Traffic School Information
Basic Driver Improvement Courses
NO PAPER CERTIFICATES ACCEPTED AT DRIVER LICENSE OFFICES
Convenient on-line reporting lets traffic schools automatically report
course completions to DHSMV so the Driver License offices can view students
who successfully complete Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE),
Basic Driver Improvement (BDI, TCAC, Red Light), and Advanced Driver
Improvement (ADI).
Reasons for Attending Basic Driver Improvement
You must complete a basic driver improvement course (Traffic Collision
Avoidance Course) if you want to retain your driver license in the following
circumstance:
- You were a driver in a crash and are found at fault and
- someone was transported to the hospital or
- you had two crashes in a two-year period, which resulted in
property damage greater than $500.
- Passed a stopped school bus
- Highway Racing
- Highway Racing - Spectator
- Reckless Driving
- Running a red light
If you receive a ticket for a non-criminal moving violation, and you
do not hold a commercial driver license, you may elect to attend a basic
driver improvement course in lieu of points on your driving record.
In some cases, you may choose to attend a basic driver improvement course
to receive insurance discounts. This discount is solely at the discretion of
your insurance company.
Electing to Attend Traffic School
Drivers with a Class A, B, or C license may not make an election under
this subsection.
If, as a result of a moving violation, you elect to attend and complete
a basic driver improvement course, you will receive the following benefits:
- Your insurance rates cannot go up and your policy cannot be
cancelled because of this violation, unless this involved a crash where
you were at fault.
- Points may not be added to your driver license record, adjudication
of guilt is withheld, and safe driver status is maintained if applicable.
You may not make an election under this subsection if you have made this
election in the preceding 12 months. A person may make no more than five
elections in a 10-year period.
Within 30 days from the date you received the traffic citation and prior
to attending class, you must:
- inform the Clerk of Court in the county where you received the
citation that you want to go to traffic school, and
- pay an election fee to the Clerk of Court in the county where you
received the citation.
You may contact the traffic school of your choice to register for class.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles must approve the
course. Traffic schools are listed in your local telephone directory under
"driving instruction" or "traffic schools."
Approved course providers are also listed below. To locate an approved
on-line basic driver improvement course, refer to your local telephone
directory, or contact the course providers listed below.
A full list of your options for satisfying your traffic citation is on the
back of the citation. You are required to choose one of the three options
within 30 days of receiving the citation.
Points
If you choose to pay the civil penalty or are adjudicated guilty by a judge,
your driver record will be assessed as follows:
| Moving Violations |
3 points |
| Speeding 15 m.p.h. or less over posted speed |
3 points |
| Speeding more than 15 m.p.h. over posted speeds |
4 points |
| Passing stopped school bus |
4 points |
| Moving violation (non-speeding) resulting in an crash |
4 points |
| Unlawful speed resulting in a crash |
6 points |
| Reckless driving (criminal traffic violation) |
4 points |
| Leaving scene of crash with damage |
6 points |
| Littering |
3 points |
| Violation of child restraint laws |
3 points |
If you accumulate:
- 12 points in 12 months, your license will be suspended for 30 days;
- 18 points within 18 months results in a 3 month suspension;
- 24 points within 36 months results in a 12 month suspension.
Drivers 15-17 Years Old
If you are driving with a Florida learner's license, you must hold
it for at least 12 months without a traffic conviction before you may
apply for a Florida Class E license. You may avoid conviction by electing
to attend and completing a basic driver improvement course approved by
the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
If you are driving with a Florida learner's license or a Florida Class
E license and you receive 6 points, you are restricted to driving for
business purposes only for 12 months or until you reach the age of 18.
Restriction time is increased if additional points are accumulated. You may
avoid conviction by electing to attend and completing a basic driver
improvement course approved by the Florida Department of Highway Safety
and Motor Vehicles.
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