How to Enroll in California Traffic School
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Attending a California traffic school can help you maintain a clean driving record and avoid insurance premium hikes after a traffic ticket. When you complete a course at a California DMV-approved driving school, you may be eligible to have points on your record “masked,” so that they’re not visible to insurance companies.
Not all drivers are eligible for the insurance benefits of traffic school, and some California tickets and violations can’t be masked on your record. This guide will cover everything you need to know about the eligibility requirements, enrollment process, costs, and benefits of a California defensive driving course.
Eligibility Criteria for California Traffic School
Not everyone is eligible for a California traffic school. Unlike regular driving lessons, traffic school is meant for people who have a recent traffic ticket or citation. To be eligible, you must:
- Have a valid California driver’s license (if your ticket was the result of driving with an expired license, you must first complete a California driver's license renewal)
- Have been driving a noncommercial vehicle at the time of the infraction
- Get court approval
- Have not attended a California traffic school within the last 18 months
Your eligibility also depends on the type of traffic ticket you received. In most cases, only minor moving violations are eligible, such as speeding or running a red light. If you committed a misdemeanor or a violation that resulted in more than one point, you're likely not eligible. You also can’t mask a violation involving drugs or alcohol per California DUI laws.
How To Enroll in California Traffic School
Before you enroll in a California DMV defensive driving course, you need to wait for a notice from the court, which should arrive between 14 and 60 days following your citation. This notice will inform you whether or not traffic school is an option based on the violation and your driving history.
If traffic school is an option, here’s what you need to do to enroll:
- Submit your response: Send your response letter or form stating your intent to enroll and include both your court administration fee (usually between $49 and $79) and your ticket fine.
- Choose a DMV-approved traffic school: Sign up for a state-approved California defensive driving course online or in-person. Make sure they’ll send your completion certificate to the DMV and the court once you finish the course.
- Make sure you can complete the course within the deadline: You typically have 60 to 90 days to finish a court-approved traffic course, which should include a final exam.
Approved California Traffic School Providers
Make sure you choose a DMV-approved traffic school, as only official courses can help improve your record and insurance rates. The best way to find an official traffic school near you is to visit the California DMV website and use their search feature. Provide some basic information like your city and license number and you’ll receive a list of approved traffic schools.
You can also choose which instruction format works best for you: online or in-person. Completing your course online offers the same benefits as in-person in terms of license points and insurance, but online courses are less hands-on by nature, which may be a challenge for some drivers. Consider your specific needs and learning style when choosing a school, and make sure that your chosen program is approved by the court.
Costs and Payment Options for Traffic School
It usually costs between $20 and $60 to attend an online course, in addition to admin/court fees. In-person courses are usually more expensive than online instruction, but costs vary depending on the provider.
The total cost of your traffic school, including all related fees, may range anywhere between $80 and $300 depending on your specific situation.
Benefits of Completing Traffic School in California
Completing a California defensive driving course can help mask points on your record and avoid the car insurance rate hikes that usually come with traffic violations.
Although traffic school doesn’t remove points on your record, it hides them so they’re no longer visible to insurance providers or employers. That means, in most cases, you don’t have to worry about your insurance rates going up. Some insurers will even offer special discounts for voluntarily completing a California traffic school course.
More serious offenses, such as those which require you to get California SR-22 insurance, can't usually be masked with traffic school. But even when driver's education can't mask an infraction, driving courses and safe driving apps are valuable tools for brushing up on road safety and defensive driving, and they can reduce your risk of future incidents.
Traffic School Completion Requirements
To successfully mask the points on your driving record, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:
- Complete the required eight hours of instruction
- Pass a final exam
- Finish the course within the time frame designated by the court
- Provide proof of completion to both the court and the DMV either by mail or electronically (your traffic school provider should provide you with a certificate of completion upon successfully finishing the course)
Compare Car Insurance Quotes After Traffic School
Attending traffic school is a great way to maintain a clean public driving record and prevent your car insurance rates from going up after a minor violation. Once you've completed your traffic course, use EverQuote to compare rates from multiple providers and find the right auto insurance at the right price.
FAQs
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Premiums are sourced from over 30,000 zip codes across 200 insurance companies. We estimate premiums based on public filings for policies seeking 50/100 in liability with $500 deductibles for collision and comprehensive coverage. Estimated rates are based on a 35-year-old single female with a good credit score and no history of accidents or violations driving a 2023 Toyota RAV4 LE. We partner with Quadrant Information Services to source our data and assume no unique benefits or discounts are applied for these rates (unless otherwise stated). Your own rates may be different.