Texas Defensive Driving Approved Courses

Written by Mary Salatino

Whether you need to dismiss a Texas traffic ticket or just want to brush up on your skills behind the wheel, taking a defensive driving course is a fantastic idea. Finding a state-approved driving safety school has never been easier.

Find out more about the benefits of traffic school and why online driver training is the best way to take advantage of incentives offered by your insurer and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).

What Are the Benefits of State-Approved Defensive Driving Training?

There’s more than one reason to enroll in a driving safety course. Each one of the benefits below would be worth signing up for. The fact that you get all three (and more) makes an online Texas defensive driving course a great choice for any driver in the Lone Star State.

Become a Better Driver

Defensive driving courses are intended to provide safety information, including a refresher on traffic laws and driver responsibilities. The goal of the training is to educate Texas motorists on safe driving techniques, improve driving skills and reduce the risk of accidents. Students explore accurate information and statistical data to support the learning process.

Dismiss Traffic Tickets

Defensive driving courses that are approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation allow you to dismiss eligible traffic tickets and protect your driving record. Traffic offenses can even cost you your license.

If you accumulate four or more moving violations in a 12-month period, or seven in a 24-month period, your driver license can be suspended. Dismissing a ticket can keep you on the road.

Note: You can only gain this defensive driving course benefit if you receive notice from the Texas court system that you are eligible for ticket dismissal.

Earn Insurance Discounts

Completing a Texas-approved course may provide a state-approved insurance discount, depending on your insurer. This is a discount of up to 10% for three years on the liability portion of your insurance.

The discount is at the insurance provider's discretion — contact your insurance provider to learn about eligibility requirements and the amount of discount offered.

Who Should Take the Course?

Individuals who want to dismiss a traffic ticket from their Texas driving record or receive a discount on their insurance should take an approved defensive driving course. There is no age restriction for this training.

Students can take a driver safety course in Texas once every year for ticket dismissal. Taking an approved course can keep offenses off your driver license, but you are still responsible for paying for your ticket. If you are taking traffic school to have a traffic ticket dismissed, you will need a copy of your Texas DPS Authorized Type 3A Certified Driving Record to submit to the court.

How It Works

Courses are available either in person or online. You can search the license database on the TDLR website to find an approved provider of driver training. We are approved to provide online defensive driving training under the name of our parent company: American Safety Council.

State-approved courses must take a minimum of six hours to complete. This includes five hours of course material and up to one hour of break time.

Students are required to pass several quizzes and video questions in order to complete their training and receive a certificate. Fortunately, there is no final exam. You will finish the program after successfully passing all four end-of-module quizzes.

You can instantly download your certificate seven days after completing your training. You also have the option to receive a physical copy and purchase expedited shipping if you wish. You will need to provide a copy of your certificate to your insurer to gain any available insurance discount.

If you have any other questions about our online Texas defensive driving course, visit our FAQs page.

Satisfy TDLR Requirements

Our program is approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to dismiss a traffic ticket and provide an insurance reduction. You can confirm our approval on the TDLR’s website by searching for the organization name American Safety Council. Our license number is CP520.

It’s important to verify that you’re taking a TDLR-approved defensive driving course in order to dismiss your traffic tickets. Our state-approved training makes it simple to train at your own pace and avoid penalties from a traffic violation.

Sources

Texas Department of Public Safety. (n.d.). Traffic Offenses. Retrieved from https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/traffic-offenses

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. (n.d.). Taking a Driving Safety (Defensive Driving) Course. Retrieved from https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/driver/safety/students/taking-a-course.htm

Texas Department of Public Safety. (n.d.). How to Order a Driver Record. Retrieved from https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/how-order-driver-record

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. (n.d.). Search by Name. Retrieved from https://vo.licensing.tdlr.texas.gov/datamart/searchByNameTXRAS.do