How Often Can I Take Traffic School for a Florida Ticket?

Understanding Florida's Traffic School Limits

• 12-Month Limit: You cannot elect traffic school if you made a previous election within the preceding 12 months. The waiting period is based on election dates, not course completion dates or calendar years.
• Lifetime Limit: You can make no more than eight voluntary BDI elections during your lifetime.
• Commercial License Exclusion: Drivers holding a Commercial Driver License (CDL) or Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) cannot elect BDI traffic school, even when driving a personal vehicle.
• Required Courses: Court-ordered or state-required driver improvement courses are separate from voluntary BDI elections and generally do not count toward the voluntary BDI limits.

Expert Insight

"If you've taken traffic school before, you may be unsure when you can use it for another ticket. The date that matters is when you last formally elected traffic school through the court, not when you completed the course. Checking your election history can help you avoid an eligibility mistake."

Eric Creditor
Co-Founder, TrafficSchool.com

How Can You Check Your Traffic School History?

Florida tracks traffic school elections statewide, regardless of which counties issued your tickets.

You can request your complete driving record from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) to check your previous traffic school elections. You can also contact the Clerk of Court handling your current ticket to confirm your eligibility.

What If You Elect Traffic School but Don't Complete It?

If you elect traffic school but fail to complete the course, you may face points being assessed, additional fees, and possible license suspension. And the election can still count toward both your 12-month and eight-election lifetime limits, even if you never finish the course.

Bottom Line

Florida allows eligible drivers to choose traffic school once every 12 months, with a lifetime limit of eight elections.

Before enrolling, check your traffic school history, confirm your eligibility, and formally elect traffic school with the Clerk of Court handling your ticket within 30 days of the citation date.

This FAQ is provided for informational purposes and was last updated: October 15, 2026. Always confirm your eligibility, election history, deadlines, and case-specific requirements with the Florida Clerk of Court handling your citation.