How to Ask a Texas Court for Defensive Driving
The request, the plea, the court fee and what to turn in, step by step
The whole process in one paragraph
On or before the answer date on your citation, you tell the court in writing that you want to take a driving safety course, you enter a plea of no contest or guilty for that purpose, you show your Texas license and proof of insurance, and you pay the court costs plus an administrative fee of up to $10. The court grants the request and gives you a deadline, normally 90 days. You take the 6-hour TDLR-approved course, then turn in the certificate of completion, a certified Type 3A driving record and a short affidavit. The court dismisses the charge and no conviction goes on your record.
Step by step
- Check that your ticket qualifies Ordinary moving violations do. CDL holders, 25-plus over, school bus and work-zone-with-workers tickets do not. The full list is on who is eligible.
- Find your answer date It is printed on the citation, usually 10 to 21 days after the stop. Everything below has to happen on or before that date. If it is close, read the deadlines guide first.
- Make the request in writing Most courts have a one-page form called a Request for Driving Safety Course. You can hand it in at the clerk's window, have a lawyer do it, send it by certified mail with return receipt postmarked by the answer date, or use the court's online portal where one exists. Since September 1, 2025 the statute requires the request to be in writing, so a phone call alone is not enough.
- Enter the plea The request is paired with a plea of no contest (nolo contendere) or guilty. This is normal and it is how the dismissal works: the court holds the plea, and if you finish the course on time the charge is dismissed instead of being entered as a conviction.
- Show license and insurance, pay the court Bring your Texas driver license and proof of liability insurance in your name. You pay the court costs on the citation plus a reimbursement fee of not more than $10 for the course option. Court costs vary by court and offense; as one published example, Coppell Municipal Court lists $144 for a standard moving violation. This money goes to the court, not to the course provider.
- Get the order and the deadline The court grants the request and tells you the date by which your paperwork must be in, normally 90 days from the order. Write that date down.
- Take the course Any TDLR-approved 6-hour driving safety course counts. Ours is online, self-paced, and you pay $25 only after you pass.
- Order your Type 3A driving record The court needs the certified record from DPS showing you have not used a course in the past 12 months. Order it yourself from DPS, or have us process it for you when you finish. Details on the Type 3A record page.
- Turn everything in before the deadline The court copy of your certificate of completion, the Type 3A record, and the affidavit (most courts include it on the request form) stating you have not taken a course in the past 12 months. Deliver them the way the court told you: in person, by mail, or through its portal. Keep copies.
- Confirm the dismissal Courts do not always send a letter. Call or check the court's online case lookup a week or two after you file. You want to hear the word dismissed.
What to say to the clerk
Keep it simple: "I would like to request a driving safety course for dismissal under Article 45A.352." The clerk will hand you the form, tell you the court costs, and confirm the answer date. If you have more than one citation from the same stop, say so and ask that the request cover each eligible charge, since one course can now dismiss all of them.
Driving safety course or deferred disposition?
Courts often offer both. Deferred disposition is a probation period (usually up to 180 days) set by the court, sometimes with its own conditions, after which the charge is dismissed. The driving safety course route is the one you are entitled to by statute when you qualify, takes about 6 hours of your time, and is what insurers and courts think of as defensive driving. Some courts let you combine them. If the clerk offers deferred disposition instead, ask what it costs and what the conditions are before choosing.
TDLR Licensed #CP1094. Nothing to pay until you pass. Certificate reported to TDLR the moment you finish.
Common questions
Do I have to plead guilty to take defensive driving in Texas?
You enter a plea of no contest or guilty as part of the request. The court holds it while you complete the course. When you turn in your certificate and driving record on time the charge is dismissed, so no conviction is entered.
Can I request defensive driving online in Texas?
Many municipal and justice courts accept the request through their online payment portal or by email, and the statute allows any electronic method the court approves. Others still require the form in person or by certified mail. Check the court named on your citation.
How much does the court charge for the defensive driving option in Texas?
You pay the court costs on the citation plus a reimbursement fee capped at $10 by statute. Court costs vary by court and offense and are often in the range of a hundred to a couple of hundred dollars. The course itself is a separate fee paid to the provider.
What do I turn in to the court after finishing the course?
The court copy of your uniform certificate of completion, a certified Type 3A driving record from DPS, and the affidavit stating you have not completed a course in the preceding 12 months. Deliver them before the deadline the court gave you.
Can I start the course before the court approves my request?
Yes. Nothing stops you from starting or even finishing the course early. Just make sure the request itself reaches the court on or before the answer date, because that is the step that preserves the dismissal.
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.