Dallas Municipal Court: Getting Defensive Driving for Your Ticket
Asking the court, paying it, and filing your paperwork for a City of Dallas ticket, step by step
The short answer
At Dallas Municipal Court you can make the defensive driving request through the court's online portal, by mail or at the clerk's window, and it has to reach the court in time: submit within 21 days of the day you received the citation. The court charges $144 in court costs (details below), and once it approves you have 90 days to finish the course and turn in the court copy of your certificate, your Type 3A driving record and the notarized affidavit.
How to request it, step by step
- Check that your ticket qualifies The eligibility rules are the same at every Texas court: your license, your insurance, the offense and whether you took a course in the past 12 months. Read who is eligible before you pay the court anything.
- Ask Dallas Municipal Court before the deadline The court takes the request through the court's online portal, by mail or at the clerk's window. Deadline: submit within 21 days of the day you received the citation; after 21 days the amount may be higher or the option gone. To ask online, start at the court's online portal. In person: 2014 Main St., Suite 105, Dallas, TX 75201-4406. If the date is close, read the deadlines guide.
- Bring or attach these with the request
- Driving Safety Course Application, form CTS-FRM-765, signed (it includes the plea of guilty or no contest and the jury waiver)
- Copy of a valid Texas driver license, permit, or proof of active military status (non-CDL; other states' licenses not accepted; spouses and dependent children of active-duty military also qualify)
- Copy of current proof of vehicle insurance with your name listed as a driver, valid at the time of request
- Payment of $144 (not in a school zone) or $169 (in a school zone): by mail a cashier's check or money order payable to City of Dallas, with the citation number on it; online by MasterCard or Visa plus a convenience fee
- Verification of Contact Information Form with a valid phone number (online requests only)
- Pay the court $144 for offenses not in a school zone, $169 in a school zone, paid at the time of request. Online requests add a convenience fee. This money goes to the court, not to the course provider.
- Take the course within 90 days Once the court approves your request, take a TDLR-approved 6-hour driving safety course. Ours is online and self-paced, and you pay $27.99 only after you pass.
- Turn in your paperwork Send Dallas Municipal Court the court copy of your certificate, your Type 3A driving record and the notarized affidavit, at the clerk's window or by mail. The affidavit must be notarized. How to get the record is on the Type 3A record page. Keep copies.
- Confirm the dismissal Courts do not always send a letter. Use the court's case lookup to check that your case shows as dismissed.
Dallas Municipal Court at a glance
| How to ask | Through the court's online portal, by mail or at the clerk's window. |
| Deadline to ask | Submit within 21 days of the day you received the citation; after 21 days the amount may be higher or the option gone. |
| Court fee | $144 for offenses not in a school zone, $169 in a school zone, paid at the time of request. Online requests add a convenience fee. |
| Time to finish | 90 days to finish the course and turn in your paperwork. |
| Driving record | Yes, a certified Type 3A driving record from Texas DPS. |
| Affidavit and notary | Yes, the affidavit must be notarized. Ask the clerk whether you can sign it in front of a clerk instead. |
| Turning in paperwork | At the clerk's window or by mail. |
| Address | 2014 Main St., Suite 105, Dallas, TX 75201-4406 |
| Phone | 214-670-0109 |
Good to know
- Online and mail submissions are a request only; the court replies by mail in 5 to 7 business days, and you may not take the class, buy the 3A record or notarize the affidavit before approval (the court can revoke if you do).
- Once approved: enroll in a TDLR course, buy the Type 3A record, and take the affidavit the court gives you (in person or by mail, depending on how you asked) to a Texas notary.
- On or before the 90th day after approval present the signed court copy of the certificate, the record and the notarized affidavit by mail or in person only; fax, email and live chat are not accepted; the postmark date counts; no extensions.
- A judge's review takes 4 to 6 weeks after the due date.
Official Dallas Municipal Court links
TDLR Licensed #CP1094. Nothing to pay until you pass. Certificate reported to TDLR the moment you finish.
Common questions
What does defensive driving cost at Dallas Municipal Court?
$144 for offenses not in a school zone, $169 in a school zone, paid at the time of request. Online requests add a convenience fee. That money goes to the court. The course is a separate fee paid to the course provider, and with us you pay it only after you pass.
How long do I have to finish the course at Dallas Municipal Court?
You get 90 days at Dallas Municipal Court to finish the course and turn in your paperwork. The court tells you the exact due date when it grants your request, so write it down and start early.
Do I need a notary at Dallas Municipal Court?
Yes. At Dallas Municipal Court the affidavit must be notarized. Ask the clerk whether you can sign it in front of a clerk instead, and read the court's notes on this page first.
Can I request defensive driving online at Dallas Municipal Court?
Yes. At Dallas Municipal Court you can make the request through the court's online portal, by mail or at the clerk's window. However you send it, it must reach the court in time: submit within 21 days of the day you received the citation.
What do I turn in to Dallas Municipal Court after the course?
The court copy of your certificate, your Type 3A driving record and the notarized affidavit, delivered at the clerk's window or by mail. Keep copies of everything.
What if I missed the deadline at Dallas Municipal Court?
Contact the court right away at 214-670-0109. The deadline on this page is the court's published rule, and only the court can say what options are left for your case. Our Texas defensive driving deadlines guide explains how the answer date works.
Please note: this guide explains Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 45A, Subchapter H (Articles 45A.351 to 45A.358) in general terms. It is not legal advice. Each court applies the rules to your case, sets its own fees and forms, and makes the final decision. When in doubt, the clerk of the court named on your citation is the authority.