At Traffic Safety Institute, we provide:

• Very easy course – no final exams, unlimited retakes
• Instant electronic certificate
• FREE 24-hour submission of your certificate to the court and DMV
• Start the course for free – don’t pay until you pass (no credit card required)
• 100% compatibility – take our course on any device
• Free audio read-along

Our course includes:

• 12 easy-to-follow modules
• 4-question quizzes at the end of each module
• No final exam
• Unlimited retakes
• 24/7 live chat if you need help

If you received a ticket in Bexar County, you will:

• Receive a citation from a law enforcement officer. Within a few weeks, you’ll get a notice from the court (Justice of the Peace or Municipal Court) with your fine amount, due date, and instructions for requesting defensive driving (driver safety course) or deferred adjudication.
• Request permission from the court before your appearance date if you want to dismiss the ticket with defensive driving. To do this you must:
  • Plead guilty or no contest.
  • Pay your fine plus the court’s administrative fee.
  • Provide proof of valid Texas driver’s license and auto insurance.
• Sign up for a Texas TDLR-approved defensive driving course (online or in person). The class is 6 hours long and must be completed by your court deadline.

Learn more in How to Get a Traffic Ticket Dismissed in Texas.

Texas defensive driving course costs can be anywhere from $30 to $80 depending on the course type and provider. Online courses tend to be less expensive and are legitimate as long as they are TDLR-certified. Also be sure to look at what you get for your money. Some providers with lower fees charge extra for things you need, like audio read-along, or a copy of your electronic certificate. At Traffic Safety Institute, we charge a flat fee of $31, which includes everything you need to complete the course. Plus, you don’t pay a cent until you pass your exam.

If you get a traffic ticket in Bexar County, you can request defensive driving for ticket dismissal by taking the following steps:

• Check Your Eligibility: You must have a valid non-commercial Texas driver’s license, not have taken defensive driving for dismissal in the past 12 months, and your citation must be for an eligible moving violation
• Contact the Court: Before the appearance date on your ticket, contact the court to plead guilty or no contest and request defensive driving. You’ll have to sign an affidavit stating you meet eligibility requirements.
• Pay the Fees: This includes your court fine and the administrative fee for defensive driving. In Bexar County, the fee is $10.
• Wait: You must wait for court approval before starting your course.
• Complete Your Course: Complete a Texas TDLR-approved defensive driving course (6 hours) within 90 days of approval.
• Get Your Type 3A Record: Order your certified Type 3A driving record from the Texas DPS.
• Submit Completion to the Court: Submit both your course completion certificate and driving record to the court by your deadline to have your ticket dismissed.

If you get a ticket in Bexar County, you should check with the court listed on your ticket to ensure you’re eligible for defensive driving. Typically, you are eligible if:

• You have a valid Texas driver’s license or permit.
• You do not hold a commercial driver’ license (CDL), and you weren’t driving a commercial vehicle when cited.
• Your ticket is for an eligible moving violation.
• You have not taken defensive driving for ticket dismissal in the past 12 months (measured from violation date to violation date).

You will likely be ineligible for defensive driving in Texas if your ticket is for:

• Speeding 25 mph or more over the posted limit.
• Speeding 95 mph or faster.
• Passing a school bus that’s loading/unloading.
• Leaving the scene of a collision (hit-and-run).
• A serious traffic offense in a construction zone with workers present.
  Certain other major violations defined by your court.

A TX TDLR defensive driving or driver safety course is 6 hours by Texas law. At Traffic Safety Institute, you can complete the course in your own time, at your own pace. You can complete it all at once, or over the course of several days – whatever works for you!

In Bexar County, you have 90 days from the date your course is approved to complete the course, submit your court copy of the completion certificate, and submit your Type 3A driving record from the Texas DPS.

If you’re taking the course for ticket dismissal, you can take a state-approved defensive driving (driver safety) course once every 12 months. This is measured from violation date to violation date, not from when you finish the course.

If you don’t have a ticket and are taking the course for an insurance discount, you can take it anytime, as often as your insurer allows. Most Texas insurance companies honor a defensive driving certificate for up to 3 years for discounts, after which you can retake it to renew the savings.

Learn more in How Often Can You Take Defensive Driving in Texas?