California DMV Traffic School List

DMV Traffic School List for California

How to Find a DMV Traffic School

The easiest way to find a state-approved traffic school is to use the DMV’s tool to look one up. Follow these steps to get started.

Check with the DMV

First, access the DMV’s traffic school list to research your options.

Click “Find a traffic school,” and then select the course format, language, city or county, and other criteria. Location is less relevant if you opt for online courses.

If you already have a school in mind, enter its business name, license number, or address in the designated fields. This way, you can check whether or not it’s licensed by the DMV.

When you’re done, click “Search.” The DMV will display a list of traffic schools that meet your requirements. It will also show their address, license status, and contact data.

As of today, there are more than 400 DMV traffic schools in California alone. Around half provide classroom instructions, and the other half operate exclusively online.

Unfortunately, the DMV says nothing about their schedule, duration, or cost, so you have to contact each school for more information. On top of that, the website doesn’t display customer reviews, meaning you must do your own research.

What to Look for in a Traffic School

When choosing a traffic school, look for the following:

• DMV Approval: Your traffic school MUST be DMV-licensed or it won’t be accepted by the courts.
• Course Format: Decide between online or in-person classes based on your learning preference and schedule flexibility.
• Cost: Compare tuition fees, keeping in mind that the cheapest option may not always offer the best value. (Looking for hidden fees too – this is common!)
• Course Duration: Understand the time commitment required. Traffic school in California is 8 hours but you can complete it less than 3 hours online.
• User Reviews: Research feedback from previous students to assess the school’s reputation and course quality.
• Customer Support: Look for schools that offer reliable assistance to address any questions or technical issues during the course. (Our chat support is 24/7.)
• Language Options: If needed, check if the school provides instruction in your preferred language. (For example, we offer our course in English, Spanish and Chinese.)
• Completion Reporting: Confirm that the school promptly submits your completion certificate to the DMV and court to avoid delays. (At Best Online Traffic School, we submit your certificate to the DMV and court within 24 hours.)
• Additional Features: Some schools offer extras like mobile compatibility, audio narration, or engaging content to enhance the learning experience.

How Does a DMV Traffic School Work?

In California, you’ll get a courtesy notice by mail shortly after you receive a citation, or traffic ticket. The notice will mention whether or not you can attend traffic school to mask one point on your record. Here’s what happens next:

Step 1: Make sure you meet traffic school eligibility criteria, including:

• Hold a valid non-commercial driver’s license.
• Haven’t attended traffic school over the past 18 months.
• Got a ticket for a moving violation (classified as an infraction offense, not a misdemeanor).
• The ticket is related to a personal vehicle.

These courses are only available to drivers charged with minor offenses, such as failure to obey traffic signals. Also, repeat offenders may not qualify.

Step 2: Plead guilty to your ticket and pay the court fine and fees, including a traffic school administrative fee.

Step 3: Enroll in a DMV-approved program that fits your schedule.

Step 4: Take the course. All courses are different, but our online course consists of 12 modules, each ending with a four-question quiz meant to test your knowledge. Most of our students complete the course within three hours.