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Can I Take Traffic School for My Florida Ticket? The Eligibility Rules

Most ordinary Florida tickets qualify for the 4-hour Basic Driver Improvement course. Whether yours does comes down to six checks, and one of them has a hard 30-day clock.

By the DefensiveDrivingHub Editorial Team. Reviewed October 21, 2026 against the Florida Statutes and FLHSMV.

Quick answer

You can elect Florida traffic school if the ticket is a noncriminal infraction, you do not hold a CDL, you were not going 30 mph or more over the limit, you have not elected it in the past 12 months, you are under the lifetime cap of eight, and you elect with the clerk within 30 days of the ticket.

The six eligibility checks

  1. It is a noncriminal traffic infraction. Speeding, running a stop sign and most moving violations count. Criminal traffic charges, such as DUI, do not.
  2. You do not hold a commercial license. Section 318.14(9) excludes holders of a commercial driver license or commercial learner's permit, whatever vehicle you were driving.
  3. You were under 30 mph over the limit. Speeding 30 mph or more over is excluded.
  4. You have not elected it in the last 12 months. The look-back is measured from your previous election.
  5. You are under the lifetime cap. The current statute allows eight elections in a lifetime. It was five until the law changed, and FLHSMV's site still shows five, so ask the clerk if you are close.
  6. You elect within 30 days. Tell the clerk of court and pay the fine and fees within 30 days of the citation. After that, points are assessed.

What you get, and what you still pay

Electing the course and finishing it means the court withholds adjudication and no points are added for that ticket. That keeps it from counting toward Florida's 12-point suspension threshold and can keep it from raising your insurance rate.

You still pay. For speeding citations, section 318.14(9) reduces the civil penalty by 18%. Court costs and clerk fees still apply, and the course itself is a separate purchase from your provider.

When the course will not help

  • Tickets that carry no points anyway, such as officer-reviewed red-light camera notices.
  • Mandatory court appearances or criminal charges.
  • Tickets you already paid without electing the course. Paying alone does not elect it, and points are usually assessed.

Frequently asked questions

How many times can you take traffic school in Florida?

Once in any 12-month period and up to eight times in your lifetime under section 318.14(9). The lifetime limit was five before the statute changed; FLHSMV's website still shows five.

What happens if I miss the 30-day deadline?

You lose the option for that ticket and points are assessed. Contact the clerk right away to confirm what remains open to you.

Can I take traffic school for a speeding ticket in Florida?

Usually yes, unless you were cited for 30 mph or more over the limit. For speeding citations, the civil penalty is also reduced by 18% when you elect the course.

Can I take traffic school with a CDL in Florida?

No. Holders of a commercial driver license or commercial learner's permit cannot elect the course to avoid points, even for a ticket in a personal car.

Can I take traffic school for a red-light camera ticket?

Officer-reviewed red-light camera notices carry no points in Florida, so the course would not save points on them. Read the notice for your options.

Does traffic school dismiss the ticket?

Not exactly. You still pay the fine and costs. What changes is that adjudication is withheld and no points are assessed.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Your clerk of court decides eligibility and deadlines for your ticket.