The California DMV maintains an official list of traffic schools approved to offer online courses
California does not publish a single master list of approved online traffic schools on the DMV website. Instead, the Traffic Violator School Program is overseen by individual courts, and each court maintains its own roster of schools it accepts. This means the schools available to you depend on which court has jurisdiction over your ticket — typically the court in the county where you received the citation.
To find approved schools for your specific case, you contact the court that issued your ticket, not the DMV. The court clerk can tell you which online schools they recognize and whether you are even permitted to take traffic school for your violation. Some violations — like driving with a suspended license or causing an accident — disqualify you from traffic school regardless of which school you choose.
The DMV's role is limited to setting the curriculum standards that schools must follow. The actual approval and acceptance of individual schools happens at the court level, which is why the same school may be approved in one county but not accepted by another.
Key Takeaways
- Each California court maintains its own list of approved traffic schools, so you must contact the court that issued your ticket to see which online options they accept.
- The DMV sets the course content requirements but does not approve or maintain a statewide list of schools.
- Some traffic violations disqualify you from traffic school entirely, and only the court can tell you whether your violation is may be able to access.
- You can usually find your court's approved school list on the court's website or by calling the traffic division directly.
How to find the court that issued your ticket
The court with jurisdiction is almost always the court in the county where you received the citation. If your ticket shows a court name and location, that is your court. If you are unsure, the citation itself lists the court information, or you can search by county on the California Courts website.
Once you know the court, visit its official website and look for a traffic or traffic school section. Most county courts post their approved school list online. If the list is not on the website, call the traffic division of that court directly — the phone number is usually on your citation or on the court's website.
What the court will tell you about your may be able to access
When you contact the court, ask two things: whether your violation allows traffic school, and which online schools the court accepts. Not all violations may have access to. California law prohibits traffic school for violations involving alcohol or drugs, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, accidents, or speeding more than 25 miles per hour over the limit in some cases.
The court clerk can answer both questions in one call. If your violation is ineligible, traffic school is not an option regardless of which school you choose. If you are may be able to access, the clerk will give you the list of approved schools or direct you to where that list is posted.
What to expect from an approved online course
All California traffic schools — online or in-person — must cover the same curriculum set by the DMV. The course covers traffic safety, vehicle code rules, and defensive driving. Online courses typically take four to eight hours to complete, depending on the school and whether you can pause and resume.
Once you finish the course, the school sends a Certificate of Completion directly to the court. You do not submit it yourself. The court then reports the completion to the DMV, and the violation is handled according to the court's agreement with you — usually meaning the fine is reduced or the point is not added to your record.
The cost of online traffic school in California ranges widely, but most schools charge between $20 and $50 for the course itself. Some courts may have additional fees, so ask the court clerk about the total cost before you enroll.
Why courts maintain separate lists instead of a statewide registry
California's court system is decentralized, meaning each county court operates independently. This structure allows courts to vet schools based on local needs and to remove schools that do not meet standards. A school that is approved in Los Angeles County might not be approved in Kern County if that court has had problems with the school's quality or compliance.
This also means courts can update their lists without waiting for state approval. If a school fails to send certificates on time or provides poor instruction, a court can remove it from the approved list when ready. The downside for you is that you have to do a small amount of legwork to find which schools your specific court accepts.
How to verify a school is actually approved by your court
Before you pay for an online traffic school course, confirm directly with the court that the school is on their approved list. Many schools advertise heavily online and claim to be "DMV approved" or "California approved," but this does not mean your court accepts them. A school may be approved in some counties and not others.
Call the court's traffic division and give them the school's name. The clerk will tell you whether that specific school is on their roster. Do this before you enroll and pay. If a school is not on the court's list, completing the course will not satisfy your traffic school requirement, and you will have wasted the money.
What happens after you complete an approved course
Once the school sends your Certificate of Completion to the court, the court processes it according to your case. In most cases, the court reduces your fine or removes the point from your driving record. Some courts may dismiss the ticket entirely if traffic school was part of your original agreement.
You do not need to do anything after the school submits the certificate. The court and DMV handle the rest. If you do not hear from the court within a few weeks, you can call the traffic division to confirm they received the certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take traffic school online if I got a ticket in a different county than where I live?
Yes. You must take the course approved by the court that issued the ticket, not the court in your home county. Contact the court where you received the citation to find their approved online schools.
What if the court's website does not list approved schools?
Call the traffic division of the court directly. The phone number is on your citation or on the court's website. The clerk can tell you which schools are approved and may email or mail you the list.
Do I have to take the course right away, or can I wait?
Check your citation for the important date. Most courts give you 30 to 90 days to complete traffic school, but this varies. If you miss the important date, you may lose the option to take traffic school and be required to pay the full fine instead.
What if I start a course and realize the school is not on my court's approved list?
Stop when ready and contact the court before you finish. Completing an unapproved course will not satisfy your requirement. The court can tell you which schools are approved so you can switch before you waste more money.
Does taking traffic school keep the point off my driving record?
Usually yes, but it depends on your court's agreement with you. When you were cited, you may have been told whether traffic school would remove the point or just reduce the fine. Call the court to confirm what completing traffic school will do in your case.