Yes. Our California Traffic School is DMV-licensed and accepted by every traffic court in the state. Completion is reported to the DMV electronically.
California Traffic School Course Online (DMV Licensed)
Accepted by: All 58 California county courts
Dismiss Your Ticket & Remove Points from Your Driving Record!
California DMV Licensed Course — License #E9562
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California Defensive Driving Course Online | CA Traffic Ticket Prevention
ETS Traffic School, together with Finish Traffic School Today, brings California drivers a defensive driving course designed to help keep your California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) driving record clean by teaching accident prevention and defensive driving skills.
In addition, your local California Traffic Court or the California DMV may allow you, with advanced permission, to dismiss a traffic ticket from your driving record by completing this California defensive driving course. Contact your California traffic court or the California Department of Motor Vehicles to determine whether you are eligible for traffic school.
The intended use of this course is for educational purposes only. If you are taking this course for an insurance discount, traffic ticket dismissal, point reduction, or any other purpose, you must seek prior approval from your insurance company, California traffic court, or the governing state agency (i.e., California Department of Motor Vehicles).
California Traffic School Course Online (DMV Licensed)
You got pulled over on the 405 in Los Angeles, the 101 north of San Jose, the 5 south of San Diego, the 99 outside Fresno, or the I-80 corridor through Sacramento — and now you have a moving-violation citation, a court date, and an option to take traffic school. This page walks through exactly how California traffic school online works, how the California Vehicle Code §1808.7 point-masking mechanism actually behaves on your DMV record, who qualifies, who doesn't, what the 18-month rule really says (and what it doesn't), what the course covers, and what a $27.99 ETS California traffic violator school enrollment will and won't do for your insurance and your driving record. No spin, real California statutes, real DMV regulations.
What is California traffic school?
California traffic school — officially Traffic Violator School (TVS) under California Vehicle Code §11205 — is a DMV-licensed driver-improvement course an eligible California-licensed driver completes after receiving a moving-violation citation. Successful completion and court acceptance under §1808.7 keep the resulting conviction confidential from the public view of your California driving record — meaning insurance carriers, employment background checks, and most third parties cannot see it on a routine record pull. Law enforcement and the DMV itself still retain the underlying entry.
A few framing points the marketing for a ca traffic school course doesn't always say cleanly:
California does not "dismiss" tickets through traffic school in the way some other states do. There is no clerk who tosses the citation in a drawer. The conviction is recorded on your DMV record, then marked confidential for public-record purposes under §1808.7. That distinction matters when you compare California traffic school online to a Texas or Tennessee dismissal track — the legal mechanism is point masking, not dismissal. Marketing copy across the industry (including phrases like "traffic school California ticket dismissal" and "ticket dismissal course") uses dismissal as shorthand. The underlying statute is point masking under §1808.7.
The TVS framework runs on two levels and you have to know both. At the court level, the Superior Court that issued the citation decides whether to grant your TVS election. At the DMV level, §1808.7 governs whether the resulting conviction is kept confidential on the public-view record. A driver who is denied at the court level cannot get the conviction masked at the DMV level — meaning if your court has already convicted you and the appeal window has closed, no online traffic school California completion can retroactively shield the point. Order of operations matters.
California publishes its TVS provider list through the DMV's Occupational Licensing program, and every licensed provider carries a number starting with the letter E (E followed by four digits). ETS Traffic School operates under the claimed TVS license #E9562 — always confirm the current active status of any traffic violator school's number through the DMV Occupational Licensing online lookup before relying on it for legal purposes. A provider whose license has lapsed cannot legally generate a certificate the California courts will accept, regardless of how the marketing reads.
Who qualifies for the California traffic school course?
California-licensed drivers (typically Class C) who received an eligible one-point moving violation in California, who have been approved for TVS election by the court that issued the citation, and who have not had a TVS-shielded conviction within the prior 18-month window under CVC §1808.7.
You probably qualify if:
- You hold a valid California driver license issued by the California DMV, typically Class C (non-commercial)
- You got a moving-violation citation in any California county — Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, Alameda, Sacramento, Fresno, Kern, San Francisco, Contra Costa, Ventura, San Mateo, Sonoma, or any other California jurisdiction
- The citation is for an eligible one-point offense — most common cases are speeding under CVC §22349 (the 65 mph maximum), §22350 (the Basic Speed Law), running a red light, unsafe lane change, rolling stop, failure-to-yield, or a hands-free phone violation under §23123.5
- The Superior Court that issued the citation has approved you for TVS election on this case
- You have not completed a TVS-shielded course within the prior 18-month window under §1808.7
- You are searching for a California traffic ticket help track that masks the point without going to a contested traffic trial
You probably do not qualify (or you need a different track) if:
- You hold a Commercial Driver License (CDL) and the citation was issued while you were operating a commercial motor vehicle. 49 CFR §384.226 prohibits states from "masking" a CDL conviction earned in a commercial vehicle through traffic school. The federal regulation is the backstop here — California cannot let you mask a CDL-vehicle conviction even if it wanted to
- You used TVS within the prior 18 months — see the dedicated section below on how the §1808.7 window is measured in current California court and DMV practice
- The citation is for a serious or ineligible offense: DUI under CVC §23152 or §23153, reckless driving under §23103, "wet" reckless under §23103.5, felony hit-and-run under §20001, misdemeanor hit-and-run under §20002, or speeding 25+ mph over the posted limit (including CVC §22348(b) — speeding 100+ mph)
- The citation is for a non-moving violation: parking, equipment, expired registration, or paperwork. No points, no TVS need — and that's what people mean by "what is a non-moving violation" when they search
- The Superior Court explicitly denied your TVS request on this case
Special case for California CDL holders. If you hold a California CDL but the citation was issued in your personal car, motorcycle, or pickup, you may still qualify for California traffic school online on the personal-vehicle citation. After the court processes your TVS completion, follow up with the California DMV's Mandatory Actions Unit (MAU) at (916) 657-6525 to confirm any CDL-side record handling. The MAU handles commercial-license actions on a separate track from the standard TVS process; line hours and queue depth vary, and Pacific-time mornings usually move faster than mid-day. Traffic school for commercial driver CDL questions almost always route through MAU in the end.
Comparison: who this California traffic school online course fits
| Driver situation | $27.99 California TVS course fits? |
|---|---|
| California Class C driver with a one-point speeding citation | Yes — request court TVS approval first |
| California driver who needs to keep an insurance-visible point off the record | Yes — that's the §1808.7 point-masking purpose |
| California driver looking for traffic school for speeding ticket California | Yes if speed is under 25+ over and the court approves TVS |
| California driver with a red light camera ticket traffic school question | Usually yes for civil red-light camera citations; confirm with court |
| California driver with a cell phone ticket traffic school question under §23123.5 | Yes — hands-free citations are typically TVS-eligible |
| California CDL holder cited in a commercial vehicle | No — federal 49 CFR §384.226 masking prohibition |
| California driver cited for DUI / reckless / 25+ over / hit-and-run | No — TVS ineligible, defense counsel track |
| California driver with multiple traffic tickets in one year, second TVS within 18 months | No — §1808.7 limit applies |
| Out-of-state driver with a California ticket | Sometimes — California requires a California-DMV-licensed TVS provider |
How does California's 18-month traffic school rule work?
California Vehicle Code §1808.7 limits how often a California TVS-shielded conviction can be kept confidential from public-record view to once in any 18-month window. In current California court and DMV practice, the window is generally measured from the violation date of your prior eligible ticket to the violation date of your current ticket — not from class-completion dates — but the exact reference point can vary by court interpretation, so confirm with the clerk of the issuing court if your timing is close.
The §1808.7 18-month rule is one of the most-misunderstood pieces of the California TVS framework. A few things worth knowing in plain English:
The 18 months is the limit on how often the public-view masking effect can be applied. Take TVS for a January 2025 violation, get a new citation in March 2026 — that's roughly 14 months between violation dates, and the court will reject your second TVS election (or accept it and the DMV will refuse to mask the new entry) because §1808.7 caps the masking benefit at once-in-18-months. Take TVS for a March 2025 violation and pick up a new citation in October 2026 — that's 19 months between violation dates, which clears the §1808.7 window, and you'd typically qualify again. Can you take traffic school twice? Yes, but not inside that 18-month gap.
The 18-month measurement is violation date to violation date in typical California court and DMV practice — that's how clerks across LA County Superior, San Diego County Superior, Orange County Superior, Riverside County Superior, Alameda County Superior, Santa Clara County Superior, Sacramento County Superior, and San Francisco County Superior interpret the §1808.7 window day-to-day. But "violation date to violation date" is interpretive practice rather than verbatim statute text — the §1808.7 text itself does not spell out the precise reference point in those exact words. If you're inside the 18-month window by a few days or weeks, call the clerk of the court that issued the current citation before you pay any course fee.
The rule applies regardless of which California court issued your prior TVS-shielded ticket. The DMV maintains the central driver record under CVC §1808, so switching California traffic school providers between violations does not reset the §1808.7 clock. Out-of-state defensive driving courses do not count as a California TVS completion and do not start or stop the §1808.7 window.
The two-tier mechanic matters. At the court level, §1808.7 governs whether the court will grant your TVS election. At the DMV level, §1808.7 also governs whether the resulting conviction is marked confidential from public-record view under the CVC §1808 retention framework. A driver who is denied at the court level cannot get the conviction masked at the DMV level — that's not a workaround you can take through a different provider.
If you're not sure whether 18 months have passed, request a copy of your California driving record from the DMV through the myDMV online portal or the current DMV record-request form before paying for online traffic school in California. Your driving record lists prior violation dates and prior traffic violator school completions — the only reliable way to confirm 18-month eligibility for traffic school California ticket dismissal purposes.
On masked-record confidentiality. Once a §1808.7 masked conviction is recorded, current DMV public-record practice keeps the conviction confidential from public view for 32 months from the date of conviction under the broader §1808 retention framework. After that window closes, the entry typically falls off the public-view record entirely — but the DMV's internal record retention can be longer for the underlying conviction. Verify current rules with the DMV before relying on those numbers for a legal purpose.
How does California's traffic ticket point system work?
California assigns points to your driving record for moving-violation convictions under CVC §12810. Most one-point violations carry 1 point; serious violations carry 2 points. Hitting 4 points in 12 months, 6 points in 24 months, or 8 points in 36 months under §12810.5(a) triggers a DMV negligent-operator review and possible license probation, suspension, or revocation. Completing TVS under §1808.7 keeps the conviction off the public-view record so carriers and most third parties cannot see it — answering "does traffic school remove points" with the only honest answer: from the public-view record, yes; from the DMV's internal record, no.
California point assessment for common citations (verified June 2026):
| Violation type | Points | DMV record retention |
|---|---|---|
| Speeding (CVC §22349 — 65 mph max), most moving violations | 1 | 36 months |
| Running a red light | 1 | 36 months |
| Unsafe lane change | 1 | 36 months |
| Rolling stop / failure to stop | 1 | 36 months |
| At-fault collision | 1 | 36 months |
| Hands-free / cell phone violation under §23123.5 (first offense) | 0 — base fine only | n/a |
| Second hands-free conviction within 36 months — point lives in §12810 point schedule as amended by AB 47 (2019), effective July 1, 2021 | 1 | 36 months |
| Standard reckless driving (CVC §23103) | 2 | ~7 years |
| "Wet" reckless (CVC §23103.5) | 2 | 10 years |
| DUI / DWI (CVC §23152, §23153) | 2 | 10 years |
| Felony hit-and-run (CVC §20001) | 2 | 10 years |
| Misdemeanor hit-and-run (CVC §20002) | 1 | 36 months |
| Speeding 100+ mph (CVC §22348(b)) | 2 | 36 months |
| Under-21 zero tolerance (CVC §23136) | varies — see DMV | — |
Negligent operator triggers under CVC §12810.5(a):
- 4 points in 12 months
- 6 points in 24 months
- 8 points in 36 months
Each trigger may result in DMV license probation, suspension, or revocation. A TVS completion under §1808.7 keeps the underlying conviction off the public-view record — meaning the point does not count against the public-view tally that insurance carriers and most background-check services can pull. The conviction does remain on the DMV's internal record visible to law enforcement and to the DMV itself.
On DUI and reckless retention specifically. California's DMV record retention for DUI under §1808 is 10 years from the violation date — not 13. Felony hit-and-run under §20001 is 10 years. Misdemeanor hit-and-run under §20002 is 36 months. Standard reckless under §23103 is roughly 7 years. "Wet" reckless under §23103.5 is 10 years. None of those are TVS-eligible — they require defense counsel, not a $27.99 online course.
How does a California ticket affect your auto insurance?
Most California auto insurers raise premiums after a moving-violation conviction. The size of the increase is set by the carrier under filings reviewed by the California Department of Insurance — there is no single statewide percentage, and this page does not assert one. What §1808.7 does is statutory and specific: if your TVS completion is accepted by the court, the conviction is marked confidential on the DMV's public-view record, so a standard carrier record pull does not return it. That's the speeding ticket consequences math in plain English.
California auto insurance carriers set their own rating factors within the bounds of California Department of Insurance review under California Insurance Code §1861 and related Proposition 103 rules. A fresh one-point moving violation in California typically moves a driver into a higher rating tier at the next renewal, and the conviction stays visible on the public-view DMV record for the duration the DMV keeps the entry public-record (36 months for most one-point moving violations under CVC §1808). The dollar consequence on your specific policy depends on your carrier's filed manual, your prior driving history, your garaging ZIP, the violation type, and whether you carry minimum or full coverage. No California DMV-approved traffic school can promise a specific premium delta on a specific policy — the math is the carrier's, not the course's.
What the §1808.7 mechanism actually delivers is the removal of the conviction from the data set the carrier sees on a standard California driving-record pull. If the carrier cannot see the violation, the carrier cannot price against it. That is the entire commercial case for an online course for traffic ticket dispositions in California, and the entire reason drivers search for an online course to keep ticket off record. The masked-record confidentiality period under §1808 retention practice is 32 months from the date of conviction — after that window closes, the public-view entry typically falls off entirely.
A practical scenario. You picked up a one-point speeding citation on the 405 near LAX. The base fine, plus assessments and surcharges, lands in the $400–$500 range, set by the LA County Superior Court. If you take TVS at $27.99 plus a county TVS administrative fee in the $30–$90 range, your out-of-pocket is roughly $80–$100 for the masking action — answering "how to keep ticket off driving record" with specific California numbers. The alternative — leaving the conviction public-view for 36 months — exposes you to whatever your carrier prices a moving violation at, multiplied over three renewals. Many California drivers conclude that masking is the cheaper move; others price-shop carriers after the conviction posts. Both are rational. The TVS path is fast and statutory.
What does the California traffic school course cover?
California Vehicle Code basics, California speed laws (Basic Speed Law, maximum speed limits, designated 70 mph segments), right-of-way and intersection rules, the California hands-free statute and the AB 47 point amendment, sharing the road with bikes/pedestrians/motorcycles/trucks (including the three-foot bicycle passing rule and motorcycle lane splitting), California-specific driving conditions (Tule fog, wildfire smoke, the Grapevine, Sierra winter), alcohol and drug consequences, the §12810 point schedule and §12810.5(a) negligent-operator triggers, plus a 25-question final exam at 70% to pass — the same curriculum scope every California traffic violation course online has to cover.
Module map:
| Module | California-specific connection |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Code basics and California traffic signs | California Driver Handbook content, CVC §11205 TVS framework |
| Speed laws | §22350 (Basic Speed Law), §22349 (65 mph max), §22356 (70 mph only on Caltrans-designated and signed segments) |
| Right-of-way and intersection rules | §21800 series + pedestrian rules under §21950 |
| Distracted driving and the California hands-free law | §23123.5 (hands-free prohibition) + the AB 47 (2019) amendment to §12810 effective July 1, 2021 (second conviction in 36 months = +1 point in the §12810 schedule) + §23124 under-18 wireless ban |
| Sharing the road | §21760 (three-foot bicycle passing), §21658.1 (motorcycle lane splitting authorized; California Highway Patrol (CHP) safe-practice guidance), §21809 Move Over Law (now covering Caltrans and tow trucks) |
| California-specific driving conditions | Central Valley Tule fog, October wildfire smoke, the Grapevine grade on I-5 north of LA, Sierra Nevada I-80 winter conditions, sun glare on east-west streets in the LA Basin |
| Alcohol and drug consequences | §23152 (DUI 0.08% BAC general / 0.04% CDL under §15278) + §23136 (under-21 zero tolerance) + §23152(f) (any drug DUI) |
| Points and insurance | §12810 point schedule + §12810.5(a) negligent operator + §1808.7 point masking |
California Vehicle Code basics and traffic signs
A refresher on the California Vehicle Code you probably haven't opened since you passed the DMV knowledge test. Right-of-way at uncontrolled intersections, line-marking meanings (solid vs broken yellows, double whites, bike lane buffers), regulatory vs warning sign categories, and the signs most California drivers have started ignoring because they see them every day on local streets. Not a Class C handbook recap — this is the part of the course aimed at drivers who already know how to drive and need the refresh that keeps tickets off the record.
Speed laws — Basic Speed Law and maximum speed limits
California's Basic Speed Law, CVC §22350, is the "reasonable and prudent" rule, enforceable even when you're under the posted limit if road, weather, traffic, or visibility conditions make your speed unsafe. §22349 sets the 65 mph maximum on most California highways. §22356 authorizes 70 mph only on segments specifically designated and signed by Caltrans — meaning the 70 mph signage you sometimes see on I-5 in the Central Valley or on I-10 in the eastern Inland Empire is the §22356 segment, not a default highway speed. Construction zone fine-doubling under §42010 applies when workers are present.
Right-of-way and intersection rules
Most California urban moving-violation citations come from intersection failures. The course works through four-way stop sequencing, T-intersection rules, yield obligations, pedestrian right-of-way at unmarked crosswalks (actively enforced in Berkeley, Santa Monica, Pasadena, and most California college towns under CVC §21950), and the priorities California uses where no signal exists. If you're searching for "failure to yield ticket options" — the underlying behavior pattern lives in this module.
Distracted driving and the California hands-free law
CVC §23123.5 is among the strictest hands-free statutes in the country. Holding a phone at a red light is a violation. Texting at a stop sign is a violation. Tapping a phone mounted on a dash is borderline depending on the tap-or-swipe quantity. First offense carries a base fine but does not add a point under the §12810 schedule. Second conviction within 36 months adds a point — but that point provision lives in the §12810 point schedule as amended by AB 47 (2019), effective July 1, 2021 — not inside §23123.5 itself. That distinction matters when you read citation paperwork; the officer can cite §23123.5 for the underlying prohibition, and the second-offense point comes through §12810 because of the AB 47 amendment. Voice-activated hands-free use is permitted; under-18 drivers face a broader wireless prohibition under §23124.
Sharing the road with bikes, pedestrians, motorcycles, and trucks
The three-foot bicycle passing rule lives at CVC §21760 and is actively enforced from LA bike corridors through Berkeley, San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay flats. Motorcycle lane splitting is legal under §21658.1 with California Highway Patrol safe-practice guidance. The Move Over Law under §21809 now covers law enforcement, emergency vehicles, Caltrans vehicles, and tow trucks displaying flashing lights — slow down or change lanes. Truck blind-spot behavior is covered for California drivers who regularly use the I-5, I-405, I-110, the Grapevine, and the Inland Empire freight corridors (I-10, I-15, I-215).
Driving in California-specific conditions
Central Valley Tule fog dropping visibility below 50 feet on winter mornings between Bakersfield and Sacramento. Wildfire smoke through October across the Bay Area, the Sierra foothills, and Southern California canyons. Sudden Sierra Nevada snow on I-80 east of Sacramento and on US-50 toward Lake Tahoe. Coastal fog north of Half Moon Bay and through the Marin Headlands. Sun glare on east-west streets across the LA Basin at golden hour. Each condition is a Basic Speed Law trigger — meaning you can be cited under §22350 for an unsafe speed even when you're under the posted limit if the conditions demand slower.
Alcohol, drugs, and the consequences
DUI is not TVS-eligible. The course covers DUI anyway because most California drivers underestimate the enforcement and the retention. California per se BAC thresholds: 0.08% for drivers 21 and older under §23152, 0.04% for CDL holders operating commercial vehicles under §15278, and 0.01% for drivers under 21 under §23136 (zero tolerance). §23152(f) covers driving under the influence of any drug regardless of legal status — including cannabis, which is legal to possess in California but not legal to drive on. DUI retention on the DMV record is 10 years from the violation date.
Points, insurance, and the §1808.7 mechanism
The financial math of letting a moving-violation conviction sit on your public-view record vs handling it through TVS. Three-year exposure comparison, the §12810.5(a) negligent-operator math, and the §1808.7 masking mechanism explained in plain English. This module is the one that convinces drivers who were on the fence to actually finish the course.
How do I complete the California traffic school course step-by-step?
Request TVS approval from your court, enroll in the ETS course at $27.99, complete the self-paced material, pass the 25-question final exam at 70% or better, pay the separate county TVS administrative fee directly to the court, and let ETS transmit the electronic DL 535 completion certificate to the DMV under 13 CCR §345.00 et seq.. The point is then marked confidential on the public-view record under CVC §1808.7. That's how to do traffic school California in seven concrete steps.
Step 1 — Request TVS from your court.
Before you spend a dollar, request traffic school election from the Superior Court that issued the citation. Most California county courts accept online TVS requests through their county court portal (LA County, San Diego, Orange, Santa Clara, Alameda, Sacramento, San Francisco all run their own intake systems). Some courts still require a phone call or a mailed form. The court must approve TVS eligibility on your case before the certificate can be applied. If you're wondering how do I sign up for traffic school online — Step 1 happens at the court, not at the school.
Step 2 — Enroll at etstrafficschool.com.
About 3 minutes online. You'll need your court case number, your citation number, and your California driver license number. Course fee is $27.99 — that's the entire ETS California traffic school cost. No hidden add-on certificate fee, no exam-retake gating priced separately.
Step 3 — Work through the chapters at your own pace.
The course is mobile-friendly — phone, tablet, laptop. Each chapter has a short section quiz. Progress saves automatically. You can split the course across multiple sessions or finish it in one sitting. Most California drivers move through the material in 2 to 4 hours of actual screen time, well under the 8-hour curriculum scope. That answers the search for traffic school California fast — the course doesn't fight you on pace.
Step 4 — Pass the final exam.
25 multiple-choice questions, 70% to pass (18 correct out of 25). 1 retake permitted per the current DMV-approved exam structure if you don't clear it on the first attempt. Open-book format. How to pass traffic school test, in one line: read the material, answer carefully, don't rush. What happens if I fail traffic school test? You use your one retake.
Step 5 — Pay the county court's separate TVS administrative fee.
Typically $30–$90, set by your specific Superior Court, paid directly to the courthouse — not to ETS. LA County, Santa Clara, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, Alameda, Sacramento, and San Francisco each set their own administrative fee inside the typical California range. Some courts collect this fee at the time you elect TVS; others bill it after the certificate posts.
Step 6 — ETS transmits the DL 535 electronic completion certificate to the DMV.
The California DMV operates a TVS electronic reporting system. ETS reports your completion to the DMV electronically — the DL 535 electronic completion certificate — under 13 CCR §345.00 et seq.. A printable copy is available the moment you finish the exam so you have a record on your end. Court posting typically follows within several business days; LA County Superior tends to run on the longer end of that range, Bay Area Superior Courts typically post faster. Does online traffic school report to court automatically? Yes — that's the DL 535 path.
Step 7 — The point is masked under §1808.7.
Once the court accepts the completion and the DMV posts the masking action under §1808.7, the conviction is marked confidential on the public-view California driving record. Insurance carriers and most background-check services running a standard record pull will not see the violation. The conviction remains on the DMV's internal record visible to law enforcement and the DMV, and you cannot use TVS again for any new violation within the §1808.7 18-month window.
How much does California traffic school cost?
The ETS California traffic school online course is $27.99 flat — among the cheapest traffic school California price points and the cheapest online traffic school baseline statewide. The county Superior Court charges a separate TVS administrative fee, typically $30–$90, paid directly to the courthouse. Total out-of-pocket lands in the $58–$120 range depending on the county. No state DMV fee is added on top.
Cost breakdown:
| Item | Cost | Who collects it |
|---|---|---|
| ETS California TVS online course | $27.99 | ETS Traffic School |
| County court TVS administrative fee | $30–$90 (varies by county) | Your local California Superior Court |
| State / DMV processing fee | $0 | N/A — no separate state fee |
| Underlying ticket fine (separate from TVS) | $100–$500+ (set on the citation, varies by violation and county) | Court |
| Electronic DL 535 completion certificate to DMV | Included | N/A |
| Printable copy on exam pass | Included | N/A |
Return-on-investment math. Course fee ($27.99) plus a mid-range county TVS fee (say $50–$70) puts your out-of-pocket near $78–$98. The alternative — letting the moving-violation conviction sit on the public-view record for 36 months under CVC §1808 retention — leaves you exposed to whatever your insurance carrier prices the violation at across three policy renewals. The cost of a TVS election is fixed and known; the cost of leaving the point exposed is set by your carrier's filed manual under California Department of Insurance review for the next three years. Many California drivers conclude the TVS election is the cheaper, faster move.
A payment-timing note. Many California courts allow installment payment of the ticket fine itself, and the TVS election can usually be approved alongside the payment plan. The ETS course fee is a single charge at enrollment. The court's fine payment plan and the ETS course fee are independent — a payment arrangement with the court does not block or delay your ability to complete the online course. And on "what happens if you don't pay a traffic ticket" — ignoring the citation triggers a failure-to-appear, license hold, and added court costs. Always handle the citation, even if you're disputing the violation.
Comparison: California TVS options vs related pathways
| Pathway | Approximate cost | What it does | Who decides outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETS California TVS online course at $27.99 | $27.99 + county TVS fee | Masks one eligible point under §1808.7 | Superior Court + DMV |
| Contesting the ticket at traffic trial | $0 court fee + counsel cost (varies) | Acquittal removes conviction entirely | Judge / commissioner |
| California Mature Driver course (drivers 55+) | Separate course, separate purpose | Voluntary insurance discount under Insurance Code §11628.3 | Auto insurer |
| Out-of-state defensive driving course | Varies | Generally not accepted in California | n/a — California court rejects |
| In-person classroom traffic school | Higher per session | Same legal effect | Superior Court + DMV |
| Doing nothing | $0 immediate | Conviction posts to public-view record for 36 months | Carrier prices next renewal |
That last row is honest math. A "free" path that costs you three years of premium pricing on the public-view record is rarely actually free. Online vs in-person traffic school — same legal effect under §1808.7; the online path is usually cheaper and faster.
Where in California is the ETS traffic school course accepted?
All 58 California counties. Every California county Superior Court accepts certificates from active DMV-licensed TVS providers. The ETS license (claimed #E9562 — confirm via DMV Occupational Licensing) is statewide.
The course is the same statewide — the California Vehicle Code is uniform, the §1808.7 mechanism is uniform, and the DMV regulations at 13 CCR §345.00 et seq. apply statewide. What varies court-by-court is the administrative fee, the intake portal, and the posting turnaround. Where can I take traffic school near me online? Anywhere in California with a phone or laptop — same course, same DMV reporting.
Major California county Superior Courts and what to expect:
- Los Angeles County Superior Court — one of the highest-volume traffic case dockets in the state, serving the LA Basin, the San Fernando Valley, the South Bay, and the eastern Antelope Valley. LA County Superior posting times tend to run on the longer end (commonly several business days through a couple of weeks; confirm with the courthouse handling your specific citation). High-volume search intent: Los Angeles traffic school online, online traffic school Los Angeles, cheap traffic school Los Angeles, Los Angeles online driving course online, online online driving course Los Angeles, cheap online driving course Los Angeles. The course is the same one
- San Diego County Superior Court — San Diego traffic school online certificates typically post in a few business days. Covers San Diego, Chula Vista, Oceanside, Escondido, El Cajon, and the I-5 / I-8 / I-15 corridors. Search intent: online traffic school San Diego, cheap traffic school San Diego, San Diego online driving course online, online online driving course San Diego, cheap online driving course San Diego
- Orange County Superior Court — Santa Ana, Anaheim, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach. High citation volume off the 405, 5, 55, 22, and 91. Mid-range posting times
- Santa Clara County Superior Court — Bay Area courthouse serving San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, and Mountain View. Generally quick electronic posting. Search intent: San Jose traffic school online, online traffic school San Jose, cheap traffic school San Jose, San Jose online driving course online, online online driving course San Jose, cheap online driving course San Jose
- San Francisco County Superior Court — handles San Francisco citations including those off the 101, the 280, and through Golden Gate Park. Search intent: San Francisco traffic school online, online traffic school San Francisco, cheap traffic school San Francisco, San Francisco online driving course online, online online driving course San Francisco, cheap online driving course San Francisco
- Alameda County Superior Court — Oakland, Berkeley, Hayward, Fremont, Pleasanton. Bay Area court; generally quick electronic posting
- Riverside County Superior Court — Inland Empire (Riverside, Moreno Valley, Corona, Temecula, Indio). High commute-related citation volume off the 91, the 60, the I-10, the I-15, and the 215. Search intent: Riverside traffic school online, online traffic school Riverside, cheap traffic school Riverside, Riverside online driving course online, online online driving course Riverside, cheap online driving course Riverside
- San Bernardino County Superior Court — Inland Empire (San Bernardino, Fontana, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Victorville). I-10, I-15, and the 210 corridor enforcement
- Sacramento County Superior Court — capital region, covering Sacramento, Elk Grove, Roseville (partial), and the I-5 / I-80 corridor through downtown. Generally quick electronic posting. Search intent: Sacramento traffic school online, online traffic school Sacramento, cheap traffic school Sacramento, Sacramento online driving course online, online online driving course Sacramento, cheap online driving course Sacramento
- Fresno County Superior Court — Central Valley. Mid-range posting times. High volume off Highway 99 and Highway 41. Search intent: Fresno traffic school online, online traffic school Fresno, cheap traffic school Fresno, Fresno online driving course online, online online driving course Fresno, cheap online driving course Fresno
- Kern County Superior Court — Bakersfield, Delano, Ridgecrest. Search intent: Bakersfield traffic school online, online traffic school Bakersfield, cheap traffic school Bakersfield, Bakersfield online driving course online, online online driving course Bakersfield, cheap online driving course Bakersfield
The course is accepted statewide — Contra Costa County, San Mateo County, Marin County, Sonoma County, Monterey County, San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County, Ventura County, San Joaquin County, Stanislaus County, Tulare County, Placer County, El Dorado County, Yolo County, Solano County, Napa County, Mendocino County, Humboldt County, Shasta County, Imperial County, Long Beach city limits inside LA County, and every other California county. Doesn't matter if you got the ticket in the LA Basin, on the 101 north of San Jose, on I-80 east of Sacramento, on the 5 grade through the Grapevine, on the 405 in Orange County, on the 8 east of San Diego, or off Highway 99 in the Central Valley. The course is statewide. The best traffic school California option for your situation is the one your court accepts, you can actually finish, and that won't burn you on fees.
About this page
This California traffic school online page was written and reviewed for the California Traffic Violator School course offered by ETS Traffic School at etstrafficschool.com. ETS Traffic School operates under the claimed California DMV TVS license #E9562 — confirm the current active status of any provider's license through the California DMV Occupational Licensing online lookup before relying on the number for legal purposes.
Statutory references on this page (§11205, §1675, §1676, §1808, §1808.7, §12810, §12810.5(a), §15278, §20001, §20002, §21658.1, §21760, §21800, §21809, §21950, §22348(b), §22349, §22350, §22356, §23103, §23103.5, §23123.5, §23124, §23136, §23152, §23153, §42010; 13 CCR §345.00 et seq.; 49 CFR §384.226) were verified against the current California legislative text on leginfo.legislature.ca.gov and against current California DMV guidance as of June 2026.
Assembly Bill 47 (2019) took effect July 1, 2021; the second-hands-free-conviction point provision lives in the §12810 negligent-operator point schedule, as amended by AB 47, not inside §23123.5 itself.
DUI/DWI record retention on the California driving record is 10 years from the violation date under the §1808 framework. Felony hit-and-run under §20001 is 10 years; misdemeanor hit-and-run under §20002 is 36 months; standard reckless under §23103 is approximately 7 years; "wet" reckless under §23103.5 is 10 years.
Premium-impact discussion on this page is intentionally general because California auto insurers set rating factors individually under California Department of Insurance review (Proposition 103 framework under California Insurance Code §1861). No carrier-specific percentage is asserted. Court turnaround times reference the California Highway Patrol and Judicial Council operational context as of June 2026.
Last reviewed: June 2026
Next scheduled review: December 2026 (or sooner if California TVS regulations under 13 CCR §345.00 et seq. or §1808.7 are amended)
Ready to enroll?
$27.99 — California traffic school online, DMV-licensed TVS under California Vehicle Code §11205 (claimed license #E9562, confirm via DMV Occupational Licensing). Self-paced, mobile-friendly, 25-question final at 70% to pass, electronic DL 535 completion certificate transmitted to the DMV under 13 CCR §345.00 et seq., and one eligible moving-violation point masked under §1808.7.
Enroll in the California Traffic School Online course
Questions before you enroll? Check the ETS Traffic School support center or call our California support line during business hours.