What is the Florida Online Basic Driver Improvement Course?

Safe2Drive's online Basic Driver Improvement course is a 4-hour program that will serve as a refresher for Florida drivers on Florida traffic laws and safe-driving techniques. It can be taken voluntarily or to fulfill a DHSMV requirement.

Why should I take a Florida Basic Driver Improvement Course?

There are multiple reasons drivers choose to take a Florida BDI course. You can take this course for any of the following reasons:

1. Keep points off your driving record after getting a traffic ticket for a noncriminal moving violation (if you take BDI voluntarily).
2. Receive a 9% reduction in the cost of your civil penalty if you received a noncriminal moving violation that does not require a mandatory court appearance and elect to take a Basic Driver Improvement course.
3. Satisfy a court order (For example, a judge has ordered you to take driver improvement).
4. Fulfill a course requirement to retain your license if the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles sent you a notice to take BDI for one of the following offenses:
   • Passing a school bus that is stopped
   • Running a red light
   • Reckless driving
   • Racing on the highway (you will be required to take a course whether you were an active participant or a spectator)
   • Being the driver in a car accident in which you are at fault and someone was taken to the hospital, or being at fault for two accidents within 2 years, which caused over $500 of property damage

Am I eligible to take a Florida Basic Driver Improvement course?

If you wish to take a BDI course voluntarily, you must meet the following criteria:

1. You have not elected to take this course within the past 12 months.
2. You do not hold a commercial driver license.
3. You may only elect to take this course a total of 8 times during your lifetime.

How do I get a reduction in the cost of my civil penalty?

If you got a noncriminal moving violation that does not require a mandatory court appearance, you can get a 9% reduction in the cost of your civil penalty by electing to take a Basic Driver Improvement course.

How does the Florida Basic Driver Improvement Course work?

The first step is to register. You will create a username and password, which allows you to log in to your account as often as you like. You will also provide basic information about yourself. Then, you will need to complete the course and pass the exam. If you are taking this course because you elected to after receiving a ticket for a noncriminal moving violation, or you are fulfilling a court order, you will need to print your receipt of completion at the end of the course and take it to your court.

If you are taking this course because you received notice from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) to do so, Safe2Drive will electronically report your course completion information to the DHSMV within three business days.

Please Note: It takes approximately 48 hours for your course completion to be annotated on your record once we report it.

We suggest that you follow up with the DHSMV within 7-10 business days after completing to ensure that they have processed everything on their end.

How long is the Florida Basic Driver Improvement course?

The course is 4 hours long and is timed. We are required by the State of Florida to ensure you spend at least four hours in the course. That means we will measure your progress with timers. Each lesson has a specific time associated with it. You must spend at least this much time in the lesson.

We believe the material will be sufficiently engaging and challenging to require the full time for each lesson. Some students, however, may finish a lesson before the required time has elapsed. We provide additional instructive exercises and interactive games to help you use up the extra time productively.

How is the course structured?

The course is set up so that you go through it in order from beginning to end. There are nine lessons. Each lesson contains lecture material, videos, animations, and interactive exercises. Take your time, enjoy the interactive features, and learn the material at your own pace. This course also includes a free audio read-along.

At the end of each lesson, there is a short multiple-choice quiz. You must score at least 80% on each quiz to move on to the next lesson. The course is completed entirely online. You may go back and review a prior lesson at any point during your course. At the end of your course, you will take a multiple-choice final exam. Don’t stress: you get unlimited retakes on your exam!

What are personal validation questions?

During registration, you will be asked several questions about things you like and do. Remember the answers to these questions because you will be asked to provide those answers during the course. One question, for example, is "What is your favorite color?"

You will also be asked questions about specific events in the course. For event-related questions, we will add a unique and memorable picture on one of the lesson pages. Then we will ask you to identify the object in the picture during the validation question.

You must answer all validation questions correctly. You have 10 minutes to answer each question, and you are allowed three attempts. If you fail to answer the question correctly after 3 attempts, or the timer hits 10 minutes before you answer, you will need to contact our Customer Care team to regain access to the course.

Is there an audio option?

Yes! The course includes a free audio read-along. Click here to listen to a sample.

How do the quizzes work?

A short multiple-choice quiz is given at the end of each lesson. You can take the quizzes as many times as necessary, but you must score at least 80% or better on each quiz to proceed to the next lesson.

The quizzes serve two purposes. First, they give you a good idea if you’ve absorbed the material. Second, they help you prepare for the final exam. The final exam will contain some questions you see on the quizzes.

How does the final exam work?

A final exam is administered at the end of the course. It consists of 40 multiple-choice questions, and a grade of 80% or better is required to pass. We will make sure you are thoroughly prepared! Take your time going through the material. Take the quizzes methodically. Most people pass the exam the first time. However, you can take the exam as often as necessary without any additional charge.

Again, everyone at Safe2Drive wants to see you succeed. Call or email us any time if you have questions.

When will I get my Florida BDI certificate?

Upon successful completion of your Florida BDI course, you will be awarded a receipt (certificate) of completion. We will email it to you, and you can also print it online. If you are taking a BDI course for election (after receiving a ticket for a noncriminal moving violation), or for a court order, you will need to submit this receipt to your court.

If you are taking a BDI course because you received notice from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) to do so, Safe2Drive will electronically report your completion information to the DHSMV the same day you pass the final exam. Remember to check with the DHSMV 7-10 business days after you complete the course to ensure they have processed your completion.

Please Note: It takes approximately 48 hours for your course completion to be annotated on your record once we report it.

It is a good idea to keep a copy of your receipt of completion for your own records.

Can I take the course on any device?

Yes. Safe2Drive’s Florida Traffic School works on phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops with no software to download.

Is the course in Spanish?

Yes. Safe2Drive offers the Florida BDI course in English and Spanish (Escuela de Tráfico de Florida en Español).

How much does the Florida Basic Driver Improvement course cost?

This course costs $22.95. We also charge a $4 processing fee.