who can i take a defensive driving course in texas

by Beryl Hand MD 9 min read

Step 1: Determine if you are eligible to take defensive driving. You can take a Texas defensive driving course if you meet the following conditions: You have not taken a defensive driving course within the past 12 months. Do not have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) Are not currently taking a defensive driving course for a different violation.

“In Texas, you can take defensive driving classes if you have a valid state license or permit, you admit guilt to a violation of traffic law, and ask [the court] to take a defensive driving class to dismiss your ticket,” said Daivat Dholakia, director of operations for Force by Mojio, a GPS fleet-tracking company for ...May 27, 2021

Full Answer

Why should I take a Texas defensive driving course?

May 27, 2021 · “In Texas, you can take defensive driving classes if you have a valid state license or permit, you admit guilt to a violation of traffic law, and ask [the court] to take a defensive driving class to dismiss your ticket,” said Daivat Dholakia, director of operations for Force by Mojio, a GPS fleet-tracking company for small businesses around the country, including operators in Texas.

How often can you take defensive driving in Texas?

Texas Defensive Driving Courses FAQs How many times can I take defensive driving in Texas? 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. How long is the Texas defensive driving school online? The minimum time allowed by the …

What is the best defensive driving course?

Feb 10, 2021 · If a driver is clocked at 25 miles per hour over the posted limit or traveling in excess of 95 mph, they will be disqualified from taking defensive driving for ticket dismissal purposes. The court may still require such drivers to take the class though in hopes that it will teach them to slow the heck down!

Why to take a defensive driving course?

Jul 06, 2021 · The convenience is you can take a defensive driving course online. You don’t need to travel to a specific location. However, there are a number of restrictions. Aside from time limitations, you cannot take a defensive driving course in Texas if you’re taking one for another violation. You’re also not eligible to take a course if you have a commercial driver’s license.

Who qualifies for defensive driving in Texas?

Defensive Driving Eligibility RequirementsSpeeding at or more than 25 MPH over the posted speed limit.No car insurance.Leaving the scene of an accident (hit and run)Passing a school bus.Construction zone violations.

How much does a defensive driving course cost in Texas?

$25How much does it cost to take defensive driving course in Texas? The state of Texas requires defensive driving courses to cost a minimum of $25.

Can you do defensive driving online in Texas?

Once you are registered you can begin the 100% online Texas Defensive Driving course. Log in and out as much as you like, the test will pick back up where you left off, however the course must be completed within three months of registering. The course is user-friendly and section quizzes can be taken multiple times.

How long is online defensive driving course Texas?

six hoursThe defensive driving course takes just six hours to complete, and many students finish it in one day. Because the course is entirely online, you can take it on your schedule and at your own pace.

Which online defensive driving course is best in Texas?

The 7 Best Online Defensive Driving Courses In Texas For 2022Aceable. Aceable is without a doubt the best online defensive driving course in Texas for 2022. ... iDriveSafely. ... Approved Course. ... Go To Traffic School. ... Improv Traffic School. ... Get Defensive. ... A Sense Of Humor Defensive Driving Course.

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

How 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.

Which online 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.

Which online defensive driving course is best?

#1 Defensive Driving Course ProviderIDriveSafely is one of the oldest defensive driving brands in the business. ... IDriveSafely.com has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). ... Take an IDriveSafely Course.Take a DriversEd.com Course.Take a MyImprov Course.Take ApprovedCourse Defensive Driving.More items...•Dec 21, 2021

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

How many times can I take defensive driving in Texas?

Texas state law permits drivers to take defensive driving to dismiss one traffic ticket every 12 months. If you haven't taken a course for defensive driving within that time, you can take another—for example, to have a ticket dismissed. The convenience is you can take a defensive driving course online.

Is Texas driving online legit?

Texas Driver Education Online has a consumer rating of 1 star from 4 reviews indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Texas Driver Education Online ranks 42nd among Driving Schools sites.

How much is a driving record in Texas?

12. How much do online Driver Records cost?TypeDescriptionPriceType 3A (Certified Complete Driving History):Certified version of Type 3. (Acceptable for Defensive Driving Course.)$12.00Type AR (Abstract Driver Record):Certified abstract of complete Driving Record$22.004 more rows

What are the rules for defensive driving?

You can't take a defensive driving course for all violations. Some are deal-breakers. Traffic violations where you cannot take defensive driving class include: 1 Passing a school bus or not stopping for one 2 Not having car insurance when you drive 3 Construction zone violations 4 Speeding that exceeds 25 mph above the limit 5 Hit and run (leaving an accident scene)

What are the violations that you cannot take defensive driving class?

Traffic violation s where you cannot take defensive driving class include: Passing a school bus or not stopping for one. Not having car insurance when you drive. Construction zone violations. Speeding that exceeds 25 mph above the limit.

How long does a defensive driving ticket stay on your record?

If you are eligible for the defensive driving course but don’t complete it, your ticket remains on your record for three years. This could increase your insurance rates. The number of points your ticket has depends on the type of moving violation you received. Most violations are either two or three points.

Can you take defensive driving classes for another violation?

You’re not currently taking a defensive driving class for another violation. You’ll also need to request permission from the court to take a defensive driving course, and in most cases, you can get it without a problem, unless some of the exceptions mentioned above apply to you.

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.

I Just Got a Ticket. Can I Take Defensive Driving?

Step one in the getting rid of your ticket dance is to make sure if your situation or circumstance makes it OK to even ask.

How Long is a Texas Defensive Driving Course?

The TDLR (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation) requires all defensive driving classes to be six hours in length. Before the very thought of facing six hours of something you don’t want to do makes you throw up your hands and “just say NO,” let me tell you that it won’t be as bad as it sounds.

How Long Will the Court Give Me to Complete the Course?

In nearly every jurisdiction, drivers are given 90 days in which to complete a defensive driving course and return their documentation to the court. Besides a certificate of completion from the course provider and any court generated paperwork, you will likely also have to submit a copy of your driving record.

How Many Times Can I Take Defensive Driving?

The law says that you can take defensive driving once every twelve months for ticket dismissal purposes. Because of this, I suppose your answer comes down to how much longer you depend on driving.

Can I Take Defensive Driving Without a Ticket?

Absolutely. In fact, it would be the better way to go. With potential insurance savings of 2-10%, taking a defensive driving course voluntarily is a smart use of your time. Spending $25.00 for a course could earn you $25.00 an hour for the six hours you’ll spend taking the course.

Why take defensive driving course?

The first and most important reason is that you will receive your completion certificate quickly via email.

What is a defensive driving course completion certificate?

A defensive driving course completion will be posted on your record once you have met all of the court’s requirements. The court will report it to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). Turning in your completion certificate to the court is, therefore, an extremely important step.

How many miles per hour is a defensive driving course?

These include: Driving at or over 25 miles per hour above the posted speed limit. Not having car insurance at the time of a violation or vehicle crash. A defensive driving course completion will be posted on your record once you have met all of the court’s requirements.

How much is Texas driver safety online?

The online course is $25, the lowest amount allowed by law. The course is a mixture of text and videos. Instead of a final exam, short quizzes are presented at the end of each unit. For more information or to sign up for a Texas driver safety course online, go to Ticketschool.com.

Is defensive driving a good idea in Texas?

If you live in Texas, taking a state-approved defensive driving course from Ticket School is a great idea. From ticket dismissal to insurance discounts, such a course offers a wide range of benefits.

Can you take defensive driving online in Texas?

You don’t need to travel to a specific location. However, there are a number of restrictions. Aside from time limitations, you cannot take a defensive driving course in Texas if you’re taking one for another violation.

Does Texas offer a discount on auto insurance?

In addition, insurance discount benefits are available in Texas, depending on the auto insurance provider. Some insurers offer as much as a 10% discount for three years. 2 Although participation varies by company, the Ticket School course is approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation ...

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.

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.

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).

How to take defensive driving course in Texas?

You can take a Texas defensive driving course if you meet the following conditions: 1 You have not taken a defensive driving course within the past 12 months. 2 Do not have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) 3 Are not currently taking a defensive driving course for a different violation.

What are the violations of defensive driving in Texas?

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. Leaving the scene of an accident (hit and run) Passing a school bus. Construction zone violations.

What is defensive driving in Texas?

Both in-person and online defensive driving courses in Texas concentrate on encouraging drivers to observe traffic safety and laws.

How often can you get a defensive driving ticket dismissed?

You now know that you can get a ticket dismissed every 12 months with a defensive driving course. However, only certain types of tickets are eligible for dismissal. The biggest thing to note that is your violation must be a moving violation. In some instances, your moving violation won't qualify for dismissal. These instances include: 1 Going 25 mph or more over the speed limit (or exceeding 94 mph). 2 Not carrying insurance. 3 Running from a crash or accident. 4 Failing to stop for a school bus. 5 Committing a violation in a construction zone with workers around.

How often can you get a traffic ticket dismissed in Texas?

You can get a ticket dismissed by taking defensive driving in Texas once every 12 months.

How long does it take to get a copy of your driving record in Texas?

The deadline is usually 90 days. Get a certified copy of your driving record. You can request a copy at Texas DPS Online or your local municipal court office. Turn in your paperwork to the court.

Do insurance companies offer discounts on driver safety courses?

If the real-life value wasn' t incentive enough, many insurance companies will actually offer discounts on your insurance costs if you complete a driver safety course. So whether you're trying to dismiss a ticket or just want to improve your driving skills, you really have nothing to lose when you enroll in an online defensive driving course.

Can you take a driver's safety course before you get a ticket dismissed?

The court must agree that your ticket is eligible for dismissal BEFORE you take a driver’s safety course. Make your request on or before the appearance date listed on your citation. Whether you make the request by email, by certified mail, or in person, you must submit a Request to Take Driver Safety Course.

What are the benefits of defensive driving?

Benefits of Taking a Defensive Driving Course. Besides helping you get your ticket dismissed and reducing the points on your driving record , taking a defensive driving course has other benefits. Some of the most notable ones include: Makes you a better driver. Defensive driving courses equip you with the knowledge and techniques you need ...

How to get a ticket for a speeding ticket?

Typically, you will have three main options when you get a ticket: Pay the fine. Contest it in court. Go to traffic school / defensive driving. As mentioned, most of the time (depending on the infraction) you will have the option of taking defensive driving for a speeding ticket or other moving violation (aka Traffic School). ...

How often can you take defensive driving classes?

For example, in the state of Texas you’re able to take a defensive driving course as long as you: -Haven’t taken a defensive driving class within the previous 12 months. -Do not have a CDL.

How often can you be dismissed for speeding in Texas?

In Texas there are additional requirements, such as not being cited for over 25 MPH over or infractions occurring in a school zone, but most normal speeding violations are able to be easily dismissed with a certified course such as our own once every 12 months.

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