Looking for a cheap traffic school in California? It makes sense – why spend more after you’ve already paid the fine? But not all traffic schools are created equal, and the last thing you want is to waste time on a course that fails to meet your expectations.
To help you out, we’ve reviewed the top traffic schools in California based on price and what you get for your money. Let’s take a look!
Top Traffic Schools and What They Cost
All traffic schools licensed by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) follow a similar curriculum, covering topics like defensive driving, collision avoidance, and the rules of the road. The difference lies in how they present the information, what services they offer, and how their pricing is structured.
For example, some schools charge extra for audio read-alongs, exam retakes, or digital certificates. While you may pay little upfront, these fees can add up quickly.
What’s more, the DMV’s seal of approval doesn’t guarantee quality. You can register with a DMV-approved traffic school and still have a subpar experience due to bad support, technical issues, or outdated learning tools.
Let’s compare the top traffic schools in California based on price and what’s included.
| Traffic School | Cost | Audio Read-Along | Unlimited Retakes | Instant Electronic Certificate | Same-Day Submission to DMV & Court | Customer Support | Don’t Pass, Don’t Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Online Traffic School | $23.99 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 24/7 live | Yes |
| IMPROV | $36.95 | No | N/A | Yes | Yes | Live chat, Phone & SMS support | No |
| Aceable | $29 | No | Available for $20 | Yes | — | 24/7 live chat, Phone & SMS support | No |
| I Drive Safely | $39 | No | Available for $20 | Yes | — | Phone & SMS support | No |
| TrafficSchool.com | $19.95 | Available for an additional fee | Yes | No, but you’ll receive an email confirmation right after you pass | Available for an additional fee | Phone, email, online support | Yes |
| Go to Traffic School | $23.99 | Available for $4.99 | Available for $9.95 | Available for $10 | Available for $10 | Phone, email, and online support | — |
| Traffic School to Go | $19.95 | Available for $9.95 | Available for $3.95 | Available for an additional fee | Yes | Live chat, phone, and online support | Yes |
Traffic school can help you keep a clean driving record, prevent insurance increases, and more!
As you can see, it’s possible to pay less than $20 for traffic school. However, the cheapest courses may not include some things you’ll just end up paying for later.
Now, let’s go into more detail about each school to help you make the right choice.
Best Online Traffic School
Price: $27.99
Cost breakdown:
Base price: $27.99
- Additional fees:
- Physical certificate of completion (optional): $11.99
Services & Features
Founded in 2018, Best Online Traffic School is a DMV-approved course provider with a track record of success. 99.9% of our students pass on the first try, and many of them finish the course in just two or three hours.
Our self-paced online course features interactive content, practice tests, and 24/7 live chat support. We’re also one of the few traffic schools in California to offer study materials in English, Spanish, and Chinese—along with free audio read-alongs in all three languages.
Course highlights include:
✅ Unlimited retakes
✅ Unlimited attempts to pass
✅ FREE instant electronic certificate
✅ FREE same-day submission to the DMV and court
✅ Save-and-resume feature
✅ All-inclusive flat fee
✅ Study from any device
✅ Don’t pass, don’t pay
At Best Online Traffic School, you can start for free and pay only after passing the final exam. No upfront fees, no credit card required.
We charge a low flat fee that covers everything you need to complete the program. Read more about the cost of traffic school to see how we compare to other course providers.
Start traffic school for FREE today
IMPROV
Price: $36.95
Cost breakdown:
- Base price: $36.95
- Additional fees: None
Services & Features
IMPROV’s motto is “Learning with a smile,” which reflects its unique approach to traffic school. The study materials blend humor, storytelling, and animations, keeping learners engaged from start to finish.
Improv’s all-inclusive flat fee covers the learning materials you need, but it may not include course retakes. You’ll also get additional services like:
- Electronic certificate of completion
- Automatic reporting to the DMV
- Full mobile compatibility
- Standard support hours
- Study at your own pace
Choose this online course if you prefer a lighthearted, humor-driven experience. But note that support is limited to business days/hours.
Aceable
Price: $29.00
Cost breakdown:
- Base price: $29.00
- Additional fees:
- Instant proof of completion (optional): $20
Services & Features
Aceable’s traffic safety course is 100% online and self-paced, offering full flexibility. You can download the school’s app and study from your smartphone or tablet, or access the lessons from your computer, take breaks as needed, and pick up where you left off.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the course features:
- DMV-approved study materials
- The Aceable mobile app
- 360-degree VR videos (available in the app)
- Two attempts to pass the final exam
- Completion receipt (delivered by email)
- Certificate submission to the California DMV
Aceable can be a good choice for drivers who want a modern, gamified learning experience. But one aspect to be aware of is that you have only two attempts to pass the final test. If you fail both times, you must start all over—and pay the registration fee again.
I Drive Safely
Price: $39
Cost breakdown:
- Base price: $39
- Additional fees:
- Instant electronic certificate copy (optional): $20
- Online video format (optional): $15
Services & Features
I Drive Safely offers an online video course and a text-based course for drivers interested in traffic school. Both formats are approved by the DMV and can help you mask one point from your driving record.
Like other traffic schools on our list, I Drive Safely lets you study at your convenience. Thanks to this feature, you can complete the course in one sitting or over several days.
The signup fee covers the following:
- Text-based traffic safety course
- Unlimited quiz retakes
- One attempt to pass the final exam
- Automatic certificate submission to the DMV
- 24/7 live chat support
- Multi-device compatibility
The course also comes with a money-back guarantee. Learners can request a refund within 30 days of registration as long as they have not taken the final exam.
Read: How Does the DMV Point System Work in California?
TrafficSchool.com
Price: $19.95
Cost breakdown:
- Base price: $19.95
- Additional fees:
- Same-day submission to the DMV (optional): N/A
- Audio read-along: N/A
- Follow-up with the court: N/A
Services & Features
TrafficSchool.com has been in business since 1994, featuring a traffic safety course you can complete entirely online. It is the only provider of its kind to offer a Five-Star Guarantee:
- 100% Satisfaction
- 100% Money back
- Low price match
- Guaranteed to pass
- No hidden fees
Depending on your preferences, you can pay either at sign-up or before the final exam. The $19.95 registration fee covers course materials plus:
- Unlimited attempts to pass
- Practice quizzes
- Multi-device compatibility
- Certificate submission to the DMV (within three business days of completion)
Students can also access perks like audio read-alongs and same-day submission to the DMV—but for an extra fee. Other schools offer these services for free or include them in their base price.
Go To Traffic School
Price: $23.90
Cost breakdown:
- Base price: $23.90
- Additional fees:
- Unlimited exam retakes: $9.95
- Audio read-along: $4.99
- Instant electronic certificate: $10
- Same-day submission to the DMV: $10
- Traffic School Study Guide: $9.95
- Proof of completion (delivered by email): $5
Services & Features
Established in 1999, Go To Traffic School’s traffic safety lessons feature real-life scenarios, engaging videos, and interactive content for easier learning.
Once registered, you can take the course online from any device and study when your schedule allows. Here’s a snapshot of what you’ll get:
- DMV-approved mobile-friendly course.
- Learning materials available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean.
- Electronic submission to the DMV within three business days of course completion.
- Two attempts to pass the final exam .
- Lowest price guarantee.
Be prepared to pay for unlimited exam retakes, same-day certificate processing, proof of completion, and other add-ons that some schools offer at no extra cost. However, these services are optional.
Traffic School to Go
Price: $19.95
Cost breakdown:
- Base price: $19.95
- Additional fees:
- Unlimited retakes: $3.95
- Audio read-along: $9.95
Services & Features
Traffic School to Go’s training program is self-paced, mobile-friendly, and easy to navigate, with an intuitive layout that makes online learning a breeze.
The base price covers the course content and standard services like:
- Multi-device compatibility.
- Electronic certificate copy (available for download five days after the course completion).
- Automatic certificate submission to the court and DMV
- Live chat support
- Money-back guarantee
If you want unlimited attempts to pass, it’ll cost you another $3.95. But, if you’re not satisfied with your experience, you can request a refund within 30 days of purchase, minus a $5 administrative fee. Just make sure you submit your request before taking the final exam.
Cheap Traffic School Doesn’t Have to Mean Low Quality
Finding a cheap traffic school is easy given the many options out there. The challenge lies in choosing one that offers good value for the money and can actually help you become a safer driver.
Our advice? Don’t base your decision on price alone. Instead, look at what’s included and how other learners feel about the school in question. Carefully investigate what’s included in the course fee, and read online traffic school reviews to get a sense of how satisfied the school’s former students tend to be.
Ideally, select a course provider that offers some sort of guarantee. For example, Traffic School to Go and TrafficSchool.com will refund your money if you’re not 100% satisfied. Best Online Traffic School takes it one step further, allowing students to start the course for free and pay only after they pass.
As a final word, watch out for hidden fees. A low upfront cost might look appealing, but if you must pay extra for standard services like mobile access or test retakes, your final cost is likely to be a lot higher than you think.
FAQs About Cheap Traffic Schools
Traffic school is well worth it if you sign up with a course provider that balances cost and quality. Here are the answers to some questions you may have before getting started.
How much is the traffic school fee in CA?
In California, traffic school costs approximately $20 to $50, depending on the provider and what’s included in the price. Learners must also pay a traffic school administrative fee ranging from $49 to $79. This charge is imposed and collected by the court.
For example, if you receive a ticket in Orange County and sign up with Best Online Traffic School, you’ll pay $27.99—which represents the course cost—plus a $52 traffic school administrative fee to the court handling your case.
Is one-day traffic school legit?
While there’s no official “one-day traffic school,” you can finish a traffic safety course in under 24 hours.
Per California law, traffic schools must provide eight hours of instruction. However, this requirement only applies to in-person courses. Online traffic schools don’t use timers, meaning you can study at your own pace and finish the course within hours.
Read: California Traffic School: Online, In-Person, or Home Study?
How do I get a traffic school promo code?
If you register with Best Online Traffic School, use this promo code at checkout for extra savings. Remember, you don’t have to pay anything until you pass the final test.
Other traffic schools offer promo codes on websites like RetailMeNot, CouponChief, or Groupon, but they don’t always work.
Do I need the add-ons my traffic school is charging for?
Generally, the base price charged by traffic schools covers all the essentials required to complete the course. However, there are cases where it may be worth paying for add-ons.
Say you have one day left to complete traffic school. If the course provider takes up to five business days to submit your certificate to the DMV, you could miss the court’s deadline. While it’s possible to request a traffic school extension, you may find it easier to pay $10-$15 to have your certificate submitted faster. (At Best Online Traffic School, we offer same-day submission for free.)
How can I find a fast and cheap traffic school online?
Start with the DMV’s traffic school list. Filter the results by type of instruction (choose “Internet”), course language, or other criteria, then look up the course providers that match your requirements. Visit their websites to find out how much they charge, what’s included, and what the course looks like.