If you’re considering traffic school to help you deal with the points from a recent ticket, you might be wondering what type of traffic school to choose. What’s the difference between taking the course online or in person? Are online traffic schools even legit?
Here we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the different types of traffic schools – and how you can choose one.
What is Traffic School in California?
Traffic School is a short course designed to improve your driving skills. This includes education on California driving laws, regulations, how to drive safely, and more.
Traffic Schools in California first began in the 1980s, available only as a classroom-based course. In the early 1990s, home study courses became available, and by the mid-1990s online courses start to appear. During this period, the California state courts monitored the traffic school program which meant each school had to be individually approved by each court.
In the early 2010s, the California DMV took over the responsibility of the program from the court. They centralized the submission system, so if the traffic school was licensed by the CA DMV, then they could submit to any court in the state. They also eliminated the need for students to mail in certificates to the court.
Fast forward to today and online traffic schools are by far the most popular and convenient option. And, yes, they’re totally legit!
Read: How Traffic School Works
Traffic school can help you keep a clean driving record, prevent insurance increases, and more!
What Types of Traffic Schools Are Available?
Traffic School is typically offered in three different ways in California:
- An online course you can take from home (the best option).
- A classroom-based course you need to physically attend (typically takes 8 hours).
- A home-study course with a physical booklet (requires the purchase of extra materials).
Let’s take a look at each one.
Online Traffic School
Online traffic school is by far the fastest, easiest, and most convenient way to take traffic school. That’s because you can take it from the comfort of your own home and finish it in your own time.
And, yes, online traffic school is just as legit as a classroom option. Just make sure the online traffic school you choose:
- Is a DMV-approved traffic school and accepted by all California courts. This means they should be on the DMV traffic school list.
- Meets all of the California DMV’s requirements.
- Is both reputable and highly rated by California drivers.
Pros:
- Fulfills the eight-hour requirement necessary to fulfill your court obligation.
- Extremely convenient; take from the comfort of your home (or anywhere you have access to the internet).
- The fastest way to complete traffic school (our students finish in less than three hours).
- Self-Paced – you are not timed and can pause and resume as you please.
- No waiting, you can get started immediately without needing to find a physical class or pick up materials.
- Electronic certification and same-day submission to the court and DMV.
Cons:
- Many online traffic schools charge extra fees and use dishonest pricing. Learn more about traffic school costs and how to avoid being ripped off.
- Some online traffic schools charge extra for retakes.
- Some online traffic schools provide poor or limited support if you have questions.
Classroom Traffic School
The traditional way to take traffic school in a classroom. These classes are typically taught on weekends by certified instructors. Classroom-based traffic School will cover the material through videos, lectures, and/or live demonstrations. At the end of the class, you will take your exam. If you pass, you will have fulfilled your traffic school obligation.
Pros:
- You will complete traffic school in one day.
- You can ask your instructor if you have any questions.
Cons:
- You’ll spend eight hours sitting in a classroom. (Learn more in How Long Is Traffic School in California?)
- Having to travel and attend in person can be inconvenient.
- The material may be boring, meaning you may miss important information.
- Instructor quality may vary (a bad instructor can lead to a failed test).
- You cannot leave and come back if an important occasion comes up.
How to Find a Classroom Traffic School Near Me:
- Visit the DMV website.
- Select “Traffic School List” as the Business Category
- Select “Classroom Course” as your mode of education
- Choose your county and enter any other important location details
- Get a list of classroom-based traffic schools in your area.
Home Study Traffic School
Another option is to use a home-study workbook to complete traffic school. These workbooks contain everything you need to know to pass your traffic school exam. You will need to pick them up physically or have them mailed to you. This may consist of either a booklet, CDs, or both.
Pros:
- More convenient than a classroom as you can access the material at home.
- Materials cover everything needed to pass the final exam.
Cons:
- Typically more expensive than online traffic school as you have to pay for physical materials.
- If you choose to have your materials mailed, you will need to wait for them to arrive or pay more for faster shipping.
- You may need to take the final test in person at a notary or UPS store (meaning you still have to travel).
- You may need to physically mail in your certificate upon completion.
How to Find a Home Study Traffic School Near Me:
- Visit the DMV website.
- Select “Traffic School List” as the Business Category
- Select “Home Study Course” as your mode of education
- The tool will select a list of traffic schools that provide home study options.
What Will I Learn From Traffic School?
Traffic school will teach you about California driving laws, regulations, best practices, and more.
Best Online Traffic School’s modules cover the following:
- Careless driving and its consequences
- Operator responsibilities
- Pedestrians
- Driving maneuvers
- Defensive driving
- Avoiding collisions
- Road rage/aggressive driving and avoiding it
- Distracted driving
- Your vehicle
- The road
- The driving environment
At Best Online Traffic School, we’ve designed our course to be both speedy, educational, and painless while also fulfilling all court and DMV requirements.
How to Sign Up for Traffic School in California
Many people initially think traffic school is a complicated or intimidating process – but it’s actually pretty straightforward.
Traffic school really just comes down to three simple steps:
- Make sure you meet traffic school eligibility in California.
- Sign up to attend California traffic school.
- Pass the course.
If you are taking traffic school for a traffic ticket, then you will first need to pay an initial fine and plead guilty to your ticket. The clerk will then determine whether you’re eligible to take traffic school. If you are eligible, you need to pay a traffic school court administrative fee. Once that’s done, you’re all set to take a licensed traffic school course.
A CA DMV-approved traffic school will allow you to fulfill your court obligation, as well as:
- Mask your traffic citation.
- Keep points off your California driving record.
- Keep traffic tickets from affecting your insurance rate.
Read: Should I Go to Traffic School?
Why Choose Best Online Traffic School
Founded in 2018, Best Online Traffic School offers a self-paced course you can complete in just one sitting.
Our online traffic safety course consists of 12 modules, 12 quizzes, and a final exam – and 99.9% of all drivers who choose our school pass on the first try.
The content is easy to follow, and we also provide free audio read-alongs for a smooth learning experience. Our students also enjoy perks like:
✅ 24/7 live chat support
✅ Learning materials in English, Chinese, and Spanish
✅ Unlimited exam attempts and course retakes
✅ Instant electronic certificate of completion
✅ Same-day certificate submission to the court and DMV
We’re one of the few traffic schools in California that charge an all-inclusive flat fee of $27.99. The best part? You don’t have to pay until the course is over.
Don’t let a traffic ticket lead to points on your license. Start traffic school for FREE to mask one point from your license and keep your insurance rates from rising.
FAQs About Traffic School Online in California
Still need information? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions.
What is the best online traffic school in California?
Any DMV-approved California traffic school will allow you to fulfill your court requirements and remove a point from your license. But some traffic schools are better than others. Best Online Traffic School has thousands of positive reviews. We also offer lots of perks, including:
– English Chinese and Spanish audio read-along
– Free electronic certificate
– Free same-day submission to the court and DMV
– Free signup – pay only when you pass the course
Can I go to traffic school after paying my ticket?
When you receive a ticket, you should ask the court whether you are eligible for traffic school. You can then request traffic school, pay your fine, and complete the course. If you’ve already paid your ticket, requesting traffic school is generally more complicated and may not always be possible, but you can try reaching out to the court to ask.
