Looking to clean up your driving record? One solution is to attend a traffic safety school. If you live in Nevada, you can get three points removed from your license by taking a five-hour course.
The state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) allows drivers to complete Nevada traffic safety school online, in person, or by correspondence. Those who enroll in online courses can study from any device, anywhere. On top of that, many schools offer unlimited exam retakes.
This option is part of the state’s efforts to make our roads safer. According to the latest data, Nevada recorded 1,661 crash fatalities between 2017 and 2021. What’s more, the number of car accidents continues to increase each year.
Traffic safety education could help bring these numbers down. Plus, it’s an opportunity to improve your driving record and prevent insurance rate increases.
But first, make sure you’re eligible for traffic safety school. Second, choose a DMV-approved program that lets you study at your own pace. Note that while most courses follow the same curriculum, they’re structured differently and may vary in price.
What Is Nevada Traffic Safety School?
Nevada drivers who accumulate three to 11 demerit points on their records can attend traffic school. At its core, traffic safety school is a refresher program designed to reinforce safe driving habits.
This option may be available as part of a plea bargain agreement for a traffic ticket, but you can also take the course voluntarily to maintain a clean driving record. In the latter case, you’ll get three points removed from your license after completing the program.
If you must go to traffic school as part of a plea bargain agreement, you won’t get a point reduction. However, you’ll become a safer driver and satisfy the court’s requirements.
In either case, it’s necessary to complete a five-hour course approved by the state’s DMV. The course can be taken once every 12 months and covers topics like:
- Nevada traffic laws and regulations
- Defensive driving techniques
- Accident prevention and response
- Hazard recognition and avoidance
- Aggressive driving and road rage
- Vehicle maintenance
- Special situations, such as driving at night
For example, Traffic Safety Institute offers a 12-module course. Each module ends with a four-question quiz designed to test your knowledge.
To finish the course, you must pass a final exam consisting of 25 questions. After that, we’ll issue a certificate of completion and notify the DMV.
Nevada Traffic School Eligibility
According to Nevada law, drivers who accumulate 12 or more points within one year get their license suspended for six months.
For reference, failure to yield right-of-way can result in a four-point violation. Reckless driving, on the other hand, can add eight points to your license. And if you’re caught speeding 21 to 30 miles per hour over the limit, you’ll get three demerit points.
| Offenses and Points | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Reckless Driving | 8 | Speeding: | |
| Careless Driving | 6 | 1 – 10 mph over posted limit | 1 |
| Failure to give information or render aid at the scene of an accident | 6 | 11 – 20 mph over posted limit | 2 |
| Following too closely | 4 | 21 – 30 mph over posted limit | 3 |
| Failure to yield right-of-way | 4 | 31 – 40 mph over posted limit | 4 |
| Passing a school bus when signals are flashing | 4 | 41 mph or more over posted limit | 5 |
| Hand-held cellphone use or texting (2nd and subsequent offenses) | 4 | Prima Facie speed violation or driving too fast for the conditions | 2 |
| Disobeying a traffic signal or stop sign | 4 | See Violation Codes for a complete list of offenses and points. | |
| Impeding traffic, driving too slowly | 2 | ||
| Failure to dim headlights | 2 | ||
The points can add up quickly, but you can erase three of them during any one year by attending traffic school. That is, if you complete the course and pass the final exam.
However, not all motorists are eligible for this option. To qualify, you must meet the following criteria:
- Hold a valid non-commercial driver’s license
- Have no pending traffic violations
- Have at least three but fewer than 12 points on your driving record
- Take the course for the first time in any one-year period
- Your offense isn’t alcohol-related
Nevada traffic safety schools are not the same as DUI schools. If you are charged with a DUI offense, you’ll have to choose the latter option.
Drivers with three or more points on their records may get a letter from the state’s DMV. The letter will explain that you can erase points from your license by taking traffic safety courses.
How Nevada Traffic Safety School Works
The Nevada DMV allows two types of traffic school courses: a five-hour course and an eight-hour one.
In this guide, we’ll focus on the five-hour course, which appeals to drivers charged with no more than two traffic violations in the past year. The eight-hour course is designed for those charged with three or more violations within a 12-month period.
That said, here’s how to choose a DMV-approved traffic safety course—and what to expect.
Find a State-Approved Traffic Safety School
First, go to the Nevada DMV’s website for a list of state-approved traffic schools. Here you’ll find their business names, contact data, and course format information.
If a traffic school received DMV approval, you should see the license number on its site.
For example, Traffic Safety Institute has the NV DMV license number #E1314. This means our course meets all state requirements. Hence, upon completion of the program, you’ll earn a three-point reduction on your driving record.
But if you take a non-approved course, you won’t be able to deduct points from your license. Or satisfy the court’s requirement.
Research Your Options
Just because a traffic safety course received DMV approval doesn’t mean it’s right for you.
For instance, some schools only offer classroom training. That’s not really an option for students who live in remote areas or have a packed schedule.
You’ll also find schools that charge extra for audio read-alongs, exam retakes, and other services.
At Traffic Safety Institute, we only charge a flat fee, which you’ll pay after passing the exam. Optional purchases include a physical completion certificate and instant online notarization, but these are provided solely for your convenience.
With that in mind, consider the following when choosing a traffic safety school in Nevada:
- Course format and content
- Duration and schedule
- Pricing (beware of hidden fees!)
- Customer support
- Refund and rescheduling policies
- Instructor qualifications
- School location (if you opt for classroom instruction or hybrid courses)
- Customer reviews and testimonials
For example, our traffic safety course has a rating of 4.92 out of 5.0 based on over 19,000 reviews. Students say it’s quick, flexible, and easy to follow, making learning a breeze.
Check the Course Structure
As mentioned earlier, Nevada traffic safety schools offer three types of courses:
- Online: These learning programs are often the most engaging and can be completed from any device. They’re ideal for those who want to study at their own pace.
- Classroom: These classes usually take place on weekends. An advantage is that you can interact with the instructors in real time.
- Home Study: These courses are the least interactive but offer greater flexibility than classroom training. They often cost more than online traffic schools, and you may have to take the final exam in person.
From a practical standpoint, online traffic school ticks most boxes. Not only does it allow for self-paced learning, but it also provides flexibility and convenience.
Why You Should Take Traffic Safety Courses Online
If you go this route, you can get started immediately and complete the course on the same day. Or you can take a break from studying and pick up where you left off.
But that’s not all.
Online traffic safety courses also incorporate text, audio, and video materials, appealing to different learning styles. The lessons often include interactive elements like:
- Practice tests
- Quizzes
- Simulations
- Clickable diagrams and charts
- Case studies
- Audio narration
- Interactive exercises
- Instant feedback on tests and quizzes
- Progress tracking
For example, our course at Traffic Safety Institute offers free audio read-alongs.
Thanks to this feature, you can study without reading pages of text. The learning process feels more fun and engaging, helping students process the information faster.
Another advantage is that you can take the final exam online. This aspect alone can take some of the pressure off your shoulders and make you feel more at ease during the test.
And, depending on the school, you may receive a digital certification of completion on the same day you pass the exam.
What Does the Course Look Like?
Nevada traffic safety schools are legally required to cover certain topics, such as speeding and defensive driving. So, their curriculums are very similar.
The difference lies in how the information is delivered.
For instance, our course has 12 modules. There’s a quiz at the end of each module, and you must correctly answer at least three out of four questions to move on.
The course materials are available 24/7, meaning you can study anytime. Your progress will be automatically saved, so you can stop and resume as needed.
Prepare for the Final Exam
At Traffic Safety School, students must go through all the modules and take a final exam.
The test has 25 questions and requires a passing score of 70% or higher. This means you have to answer at least 17 questions correctly.
Don’t fret, though. Our course includes everything you need to pass the final exam. Students have access to video tutorials, audio explanations, interactive exercises, and other helpful resources. We also offer 24/7 live chat support to answer any questions you may have.
Even if you fail, you can retake the test as often as needed without paying extra. What’s more, we won’t charge you until you pass. That’s how confident we are in our training program.
Get Your Certification
Once you have passed the final exam, our school will email you a general affidavit form. Choose this option if you took the course for DMV or court purposes.
An affidavit serves as a sworn statement or evidence that you have completed training and passed the final test without any assistance.
- Fill out this document with your name and address.
- Next, sign the form and have it notarized.
- Send us a scanned copy by email. Alternatively, opt for online notarization, an optional service provided by Traffic Safety Institute.
- We’ll send the affidavit form along with your course completion documents (form DS-305) to the state’s DMV within 30 days.
- Wait to receive an electronic copy of the completion certificate. You can also request a physical copy for an additional fee.
Note that if you take our course to fulfill a plea bargain, you must personally submit the completion certificate to the court. This can be done online, in person, or by mail, depending on the court that ticketed you.
Traffic Safety Institute or any other traffic school, for that matter, cannot send the certificate to the court on your behalf.
*Some drivers enroll in traffic safety courses with the sole purpose of lowering their car insurance rates. In such cases, it’s not necessary to sign an affidavit. All you need is a digital completion certificate, which you’ll receive after passing the final test.
The Benefits of Attending Nevada Traffic Safety School
Traffic safety courses are meant to reduce high-risk behavior behind the wheel. The curriculum goes beyond defensive driving, covering emergency situations, collision avoidance, and other relevant topics.
You may already be a good driver, but everyone makes mistakes. By completing Nevada traffic safety school, you can maintain a clean driving record and stay up-to-date with traffic laws.
The things you’ll learn could save you thousands of dollars in the long run. Here’s how:
- Erase points from your license: When you voluntarily attend traffic safety school, you get three points removed from your record. This can help you avoid license suspension—and the costs associated with commuting.
- Lower your insurance premiums: Drivers who take traffic safety courses in Nevada may qualify for auto insurance discounts. Ask your insurance provider about it prior to enrolling.
- Improve your driving skills: Refresh your knowledge of traffic laws and regulations, road signs, defensive driving, and other relevant topics. This aspect alone can increase your safety on the road and help you avoid costly repairs, insurance rate spikes, and hefty fines.
So, are you ready to give it a try? Our self-paced course takes only five hours to complete—and you can get started right away. Plus, you don’t have to pay anything until you pass.
