Worried that you may not be able to complete traffic school on time? Luckily, you can request a traffic school extension of 30 days or longer, depending on the court. Just make sure you ask for it before the due date.
Here’s how to get a traffic school extension in California to keep those points off your license.
How to Get a Traffic School Extension
We get it – sometimes life gets busy, and you forget about your traffic ticket or attending traffic school. Just remember that if you ask for an extension, you need to do it before the due date for attending traffic school.
Depending on the court that issued your ticket, you may request a traffic school extension in person, by mail, over the phone, or online. Here’s what you need to do:
- Check with the court: Visit the court’s website or call the clerk at the courthouse for more information on how to get an extension. For instance, some courts require a written request and won’t respond to online inquiries.
- Provide a valid reason: Let the court know why you can’t complete school traffic on time. For example, you may be ill or dealing with a family emergency. Be honest about it and submit documents that support your request (if necessary).
- Pay a fee: Some courts charge a fee for this service, which you’ll need to pay at the time of the request.
- Get a new due date: If you applied online, you may receive a confirmation email with the new due date for completing traffic school. This information may also be available on the court’s website. Contact the court if you don’t hear back within a few days.
Note that traffic school extensions can only be granted by the court. Traffic schools CANNOT extend your traffic school due date.
Read: How to Check the Due Date on a Speeding Ticket in California
Traffic school can help you keep a clean driving record, prevent insurance increases, and more! Learn more below.
How Much Extra Time Can You Get?
The length of your extension also depends on the county. In general, extensions tend to be 30 to 60 days.
For instance, the Los Angeles Superior Court Traffic Division provides a one-time 60-day traffic school extension. If you’re eligible for this option, you’ll see it on the court’s website after entering your driver’s license number, state of residence, and date of birth.
Let’s see other examples:
- Marin County Superior Court Traffic Division: One 30-day extension; submit your request online via the court’s automated system.
- Riverside Superior Court Traffic Division: One 60-day extension; submit your request online, by mail, or by phone. If you need more than 60 days, book an appointment with a court clerk or send a written request via eSubmit, mail, or email.
- San Mateo Superior Court Traffic Division: One 30-day extension; submit your request by phone or by mail.
Other county courts, such as the Santa Cruz Superior Court Traffic Division, don’t provide an extension.
What happens if you don’t complete traffic school on time in California?
If you fail to complete traffic school on time, the violation will go on your record, resulting in one demerit point. This can lead to higher car insurance rates and make it harder to find work, depending on the roles you’re applying for.
Plus, the court will forfeit the administrative fee paid for attending traffic school, which ranges between $49 and $79.
Understanding Traffic School Deadlines
Most courts will give you 60 to 90 days to complete traffic school. The countdown begins after you pay your ticket and the court traffic school fee.
The due date should appear on the court’s website, or you can reach out to the court clerk to ask about it. Make sure you check your court notice, too.
How long it takes to complete traffic school varies from two or three hours for online courses to eight hours for classroom instruction. At Best Online Traffic School, most students finish the course within two hours, so you can even take it on the day of your deadline!
How to Apply for Traffic School
The notice you receive from the court following a traffic ticket will mention if you’re eligible for traffic school. Double-check it and then follow these steps:
- Plead guilty to the charge
- Pay the fine and the court’s traffic school fee
- Choose a DMV-approved traffic school
- Complete the course
- Take the final exam
Sounds simple, right?
At Best Online Traffic School, we’ll submit your certificate of completion to the court and DMV the same day you pass the final exam. Plus, our online course is accessible from any device, so you can study on the go.
As far as pricing goes, traffic school costs vary from one provider to the next. Expect to pay around $40 to $70 – or as little as $19.99 if you sign up for Best Online Traffic School.
Our fee covers:
- Course materials
- Unlimited exam retakes
- 24/7 live chat
- Audio read-alongs in English, Spanish, and Chinese
On top of that, you pay nothing until you pass.
When Can I Request a Traffic School Extension?
If, for some reason, you can’t complete traffic school on time, request an extension before the due date. Otherwise, the court may decline your request.
When you receive a traffic ticket, you normally have about a month between getting your ticket and the arraignment, or your first appearance in court. However, this time gap doesn’t mean you have to wait a month to decide what to do.
For example, you may choose to plead guilty, pay the ticket and administrative fee, and go to traffic school as soon as your ticket is processed and posted online.
This is precisely what most people choose to do since they either don’t have the time to fight a ticket, genuinely violated a traffic law, or would just like to get the entire experience over with as quickly as possible.
I Missed My Traffic School Deadline. Can I Still Get an Extension?
This depends on the court, as each county has a different policy regarding late traffic school certificates. Some courts may grant you an extension even after you have missed the deadline.
But why take the risk? If you’re short on time, sign up for online traffic school. With this option, you can complete the course in just a few hours.
Can I Still Complete Traffic School After the Due Date?
If you don’t finish traffic school on time, you should still complete the course. Then make a motion to the judge to accept your late submission.
Chances are, they’ll accept your request unless you complete traffic school several months after the due date.
Remember, you’ll pay only $19.99 for our online course. The cost of NOT attending traffic school at all is much higher, and you may face a whole host of problems, including:
- Significantly higher auto insurance rates
- Driver’s license suspension
- Employers discovering your violation on a background check
My Traffic School Deadline Is Today. Can I Still Complete Traffic School?
Yes! You have until 11:59 pm to complete traffic school. The California Superior Courts and the DMV look at the date you complete traffic school. As long as you submit your certificate of completion before midnight, you’re all set.
If you’re close to the deadline, sign up for our course, which takes one to three hours to complete on average.
Best Online Traffic School is a DMV-licensed traffic school (#E1314) accepted by ALL courts in California. We’re also one of the only traffic schools in the state to provide courses in English, Chinese, and Spanish with free audio narration.
Our course satisfies all DMV and court requirements and is the fastest way to fulfill your traffic school obligation, even when the clock is ticking. Drivers across the state love Best Online Traffic School due to how fast and easy it is to complete.
Plus, we offer a “Don’t Pay Until You Pass” Guarantee, meaning you can sign up absolutely free (no credit card required) and only pay a low flat fee of $19.99 once you’ve passed the final exam.
To get started and make sure you complete traffic school by the due date, simply click the button below:
Q&As about Traffic School Extensions in California
Still have questions? Here are the answers you’re looking for.
Can you request traffic school after a ticket is paid?
Generally, yes, but it depends on the court that issued your ticket.
If you have already paid the fine, contact the court to explain your situation. Note that you may need to submit a written request and file additional paperwork.
The judge may or may not approve your request to attend traffic school. If they allow it, you’ll have to pay an administrative fee.
How do I check my traffic school status in California?
You can call the court clerk or go to court to check your traffic school status. If you completed the course at Best Online Traffic School, we can send you email updates as your case progresses.
This is an optional service that you can sign up for at checkout or by emailing us at support@bestonlinetrafficschool.co. It costs $16.99 to $24.99, depending on the frequency of updates (which are based on the information provided by your court).
How do I submit a traffic school certificate in California?
Our traffic school offers same-day electronic submission to the court and DMV. If your school doesn’t offer this service, you must submit the certificate to the court by mail or in person before the due date.
