Driver License Information - Florida motor vehicle Traffic School

Basic Driver Improvement Courses

Reasons for Attending Basic Driver Improvement

You must complete a basic driver improvement course (Traffic Collision Avoidance Course) if you want to retain your driver license in the following circumstance:

you were a driver in a crash and are found at fault and

someone was transported to the hospital or

you had two crashes in a two-year period, which resulted in property damage greater than $50.

If you receive a ticket for a non-criminal moving violation, you may elect to attend a basic driver improvement course in lieu of points on your driving record.

In some cases, you may choose to attend a basic driver improvement course to receive insurance discounts. This discount is solely at the discretion of your insurance company.

Electing to Attend Traffic School

If, as a result of a moving violation, you elect to attend and complete a basic driver improvement course, you will receive the following benefits:

Your insurance rates cannot go up and your policy cannot be cancelled because of this violation, unless this involved a crash where you were at fault.

Points may not be added to your driver license record, adjudication of guilt is withheld, safe driver status is maintained if applicable, and the fine is reduced up to 18%. You may not make an election under this subsection if you have made this election in the preceding 12 months. A person may make no more than five elections in their lifetime.

Within 30 days from the date your received the traffic citation and prior to attending class, you must:

inform the Clerk of Court in the county where you received the citation that you want to go to traffic school, and
pay an election fee to the Clerk of Court in the county where you received the citation.

You may contact the traffic school of your choice to register for class. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles must approve the course. Traffic schools are listed in your local telephone directory under “driving instruction” or “traffic schools.” Approved course providers are also listed below. To locate an approved on-line basic driver improvement course, please use your web browser to search the Internet, refer to your local telephone directory, or contact the course providers listed below.

A full list of your options for satisfying your traffic citation is on the back of the citation. You are required to choose one of the three options within 30 days of receiving the citation.

Points

If you choose to pay the civil penalty or are adjudicated guilty by a judge, your driver record will be assessed as follows:
Moving Violations 3 points
Speeding 15 m.p.h or less over posted speed 3 points
Speeding more than 15 m.p.h. over posted speeds 4 points
Passing stopped school bus 4 points
Moving violation (non-speeding) resulting in an crash 4 points
Unlawful speed resulting in a crash 6 points
Reckless driving (criminal traffic violation) 4 points
Leaving scene of crash with damage 6 points
Littering 3 points
Violation of child restraint laws 3 points

If you accumulate:

12 points in 12 months, your license will be suspended for 30 days;
18 points within 18 months results in a 3 month suspension;
24 points within 36 months results in a 12 month suspension.

Drivers 15-17 Years Old

If you are driving with a Florida learner’s license, you must hold it for at least 12 months without a traffic conviction before you may apply for an operator’s license. You may avoid conviction by electing to attend and completing a basic driver improvement course approved by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

If you are driving with a Florida learner’s license or a Florida operator’s license and you receive 6 points, you are restricted to driving for business purposes only for 12 months or until you reach the age of 18. Restriction time is increased if additional points are accumulated. You may avoid conviction by electing to attend and completing a basic driver improvement course approved by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Traffic schools are listed in your local telephone directory under “driving instruction” or “traffic schools.” Approved course providers are also listed below.
To locate an approved on-line basic driver improvement course, please use your web browser to search the Internet, refer to your local telephone directory, or contact the course providers listed below.

Basic Driver Improvement Course Providers:

The following is a list of approved course providers. Those providers who are approved to offer their course statewide may or may not offer schools in your area. Call to locate a school near you.

American Safety Council
Statewide
800-771-2255

American Safety Institute
Statewide
800-800-7121

Drive Safe Online.Com
Statewide
888-611-1112

Driver Training Associates-Floridasfirsttrafficschool.com
Statewide
800-937-9533

Florida Educational Driving School
Broward
954-345-5455

Florida Safety Council
Statewide
800-372-3335

IDriveSafely
Statewide
800-723-1955

Improv Comedy Traffic Schools of Florida
Statewide
888-889-9604

Lowest Price Traffic School, Lowestpriceschool.com & Laescuelitabarat.com pick Internet, Video, or Classroom – 100 Florida Locations
Statewide
800-729-2495

National Safety Council
Statewide
800-237-0676

NTSITraining.Com
Statewide
800-654-6874

South Florida Safety Program
Statewide
305-255-7118

USA Training Company
Statewide
866-531-9055

Wise Basic Driver Improvement Course
Brevard & Seminole
321-253-2354