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Traffic Survival School & Point Reduction Guide
Common Questions About Defensive Driving School in Arizona
Defensive driving school removes up to 3 points from your Arizona driving record. If your violation was worth fewer than 3 points, that number is removed. For example, a 1-point violation removes 1 point, a 2-point violation removes 2 points, and anything 3 points or higher removes 3 points maximum.
No. Arizona's once-every-12-months rule means you can only use defensive driving school once per calendar year, regardless of how many traffic violations you receive. If you have multiple violations, you must choose which one to dismiss using this program.
Yes. If you complete the course successfully and submit your certificate to the court within their deadline, your traffic citation is completely dismissed. The violation will not appear on your driving record as a conviction.
Timeframes vary by court, but most courts require completion within 30-60 days of court approval. Your court will specify the deadline when you request diversion. Missing the deadline means you'll owe the original fine, so it's important to enroll promptly and plan to complete the course quickly.
No. If the ticket is dismissed, neither the original violation nor the fact that you took defensive driving school appears on your MVD driving record. Your record will be clean as if the violation never happened.
No. Defensive driving school is not available for serious violations like DUI, extreme speeding (20+ mph over the limit), reckless driving, hit and run, or commercial driver's license violations. For these violations, you must either pay the fine or contest the ticket in court.
If you don't pass the final exam (typically 70% or higher is required), you can retake it. Most schools allow unlimited retakes at no additional cost. However, if you fail repeatedly and your court deadline passes, you'll need to pay the original fine.
No. If you successfully complete defensive driving school and have your ticket dismissed, you don't pay the original fine. Instead, you pay the course fee ($165-$195) and the court diversion fee ($150-$200), for a total of $300-$395. The original fine is waived.
No. Defensive driving school is not available for commercial driver's license holders. CDL violations must be handled through other means. If you have a CDL and receive a traffic violation, consult with an attorney about your options, as some violations can result in CDL suspension.
Defensive driving school is voluntary, for dismissing a single ticket, and lasts 4-5 hours. Traffic Survival School is mandatory when you accumulate too many points, doesn't dismiss tickets, and lasts 8 hours. Learn more in our Traffic Survival School guide.
Arizona defensive driving courses are 4-5 hours. Online courses can be completed in 1-3 sessions depending on how you break them up. Classroom courses are typically one 4-5 hour session or two 2-2.5 hour sessions.
No. Arizona's defensive driving school program only applies to violations that occurred in Arizona. Out-of-state violations must be handled according to the laws of the state where the violation occurred. Contact that state's court for your options.
You don't need to travel to your court. You can request diversion by phone, mail, or online (depending on the court's options). Once approved, you take your online course from home or visit a classroom location convenient to you. After completion, submit your certificate by mail or electronically.
Most online courses issue certificates immediately upon passing the final exam. Classroom courses issue them the same day. You can then submit your certificate to your court the same day or shortly after. Some courts accept electronic submission; others require mail or in-person delivery.
Defensive driving school removes points from your record, which can prevent license suspension if you're approaching the threshold (4 points in 12 months causes suspension). However, if you've already accumulated enough points to trigger mandatory suspension, you'd need Traffic Survival School instead to potentially reduce the suspension period.
No, if your ticket is dismissed, insurance companies won't know about it because the violation doesn't appear on your record. The dismissal is what matters for your insurance rates—the fact that you took a course is invisible to them.
The court that issued your traffic citation. The court name and location are on your citation. Call them directly to request diversion. Most courts handle these requests quickly and will tell you if your violation qualifies.
Most schools offer refunds if you don't start the course, but the court diversion fee is typically non-refundable. If you start the course but don't complete it, refund policies vary by school. Always check a school's refund policy before enrolling.
Tempe Municipal Court
Phoenix Municipal Court
Chandler Municipal Court
Goodyear Municipal Court