how long is the driving safety course in texas

TDLR Recommendation on Minimum Time Per Topic

Course Section	Time (minutes)
Introduction	10
Traffic Safety Problem	15
Factors Influencing Driver Performance	20
Traffic Laws And Procedures	30

Jun 1 2022

Full Answer

Why should you take driver safety course in Texas?

• The risks of drinking and driving and/or using drugs and how they can affect driving safety.
• Learning and being reminded of all the current Texas driving laws, rules, and regulations.
• The current Texas auto insurance requirements and laws.
• Learning and being reminded of safe driving techniques, like keeping a safe following distance.

More items...

Why should I take a Texas defensive driving course?

Who should be interested in a defensive driving course?

• Senior Drivers. Those among us who have the most experience behind the wheel have just as much reason to take an online defensive driving course as someone who just got ...
• Business Owners. ...
• Cost Conscientious Drivers. ...
• Safety Conscientious Drivers. ...

Does Texas offer a defensive driving course?

The residents of Houston will thank you for making the city a great place to live and drive when you do your part and take the defensive driving online course seriously. Texas drivers are eligible to take a defensive driving course once every 18 months to dismiss a recent traffic ticket. The price of such a course is minimal.

What is the best online driving school in Texas?

Top 4 Online Defensive Driving Schools in Texas

• iDriveSafely.com
• Aceable.com
• TexasDrivingSchool.com
• DefensiveDriving.com

Can I take a driving safety course online in Texas?

Our TDLR-approved Texas Online Defensive Driving course satisfies all court requirements and takes just six hours. Many students finish in one day, but because it's online, you can take it on your schedule, at your pace.

What is the shortest online defensive driving course in Texas?

#3: Aceable This is the fastest course allowed by Texas state law. Unfortunately, Texas requires the use of “course timers” for the online driving courses. That means, if a course is supposed to take 6 hours, it'll take you exactly that.

How long do you have to take defensive driving after a ticket in Texas?

90 daysHow long do you have to take defensive driving after a ticket in Texas? For ticket dismissal and to keep the citation off your driving record, drivers have 90 days from the date of plea to complete a stated approved defensive driving course.

How much does it cost to take defensive driving in Texas?

$25.00Online Defensive Driving Cost. When you need to take a Defensive Driving course, the state of Texas requires the minimum price be $25.00.

Which defensive driving course is easiest?

#1: iDriveSafely iDriveSafely is my top recommended easiest online traffic school for 2022. They've been around since before online traffic school even existed.

Can I take defensive driving for a speeding ticket in Texas?

Most minor citations can be dismissed with a defensive driving course. A Texas defensive driving course may NOT be taken to dismiss any of the following violations: Speeding at or more than 25 MPH over the posted speed limit. No car insurance.

How much is a 20 over speeding ticket Texas?

DallasVIOLATIONBASE FINETOTALSPEEDING (1 ‐ 10 miles over the limit)$97$201.10SPEEDING (11 - 15 miles over the limit)$122$226.10SPEEDING (16 - 20 miles over the limit)$147$251.10SPEEDING (over 20 mph)$200$304.104 more rows

Can I just pay my ticket and not go to court Texas?

If you do not want to appear in court, you have the option of paying your fine by mail or by paying in person at the Justice Court as directed on your citation or summons.

How can I clean my driving record in Texas?

Drivers who wish to clear their driver's record in Texas may enroll in traffic school and complete a defensive driving course. This may not only help them remove points but may also result in the dismissal of their traffic ticket.

How long do driving classes take?

According to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), it takes most people 45 hours of lessons to learn how to drive, plus 22 hours of practising.

How do you complete defensive driving in Texas?

How to Take a Texas Defensive Driving CourseContact your court and request permission to take a defensive driving course. ... Mail or bring to court all of the required documents and forms. ... Enroll in and complete your TDLR-approved defensive driving course.More items...

How do I get a speeding ticket off my record in Texas?

How to Dismiss a Traffic Ticket in TexasFirst make sure you are eligible to have the ticket dismissed. ... Register for the Texas Online Defensive Driving Course. ... Order your Certified Texas Driving Record, which all Texas courts will require in addition to your Certificate of Completion.More items...

What is a DADAP course?

A DADAP Course focus es on the effects of drug and alcohol on the driving process and is a court-mandated course. A minor may be required to take the course if convicted of or placed on deferred adjudication (if the minor has not been previously convicted of an offense). 2.

How long does it take to change address for TDLR?

You will need to notify TDLR using the Change of Address form at least 15 business days before the move and include the required fee and bond. Any school that changes their physical address will need to be inspected and approved by TDLR before beginning classes.

How to get a duplicate DE-964?

To get a duplicate certificate of completion (the DE-964 or DE-964E Certificate of Completion), contact the public school or driver education school you attended. If you completed a parent taught course, contact the parent taught course provider.

When a school closure prevents a student from completing his/her driver training, all tuition and fees are

When a school closure prevents a student from completing his/her driver training, all tuition and fees paid become refundable. The school owner is required to issue full refunds in accordance with Texas Education Code 1001.403. In situations when a school owner fails to issue refunds TDLR will attempt to acquire the students’ records and file a claim against the school’s bond. In most cases only partial refunds can be issued

Where to return DE-964?

All unused DE-964 and ADE-1317 certificates of completion are to be returned to TDLR within 30 days from the date the school closes. Certificates can be overnighted to TDLR, 920 Colorado, Austin, TX 78701, Attention: Licensing

How to get an initial school inspection in Texas?

Once your Texas driver education school application has been approved and all requirements have been met, which includes the approval of the curriculum, you will be sent an Initial School Inspection Request Form . You will be required to verify that the facility is ready for inspection. Once this information is received, an inspector will contact you to schedule your initial inspection.

How many hours of driving school is required for a driver?

The classroom phase of a driver education course is at least 32 hours, and it cannot be completed in fewer than 16 days. The in-car phase consists of 7 hours of behind-the-wheel driving, 7 hours of in-car observation, and an additional 30 hours of behind-the-wheel practice, of which 10 hours must be done at night.

What are the different types of driver education?

There are three types of driver education for teens: A traditional driver education course offered by a driver training school. Regulation of Driver Education Schools, Driver Safety Schools, Course Providers and Instructors, and the Parent Taught Driver Education (PTDE) program was transferred to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation ...

What age do you have to take the Texas driver's test?

Teens. Individuals under 18 years of age are required to complete a driver education course and present the Texas Driver Education Certificate (DE-964) at the driver license office. When applying for a license, the driving test is required. The knowledge test will be waived if it was completed during the driver education course.

Approved Texas Defensive Driving Courses Are Not Created Equal!

We’ve gone through all of the above approved Texas defensive driving courses and gave them star ratings so you could quickly determine which defensive driving courses we recommend. With that said, we always recommend you do your own research. What exactly should you look for?

Texas Defensive Driving Courses FAQs

If your goal is to get your traffic ticket dismissed, you are only allowed to take the course in Texas once every year. However, you can always take it as a refresher anytime you want without limits.

Conclusion

So if you’re taking a defensive driving course in Texas, make sure to look into these online traffic schools.

What happens if you take defensive driving in Texas?

If I take defensive driving, will my ticket be dismissed? When you take a defensive driving course in Texas, it keeps points from being added to your driver's license, which prevents your insurance company from increasing your rates due to the incident. You still must pay for the ticket, but it will not degrade your Texas driving record.

How often can you take defensive driving courses in Texas?

You can take a defensive driving course in Texas once every year for ticket dismissal. Insurance discounts for defensive driving courses expire every three years.

Can you take defensive driving for insurance?

Can I take defensive driving for insurance discount and for ticket dismissal? Yes. If you take a defensive driving course to dismiss a traffic ticket in Texas, you can use that same course to receive an insurance discount (if your insurance company offers such a discount).

Are you eligible to take a Defensive Driving Course and dismiss your ticket?

Your traffic citation usually provides details on how to apply to get your ticket dismissed. You need to plead no contest or guilty with your traffic court and pay any court fees. You must then request permission to take a defensive driving course to dismiss your ticket.

What is the difference between a Defensive Driving Course and Driving Safety Course?

There is sometimes confusion between the terms defensive driving course and driving safety course. In Texas, the official term for the course that can help dismiss your traffic citation is Six Hour Driving Safety Course. In several other states the course is referred to as Defensive Driving Course.

How to choose the Best Defensive Driving Course?

In the state of Texas nearly 5 million speeding tickets are issued each year. So, getting a speeding ticket in Texas is something every driver has been through at some point. About 10% of these unlucky drivers turn their fate around and get their ticket dismissed by taking a defensive driving course.

Final thoughts on Defensive Driving Course

In my opinion no one takes a defensive driving course by choice. Most people are forced into it because they are in an unfortunate situation of getting issued a speeding ticket or a traffic citation. Therefore, it is important that you carefully look at all the options available to you.

How long is a TDLR course?

Our TDLR approved driving safety course is a self-paced online course and takes six hours. All Texas approved courses will require a minimum of six hours. You do not need to take the course in one sitting. You may log in and out as many times as you desire. Finish in one day or over several days – that’s your choice.

Does the TEA license driving safety?

The TEA is no longer the authoritative agency and does not license Driving Safety providers.

What is an approved defensive driving course?

Approved Course. Approved Course is a Houston-based online defensive driving course in Texas. This is by far one of the easiest online defensive driving courses you can sign up for in Texas for 2021. I’m not sure exactly what it is about Approved Course that makes it so easy, but this course is simple to pass.

How much does a defensive driving course cost in Texas?

The state of Texas regulates pricing for online defensive driving schools by setting a minimum price they are allowed to charge. That price is $25. The vast majority of Texas state-approved online defensive driving schools sell their course at the state-minimium, but you may find a few that charge more than $25.

How long does defensive driving school last?

Make sure you read the fine print for whatever defensive driving course you sign up for, but in general, online defensive driving school will expire 90 days after you first start the coursework. Once 90 days is up, you will be locked out of the course and you will need to pay for another one.

How far ahead of time do you have to take defensive driving?

All you need to do is either complete your defensive driving course at least 2 weeks ahead of your due date or call the court clerk’s office in the district you received your traffic ticket to get an extension. In most cases, all you have to do is ask and they give you one with no problems.

What is a go to traffic school?

Go To Traffic School is a defensive driving course in Texas that has been around since literally the 1990’s. They first started by offering home-based defensive driving programs that were sent through the mail using VHS tapes and booklets. As time progressed, they began to change their business model, and in the early 2000’s they began offering their home-based defensive driving course online in Texas.

Can you get a copy of your Texas driving record?

Many defensive driving schools in Texas will offer to give you a certified copy of your Texas driving record. If you are interested in obtaining your driving record in Texas, I highly recommend you only get your driving record directly from the state.

Is defensive driving online in Texas?

Get Defensive is yet again, an online defensive driving class in Texas that has been approved for over two decades. This course guarantees to be the cheapest, and after going through it personally, I can say with certainty that it is extremely easy. For some reason, the quizzes in this course seem even easier than the other ones (which is saying a lot. Unlike some of the other courses on this list, this defensive driving school is focused solely on the state of Texas.

Traffic Ticket Dismissal

If you received a moving violation in Texas, the county or court where you received it may allow you to take a defensive driving course approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) to dismiss the ticket. In Texas, there are a few other requirements before you can take the ticket dismissal defensive driving course. You must:

Insurance Discount

You can also take a defensive driving course to reduce your insurance rates. The course is available completely online, if that’s your preference, and covers Texas driving laws, defensive driving techniques, hazardous conditions, and strategies for avoiding common driving problem areas.

Seat Belt Safety

If you have been cited for a seat belt violation, just like a moving violation, it could negatively impact your insurance rates. In many cases, a judge will order you to take the seat belt safety course. The seat belt course emphasizes the importance of wearing a safety belt and the risks and consequences of not doing so.

Take Your Defensive Driving Course Online

Want to get your drivers license the easy way? Take our I Drive Safely’s Texas adult driver education course today!