Washington 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 washington traffic school works in plain English: whether Washington 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 Washington sources as of June 2026.
In This Washington Guide:
Washington Traffic School: The Key Facts
Here is how washington traffic school works for a speeding ticket at a glance:
| Dismissal / point reduction allowed? | YES — Washington uses a “deferred finding” process under RCW 46.63.070(5) that can dismiss a traffic infraction entirely; a judge may also order completion of a traffic school course as a condition of deferral under RCW 46.83 |
| What it does | DISMISS — if the driver meets all deferral conditions (pays the administrative fee, completes any court-ordered traffic school, and commits no new traffic infractions during the deferral period of up to one year), the court dismisses the infraction and does NOT report it to the Department of Licensing, so it never appears on the driving record |
| How often you can use it | Once every 7 years for moving violations (such as speeding) and independently once every 7 years for non-moving violations (such as expired registration) — these are separate allowances so you may defer one of each within the same 7-year window |
| Course length | 4 hours for a Level 1 court-ordered or DOL safe driving course; 8 hours for a Level 2 course (more serious offenses or repeat violations); note that traffic school is NOT automatically required for every deferral — the judge has discretion to require it as a condition |
| State / admin fee | 150 — most Washington courts charge a 150 dollar non-refundable administrative fee to elect a deferred finding; some courts charge up to 175 and some add 50 per additional violation on the same citation; confirm the exact fee with your court |
Who Qualifies for Washington Traffic School?
You may be eligible if you hold a non-CDL license, were not operating a commercial motor vehicle at the time of the violation, the infraction was not for negligent driving second degree with a vulnerable user victim (RCW 46.61.526), and you have not used a deferral for a moving violation within the past 7 years; some courts also require no pending citations, a valid license, and that the violation did not involve a collision — check with your specific court Eligibility is decided by the court, so check your citation and confirm before you enroll.
How to Request Washington Traffic School Step by Step
1) Receive your traffic infraction notice and note the court and deadline; 2) Contact the court listed on your ticket or appear at your hearing and request a deferred finding under RCW 46.63.070(5); 3) The judge reviews your eligibility (no deferral for a moving violation in the past 7 years, no CDL, etc.); 4) If approved, pay the non-refundable administrative fee (typically 150 dollars) by the court deadline; 5) Complete any conditions the judge imposes, which may include a traffic safety course; 6) Remain infraction-free for the deferral period (up to one year); 7) If all conditions are met and no new infractions occur, the court dismisses the ticket and does not report it to the DOL; 8) If you receive a new traffic infraction during the deferral period, the original ticket is entered as a committed finding on your record
Choosing a State-Approved Course in Washington
If a traffic school course is required as a condition of deferral, it must be a DOL-approved safe driving course; Washington’s approved course providers are listed on the DOL website at dol.wa.gov under Driver Safety; course curriculum must include at least 30 minutes on bicycle and pedestrian safety per RCW 46.83 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 Washington is likely to let you use it.
Does Washington Traffic School Help Your Insurance?
By keeping points off your record, washington traffic school can stop a speeding ticket from raising your premium in the first place.
Insurance benefit: Yes — Washington insurance companies may offer a discount (commonly around 10 percent) for completing a DOL-approved defensive driving course; this discount is voluntary and separate from the deferral process; additionally, a successfully deferred ticket never reaches your driving record, so it cannot cause an insurance rate increase
A ticket can raise your premium for years — compare cheaper car insurance at Car Cover Guide if your rate has already gone up.
How Washington 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 Washington’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 Washington and sometimes by the individual court, always confirm the details with the court on your citation before you pay for a course.
Used correctly, Washington traffic school is often the cheapest way to protect both your license and your insurance rate.
Even where Washington 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 Washington Speeding Ticket
Once you have a Washington 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 Washington.
- Take traffic school — if you qualify, a state-approved course can keep points off your record. See the Washington traffic school guide.
Before deciding, it helps to know the full cost — use our speeding ticket cost calculator and the Washington 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 Washington rules to know: Washington does NOT use a traditional point system — the Department of Licensing (DOL, not DMV) tracks violation counts directly; 6 moving violations in 12 months or 7 in 24 months triggers a 60-day license suspension followed by 1 year of probation; the deferred finding mechanism means the ticket is held in limbo for up to 1 year and dismissed only if all conditions are met; a new traffic infraction ANYWHERE in Washington during your deferral period can cause the original deferred ticket to be entered as a committed finding; each court handles deferrals individually so fees and additional conditions vary by jurisdiction; CDL holders are completely excluded from the deferral program with no alternative; successfully deferred tickets do not appear on your DOL driving abstract at all; standard moving violations that are NOT deferred remain on your record for 5 years
Official Washington Sources & Resources
- Washington DMV: https://dol.wa.gov
- Washington Courts: https://www.courts.wa.gov
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: nhtsa.gov
- Cornell Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/wex
Statute reference: RCW 46.63.070(5) (deferred findings for traffic infractions); RCW 46.83 (traffic schools — establishment, curriculum, and court authority); RCW 46.61.526 (negligent driving second degree with vulnerable user victim — excluded from deferral)
This Washington 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 Washington Traffic Ticket Guides
- Washington Speeding Ticket Cost
- Washington Driving Points & Suspension
- How to Fight a Speeding Ticket in Washington
- 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.