Can I go to traffic school if I got a speeding ticket? (California)

Expert Insight

"Speeding tickets are one of the most common reasons drivers attend traffic school. Most drivers qualify. Where confusion arises is with higher speeds. Once you exceed the automatic eligibility threshold, approval becomes a judicial decision rather than an administrative one, and certain violations are never eligible at all."

Eric Creditor, DMV Licensed Traffic School Operator

What "Eligible Speeding" Usually Means

In California, traffic school eligibility is not based on the word "speeding" alone. It depends on how fast you were going and how the violation is classified by the court.

Most standard speeding citations are one-point moving violations and are commonly approved for traffic school, including:

• Moderate speeding over the posted limit
• Speeding cited under California's Basic Speed Law
• Typical freeway or surface-street speeding

However, speed matters when it comes to automatic approval.

If you were speeding more than 25 mph over the posted limit, traffic school is not automatically approved. In these cases, a judge may still allow traffic school, but approval is discretionary and not guaranteed.

Important exception: any speed over 100 mph is a two-point violation and is not eligible for traffic school, even with judicial approval.

Final eligibility is always determined by the court handling your citation.

Important Eligibility Notes

Even with a speeding ticket, traffic school eligibility depends on several additional factors:

• Court Approval: The court must authorize traffic school, and the administrative fee must be paid.
• 18-Month Rule: Traffic school is typically allowed once every 18 months, measured from violation date to violation date.
• Vehicle Type: Non-commercial drivers are generally eligible if other requirements are met. Commercial drivers may attend traffic school only if the citation occurred in a non-commercial vehicle. In that case, the conviction is confidential for insurance purposes but remains visible to the DMV and the employer for CDL purposes.
• License Status: Your driver's license must have been valid and not suspended at the time of the violation.
• Violation Type: The ticket must be an eligible one-point moving violation. Two-point violations, including speeding over 100 mph, are not eligible.

A Note on "Point Masking"

Traffic school is commonly described as "point masking." Legally, the conviction is recorded as confidential under California Vehicle Code 1808.7. This means insurance companies and the general public cannot see the violation.

If you receive a second ticket for a violation occurring within 18 months of the first, you will not be eligible to mask the second ticket. That second ticket will result in a visible point on your record. The first traffic-school-masked conviction remains confidential permanently.

Bottom Line

If you received a speeding ticket in California, there is a strong chance you are eligible for traffic school, especially for routine or moderate speeding. Traffic school does not erase the ticket, but when approved, it permanently protects your insurance from that conviction.

To avoid issues:

• Review the speed listed on your citation
• Confirm eligibility with your specific court
• Complete an approved traffic school course by the deadline
• Verify that your completion is properly submitted to the court and DMV

This FAQ is provided for informational purposes and was verified on 2/10/2026. Always confirm eligibility with the California court handling your citation.