If you want to go to traffic school in California, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- The ticket was issued for an infraction, not a misdemeanor.
- You pleaded guilty to the traffic violation.
- You hold a valid non-commercial driver’s license.
- You have NOT taken traffic school in the last 18 months.
- You have been cited for a minor moving violation, such as running a stop sign.
- The violation didn’t occur while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Use our quick and handy traffic school eligibility tool to quickly check your eligibility:
Check Your Traffic School Eligibility
Answer a few quick questions to see if you qualify for California traffic school.
Are you willing to plead guilty to the traffic violation?
What is your license status?
Were you driving a commercial vehicle when ticketed?
Have you attended traffic school in the last 18 months?
What type of violation did you receive?
Note: When you receive a traffic ticket, the court will send you a notice. Check this document to see if you’re eligible for traffic school and how much time you have to complete it. If you don’t receive the notice, contact the court to inquire about your eligibility. Do not attend traffic school until the court has approved your request.
Read: How Traffic School Works
What Disqualifies You From Traffic School?
If you meet any of the following criteria, you may not attend traffic school:
- You missed your court date, and a penalty fee was added that you still haven’t paid.
- You were ticketed for a two-point violation, such as reckless driving.
- You were driving a commercial vehicle at the time of the event.
- You have been charged with a traffic misdemeanor or felony.
- You were caught speeding 25+ mph over the limit.
- You were under the influence when you committed the offense.
- You received a ticket for a non-moving violation (e.g., faulty headlights or illegal parking).
- You were driving with a suspended or expired license or with no license at all.
- You have attended traffic school within the past 18 months.
Ultimately, it’s up to the judge to decide whether or not you qualify for traffic school. For example, there are instances where a defendant may plead not guilty, lose the trial, and still be allowed to take traffic school courses. Drivers may request special permission from the court to attend traffic school even if they do not meet all standard requirements.
Traffic school can help you keep a clean driving record, prevent insurance increases, and more!
What Types of Tickets or Offenses Are Eligible for Traffic School in California?
Traffic school is a viable option for most drivers charged with one-point moving violations. These are classified as infractions under California law.
Types of Traffic Tickets That May Qualify for Traffic School
Assuming you meet all the other requirements, you’ll likely be eligible for traffic school for the following traffic tickets:
- Speeding ticket of 1-25 mph over the limit
- Texting while driving
- Red light camera tickets
- Driving too slowly
- Driving against the traffic
- Driving on the sidewalk
- Crossing a solid white line
- Following too closely (tailgating)
- Unsafe lane changes
- Driving into a bike lane
Be aware that if you commit any of these offenses under the influence, you’ll lose your right to attend traffic school.
Types of Tickets That May Not Qualify
Generally, four main categories of traffic offenses don’t qualify for traffic school. These include:
- Misdemeanors
- Felonies
- Non-moving violations (such as parking violations or expired vehicle registration)
- Two-point traffic offenses
Reckless driving and DUIs are typically charged as misdemeanors. In some cases, they may be classified as felonies. They’ll also add two points to your California driving record. This means they make you ineligible for traffic school
Does Traffic School Clear Your Record in California?
The primary benefit of attending traffic school is that the ticket won’t appear on the public version of your driving record. Basically, it will be hidden from auto insurers, potential employers, and other parties.
As a result, your car insurance rates won’t increase after a traffic violation. Plus, you won’t have to worry that a potential employer could see your conviction and refuse to hire you because of it.
Additionally, the ticket received won’t count toward the total points on your DMV driving record, which may help prevent your license from being suspended.
Read: Is Traffic School Worth It?
California Traffic School Timeline: How the Process Works
Understanding traffic school eligibility is only part of the equation. It also helps to see where it fits into the full process. Here’s a step-by-step look at what happens from the moment you get a ticket to when it’s masked from your record:
- Your Citation Is Issued
You receive a ticket for a moving violation (like speeding or running a stop sign). The officer gives you a citation number that will appear on your court records. - You Receive a Courtesy Notice from the Court
Within a few weeks, your county court mails a courtesy notice explaining your options: pay the fine, contest the ticket, or request traffic school. This notice also tells you if you’re eligible for traffic school. - You Opt for Traffic School
If you’re eligible, you must request traffic school before the due date listed on your notice. You can do this either online, by mail, or in person at the court. - You Pay the Required Fees
You’ll pay the full bail/fine amount plus a traffic school administrative fee (usually $52–$75, depending on the county). You’ll also pay a separate fee to the traffic school provider you choose. - You Complete the Course by the Deadline
Once you’re approved, the court assigns a completion due date (often 60–90 days). You must finish the DMV-licensed traffic school before that date to stay eligible. At Best Online Traffic School, most students complete the course in less than three hours. - The Traffic School Files Your Certificate
After you pass, the traffic school automatically electronically sends your completion certificate to the court and DMV. (We do this for free!) - Your Ticket Is Masked
Once the court processes your completion, your conviction is masked, meaning it won’t appear on your public driving record or be visible to insurance companies.
If you sign up for Best Online Traffic School, you can start traffic school for free and pay only when you pass. Plus, we offer unlimited exam retakes at no extra charge.
FAQs About Traffic School Eligibility in California
Still have questions? Here are the answers to some more questions about traffic school eligibility and attending traffic school in California.
Does traffic school reduce ticket cost?
Traffic school doesn’t reduce the fines and fees associated with a traffic ticket. In fact, you have to plead guilty and pay your ticket before starting the course.
However, completing traffic school still helps mitigate the financial impact of a traffic violation. This is because it can keep your insurance rates from rising. It will also prevent employers from seeing the point on your record and not hiring you as a result.
Does traffic school prevent your insurance rates from increasing?
A single speeding ticket can raise your car insurance premiums by around 46%. If you attend traffic school, your insurance rates will remain the same.
How many times can you do traffic school in a year in California?
Under California law, you can take traffic school courses once every 18 months.
Let’s say you go to traffic school after receiving a cell phone ticket.
A year later, you get a new ticket for 10 mph over the speed limit. This offense qualifies for traffic school, but it’s too soon to take the course again. You can either pay the ticket or fight it in court, but you may not attend traffic school to mask that point from your license.
Can I do traffic school for an old ticket?
Generally, no. Most courts will give you 60 to 90 days to complete traffic school after you pay the ticket. You may also be able to get a traffic school extension. But that’s it.
If you were ticketed not too long ago and did not request traffic school, you may ask the judge to reopen your case and give you this option. But if you got a ticket five or six months ago, you’re likely not eligible for traffic school anymore.
Can I do traffic school for a ticket that’s been paid?
Once you have paid your ticket, you may still ask the judge for permission to attend traffic school. This process usually involves going to court and making a special request.
But if you want to do things right, ask the judge for traffic school before paying the fine. After your request is approved, you’ll pay the ticket plus penalty assessment fees, as well as the court administrative fee for traffic school.
Can I go to traffic school for an out-of-state ticket?
If you get an out-of-state ticket, contact the court that issued the citation. The judge may allow you to go to traffic school, but you’ll have to do it in the state where you received the ticket.
Note that traffic school eligibility requirements may vary by state. The same goes for the course structure, duration, and delivery method.
How long is traffic school?
Traditional, in-class traffic school in California is eight hours, but you can complete the course faster if you choose to study online. Many of our students finish in as little as two or three hours, and 99% pass the exam on the first try.
The final exam takes 60 minutes and consists of multiple-choice questions. Here’s how it works.
Am I eligible for traffic school if I hold a commercial driver’s license?
Commercial drivers may attend traffic school in California only if they received a ticket while driving a non-commercial vehicle. So, if you hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and you got ticketed for speeding while driving the family car, you could still go to traffic school.
However, even if you complete traffic school, the conviction will still appear on your DMV record. So, while traffic school may still prevent insurance hikes for your personal policy, your employer will see the violation if you drive commercially.
