Should you take traffic school or defensive driving?
It depends on your state. In 10 states a course keeps the ticket off your record, and in 8 insurers can't see it at all. In 19 it only takes points off your total, and 12 have no course that helps with a ticket.
What does a course do in each state?
Only 10 states let a course make the ticket go away. Most of the rest take a few points off your total, which helps you avoid a suspension but does nothing for your insurance rate.
The payoff is biggest where insurers can't see the ticket. In California, keeping one speeding ticket away from your insurer saves about $3,501 over three years at the state's average premium.
Traffic school rules by state
| State | What it does | How often | Insurers see it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Dismisses the ticket | Not set | No |
| Alaska | Takes points off your total | Every 12 months | Yes |
| Arizona | Dismisses the ticket | Every 12 months | No |
| Arkansas | No course that helps | ||
| California | Hides the ticket | Every 18 months | No |
| Colorado | No course that helps | ||
| Connecticut | No course that helps | ||
| Delaware | Takes points off your total (3) | Not set | Yes |
| District of Columbia | Keeps the points off | Not set | Yes |
| Florida | Keeps the points off | Every 12 months | Not stated |
| Georgia | Keeps the points off | Every 5 years | Yes |
| Hawaii | No course that helps | ||
| Idaho | Takes points off your total (3) | Every 3 years | Yes |
| Illinois | Deferred, then dismissed | Not set | Not stated |
| Indiana | Takes points off your total (4) | Every 3 years | Yes |
| Iowa | No course that helps | ||
| Kansas | No course that helps | ||
| Kentucky | Keeps the points off | Every 12 months | Not stated |
| Louisiana | Deferred, then dismissed | Every 2 years | No |
| Maine | Takes points off your total (3) | Every 12 months | Yes |
| Maryland | No course that helps | ||
| Massachusetts | No course that helps | ||
| Michigan | Keeps the points off | Once ever | No |
| Minnesota | No course that helps | ||
| Mississippi | Deferred, then dismissed | Every 3 years | No |
| Missouri | Keeps the points off | Every 3 years | Yes |
| Montana | Not confirmed | ||
| Nebraska | Takes points off your total (2) | Every 5 years | Yes |
| Nevada | Takes points off your total (3) | Every 12 months | Yes |
| New Hampshire | Takes points off your total (3) | Every 3 years | Yes |
| New Jersey | Takes points off your total (2) | Every 5 years | Yes |
| New Mexico | Deferred, then dismissed | Not set | Not stated |
| New York | Takes points off your total (4) | Every 18 months | Yes |
| North Carolina | Takes points off your total (3) | Every 5 years | Yes |
| North Dakota | Keeps the points off | Every 12 months | Yes |
| Ohio | Takes points off your total (2) | Every 3 years | Yes |
| Oklahoma | Takes points off your total (2) | Every 2 years | Yes |
| Oregon | No course that helps | ||
| Pennsylvania | Takes points off your total (4) | Not set | Yes |
| Rhode Island | No course that helps | ||
| South Carolina | Takes points off your total (4) | Every 3 years | Yes |
| South Dakota | No course that helps | ||
| Tennessee | Dismisses the ticket | Not set | Not stated |
| Texas | Dismisses the ticket | Every 12 months | No |
| Utah | Takes points off your total (50) | Every 3 years | Yes |
| Vermont | Not confirmed | ||
| Virginia | Takes points off your total (5) | Every 2 years | Yes |
| Washington | Deferred, then dismissed | Every 7 years | No |
| West Virginia | Takes points off your total (3) | Every 12 months | Yes |
| Wisconsin | Takes points off your total (3) | Every 3 years | Yes |
| Wyoming | Not confirmed |
What else do people ask?
Is traffic school worth it?
It is when it keeps the ticket away from your insurer, which happens in 8 states. A typical speeding ticket raises premiums for about three years, so that saving is usually several times the course price. Where a course only takes points off, it mostly helps drivers who are close to a suspension.
Does defensive driving remove a ticket from my record?
Only in 10 states, where the ticket is dismissed, deferred or kept confidential. In 19 states the ticket stays and a few points come off your total.
Can I take traffic school with a CDL?
Usually not. 10 states bar commercial license holders from using a course to clear a ticket, even one in a personal car.
How often can I take traffic school?
Most states allow it once every 12 to 36 months, counted from the last ticket or course. A few allow it once every five years or once in a lifetime.