How often can you take traffic school in California?

What does "18 months" actually mean?

The 18-month clock starts on the date of the violation listed on your ticket, not:

• the date you completed traffic school
• the date you paid the fine
• the court appearance date

It ends 18 months later, meaning you can only take traffic school again for a new violation that occurs after that 18-month period.

Example

• First ticket violation date: March 1, 2025
• Earliest next eligible ticket violation date: September 1, 2026

If your second ticket is dated before September 1, 2026, you are generally not eligible for traffic school again.

Why California uses the violation date

California uses the violation date because it creates a consistent, court-verifiable rule across all counties. Completion dates can vary based on extensions, payment delays, or court processing, but the violation date is fixed and objective.

Expert Insight

"As a licensed operator, I see drivers get tripped up when they focus on their traffic school completion date instead of the ticket's violation date. Remember, the court and DMV keep a permanent record of every violation's issue date. Using the violation date is the key when calculating the 18-month window."

Eric Creditor, DMV Licensed Traffic School Operator

Important eligibility notes

• Traffic school is typically allowed only for one-point moving violations
• Court approval is required
• You must not have used traffic school within the prior 18-month violation window
• The ticket must not be for a serious offense (such as DUI)

Commercial drivers

Drivers holding a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) should be especially careful. Even when traffic school is allowed, it only prevents the negligent operator point from being added for insurance purposes. The violation still appears on the commercial driving record. Rules and outcomes can differ, so CDL holders should always confirm eligibility with the court.

What if you are not eligible due to the 18-month rule?

If you are within the 18-month window and traffic school is not allowed, you may still have options depending on the court, such as:

• requesting a fine reduction
• contesting the ticket
• appearing in court to ask about alternative outcomes

Ultimately, the court handling your citation may provide other ways to reduce the impact of the ticket, even if traffic school is not an option.

Bottom Line

If you are trying to protect your driving record or insurance, always check the violation date first. That single date determines whether traffic school is even an option.

When in doubt, you may check with your court, but if you have tickets from different courts or counties, it is your responsibility to track them. Being aware of your violation dates gives you the best chance to protect your record.

This FAQ is provided for informational purposes and was verified on 2/3/2026. Always confirm eligibility with the California court handling your citation.