Texas Defensive Driving Course Online
The six-hour defensive driving course Texas courts accept for eligible traffic tickets. Also used by drivers asking their insurer for a discount.
- 6 hours in total, breaks included
- Watch or read every lesson
- Certificate of completion included
- Your court sets the deadline
Regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
Is this the right course?
Ask the court on your ticket for permission to take a driving safety course. The court decides, not the school.
Courts set a date for turning in the certificate. Enter it once and we count down for you.
Some courts ask for extra documents along with the certificate. Your checklist shows what yours asked for.
How it works
Three quick questions confirm this is the course your court or insurer wants.
Every lesson comes as a captioned video and as text. Switch whenever you like.
Your time and place are saved on our side, so you can change devices.
Pass the final exam, review your details, and get the certificate with delivery instructions.
Who can usually take defensive driving for a ticket
Your court makes the decision. These are the conditions Texas courts commonly list. Check each one against the instructions from your own court.
Courts generally allow a driving safety course for dismissal once in a 12-month period.
Speeding 25 miles per hour or more over the limit is commonly excluded.
Holders of a commercial driver license are commonly excluded.
The driving record your court may ask for
Many Texas courts want a certified copy of your driving record, called Type 3A, along with your course certificate. You order it from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Ask your court whether it is required before your deadline.
Guides by court
See the deadline, fee and paperwork for your court: Austin, Travis County, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Fort Worth.
What it costs
$28 in total: the $25 course plus the $3 materials fee set by Texas law. The certificate of completion is included. Your court may charge its own fee, which is paid to the court and is separate from the course.
What it covers
- Welcome to Texas defensive driving
- The Texas traffic safety problem
- Factors that influence driver performance
- Texas traffic laws and procedures
- Special skills for difficult driving environments
- Physical forces that influence driver control
- Perceptual skills needed for driving
- Defensive driving strategies
- Driving emergencies
- Occupant restraints and protective equipment
- Alcohol and traffic safety
- Recognizing and reporting human trafficking
Outline shown for planning. The final content is the version the TDLR approves.
Questions about this course
Will this course dismiss my ticket?
Only your court can say. Contact the court named on your ticket, ask for permission to take a driving safety course, and write down the deadline they give you.
Does it really take six hours?
Yes. Texas requires the course to run six hours in total, including breaks. You do not have to do it in one sitting.
Why do you ask questions about me during the course?
Texas requires online courses to confirm that the person taking the course is the person named on the certificate.
Other Texas courses
DWI and Drug Education
Court-ordered programs after a DWI or drug offense.
Responsible Pet Owner
Court-ordered course after an animal-related offense.
Food Handler
For people who prepare or serve food in Texas.
TABC Seller-Server
For people who sell or serve alcohol.
Not open yet. We will open this course only after the TDLR approves it.
Tell me when it opens