How Many Times Can You Do Traffic School in a Year in California?
Under California law, you can take traffic school courses once every 18 months. This means you can’t do it more than once a year.
Let’s say you go to traffic school after receiving a cell phone ticket.
A year later, you get a new ticket for 10 mph over the speed limit. This offense qualifies for traffic school, but it’s too soon to take the course again. You can either pay the ticket or fight it in court, but you may not attend traffic school to mask that point from your license.
Can I Do Traffic School for an Old Ticket?
Generally, no. Most courts will give you 60 to 90 days to complete traffic school after you pay the ticket. You may also be able to get a traffic school extension. But that’s it.
If you were ticketed not too long ago and did not request traffic school, you may ask the judge to reopen your case and give you this option. But if you got a ticket five or six months ago, you’re likely not eligible for traffic school anymore.
Can I Do Traffic School for a Ticket That’s Been Paid?
Once you have paid your ticket, you may still ask the judge for permission to attend traffic school. This process usually involves going to court and making a special request.
But if you want to do things right, ask the judge for traffic school before paying the fine. After your request is approved, you’ll pay the ticket plus penalty assessment fees, as well as the court administrative fee for traffic school.
Can I Go to Traffic School for an Out-of-State Ticket?
If you get an out-of-state ticket, contact the court that issued the citation. The judge may allow you to go to traffic school, but you’ll have to do it in the state where you received the ticket.
Note that traffic school eligibility requirements may vary by state. The same goes for the course structure, duration, and delivery method.
For instance, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles allows drivers to attend traffic school once every 12 months and no more than eight times in their lifetime.
What Should I Do Once I Know I’m Eligible for California Traffic School?
Ready to get started with traffic school? Simply follow these steps:
- Plead guilty to your charge.
- Pay the ticket and court fees, including the traffic school administrative fee.
- Decide whether you want to study online or in person.
- Choose a DMV-approved traffic school that meets your needs.
- Complete the course and pass the final exam with a score of at least 70%.
- Submit your case or citation number and driver’s license number to the school.
Once you have finished the course, the school will submit a certificate of completion to the court and DMV. At Best Online Traffic School, we’ll do it for FREE the same day you pass the exam.
Our course is 100% online and can be completed from any device. You can take a break anytime and resume the lessons later on. Just make sure you finish by the due date set by the court.
But that’s not all.
If you sign up for Best Online Traffic School, you start for free and pay only when you pass. Plus, we offer unlimited exam retakes at no extra charge.
How Long Is Traffic School?
Traditional, in-class traffic school in California is eight hours, but you can complete the course faster if you choose to study online. Many of our students finish in as little as two or three hours, and 99% pass the exam on the first try.
The final exam takes 60 minutes and consists of multiple-choice questions. Here’s how it works.
Should I Go to California Traffic School?
In most cases, the short answer is YES. Taking a licensed traffic school course is typically the best and fastest way to resolve your California traffic violation and move on with your life.
If you do not, you’ll end up having a point visible on your driving record. This can affect your insurance rates, career prospects, and other aspects of your life.
Here’s why Best Online Traffic School is the No.1 choice for California drivers who want to pass traffic school and fulfill their court obligation FAST:
- No credit card or payment required to sign up
- Complete the course in one sitting
- Easy-to-digest materials
- 99% pass rate and unlimited retakes
- Free same-day electronic submission to the court & DMV
- Free audio read-along
- Pay nothing until you pass
- Study at your own convenience, from any device
- We charge a flat fee of just $19.99 for all these perks
Don’t let a traffic ticket ruin your record. Join Best Online Traffic School for FREE today.
