What California's DMV-approved online traffic school is and how it works
California's DMV-approved online traffic school is a course you take on your computer or phone to dismiss a traffic ticket. If you complete an approved course, you can ask the court to dismiss the ticket instead of paying the fine or having the violation show up on your driving record. The DMV does not run the school itself — private companies offer the courses, but only after the DMV and the court system have reviewed and approved them.
The basic process is: you get a ticket, you find a DMV-approved provider, you take the course online, you get a certificate of completion, you send that certificate to the court, and the court dismisses the ticket. The whole thing usually takes one to three weeks from start to finish, depending on how quickly you complete the course and how fast the court processes your paperwork.
Not every ticket is may be able to access. Traffic school works for most moving violations — speeding, running a red light, unsafe lane changes — but not for serious offenses like reckless driving, driving under the influence, or accidents. Your ticket or court paperwork will tell you whether traffic school is an option for your violation.
Key Takeaways
- You can only use online traffic school if the court that issued your ticket has approved it as an option for your violation.
- The DMV maintains a list of approved providers on its website, and you must choose one from that list for the court to accept your certificate.
- Most courses take four to eight hours to complete and can be done at your own pace over several days.
- You will pay the course provider a fee (usually $20 to $50) in addition to your traffic fine, unless the court waives the fine as part of dismissal.
- After you finish the course, the provider sends your certificate directly to the court, so you do not have to mail it yourself.
How to find a DMV-approved provider in California
The California DMV publishes a list of approved traffic school providers on its official website. You can search by county or by provider name. Every provider on that list has met the state's requirements for course content, testing, and record-keeping. If a provider is not on the DMV list, the court will not accept their certificate, so always check the official list first.
When you look at the list, you will see the provider's name, website, and sometimes a phone number. Most providers let you start the course when ready after you pay the fee — you do not have to wait for approval or mail anything in first. Some providers offer the course in multiple languages, and some have customer service available by phone or chat if you get stuck.
The DMV list is updated regularly as new providers are approved and others stop offering the course. If you find a provider you like, verify they are still on the current list before you pay, because the list can change.
What happens when you enroll and take the course
Once you choose a provider and pay the fee, you will create an account and log in to start the course. You will need to provide your name, driver's license number, and the ticket number or case number from your traffic ticket. The provider uses this information to match your completion certificate to your court case.
The course itself is usually four to eight hours of video, reading, and quizzes. You can pause and come back later — you do not have to finish it all at once. Most providers let you take up to 30 days to complete the course, though some allow longer. You will need to pass a final test, usually with a score of 70 percent or higher, to get your certificate.
Some courses require you to watch the video at normal speed and not skip ahead, which means you cannot rush through it. Others let you move through the material faster. Check the provider's rules before you enroll if speed matters to you.
How the certificate gets to the court and what happens next
When you pass the final test, the provider generates your certificate of completion. Most providers send it directly to the court electronically — you do not have to print it or mail it yourself. The provider will ask you which court issued your ticket, and they handle the rest.
The court receives the certificate and matches it to your case. If everything is correct, the court dismisses the ticket and sends you a notice. This usually takes one to two weeks after the provider submits your certificate, though some courts are faster. You should receive written confirmation from the court, either by mail or through the court's online case management system.
If the court does not dismiss the ticket within a reasonable time, contact the court directly with your case number. The provider can also follow up if you ask them to, but the court is responsible for the final decision.
Costs and what you pay for
You will pay two separate amounts: the course fee to the provider, and the traffic fine to the court. The course fee ranges from about $20 to $50 depending on the provider and your county. This fee goes to the company that runs the course, not to the court.
The traffic fine is separate. In some cases, the court will reduce or waive the fine if you complete traffic school. In other cases, you pay the full fine and the traffic school fee on top of it. Check your ticket or court paperwork to see what the court requires in your situation. Some courts let you pay the fine after you submit your certificate; others require you to pay it upfront.
If you do not complete the course or do not pass the test, you still owe the fine. The course provider will not refund your course fee, though some providers offer a second attempt at the test for free.
When online traffic school is not an option
Online traffic school is not available for all violations. You cannot use it for serious offenses like DUI, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, or accidents involving injury or property damage. You also cannot use it if you have already used traffic school in the past 18 months — California law limits you to one traffic school dismissal every 18 months.
If you were driving a commercial vehicle or a vehicle for hire when you got the ticket, traffic school may not be an option either. Your ticket will state whether traffic school is available for your violation, or you can call the court listed on your ticket to ask.
If traffic school is not available, you can still pay the fine, contest the ticket in court, or work with the court on a payment plan. The court clerk can explain your options.
What does not happen when you complete traffic school
Completing traffic school does not remove the ticket from your record entirely — it dismisses the case, which is different. If you are later asked whether you have ever received a traffic ticket, you may still have to disclose it depending on the context. However, a dismissed ticket does not appear on your driving record, which means it does not affect your insurance rates or your driving privilege status.
Traffic school also does not give you points back if you already lost points for this ticket. It prevents the points from being added in the first place by dismissing the case before points are assigned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take online traffic school if I got a ticket in a different state?
No. Online traffic school is specific to California courts and the California DMV. If you got a ticket in another state, you will need to contact that state's court system or DMV to see what options are available there. California courts will not accept a certificate from an out-of-state provider.
What if I fail the final test?
Most providers let you retake the test at no extra cost. You will need to review the material again before you try again. If you fail multiple times, contact the provider's customer service — they can sometimes offer additional help or clarification on the material.
How long does it take for the court to dismiss my ticket after I submit my certificate?
Most courts process certificates within one to two weeks, but some take longer depending on how busy they are. You should receive written notice from the court when the ticket is dismissed. If you do not hear back within three weeks, call the court with your case number to check the status.
Will my insurance company know I took traffic school?
Your insurance company will not see a dismissed ticket on your driving record, so they will not know you took traffic school. However, if you tell them about the ticket before it was dismissed, they may still have a record of it. The best practice is to wait until the court confirms dismissal before notifying your insurance company of anything.
Can I take the course on my phone?
Most DMV-approved providers offer courses that work on phones, tablets, and computers. Check the provider's website to confirm their course is mobile-friendly before you enroll. Some providers work better on certain devices, so test it out on the device you plan to use.