California's online traffic school is run by approved private vendors, not the DMV itself
The California Department of Motor Vehicles does not operate its own traffic school. Instead, the DMV maintains a list of approved traffic school providers that you can take online. When you complete a course through one of these vendors and they report your completion to the DMV, the traffic violation may be dismissed from your record — but only if you meet the court's conditions first.
The process starts with your traffic court, not the DMV. The judge or traffic officer handling your case decides whether you are allowed to take traffic school at all. If the court approves you, you then choose from the DMV's approved list, pay the vendor directly (not the court or DMV), and complete the course on their website. The vendor sends proof of completion back to the court.
This matters because many people contact the DMV expecting to register for traffic school there. You will not find a traffic school enrollment page on the DMV website. Instead, you will find the list of approved vendors, and you contact the vendor of your choice to begin.
Key Takeaways
- Your traffic court must approve you for traffic school before you can take it; the DMV does not make this decision.
- You choose from the DMV's list of approved online providers and pay the vendor directly, not the court or DMV.
- The vendor completes your course and reports it to the court; the court then decides whether to dismiss the violation.
- Completion does not automatically remove the violation from your record — the court must approve the dismissal.
- The DMV's approved vendor list is searchable by course type and is updated regularly as vendors gain or lose approval.
How to find the DMV's approved traffic school vendor list
Go to the California DMV website and search for "approved traffic school providers" or navigate to the Violations and Violations Correction section. The DMV publishes a searchable database of vendors approved to offer traffic school in California. Each vendor listing includes their website, phone number, and the types of violations they can cover (for example, some vendors handle only minor violations, while others cover more serious infractions).
When you search the list, filter by the type of violation you received. Not every vendor is approved for every violation type. You can also filter by course format — most approved vendors offer online courses, but some offer classroom or hybrid options. Once you find a vendor you want to use, visit their website directly to begin the course.
The list changes as vendors gain or lose approval, so if you looked at it months ago, check again before enrolling. A vendor you used before may no longer be approved, or new vendors may have been added.
What you need to do before enrolling with a vendor
Before you pay any vendor, confirm with your traffic court that you are allowed to take traffic school. Call the court listed on your citation or ticket and ask whether traffic school is an option for your violation. The court will tell you yes, no, or sometimes "yes, but only if you pay the fine first." Write down any conditions the court gives you — these matter.
You will also need your citation or ticket number and the date of the violation. Have these ready when you contact a vendor. Some vendors ask for your driver's license number and date of birth as well. Do not enroll with a vendor until the court has confirmed you are allowed to take traffic school; if you complete a course you were not approved for, the vendor's report will not result in a dismissal.
If the court denies you traffic school, you have other options: you can pay the fine, contest the ticket in court, or request traffic school again if your circumstances change. The court's decision is not final in the sense that you cannot ask again, but it is final for that particular ticket unless you go through the formal appeal process.
How the online course works and what it costs
Once you enroll with a vendor, you log into their website and work through the course material at your own pace. Most online traffic school courses take four to eight hours to complete, though the time varies by vendor and violation type. You read material, watch videos, and answer questions as you go. Some vendors let you pause and return later; others require you to finish in one session.
At the end, you take a final test. You usually must pass with a certain score (often 80 percent or higher) to receive a completion certificate. If you fail, most vendors let you retake the test, sometimes for an additional fee.
Vendor prices range widely — typically between $20 and $50 for a basic online course, though some charge more for expedited processing or additional services. This is the only cost you pay directly. The court fine is separate and is usually due regardless of whether you take traffic school. Check with your court about whether completing traffic school reduces or eliminates the fine; this varies by court and violation type.
How completion is reported and what happens next
When you finish the course and pass the test, the vendor generates a completion certificate. The vendor then sends this certificate to the court listed on your citation — you do not send it yourself. This process usually takes a few business days to a week, depending on the vendor.
The court receives the certificate and reviews it. If everything is in order, the court dismisses the violation. This dismissal means the violation does not appear on your driving record, which protects your insurance rates and your driving history. However, the court may still require you to pay the fine even after dismissal; again, this depends on your specific court and violation.
You will receive notice from the court about the dismissal, usually by mail. Keep this notice for your records. If you do not hear from the court within a reasonable time (typically two to four weeks after the vendor reports completion), contact the court to confirm the dismissal was processed.
What violations are and are not allowed for traffic school
California law limits which violations you can dismiss through traffic school. Minor violations like speeding, running a red light, or unsafe lane changes are typically allowed. More serious violations — such as driving under the influence, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, or causing an accident — usually are not allowed for traffic school dismissal.
Your court will tell you whether your specific violation qualifies. If you are unsure, ask the court directly rather than guessing. Some violations fall into a gray area, and the court's decision is what matters. Additionally, you can only take traffic school once every 18 months in California, so if you completed a course recently, you may not be allowed to take another one even if your violation would normally may have access to.
Common reasons traffic school dismissal does not go through
Even if you complete the course, the court may not dismiss the violation if something goes wrong. The most common reason is that you were not actually approved by the court before you enrolled. If you took the course without court approval, the vendor's report will not result in a dismissal, and you will still owe the fine.
Another reason is that the vendor's report does not reach the court, or reaches it with incomplete information. This is rare with established vendors, but it happens. If you do not see a dismissal on your record within four weeks of completing the course, contact both the vendor and the court to confirm the report was sent and received.
A third reason is that you did not meet the court's specific conditions. For example, if the court said "you can take traffic school only if you pay the fine first," and you did not pay the fine before enrolling, the dismissal may not go through. Always follow the court's instructions exactly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take traffic school online if I live outside California?
Yes. You do not have to live in California to take an approved California traffic school course online. You only need to have received a traffic citation in California. The course is entirely online, so you can take it from anywhere with an internet connection.
What happens if I fail the final test?
Most vendors allow you to retake the test. Some charge a small fee for retakes, while others include unlimited retakes in the course price. Check the vendor's policy before you enroll. You can retake the test as many times as needed until you pass.
Does traffic school completion remove the violation from my record permanently?
If the court dismisses the violation, it does not appear on your driving record. However, the court and law enforcement may still have a record of the original citation. For most purposes — like insurance rates and background checks — a dismissed violation is treated as if it did not happen.
How long does it take from completion to dismissal?
The vendor usually reports completion to the court within a few business days to a week. The court then processes the dismissal, which typically takes another one to three weeks. You should see the dismissal on your record within four weeks of completing the course. If not, contact the court to follow up.
Can I choose any vendor from the DMV's list, or does the court assign one?
You choose the vendor. The court does not assign one. You can pick any vendor on the DMV's approved list that handles your violation type. Different vendors may have different prices, course lengths, and features, so you can shop around before enrolling.