Use our free traffic school eligibility tool to check whether you can take a defensive driving course to dismiss your speeding ticket. Enter your state, speed, and a few details to get an instant eligibility check with a full breakdown of your state’s rules.
Traffic School Eligibility Finder
Check if you can take traffic school to dismiss your speeding ticket or reduce points.
This tool provides rough estimates only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Traffic school eligibility rules vary by jurisdiction, judge, and individual circumstances, and may change without notice. The information presented may contain errors or omissions. The creators and operators of this tool assume no liability for the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information provided. Do not rely on these results as a guarantee of actual eligibility. Always verify with your local court clerk or consult a qualified traffic attorney for advice specific to your situation. By using this tool, you acknowledge that all results are approximate estimates for informational purposes only.
How the traffic school eligibility tool works
Our traffic school eligibility tool checks four key factors that determine whether you can attend traffic school for a speeding ticket: whether your state offers traffic school at all, whether your speed is within the eligible range, whether you hold a CDL (commercial driver’s license), and whether enough time has passed since your last traffic school attendance. The tool checks all four rules against verified data for all 50 states and gives you a clear pass-or-fail result for each one.
💡 Key eligibility factors
- State availability — 49 states offer traffic school; Washington is the only exception.
- Speed limit — Most states cap eligibility at 25 mph over. Arizona and Virginia cap at 20. Florida and Nevada allow up to 30.
- CDL exclusion — All 50 states exclude CDL holders from traffic school for speeding violations.
- Cooldown period — Ranges from 12 months to 5 years depending on the state.
What traffic school does for you
Completing traffic school after a speeding ticket can have several benefits. The traffic school eligibility tool helps you understand whether these benefits are available to you before you invest the time and money:
Ticket dismissal
Many courts dismiss the ticket entirely after course completion. No conviction appears on your record.
Insurance protection
Keeping the ticket off your record prevents the 12–32% insurance rate increase that typically follows a speeding conviction.
Traffic school eligibility tool FAQ
How do I know if I qualify for traffic school?
Use the traffic school eligibility tool above to check instantly. The main factors are your state, how fast you were going, whether you hold a CDL, and how recently you last attended traffic school. Each state sets its own rules for all four factors.
What is a traffic school cooldown period?
Most states limit how often you can use traffic school. The cooldown ranges from 12 months in most states to 5 years in Georgia, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and North Carolina. The traffic school eligibility tool checks this automatically when you enter your last attendance date.
Can CDL holders take traffic school?
No. All 50 states exclude commercial driver’s license holders from traffic school for speeding violations. CDL holders must either pay the fine and accept the consequences or fight the ticket in court. See our fight your ticket guides for state-specific strategies.
Is traffic school available online?
Yes, in most states. Online traffic school courses typically take 4–8 hours and can be completed at your own pace. After passing, the school sends a completion certificate to the court. Check your state traffic school guide for approved course providers and court-specific requirements.
What happens if I am not eligible for traffic school?
If the traffic school eligibility tool shows you are not eligible, your options are to pay the ticket and accept the points and insurance increase, or fight the ticket in court. Many drivers successfully negotiate reduced charges even without traffic school. Browse our state cost guides to understand the full financial impact of each option.
Sources: State DMV websites and traffic code statutes, NHTSA speeding data. Estimates are for general guidance only and do not constitute legal or financial advice.