How to Do a Defensive Driving Course in Texas (the Easy Way)

Anyone can take defensive driving classes, but you must meet specific requirements if you want to do it for ticket dismissal. In this guide, we’ll break down the eligibility criteria and show you how to do a course of defensive driving in Texas — the easy way. 

How to Take a Defensive Driving Course in 6 Steps

If you’re charged with a minor traffic offense, you can complete a defensive driving course to dismiss the ticket. Simply follow these steps:

1. Make Sure You Are Eligible 

The court may allow you to take defensive driving classes for ticket dismissal if your offense falls under Subtitle C of the Texas Transportation Code and you meet the following  eligibility criteria:

• Hold a valid non-commercial driver’s license
• Have not taken defensive driving classes for ticket dismissal in the past 12 months
• Your car was insured at the time of the offense
• You didn’t cause an accident resulting in property damage or bodily injury
• You have not been charged with the following violations:
  • Passing a school bus
  • Driving 25+ mph over the speed limit
  • Driving at a speed greater than or equal to 90 mph
  • Leaving the scene of an accident
  • Fleeing or attempting to flee a police officer
  • Failing to give information and render aid
  • Reckless driving (e.g., street racing or erratic lane changes)
• The offense didn’t take place in a construction zone with workers present
• You were not under the influence of alcohol or drugs 

Even if you meet these requirements, you should still check with the court before proceeding to the next steps. 

2. Plead Guilty or No Contest and Pay the Court Fees 

Plead guilty or no contest to the offense and pay the fine associated with your ticket. Make sure you do it before the due date on your citation. 

3. Request Permission to Take Defensive Driving Classes 

When paying your fine, ask the court if you’re eligible for defensive driver training. If you get a positive reply, submit your request online, in person, or by mail on or before the appearance date on your ticket. 

Prepare the following documents:

• A copy of your driver’s license
• A Driver Safety Course (DSC) application form 
• A defensive driving affidavit (a sworn statement confirming that you haven’t taken a driver safety course for ticket dismissal within the last 12 months)
• Proof of auto insurance

Depending on how you submit your request, you can download the DSC application from the court’s website or get a copy from the clerk’s office. Bring this document to the court or send it by mail.

You’ll also have to pay a court fee of $144 (or $169 if the offense occurred in a school zone.) Some courts, such as those in the City of Houston, may let you take the course even if you submit your request after your arraignment date, although the fees will be higher. 

Once you have submitted these documents and paid the fees, the court will give you 90 days to complete your defensive driving course.

4. Find a Defensive Driving Course 

After getting the court’s approval, decide whether you want to take the course online or in person. 

Online defensive driving courses cover the same material as classroom-based ones, but you can study at your own pace. Both types of courses are regulated by the Texas Administrative Code and have a standard format consisting of several units, followed by quizzes. 

Here’s what to look for in a driver safety program: 

• State certification: Look for defensive driving courses approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). Neither the court nor your insurance provider will accept a course that doesn’t meet this requirement. Use the TDLR’s search tool to find a state-approved school. 
• Online vs. classroom instruction: Choose a course format that fits your schedule and learning style. For example, our online defensive driving course can be completed from any device, including smartphones. Since we don’t use timers, you can go through each module at your own pace and take breaks as needed. 
• Cost: In Texas, defensive driver training costs $20 to $70, depending on the school and other factors. However, some course providers have hidden fees or charge extra for certain services, such as 24/7 support. Double-check the price to avoid surprises later on. 
• Customer reviews: Look up the school online to see how students feel about its classes, learning methods, and customer support. Check the reviews on Google Maps, Trustpilot, Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Traffic Safety Institute has received thousands of positive reviews across multiple platforms. 

The best driver safety schools also offer extra perks like free e-certificates, unlimited retakes, audio lessons, or road sign cheat sheets. These services can make learning easier while saving you time, money, and effort. (You’ll get all of them with Traffic Safety Institute.)

5. Complete the Course

Unlike in other states, you don’t have to pass a final exam to complete defensive driver training in Texas. However, you must go through all modules and take multiple quizzes to get a certificate of completion. 

Both in-person and online courses follow a standard format set by the TDLR. They consist of eight modules, each covering a different topic and ending with a multiple-question test. The number of questions and course structure can vary between providers. The course covers the following material:

• Hazard recognition
• Distraction avoidance techniques
• Safe following distances
• Texas traffic laws and regulations
• Steps to take after an accident
• How to handle emergencies on the road
• Safety features on modern vehicles
• The impact of alcohol on driving performance

In-person courses include five hours of classroom instruction plus a one-hour break. Online classes, on the other hand, may skip the 60-minute break and provide six hours of training. Either way, the course will be at least six hours long. 

Most students find these courses easier than driver’s ed, as they already have a good grasp of traffic safety rules. 

6. Submit Your Certificate 

Once the course is over, you will receive a certificate of completion from your driving school within 14 days (at Traffic Safety Institute, we issue it instantly and submit it to the TDLR within 24 hours). The certificate can be issued electronically or as a paper document and must be submitted to the court along with an official copy of your driving record (Type 3A). 

You can request a copy of your driving record online or by mail through the Texas DPS. If you sign up with Traffic Safety Institute, you can get a copy of your driving record directly from us. (We like to make things easy!)

Note that it’s your responsibility to submit the certificate to the court in charge of your case. Print and sign it and then bring it to the court or send it by mail before the due date. You have 90 days to finish driver safety school and turn in your certificate of completion. 

Wait a week or so for the court to process your documents. If everything looks right, your ticket will be dismissed. 

Take a Defensive Driving Course with Traffic Safety Institute

Don’t let a traffic ticket ruin your driving record and skyrocket your insurance premiums. Instead, sign up for defensive driving classes at Traffic Safety Institute to dismiss the charge in no time. 

Our Texas defensive driving course can be completed online in less than six hours. With Traffic Safety Institute, you can:

✅ Study anytime, anywhere 
✅ Reach out for support around the clock
✅ Listen to or read the course content, according to your preference
✅ Take the course as many times as you need without paying extra
✅ Get an electronic certificate copy as soon as you finish the course
✅ Get free same-day certificate submission to the TDLR
✅ Take short quizzes at the end of each lesson – no final exam!
✅ Not pay a cent until you pass!

Other schools charge extra for these services. At Traffic Safety Institute, our flat fee of only $31 covers the course materials and all other perks.

Need one more reason to choose Traffic Safety Institute? If you take our course voluntarily and not as part of a court order, you may get up to 10% off your insurance rates for three consecutive years. 

📢Start driver safety school for FREE today! 📢

FAQs about How to Do a Course of Defensive Driving in Texas

Looking for more information on how to complete defensive driver training in Texas? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions.