California's DMV maintains a list of approved online traffic schools, but you must find it yourself through the DMV website

The California Department of Motor Vehicles does not publish a single master list of approved online traffic schools that you can browse or read. Instead, the DMV requires each traffic school to register and meet specific standards, and you search for approved providers through the DMV's online traffic school search tool or by contacting individual schools to verify their approval status. The DMV's approval means the school meets state requirements for curriculum, instructor qualifications, and testing procedures — but approval does not mean the DMV recommends one school over another.

When you complete an approved online course, the school sends your certificate of completion directly to the court that issued your traffic citation. The court then reports the completion to the DMV, which removes the traffic violation from your record (in most cases) and prevents the point from affecting your insurance rates. This process works only if the school you choose is actually approved by the DMV for your county and violation type.

Key Takeaways

  • The DMV does not publish a single list of all approved schools; you must verify each school's approval status through the DMV website or by calling the school directly.
  • Approved schools must be registered with the DMV and meet state standards for course content, instructor credentials, and exam administration.
  • Your court order or traffic citation will specify whether you are required to take traffic school and which county's DMV approval matters for your case.
  • The school you choose must be approved in the specific county where you received the citation, not just approved somewhere in California.
  • Completion certificates go directly to the court, not to you, so verify the school's mailing address and timeline before enrolling.

How to verify a traffic school's DMV approval status

The fastest way to confirm approval is to visit the California DMV website and use the traffic school search function. Go to dmv.ca.gov, navigate to the "Approved Traffic Schools" section, and enter the school's name or your county. The search tool will show you whether that school is currently approved in your county and for what violation types.

If you already have a school in mind, you can also call the school directly and ask for proof of DMV approval. Legitimate schools will provide their DMV approval number and the counties they serve without hesitation. Write down the approval number and verify it against the DMV website before you pay any fees. Some schools operate under multiple brand names or have different approval numbers for different counties, so confirm the exact entity you are about to enroll with.

If you cannot find the school on the DMV website, do not enroll. Schools that claim to be approved but do not appear in the DMV search tool may be operating illegally, and your certificate will not be accepted by the court.

What the DMV requires approved schools to teach

All approved online traffic schools in California must cover the same core topics: safe driving practices, California traffic laws, the effects of drugs and alcohol on driving, and the consequences of traffic violations. The DMV sets minimum course length at four hours for most violations, though some schools offer longer courses. The curriculum must be interactive — not just a video you watch passively — and must include a proctored exam at the end.

The exam is typically multiple choice and covers the material from the course. You must pass with a score of at least 70 percent on most exams, though some schools set the passing score higher. If you fail, most approved schools allow you to retake the exam at no additional cost, though you may have to wait 24 hours between attempts.

The DMV does not dictate how long you have to complete the course after you enroll. Some schools allow you to finish in one sitting; others spread the material across multiple sessions. Check your court order for any important date — most courts require you to complete the course and have the certificate reach them within 30 days of your citation date, though this varies by county.

County-specific approval and why it matters

A school approved in Los Angeles County may not be approved in San Francisco County, and vice versa. When you search the DMV database, you must specify your county because the approval is county-specific. If you took a citation in Kern County but enroll in a school approved only in Tulare County, the court will reject the certificate.

Your traffic citation will list the county where you were cited. Use that county name when you search the DMV database. If you are unsure which county issued your citation, check the court information on your citation or call the court listed on the document.

Some large, well-known online traffic schools operate in most or all California counties, so you will likely find multiple approved options no matter where you were cited. Smaller regional schools may operate in only a few counties. The DMV search tool shows you all approved schools in your county, so you can compare options before choosing.

What happens after you complete the course

Once you pass the exam, the approved school generates your certificate of completion. The school is responsible for sending this certificate to the court that issued your citation — not to you, and not to the DMV directly. Verify with the school before you enroll that they will mail the certificate to your court and that they know the correct court address and case number.

The court receives the certificate, verifies that the school is approved, and updates your record. The court then reports the completion to the DMV. This process typically takes two to four weeks from the date you complete the course. You do not need to do anything else; the school and court handle the communication.

If you do not hear from the court within a month, contact the court directly and ask whether they received the certificate. Provide your case number and the date you completed the course. If the certificate was lost or misdirected, the school can send a duplicate.

Red flags that a school may not be legitimately approved

Do not enroll in a school that cannot provide an approval number, that does not appear in the DMV search tool, or that claims approval but cannot show it. Schools that advertise "may provide" completion, that promise to remove points from your record, or that claim they can negotiate with the court are not operating within DMV guidelines.

Be cautious of schools that charge significantly more or less than others in your area. Approved schools in California typically charge between $20 and $50 for the course, though prices vary. If a school charges $200 or claims the course takes only 15 minutes, those are signs the operation is not legitimate.

Schools that require you to provide your driver's license number or Social Security number before you enroll should raise concern. Legitimate schools ask for this information only after you have decided to enroll and are ready to pay. Schools that ask for payment through wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency are not legitimate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take an online traffic school course from outside California?

No. You must take a course approved by the California DMV in the county where you received the citation. Online schools based in other states are not approved by California and will not satisfy your court order. The court will reject the certificate.

What if I cannot find an approved school in my county?

Contact the court listed on your citation and ask which schools they have on record as approved. The court keeps a list of schools that have successfully submitted certificates in the past. You can also call the DMV directly at 1-800-777-0133 and ask for the phone numbers of approved schools in your county.

Do I have to take traffic school if the court ordered it?

If the court ordered traffic school as a condition of your citation, you must complete it. If traffic school was optional and you chose not to take it, the violation will remain on your record and may affect your insurance rates and driving record. Check your citation to see whether traffic school was mandatory or optional.

Will taking traffic school remove the violation from my driving record?

In most cases, yes — if you complete an approved course, the court can order the violation removed from your record under California Vehicle Code Section 1808.7. However, the violation may still be visible to insurance companies for a period of time, and the removal depends on the type of violation and your driving history. Ask the court or the traffic school what will happen to your record after completion.

Can I take traffic school more than once in a year?

California law generally limits traffic school to once every 18 months. If you have already taken an approved course in the past 18 months, you may not be able to take it again for a new citation. Check with the court or the traffic school about your may be able to access based on when you last completed a course.