Can I take California Traffic School if I hold a Commercial Driver License?

You may be eligible if the ticket was issued on or after January 1, 2013, you were not driving a commercial vehicle, and your court granted a TVS referral. The conviction will not be confidential, but it will not count for negligent operator points under Section 12810.5.

I already paid the court fee to attend traffic school. Why do I have to pay for the course?

The court fee is separate from school tuition. All traffic schools charge a course fee in addition to the court’s administrative fee.

What if I have a traffic safety question?

A Traffic Violator School instructor is available Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM Pacific Time. Contact support by Live Chat, email, or phone.

Overview
FAQs

Keep Your Traffic Ticket Confidential. Your Insurance Company Won't See It!

Complete Your Entire Course Online on Any Device - Available on Desktop, Mobile Phone, or Tablet!
Our Final Exam is Open Book. You Can Look Back at the Course as You Take It.
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What is California Traffic School?

California Traffic School is an 8-hour DMV-licensed program that allows eligible drivers to keep a traffic ticket off their record and prevent increases in their insurance rate. Safe2Drive is licensed statewide (License #E1854) and reports your completion directly to the court. The program is regulated by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and is available to both California and non-resident drivers.

You can complete traffic school in two ways: in a classroom or online. Classroom courses are held in-person and usually last one full day or two four-hour sessions. Online courses let you work at your own pace from any device with internet access. While the course is timed at 8 hours, online students may spend more or less time depending on their pace. When you complete the course, Safe2Drive awards you a certificate and electronically submits your completion to the court. Once your court reviews and accepts the completion, the DMV will mask the ticket on your driving record.

The topics covered in the course are regulated by the DMV. They include:

Safe Driving Strategies
Driving Behaviors
Driving Conditions
Turns, Passing, Intersections, Lanes
Protecting Yourself While Driving
Adult and Child Safety Equipment
Impaired Driving
Distracted Driving
City, Rural, Suburban, Expressway Driving
Truck, Motorcycle, and Bicycle Awareness

How Does the California Traffic School Course Online Work?

Step 1: Register

Registration is quick and easy! Simply select the court where you received your ticket, create a username and password, and fill out your contact information. That's it! You're ready to get started.

Step 2: Complete the Course

There are no lesson timers in our California Traffic School course, so you can complete it at your own pace. You can even complete it the same day you start the course!

Each lesson contains videos, reading material, animations and games. You'll review California traffic laws and learn defensive driving techniques that will help keep you safe on the road.

There's a short quiz after each lesson. You must pass the quiz to proceed to the next lesson. Most people pass the lesson quizzes on their first attempt, but don't worry--you can retake the lesson quizzes as many times as you need to pass at no additional cost.

Step 3: Pass the Final Exam

At the end of the course, you will take an online multiple-choice final exam. The exam is open book, meaning you can look back at the course as you take it.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles allows students two attempts to pass the final exam. Most students pass the exam on their first attempt. Safe2Drive does not charge any additional fees to take the final exam a second time. If you happen to fail the final exam twice, the California DMV requires you to start the course over from the beginning. Safe2Drive will not issue refunds for students who fail the final exam twice. You may also enroll in another Traffic Violator School course if you choose to do so rather than starting our course over from the beginning.

When you pass the final exam, we instantly process your completion to your court for you for free. Once your court has received and reviewed your completion, they will notify the DMV. The DMV will then mask (hide) the points on your driving record. No one, including insurance companies, will see your ticket. Remember to check with your court 7-10 business days after you complete the course to make sure they have processed your completion!

We will also email your Receipt of Completion to you for your records. You can also print a copy from your account.

Am I Eligible to Take California Traffic School?

You must meet certain requirements to be eligible to take California Traffic School to mask a ticket.

You must have a valid Class C driver license.
You must have been ticketed for a moving (driving) violation.
You must have not taken traffic school for a ticket you got in the last 18 months (from citation date).
You must have paid all fees and bail to your court.

You can read more about the eligibility requirements by clicking here.

What is the Difference Between Traffic School and Traffic Violator School?

In short: nothing. Traffic School and Traffic Violator School are the same thing. The California DMV uses Traffic Violator School on its web site. Courts, judges, and most drivers use the term Traffic School. The terms both refer to the same thing: an 8-hour course regulated by the California DMV.

Why Safe2Drive?

At Safe2Drive, we put our customers above everything else. We pride ourselves on excellent customer service and top-notch courses. We're constantly updating our courses to make sure they have the most up-to-date information and use the best technology available.

Best of all, our courses are easy to complete and extremely convenient. Skip the hassle of the classroom and take your course online from the comfort of your own home (or on the go!).

Accepted in all counties.

So what are you waiting for? Get started today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between Traffic School and Traffic Violator School?

Traffic Violator School (TVS) is the official term used by the DMV. Most drivers call it traffic school. They refer to the same program.

Q: How does the California Traffic School course work?

Complete short lessons and an online final exam. After you pass, Safe2Drive reports your completion electronically to the court.

Q: Must I finish California traffic school in one sitting?

No. You can log in and out as needed. Your progress is saved each time.

Q: How long does it take to complete the California Traffic School course?

The course is timed to meet the State's 8-hour requirement. Many students complete it in one day, but you can take breaks and finish over multiple sessions.

Q: What happens if I fail a lesson quiz?

You may review the material and retake a lesson quiz as many times as needed to pass.

Q: Can I take the final exam online?

Yes. The online exam has 25 multiple-choice questions and is open book.

Q: What happens if I do not pass the final exam?

The DMV allows you two attempts at the final exam. If you do not pass after two tries, you must restart the course per the DMV's rules.

California Traffic Violator School

General Note

We have made every attempt to answer the most commonly asked questions about the California Traffic Violator course. Please call or email us if your question is not here.

Questions

What is the California Traffic Violator Course?

California Traffic School is an 8-hour course that allows drivers to mask a traffic ticket. It is regulated by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

How do I know my county or court will accept my completion of Safe2Drive's California Traffic Violator course?

Our course is licensed by the California Department of Motor Vehicles. A certificate of completion from Safe2Drive will be accepted by all courts and counties in California.

Click here if you got a ticket on a military base, in a national park, or on federal land.

Can I take a California Traffic School course if I hold a Commercial Driver License?

You may be eligible to take a Traffic Violator course if you hold a Commercial driver license so long as:

You received the ticket on or after January 1, 2013
You were not driving a commercial vehicle when you received the ticket
You have received a referral from your court to attend Traffic Violator School

***Note - The court may not order that the record of conviction be kept confidential. However, the conviction shall not be added to a violation point count for purposes of determining whether a driver is presumed to be a negligent operator under Section 12810.5.

What is the difference between Traffic School and Traffic Violator School?

Technically, the “legal” term for the course is Traffic Violator School (TVS), but it is commonly called Traffic School by the public since this is what it was called prior to the DMV taking over regulation of the course.

How many times can I go to Traffic School in California?

You may attend Traffic School once every 18 months for an eligible ticket. If you’ve taken Traffic School in the past 18 months, you will not be eligible again until that period has passed.

Will my insurance go up if I take Traffic School?

No. When you complete Traffic School, the DMV masks your ticket. This means your violation will not appear on the record your insurance company sees, preventing premium increases related to that ticket.

What kinds of tickets are eligible for Traffic School?

Most minor moving violations qualify for Traffic School, such as speeding tickets (within certain limits), stop sign or red light violations, and unsafe lane changes. More serious offenses and tickets received while driving a commercial vehicle are not eligible.

How does the California Traffic School course work?

Our course consists of short lessons and a final exam. The lessons are made up of reading material, videos, animations, and interactive exercises. The final exam consists of multiple-choice questions.

We will instantly process your completion to the court electronically after you pass the final exam. We will also email your Receipt of Completion to you for your records. You can also print a copy from your account. Once the court has received and reviewed your completion, they will notify the DMV.

The California DMV will then mask (hide) the points on your driving record. No one, including the insurance companies, will see your ticket.

Can I take Traffic School on my phone or tablet?

Yes. Safe2Drive’s California Traffic School is 100% online and mobile-friendly. You can log in from your computer, tablet, or smartphone and complete lessons at your own pace. Your progress is saved each time you log out, so you can switch devices at any time.

Must I finish California Traffic School in one sitting?

No, you can come and go as often as you like. Just use your username and password to login, and we'll take you right back to where you last left off.

How long does it take to complete the California Traffic School course?

The course contains 8 hours of content and will meet your requirement to complete an 8-hour course. Our course does not contain lesson timers, so you can complete it at your own pace. You can even complete it the same day you start if you want!

How long do I have to finish California Traffic School?

Your court will set a deadline to complete Traffic School, usually within 60 to 90 days from the date of your citation or court approval. With Safe2Drive, you can log in and out anytime until you meet your court’s deadline. Safe2Drive's courses do not expire.

What happens if I fail a lesson quiz?

You may retake a lesson quiz as many times as necessary to pass.

Can I take the final exam online?

Yes, you can take the exam online. Our online exam consists of 25 multiple-choice questions and is open book, meaning you can look back at the course as you take it.

What happens if I do not pass the final exam?

The California Department of Motor Vehicles allows students two attempts to pass the final exam. However most students pass the exam the first time. The final exam is “open book,” allowing you to review any material in the course before answering a question.

Safe2Drive does not charge any additional fees to take the final exam a second time. If you happen to fail the final exam twice, the California DMV requires you to start the course over from the beginning. Safe2Drive will not issue refunds for students who fail the final exam twice. You may also enroll in another Traffic Violator School course if you choose to do so rather than starting our course over from the beginning.

How will the court know I completed California Traffic School?

We will instantly process your completion to the court when you pass the final exam. We will also email your Receipt of Completion to you for your records. You can also print a copy from your account. Once the court has received and reviewed your completion, they will notify the DMV. The DMV will then mask (hide) the points on your driving record. No one, including the insurance companies, will see your ticket.

We highly recommend that you follow up with your court 7-10 business days after we have processed your completion to ensure that the court has processed it on their end.

Click here if you got a ticket on a military base, in a national park, or on federal land.

I have already paid the court fees to attend Traffic School. Why do I have to pay for this course?

Each court charges an additional fee to allow you to attend a Traffic School or home study program. This is separate from any of our charges. If you do not pay this fee to the court, then the court will not accept your completion from us. All Traffic Schools including classroom, home study or online courses will charge separate additional course fees.

Is Safe2Drive a good provider for California Traffic School?

Yes. Safe2Drive is licensed by the California DMV (License #E1854) and trusted by thousands of drivers statewide. Students consistently rate the course highly for ease-of-use, affordability, and customer support.

What do I do if I have a question about traffic safety?

A California Traffic Violator School instructor is available Monday –Friday from 8AM until 5PM PST to answer and assist with any concerns or questions you may have regarding traffic safety. You may Live Chat, email or call our Customer Care Support Team, and you will be transferred to the first available TVS Instructor. If you have a question after hours, our TVS Instructor will get back to you the following business day.