Florida Traffic School: What You Need to Know to Complete Your Course
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Getting a traffic ticket is frustrating and expensive and, in some cases, may lead to more serious consequences. In Florida, traffic citations contribute points to your driving record, which can lead to license suspension or increased insurance rates.
However, the state also offers a somewhat unique option for those who have received a ticket: Florida traffic school. Attending traffic school in Florida is an option to dismiss tickets, reduce points, and avoid insurance rate hikes.
We break down eligibility, costs, and the process of enrolling in Florida traffic school here.
The Benefits of Attending Florida Traffic School
If you're guilty of a traffic violation, you can pay the ticket, contest it, or attend a driver improvement course to get an 18% reduction on fines and dismiss the points from your record. This, in turn, avoids insurance premium increases.
Essentially, Florida traffic school allows you to maintain a clean driving record, which can lower your Florida car insurance costs and avoid expensive add-ons like traffic ticket insurance.
Who Is Eligible for Traffic School in Florida?
You may opt for traffic school if you've gotten a ticket for a non-criminal moving violation (unless you're a commercial driver's license holder). Anyone, from first-time drivers to non-habitual repeat offenders, may opt for traffic school to reduce penalties. However, you can only attend a basic driver improvement course once every 12 months and no more than five times in your lifetime.
Underage drivers may have to take Florida online traffic school, known as T.O.A.D., if they received a citation between ages 15-25.
Traffic school is required to keep your driving privileges if:
- You were at fault for a crash AND
- Someone had to go to the hospital, OR
- You had two crashes in two years that resulted in property damage over $500
You also must attend a basic driver improvement course if you were convicted of running a red light or stop sign, reckless driving, racing, or failing to stop for a school bus. If the court has suspended your license but a judge allows you to take traffic school to get a hardship license, you must take Advanced Driver Improvement (ADI). This course is reserved for habitual traffic offenders.
If you're unsure whether you have tickets on your record, you should perform a Florida driver's license check.
Types of Florida Traffic School Courses
Florida-approved traffic school is available online and in person. Online traffic school in Florida is available for both the basic and advanced driver improvement courses.
Successful completion of the basic course takes at least four hours, while ADI requires at least 12 hours.
Costs Associated With Traffic School
The cost of Florida traffic school depends on the type of course and the school. Generally, online traffic school courses range from $19 to $50. That may be a small price to pay to get a reduction in the cost of your ticket and avoid increases to your monthly insurance premiums.
Steps for Enrolling in Traffic School Courses
Enrolling in Florida traffic school is a straightforward process:
- Determine eligibility: Most drivers are eligible unless you're a habitual offender or have been convicted of a criminal violation like driving under the influence.
- Elect to take traffic school: You must contact the Clerk of Court in the county where you received the ticket and pay an election fee within 30 days to notify the state of your decision to pursue traffic school.
- Choose a Florida-approved traffic school: Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (HSMV) offers a list of approved providers on its website.
- Complete the course: Once you've selected a provider, you typically have between 60 and 90 days from the ticket date to complete the course and provide proof of completion.
What To Expect During Your Course
Basic driver improvement courses typically function similarly to defensive driving courses. You'll learn defensive driving techniques, traffic laws, and safe driving practices. At the end of the course, you must pass a final exam to show that you understood the course material. You may retake the exam up to three times if you fail.
Once you've completed the course and passed the exam, the traffic school automatically reports your course completion to HSMV. If you were court-ordered to take traffic school, you're responsible for notifying the court and providing proof of completion and any other required documentation. You should be able to download your certificate within five days of completing the course (or sooner if you pay an additional fee).
While the school automatically reports to the HSMV database, it's still a good idea to confirm your course completion by calling the Clerk of Court to make sure it's updated in your records.
Once you've completed the course, remember to monitor your Florida driver's license status to ensure your driving record remains clean.
Approved Florida Traffic School Providers and Resources
Florida HSMV has a list of approved providers on its website.
Save on Insurance and Avoid Points: Find the Right Car Insurance
Florida traffic school is a great way to get points off your record and reduce the cost of tickets. But if you're worried about insurance rate increases, use EverQuote's comparison tools to shop and compare rates in real time to find the best coverages for you.