Am I eligible for traffic school in California?

Common Tickets That Are Usually Eligible

Traffic school is commonly approved for everyday driving mistakes, including:

• Speeding tickets (as long as your speed was not more than 25 mph over the limit)
• Rolling or incomplete stops at stop signs
• Failure to obey traffic signals
• Unsafe lane changes
• Improper turns
• Following too closely

If your citation looks like one of these, and you have not used traffic school recently, eligibility is very common, pending court approval.

How Eligibility Works in California

In California, traffic school eligibility is ultimately determined by the court handling your ticket, using guidelines set by the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Traffic school is designed to protect drivers from insurance increases after occasional mistakes, not to excuse repeated or serious violations.

You Are Generally Eligible If:

• You have a valid driver's license
• Your citation is an eligible one-point moving violation
• You have not attended traffic school in the last 18 months (measured from violation date to violation date)
• The violation is not classified as a serious offense
• The court authorizes traffic school and any required administrative fee is paid

Commercial License vs. Commercial Vehicle (Important Clarification)

In California, traffic school eligibility depends on the type of vehicle you were driving at the time of the violation, not simply whether you hold a commercial driver's license.

• If you hold a commercial license but were driving a non-commercial vehicle, traffic school may still be allowed and point masking may apply, if all other eligibility requirements are met.
• If you were driving a commercial vehicle at the time of the violation, traffic school cannot be used to mask the point, even if the court allows attendance for educational purposes.

Because this distinction is often misunderstood, commercial drivers should always confirm eligibility directly with the court before enrolling.

Common Reasons Drivers Are Not Eligible

• You used traffic school for another citation within the past 18 months
• The violation is a major or two-point offense
• You were driving a commercial vehicle at the time of the violation
• The court has explicitly denied traffic school for that citation

Expert Insight

"Most drivers I speak with are worried unnecessarily. If the ticket is for a common moving violation like moderate speeding or rolling a stop sign, eligibility is very common. The key is confirming court approval and completing traffic school correctly and on time."

Eric Creditor, DMV Licensed Traffic School Operator

What to Do Next

To confirm eligibility and avoid mistakes:

• Review your citation or court paperwork
• Check the court's online case portal, if available
• If unclear, contact the court clerk directly
• Once approved, complete a DMV-approved traffic school by your deadline

Bottom Line

If your ticket was for a routine driving mistake, like speeding or a rolling stop, traffic school is very likely an option, provided you meet the basic requirements and the court approves it.

This FAQ is provided for informational purposes and was verified on 1/27/2026. Always confirm eligibility with the California court handling your citation.