North Dakota Traffic School can be the cheapest way to deal with a speeding ticket — in many states, completing a state-approved course can wipe a ticket off your record or cut the points, which keeps your insurance from going up. This guide explains how north dakota traffic school works in plain English: whether North Dakota allows it, who qualifies, how often you can use it, the course requirements and state fee, and the exact court steps to request it.
All information is general guidance, verified against North Dakota sources as of June 2026.
In This North Dakota Guide:
North Dakota Traffic School: The Key Facts
Here is how north dakota traffic school works for a speeding ticket at a glance:
| Dismissal / point reduction allowed? | YES |
| What it does | Points are NOT added to the driving record for that violation (ticket itself is not dismissed — driver still pays the fine and the conviction remains). Separately, a voluntary course can remove 3 points from the existing record total. |
| How often you can use it | Once every 12 months for the in-lieu-of-points election (NDCC 39-06.1-10.1); the separate voluntary 3-point reduction (NDCC 39-06.1-13) can also be used once every 12 months but is capped at 9 points removed in any rolling 3-year period |
| Course length | 4 |
| State / admin fee | UNVERIFIED — North Dakota does not charge a separate state or administrative fee to elect the course option; the driver pays the original traffic fine plus the course tuition (course fees vary by provider, typically 25 to 80) |
Who Qualifies for North Dakota Traffic School?
Non-criminal traffic violations carrying 5 points or fewer; driver must not have used this option within the past 12 months; must notify the Clerk of Court at the time the fine or bond is posted; CDL holders are subject to the same statute but should check with NDDOT for federal restrictions Eligibility is decided by the court, so check your citation and confirm before you enroll.
How to Request North Dakota Traffic School Step by Step
1. Receive a non-criminal traffic citation carrying 5 or fewer points. 2. At the time you pay the fine or post bond, notify the Clerk of Court that you elect to complete a driver training course instead of receiving points. 3. Enroll in an NDDOT-approved driver training course. 4. Complete the course within 30 days of notifying the Clerk of Court.
5. Handwrite your driver license number on the certificate of completion. 6. Submit the certificate to NDDOT Drivers License Division at 608 East Boulevard, Bismarck, ND 58505, or email it to [email protected]. 7. If the certificate is not received within 30 days, the points will be entered on your record.
Choosing a State-Approved Course in North Dakota
The course must be approved by the NDDOT Director; the department maintains an official list of approved providers at dot.nd.gov; not all online defensive driving courses qualify Online traffic school is the most popular option because you can complete it at home at your own pace. Clearly-labeled course providers are offered as paid options; you can also use our traffic school eligibility checker to see whether North Dakota is likely to let you use it.
Does North Dakota Traffic School Help Your Insurance?
By keeping points off your record, north dakota traffic school can stop a speeding ticket from raising your premium in the first place.
Insurance benefit: North Dakota mandates a 5 percent auto insurance premium discount for drivers aged 55 and older who complete a Highway Patrol-approved accident prevention course; the discount lasts 3 years before the course must be retaken; drivers under 55 may receive a voluntary discount from their insurer but it is not state-mandated
A ticket can raise your premium for years — compare cheaper car insurance at Car Cover Guide if your rate has already gone up.
How North Dakota Traffic School Works
Traffic school — also called defensive driving or a driver-safety course — is a short class that, in many states, lets you keep a speeding ticket from hitting your record. Depending on North Dakota’s rules, completing an approved course can fully dismiss the ticket, reduce the points it adds, or mask the conviction from your insurer. The catch is that you usually have to ask the court for permission first, and you can only use it so often.
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Most drivers take the course online because you can do it from home at your own pace, though some courts still allow in-person classes. The course covers traffic-safety basics and ends with a short quiz; once you pass, the provider issues a certificate that you submit to the court by its deadline. Because the rules, the fee, and the eligibility limits are set by North Dakota and sometimes by the individual court, always confirm the details with the court on your citation before you pay for a course.
Used correctly, North Dakota traffic school is often the cheapest way to protect both your license and your insurance rate.
Even where North Dakota traffic school does not fully dismiss a ticket, the point reduction alone is often worth the time, because fewer points means a lower chance of suspension and a better insurance rate. Confirm with your court that the specific course you choose is on the approved list before you pay for it.
What to Do About Your North Dakota Speeding Ticket
Once you have a North Dakota speeding ticket, you generally have three choices, and the right one depends on the points involved, your driving record, and your insurance:
- Pay it — the fastest option, but paying is an admission of guilt that adds points and can raise your premium for years.
- Fight it — contesting can get the ticket reduced or dismissed, especially if the officer does not appear or the evidence is weak. See how to fight a speeding ticket in North Dakota.
- Take traffic school — if you qualify, a state-approved course can keep points off your record. See the North Dakota traffic school guide.
Before deciding, it helps to know the full cost — use our speeding ticket cost calculator and the North Dakota points guide to see how close a ticket puts you to a suspension. There is no single right answer for everyone; the best choice depends on how many points the ticket adds, what your record looks like, and how much your insurance would rise.
Other North Dakota rules to know: North Dakota has two separate statutory mechanisms — one prevents points from being added for a specific ticket (39-06.1-10.1) and the other removes 3 points from the existing record total (39-06.1-13). The driver, not the court or instructor, is solely responsible for submitting the completion certificate to NDDOT.
NDDOT also automatically removes 1 point for every 3 consecutive months without a new moving violation. Minor drivers under 18 face license cancellation at only 6 points versus 12 for adults. Speeding violations in North Dakota can carry up to 15 points for extreme speeds (36+ mph over the limit).
Official North Dakota Sources & Resources
- North Dakota DMV: https://www.dot.nd.gov/driver/driver-education/driver-license-points-reduction-and-points-schedule
- North Dakota Courts: https://www.ndcourts.gov
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: nhtsa.gov
- Cornell Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/wex
Statute reference: NDCC 39-06.1-10.1 (election of driver training course in lieu of points); NDCC 39-06.1-13 (voluntary point reduction via driver training)
This North Dakota traffic school guide was last verified against official sources in June 2026. Always confirm eligibility and deadlines with the court listed on your citation.
More North Dakota Traffic Ticket Guides
- North Dakota Speeding Ticket Cost
- North Dakota Driving Points & Suspension
- How to Fight a Speeding Ticket in North Dakota
- Speeding Ticket Cost Calculator
- All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal advice. Fines, points, and procedures are estimates for general guidance and change when state laws change. Always verify the exact amount and process with your state DMV or the court listed on your citation, and consult a licensed traffic attorney in your state for advice on your specific situation.