Does traffic school remove the ticket from my record? (California)

Expert Insight

"As a licensed operator, I find drivers are often confused by the terminology. The court and DMV will always retain a record of the ticket for legal purposes. However, the masking benefit is what protects your wallet. By completing an approved traffic school course, insurance companies and other non-authorized third parties do not see the point."

Eric Creditor, DMV Licensed Traffic School Operator

Important Eligibility Notes

In California, point masking is generally available once every 18 months, measured from violation date to violation date. Eligibility also depends on the following:

• Court Approval: The court handling your citation must authorize traffic school, and the administrative fee must be paid.
• Vehicle Type: You were not driving a commercial vehicle at the time of the violation.
• Violation Type: The ticket must be an eligible one-point moving violation (not a major offense such as a DUI).

Bottom Line

If your goal is to protect your insurance, traffic school is doing exactly what it is designed to do. To ensure the masking benefit is applied correctly:

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

This FAQ is provided for informational purposes and was verified on 1/8/2026. Always confirm eligibility with the California court handling your citation.