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Defensive driving requirements by state

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State Cert Guide

Last checked Nov 13, 2026

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Verified states

Verified so far: 25 of 51 states

Defensive driving: rules by state
StateWhat the state saysLast checked
ArizonaArizona law says the court drops your ticket if you finish a class you may take, unless you have a commercial driver license. With one, the court enters a judgment and the ticket goes on your driving record. You can use the class once every twelve months. A crash that kills or seriously hurts someone is left out. For criminal speeding, the court may say yes or no.
CaliforniaIt depends on your ticket and your court. With a valid license, a court clerk can let you take an 8-hour traffic violator school for a rules-of-the-road or equipment ticket that goes on your driving record. Some tickets are left out, such as speeding more than 25 miles over the limit. A judge can also order it, case by case. Ask the court before you pay for a course.
FloridaYes, if you hold no commercial license or permit, weren't in a commercial vehicle, and haven't used this option in the last 12 months. You can use it no more than eight times in your life. Some tickets are left out, such as speeding 30 miles per hour or more over the limit. Check yours first. Florida lets you take a driver improvement course the state has approved, instead of going to court.
IdahoIf you have an Idaho license, an approved defensive driving course can take 3 points off your point total. You can lower your total only once in 3 years, by a course or a city class. A course does not remove the conviction from your record. We haven't confirmed whether a court dismisses a ticket for a course, so ask your court.
IndianaThe BMV says finishing a driver safety program does not remove a citation from your driver history. Any Indiana driver can take one. A BMV-approved course earns a 4 point credit, once every three years. Other providers earn none.
KentuckyIn Kentucky, State Traffic School referrals must come from the Kentucky District or Federal court where the violation occurred. Only minor violations qualify, and a driver can complete the school only once every 12 months. A referral is a court order, and not attending will suspend driving privileges.
MaineMaine's driver's license manual says that completing the Maine Driving Dynamics Course, or another approved driver improvement course, deducts three points from your point total. Points come off only once in any twelve-month period. Insurance follows its own rule for drivers 55 and older. We haven't confirmed whether a Maine court dismisses a ticket for a course.
MarylandMaryland's MVA says points are not removed upon request. Its Driver Improvement Program is a 4 to 8 hour class. You may be assigned to it by a judge, at 5 to 7 points, or after a conviction or probation before judgment for a moving violation on a provisional license. We haven't confirmed whether a court dismisses a ticket for a course or whether an insurer discounts one.
MichiganIf the Secretary of State has notified you that you are eligible, passing a Basic Driver Improvement Course with an approved sponsor within 60 days of that notice keeps the ticket's points off your Michigan record and the ticket out of your insurer's view. You can avoid points this way only once. We haven't confirmed which Michigan courts run their own course that cancels a ticket.
MissouriIn Missouri, a court can order a driver-improvement program in lieu of points for certain violations, once in any thirty-six months. Finish it within sixty days of being convicted. The court must verify it. It excludes commercial-vehicle violations and anyone who has or must get a commercial driver's license. We haven't confirmed whether a court dismisses a ticket or an insurer gives a discount.
NebraskaIf you have fewer than twelve points on your Nebraska record, you may voluntarily take an approved driver improvement course for up to two points off once in five years, as long as you finish before the offense that would put you at twelve. A course you were required to take earns nothing. We haven't confirmed whether an insurer discounts the course or a court dismisses a ticket for it.
NevadaIf you have 3 to 11 demerit points on your Nevada record, you may be eligible to remove 3 of them by completing an approved traffic safety course, unless the course was part of a plea bargain with the court. We haven't confirmed whether an insurer discounts the course or a court dismisses a ticket for it.
New JerseyA defensive driving course is voluntary in New Jersey, and it can take two points off your record. You get the credit only if you have points when you finish, and only once every 5 years. It has to be a State-approved New Jersey course, and the MVC lists approved online providers. The MVC page we read doesn't cover dismissing a ticket in court. Ask your court about that.
North CarolinaYou may ask to attend a driver improvement clinic when you reach four points on the eight-point scale or seven on the 12-point scale. Finishing it takes three points off your record. You can attend a clinic once every five years. We haven't confirmed whether a court dismisses a ticket for a clinic, or whether you can take one online, so ask your court.
North DakotaNorth Dakota drivers are eligible to take a defensive driving course to reduce their total points by 3, once every 12 months. During a points suspension, points come off only after it ends. A course can also be taken in lieu of points for some violations with 5 or fewer points. We haven't confirmed whether a court dismisses a ticket for a course, so ask your court.
OhioIf you have at least two points but fewer than 12 on your Ohio record, you may take an approved remedial driving course and apply for a two-point credit. A course a judge orders earns no credit. We haven't confirmed whether an insurer discounts the course or a court dismisses a ticket for it, so ask them before you enroll.
OklahomaService Oklahoma says two points are deducted from your driving record when you successfully finish an approved Driver Improvement or Defensive Driving Course. That happens one time in a 24 month period. An employer's Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention Course does not count.
OregonIf the principal operator of the car is 55 or older and completes a state-approved course, Oregon law requires an insurer to reduce premiums, provided no driver under 25 regularly uses the car and it is not classified as a business vehicle. We haven't confirmed whether a course takes points off your record or a court dismisses a ticket for it.
PennsylvaniaPennsylvania's Driver Improvement School is only for drivers PennDOT requires to attend for six or more points or excessive speeding. The mature driver course can earn at least a 5% car insurance discount, but only on a policy where every named insured is 55 or older and has finished an approved course. We haven't confirmed whether a court dismisses a ticket for either course.
South CarolinaIf you have points, South Carolina law takes four off once you prove to the Department of Motor Vehicles that you finished the National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Course or its equivalent. The course has to come after the points were assessed. Points can be reduced one time in any three-year period.
TennesseeIf you were convicted of speeding, you may be eligible to remove points from your Tennessee driving record by taking an approved Driver Education Course within 90 days of the conviction. If a court ordered the course, ask the court whether it accepts the one you choose. We haven't confirmed whether an insurer discounts the course or a court dismisses a ticket for it.
TexasGenerally yes, if you want to dismiss a ticket or get an insurance discount. That's what TDLR, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, says. For a ticket, the Texas court system must first tell you that you're eligible. So call your court before you pay. You still pay the fines and fees on the ticket.
UtahYou can remove 50 points from your Utah driving record once in a three year period by attending an approved defensive driving course. Each government and court jurisdiction approves its own courses, so ask the court that handled your ticket. A separate court program, Deferred Traffic Prosecution, can keep points off your record. We haven't confirmed whether an insurer discounts a course.
VirginiaIn Virginia, a court can send you to a driver improvement clinic after it finds you guilty. With a valid license to drive in Virginia, you can also apply to go on your own. One clinic can cut up to five demerit points or lower your premium, not both. A clinic won't get a conviction reduced or dismissed if you drove a commercial vehicle or hold a commercial license. Ask the court about your ticket.
WisconsinFinishing a department-approved Wisconsin traffic safety course can take up to three demerit points off your driving record, but only once every three years. You have 30 days after you finish to tell the department you want them taken off. We haven't confirmed whether a court dismisses a ticket for the course.

Coverage by state

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Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming

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