Texas Defensive Driving Course FAQs

Drivers that are looking to dismiss an eligible traffic ticket or lower their insurance premium should take this course. The benefits of this course apply only to non-commercial Texas driver license or permit holders.

Drivers who have dismissed a traffic ticket within the past 12 months are not eligible for ticket dismissal.

Yes. Our online defensive driving course is accepted by all Texas county courts and approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). Our course approval for American Safety Council can be verified on the TDLR website. SafeMotorist.com is owned and operated by American Safety Council.

To satisfy general requirements for ticket dismissal in the state of Texas, you must:

• Possess a valid, non-commercial Texas driver license or permit
• Admit guilt or sign a statement that you do not contest the citation
• Not have dismissed a ticket in the past 12 months
• Not have received a speeding citation for 25 mph or more over the posted speed limit

To dismiss your ticket, you will need to complete a defensive driving course and provide a copy of your Texas driving record to the court. If you are unsure whether you qualify for ticket dismissal, check with the county where you received your ticket.

If you have successfully completed the Texas Defensive Driving course, you may be eligible for a discount on your auto insurance for three years. The steps for redeeming your discount and the amount you will save will vary depending on your insurance company.

Many drivers can save up to 10% on the liability portion of their insurance by submitting their defensive driving certificate to their insurer. You can also retake the Defensive Driving course every three years to renew your insurance discount.

For specific instructions on how to redeem your insurance discount, please contact your insurance provider.

To get a discount on your insurance, you will need to send your insurance company a copy of your defensive driving course certificate. You should contact your insurance provider to find out how to submit your certificate. Your provider can also tell you the exact amount of your discount.

You could save up to 10% on your auto insurance by completing our state-approved defensive driving course. Your insurance company will determine the exact percentage discount that will be applied to the liability portion of your insurance bill. To learn the exact amount you will save, visit your insurance provider's website or contact your insurance agent.

Before registering for the Defensive Driving course, check with the court in the county where you received your traffic ticket to confirm that it is eligible for dismissal.

Once you have confirmed your ticket is eligible for dismissal, follow these easy steps:

1. Register for the Texas Defensive Driving course.
2. Complete the Texas Defensive Driving course within 90 days of registration.
3. Order your Type 3A certified Driving Record. All Texas courts require you to present your driving record alongside your defensive driving course certificate for ticket dismissal.
4. Provide your course certificate and driving record to the county court.
5. Check your record in about 30 days to confirm that your ticket was dismissed.

You can complete the Defensive Driving course once every 12 months for ticket dismissal.

You can order your Type 3A Texas driving record online. Your certified record will be delivered to you via email within one hour.

Type 3A driving records contain your driving history, including infractions that have been settled by the court during the past three years, crashes and violations, driving restrictions and any other driving-related information. Points dismissed by traffic school will not be visible.

It will take you at least six hours to complete the course. The state requires that the defensive driving course be at least six hours long, including breaks. Our course includes five hours of instruction and one hour of mandatory break periods.

No, our course allows you to work at your own pace. You may log on and off as needed without losing your place.

You must complete the defensive driving course within 90 days of registration.

Your official certificate will be available for free download seven days after you complete the course. If you would like to expedite your certificate delivery for an additional fee, we offer instant certificate download as well as rush processing and overnight shipping of a print certificate. You can select expedited delivery options when you sign up for the course or immediately after you complete it.

The Texas Defensive Driving course is divided into four learning modules:

1. Traffic Crashes
2. Psychological Factors
3. Crash Dynamics
4. The Point System and Licensing Actions

No, the course does not have a final exam. It includes four short, multiple-choice quizzes. These quizzes require you to score at least 70%, and you have three attempts to pass. If you do not pass a quiz after three tries, you will be required to re-register for the course and start over.

If you would like to have audio narration for the course slides, we offer an upgrade for $4.95. You can add on the narration option at any time during the course.

Yes. You can request an emailed copy of your driving record as an add-on when you register for the Defensive Driving course. You can also order your driving record on its own at any time. No course purchase is required.

Yes. Upon registration, you will be prompted to answer ten personal security questions. These questions will appear throughout the course, and you will have 45 seconds to answer each one correctly.

If you answer four identity validation questions incorrectly, you will be locked out of the course. To resume your training, click the Live Chat link that appears on your screen to confirm your identity with a customer support representative.

Our customer support team is here to help you 24/7. Contact us at any time for assistance.

No. All you need is a computer or device with internet access. If you can read this site, you can complete the course. You can even work on the course from most smartphones and tablets!