Is this course approved by the State of Florida?
Yes. This 4-hour online Basic Driver Improvement course is fully approved by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) for all Florida counties.
How long is the course?
Per State requirements, the course requires four hours to complete. Page timers are used to ensure that you spend the required amount of time in the course. You can log in and out as many times as you need, and we keep track of your progress so you never lose any of your work. You must complete the course within 180 days from your date of registration. After 180 days, your course access will be prohibited.
Is the course all reading?
No, unlike most Florida traffic school courses, ours includes video and interactive animations to keep you interested in the material. The course is written in a clear, simple style that makes it easy to understand for all students, even those for whom English is a second language. Most users comment that they are surprised by how user friendly our driver improvement course is!
Is there a final exam?
No, there is no final exam. At the end of each unit, you will be required to pass a short quiz. You must score 80% or higher in order to go to the next unit. Each attempt has new questions and you will have an opportunity to review the unit material prior to each attempt.
Can the course be taken on a mobile device?
Yes. This course is “mobile friendly,” meaning that it can be taken on nearly any tablet, smartphone, or other type of mobile device that contains an Internet browser, as well as any desktop or laptop computer. The course is compatible with most Microsoft, Apple, and Android operating systems. For laptop or desktop users, we recommend using the latest version of the Mozilla Firefox browser (Mac or PC) or Internet Explorer browser (32-bit, PC only). For users of smartphones, tablets, or other devices, we recommend using the browser that comes installed with your device. The browser should be configured to support javascript and cookies should be enabled.
How do I pay?
To begin the course immediately, you must pay online using a debit or credit card. We also accept debit or credit card payment by fax, phone, or mail. Check or money order sent via mail is also acceptable.
If you choose to pay using any method other than debit or credit card online, we must receive and process your payment before we can give you access to the course.
Why should I take a Florida Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) course?
Basic Driver Improvement, or Florida traffic school, is a 4-hour defensive driving course that a driver can elect (volunteer) to attend after receiving a Florida traffic ticket (moving violation). The benefits of the course are:
No points on driving record – Points are not assessed. A notation is placed on the driving record that adjudication was withheld for the offense.
Reduces fine amount – The fine amount will be reduced by 9% for drivers that elect to take traffic school.
Prevents auto insurance from increasing – Specifically, Florida law states that if a driver completes a BDI course, his or her auto insurance company cannot raise the policy rate, cancel the policy or non-renew it based on the offense unless the driver was found at fault in a crash (§626.9541, F.S.).
Keeps “Safe Driver” notation on driver license – This applies if the driver already had a safe driver notation before receiving the ticket.
Are there any eligibility restrictions?
Yes, if you are a CDL holder or you were cited for speeding more than 30 MPH over the limit, you may not elect to attend traffic school. Also, you may not elect if you have already elected for a previous ticket within the past 12 months, or if you have elected five times within your lifetime. You can click here to determine your eligibility for traffic school attendance.
Do I have to notify the court before taking the course?
Yes, if you wish to go to traffic school for a Florida ticket, you must notify the court. Usually this means sending in the affidavit form that was included with the ticket. Some counties also allow a driver to notify them in person, over the phone, online, or by fax. You should contact the clerk of the court for the county in which you were ticketed to learn their procedures for traffic school election.
Do you offer express shipping?
Yes. During registration and after you complete the course, you will see the available express shipping options. If you are in a hurry, the fastest way to get your certificate is by selecting the electronic delivery option.
Can I get my completion certificate delivered electronically?
Yes. During registration and after you complete the course, you will have the opportunity to pay a small fee for electronic delivery of your completion certificate. You will be able to download your certificate immediately after payment has been received and you have passed the last unit quiz. We recommend this option for anyone who needs to meet a court deadline quickly.
Note: If you select this option, please be advised that you will need to have access to a working printer in order to print your certificate.
How is my completion reported?
Regardless of your reason for attending the course, we will report your completion electronically to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) immediately after you pass the last unit quiz. If you selected the free delivery option for your completion certificate, you will receive a physical copy by mail within seven business days after you complete the course. If you purchased the electronic delivery upgrade, you will be able to download your certificate as a PDF file immediately after you complete the course. We recommend that you keep a copy of your certificate for your records.
If you selected TCAC, Racing on Highway, Reckless Driving, Passing a Stopped School Bus, or Running a Red Light as your reason for attendance, you do not need to do anything further, as your completion will have been reported to the DHSMV electronically. It is still advisable to contact the DHSMV to verify your course requirement has been met and shows in their system.
If you selected Basic Driver Improvement (BDI election) or Court Ordered as your reason for attendance, you might be required to send a copy of your certificate to the clerk of the court for the county in which you were ticketed to receive credit for the course (this reporting is seperate from the electronical reporting to the DHSMV that you company provides). Please refer to the documentation you received from the court, or contact the clerk of the court’s traffic division to determine whether you are required to send a copy of your certificate to the court.
If you selected Insurance Discount as your reason for attendance, you will need to turn your certificate in to your auto insurance provider.
Can you fax my certificate to the court?
If you would like for us to fax your completion certificate to the court, please contact the court first to obtain their permission. Be sure to get the court’s fax number and the name of the person who will receive the fax.
Next, call DTA at 1-800-222-9199 between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM Central Standard Time, Monday thru Friday (excluding holidays). You will need to pay a small fee to have your certificate faxed to the court. Fax orders are taken up to 2:00 PM and we cannot guarantee that the court will receive or acknowledge the fax transmission. It will be your responsibility to make sure the court received the fax from us.
Note: We recommend faxing of your completion certificate only as a last resort. Not all Florida courts will accept a fax. As an alternative to faxing, some courts might permit an extension of your due date if you have waited until the last minute to send in your certificate.
Can I elect Basic Driver Improvement if I have a CDL?
BDI election is explained in §318.14(9), Florida Statutes. Per Florida law, CDL holders may not elect to attend traffic school for a Florida ticket, regardless of the type of vehicle they were driving when they were ticketed. However, Florida law permits a driver to contest his or her ticket in court, and judges will sometimes allow the ticketed driver to attend a BDI course for ticket dismissal. A CDL holder who has been given permission by a court to attend this course should select “Court Ordered” as the reason for attendance.
What is a Traffic Collision Avoidance Course (TCAC)?
Traffic Collision Avoidance Course is another name for the 4-hour Basic Driver Improvement course. Most drivers who fall into this category will have received a letter from DHSMV ordering them to attend a TCAC course because they have been involved in two traffic crashes within a two-year period, a crash involving property damage, or a crash in which injuries occurred.
Failure to attend a TCAC course can result in cancellation of your Florida driver’s license. If you select this reason for attendance when you register for the BDI course, DTA will report your completion to DHSMV after you successfully complete the course. You will not be required to send anything to DHSMV.
TCAC course attendance is different from BDI course elective attendance or court ordered attendance.
What is court ordered BDI attendance?
If you select “Court Ordered” as your reason for BDI course attendance, this means that you contested your Florida traffic ticket in court and the judge gave you permission to attend traffic school for ticket dismissal, or the judge is requiring that you attend a BDI course. Note that Basic Driver Improvement is a 4-hour course, not an 8-hour course.
Who should select “Racing on Highway” as a reason for attending this course?
This option should only be selected if you were cited for this offense and then received a letter from the DHSMV ordering you to attend a 4-hour Basic Driver Improvement course (§322.0261[4], F.S.). However, if you were cited for this offense and you have not yet received a letter, you may elect to attend the course by selecting “Basic Driver Improvement” as your reason for attendance.
Who should select “Reckless Driving” as a reason for attending this course?
This option should only be selected if you were cited for this offense and then received a letter from the DHSMV ordering you to attend a 4-hour Basic Driver Improvement course (§322.0261[4], F.S.). However, if you were cited for this offense and you have not yet received a letter, you may elect to attend the course by selecting “Basic Driver Improvement” as your reason for attendance.
Who should select “Passing a Stopped School Bus” as a reason for attending this course?
This option should only be selected if you were cited for this offense and then received a letter from the DHSMV ordering you to attend a 4-hour Basic Driver Improvement course (§322.0261[4], F.S.). However, if you were cited for this offense and you have not yet received a letter, you may elect to attend the course by selecting “Basic Driver Improvement” as your reason for attendance.
Who should select “Running a Red Light” as a reason for attending this course?
This option should only be selected if you were cited for this offense and then received a letter from the DHSMV ordering you to attend a 4-hour Basic Driver Improvement course (§322.0261[4], F.S.). However, if you were cited for this offense and you have not yet received a letter, you may elect to attend the course by selecting “Basic Driver Improvement” as your reason for attendance.
Can I get an auto insurance discount for attending this course?
Florida law (§627.06501, F.S.) allows an auto insurer to offer a discount to any driver who completes a Basic Driver Improvement course voluntarily (meaning not as the result of a ticket or court order). Not all companies offer this discount, so please contact your auto insurance provider before you select this option to find out if you are eligible. Insurers may grant a discount up to 10% over a 3-year policy period.
Who should select “Business and Industry” as a reason for attending this course?
This option is available if a driver has been ordered by his or her supervisor or safety manager to complete a defensive driving program. DTA’s Program for Driver Improvement course has been used successfully by hundreds of companies and organizations as a means to reduce losses relating to traffic crashes and fines from violations. This course has been research proven effective in government traffic safety studies spanning three decades.
Do you have customer service available?
For fastest service, please call our Florida customer support number: 1-800-222-9199. You can also send an e-mail to info@ticketschool.com. Our office hours are Monday through Friday (excluding holidays), 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Central Standard Time.
What is your refund policy?
To request a refund, you must contact customer support at 1-800-222-9199 between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM CST Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Refund requests must be made within 90 days from the date of registration. If you successfully complete the course or are disqualified from the course for identity validation or quiz failures, you will not be eligible for a refund.