How it Works: 4-Hour Driving Course in Florida

The whole traffic school and driving course process can be confusing. This guide covers the Florida 4-hour Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) course. Take this course if you’ve received a non-criminal minor traffic ticket or have been ordered by the court to complete a BDI course. You may also take this course voluntarily to receive an insurance discount.

How to Remove Points from Your Driving Record

1. Contact your court and request permission to take traffic school.

Unless your court has ordered you to attend a driver improvement course, you will need to inform them of your wishes to take traffic school in lieu of license points. To submit your request to the court, you may either appear in person by the date indicated or submit a request by mail. To request traffic school by mail:

• Indicate on your citation your intention to attend a traffic school course
• Complete the affidavit given with your citation envelope
• Have your signature on the affidavit notarized
• Mail in your citation and affidavit within 30 days to the county clerk’s office where you received the citation

You will be eligible and should be granted permission providing that:

• You have not taken traffic school within the past 12 months
• You do not hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL)
• You have contacted the court within 30 days of receiving your traffic ticket

You must still pay your ticket fine, which is typically done at the time you request traffic school. You must also pay a court election fee, which varies by county.

2. Enroll in and complete your Florida Pro Driving Academy course.

3. Submit your completion certificate to the court within the deadline specified.

Each court will give directions on how they wish your certificate to be submitted (fax, mail, in person, etc.), and each will give you a time frame after you’ve finished your course within which to submit your certificate.

Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will forward your completion to the Florida County Clerks upon our submission of your completion.   

4. Check your driving record to verify your point reduction.

Make sure your local Florida driving office has received your completion certificate and has given you credit for your traffic school course. Though the violation will remain on your record, the points associated with it should be removed.