If you're on this page, it probably means you got a traffic ticket or need to reduce points on your driving record. I mean, let's face it - nobody takes online traffic school by choice, right?
So, with that in mind, let's go over the 10 best online traffic schools you can sign up for. While we have our own recommended courses, any of the 10 online traffic schools listed below will work as long as it is certified in your state.
Before I get into more detailed reviews, here are the courses that we recommend most:
Quick List Of The Top 10 Best Online Traffic Schools
1. iDriveSafely
iDriveSafely is one of the oldest online traffic schools. They have been in business for more than 20 years and have served more than 5,000,000 drivers.
Improv Traffic School knows traffic school is boring. That's why they created a comedy based online traffic school featuring stand-up comedians.
Go To Traffic School guarantees to be the cheapest online traffic school. They have also had decades of experience and are approved in many states.
Approved Course is a family run online traffic school that is only certified in the state of Texas. Using this school supports a small business.
6. NTSI
NTSI has been in business for 40 years and provides several different types of online driver training including DUI and reckless driving courses.
DriversEd.com is best known for their online driver's ed courses, but they also operate online traffic schools for ticket dismissal.
Traffic School Online prides themselves on having no hidden fees like many other online traffic schools have, and they offer a money back guarantee.
Traffic School To Go is a great online traffic school for those on a budget as they offer a lowest price guarantee, but it's still a quality course.
10. Get Defensive
Get Defensive is a mobile friendly online traffic school that is also the fastest course allowed by law. They also offer a lowest price guarantee.
Detailed Online Traffic School Reviews
Now that you've seen the quick list of the 10 best online traffic schools, I thought I'd give more detailed reviews for those who still want some more information before deciding. So, here is some additional info on each online traffic school listed above.
iDriveSafely Review
iDriveSafely is my top pick for the best online traffic school. This is just a well-rounded online traffic school and overall, it's got everything going for it.
They are approved in a lot of states and have been in business for decades. With more than 5,000,000 students having "graduated" their courses, they have to be doing something right.
The best aspect of iDriveSafely is how easy the course is to complete. They have the fastest online traffic schools allowed by state law depending on where you live.
In some states, such as California, there aren't even any course timers. You can literally just blast through the course as fast as you can. Some people claim to get through it in an hour when it would usually take 6 hours in a classroom.
They also have a pretty good customer support team based right here in the United States that you can reach 7 days per week. This might not seem all that important, but anything dealing with the court system and there is bound to be issues.
For example, most states require "identity verification systems" to makes sure YOU really are the one taking the course. These systems are prone to failure and can lock you out of your course until you contact support. Waiting on hold for an hour or not being able to reach anyone at all is all too common with online traffic schools. iDriveSafely has you covered.
iDriveSafely also works well on mobile devices and the course gets frequently updated. There are a couple parts of the course that feel a bit out of date, but overall this course is modern, works well, doesn't take long to finish, and is priced right.
What more do you really want?
Aceable Review
Aceable is one of the newest online traffic schools to hit the market and they are very arguably the best. Most of the time when you read reviews about online traffic schools, people recommend you go with an older and more experienced course.
However, I beg to differ. One of the things that make Aceable great is that they are new.
You will not find a more modern online traffic school than Aceable.
Most online traffic schools consist of page after page of plain ol' text. It gets boring real quick. With Aceable, the course material is delivered to you in multiple formats.
You'll get a mix of text, video, animations, graphics, and even interactive games. This really helps to make the traffic school experience less boring, and also helps you to retain information better and that will only help you get through the course faster.
Another reason Aceable is arguably the best online traffic school is due to how well the course functions on phones and tablets. Aceable is one of very few online traffic schools to have a dedicated app you can download.
Most online traffic schools are "mobile friendly" but they don't work as well as having a dedicated app like Aceable has. If you plan on taking your online traffic school from a phone or tablet, this is really the course you should be going for.
As with any high-quality online traffic school, you can switch between devices at any time and go at your own pace. Aceable has a great customer service team based in Austin, Texas and their course is much less likely to give you problems since it is so modern. Aceable is a fantastic option to consider.
Improv Traffic School Review
Improv Traffic School is perhaps my own personal favorite online traffic school.
These guys got started back in the 1990's when they first started offering classroom-based a traffic school course. Going to a classroom to sit through traffic school is hell, and they knew that.
So what they did is they partnered with the nationwide chain of Improv comedy clubs to create traffic school instructors who were also stand-up comedians. The entire purpose for creating their traffic school course was to try and make it fun, and it worked!
Of course, as we entered the 21st century, classroom-based traffic school started becoming a thing of the past. They adapted and set out to create the best online traffic school by making it entertaining.
As you progress through the course, you'll be greeted by videos of stand-up comedians, read funny stories, see funny pictures, and even play a few entertaining games. They really did do a great job making it (gasp) fun.
Improv Traffic School continuously updates their course to help keep it from getting outdated or running poorly. I do think their "mobile-friendly" version of the course could use some slight improving, but it does work on any device and you can switch between devices any time you'd like.
So if the thought of taking an online traffic school sounds boring and you have a goofy sense of humor, check out Improv Traffic School as it may be the best online traffic school for your particular personality.
Go To Traffic School Review
Go To Traffic School targets a very specific consumer. The cheapskate!!
Don't get me wrong, nobody wants to spend a penny more than they have to on traffic school, so it's totally understandable. If you don't care about apps or stand-up comedians or fancy 3D videos, Go To Traffic School could be the best online traffic school for you.
Go To Traffic School focuses on creating the cheapest online traffic school you can take. In fact, they guarantee it. If you find an online traffic school for a lower price, they will match or beat that price.
Fortunately, just because Go To Traffic School is cheap doesn't mean it is a low quality course.
In fact, these guys have a ton of experience (over 20 years worth) and are approved in more states than any other traffic school on this page. This online traffic school has had more than 4,000,000 people go through the coursework and pass.
I've gotta say, the course content isn't half bad, either!
There was a while where it was getting very outdated, but they recently just redid the entire course from start to finish. It feels modern, works well on mobile devices, and is really actually impressive for a traffic school that focuses on just being cheap.
If price is your main concern but you still want to sign up for a legit school, Go To Traffic School is one you should seriously consider.
Approved Course Review
Full disclosure here - Approved Course is actually owned and operated by a friend of mine. He designed and built this course with his father from the ground up and has been operating in the state of Texas for many years.
Please note that this online traffic school is only based in the state of Texas and is not approved anywhere else, so if you are taking a traffic school in any other state, feel free to move onto the next review.
By taking Approved Course, you will be supporting a small business right in Texas.
Let me tell you, they provide the best customer service of any other online traffic school I know of. If you call their customer service, there is a good chance you're talking to the owner himself. It's really tough to find online services that are run by small businesses, but this is one of them.
Approved Course offers a couple of different courses.
They offer a text-only traffic school and they also have a video based traffic school. It's really just a matter of personal preference.
Be aware that Texas does require course timers to be used, so your 6 hour traffic school really will take that long. Either you will be timed on each page before you can proceed, or you can watch videos instead. Either way, Approved Course offers both options.
This online traffic school is also one that doesn't mess around with hidden fees. Some online traffic schools will try to tack on pricey shipping or "convenience fees" at the end of the course.
Approved Course does not pull any of this nonsense, so what you see is what you get. If you do sign up for this traffic school, tell them Mike from Driving School Express sent ya!
NTSI Review
NTSI, or the National Traffic Safety Institute, offers both basic online traffic schools as well as online traffic school for those who committed a more serious offense than your typical traffic ticket.
In several states, NTSI has programs for reckless drivers and those who have been convicted of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In those situations, sometimes a court can order you to take a course that goes above and beyond a typical online traffic school course. NTSI is one of the very few online traffic schools to offer such courses.
Since NTSI deals with criminal cases as well as simple traffic infractions, they are forced to keep their course updated more than other online traffic schools.
Due to this, NTSI is modern, works well on mobile devices, and their course content is kept up-to-date. They don't have the most advanced features in the world such as fancy videos or animations, but they have what you need to get your requirements over with.
NTSI is a company that has been in business for more than 40 years. They offer all sorts of online driver training from fleet training to training for truck drivers and more. Basically, they have experience and have been doing this for a long time in many different verticals.
In addition to being one of the best online traffic schools to sign up for, NTSI also offers classroom-based traffic school, so if you're old school and really want to sit in a classroom to complete your requirements, you can contact them and ask about their classroom locations.
DriversEd.com Review
While DriversEd.com is mostly an online drivers education provider, they also offer traffic school and defensive driving programs.
Much of the material they use in their online traffic school course are repurposed from their drivers education courses. For this reason, I typically recommend DriversEd.com to those who are younger (21 and under). You can of course take this online traffic school at any age, but I feel the course content is a bit more geared towards teenagers.
The course content itself is very high quality.
They offer 3D videos in which a driving situation is presented and you need to take the right course of action. This is a pretty cool video feature unique to DriversEd.com. They also have some cool ways of delivering the content through games and animations that help you to retain the information
The quizzes and tests at DriversEd.com are extremely simple. If you can't pass those quizzes, even without going through the course material, you probably shouldn't be on the road in the first place. This is a very easy course to pass.
This is another online traffic school that offers above average customer service in case you have any trouble along the way. If you want your online traffic school to have more of a drivers ed feel to it, and you're on the younger side, I think DriversEd.com is a great choice and among the best online traffic schools available today.
Traffic School Online Review
Traffic School Online really stands behind their product. They have one of the best guarantees in the industry. If you're not satisfied, they're not satisfied, and they will give you a refund (of course make sure you read their refund policy first!).
They also don't have pricing gimmicks which is nice. So many online traffic schools try to tack on additional charges and even ridiculous "handling" fees at the end of the course. Traffic School Online doesn't do this. The price you see and the features they promise are exactly what you get.
This is also one of the best online traffic schools if you plan to take the course from a mobile device. It's amazing how many online traffic schools work so poorly on mobile devices still, but Traffic School Online has a very well optimized mobile-friendly version fo the course. You can of course switch between devices any time you'd like.
Traffic School Online offers a couple of different options.
You can either go with their text-based course, or you can go with their more interactive course for what they call a "more game like experience". This is really just personal choice. If you plan on sitting in front of the TV while you complete your course, I recommend you just go with the text-based option. If you actually want to be engaged, check out the interactive option.
There are a few other perks of taking traffic school with Traffic School Online such as free certificate delivery. Some courses charge extra for this, but Traffic School Online will not charge you and will usually deliver it to your court for free.
Check them out, especially if you plan on taking your traffic school from a phone or tablet.
Traffic School To Go Review
Traffic School To Go is only approved in the state of California, but I still wanted to include it on this list as it is one of the best California online traffic school.
They were founded way back in the 1990's when you could take traffic school at home by watching VHS tapes or DVD's, then completing workbooks and sending them in through the mail. Fortunately, we've come a long way since then and while you can still choose the DVD option, you can take their entire course online now.
This is a good online traffic school for people looking for a budget option. Traffic School To Go promises to be the cheapest California online traffic school. If you find a course for cheaper, they will match or beat that price.
Another great thing about Traffic School To Go is the lack of course timers.
The state of California does not require course timers to be used and Traffic School To Go took them up on that offer. The course is mostly text-based, so you can just go from page to page as quickly as possible. As long as you pass the easy quizzes at the end of each section (there are 6 sections), you'll breeze right through it.
I feel this course could work slightly better on mobile devices, but it still works well enough to get it done. There are just some pages that load a little slow or can be a little glitchy. This is a good option for the budget minded who need a specific California online traffic school.
Get Defensive Review
Get Defensive is only approved in the state of Texas, but it’s probably the best online traffic school you can take there. Actually, Texas calls it Defensive Driving Course instead of traffic school, hence their name.
A couple reasons Get Defensive is one of the best online traffic school is because not only are the fast, but they are cheap and easy. Isn't this really what you're looking for when searching for the best online traffic school?
Get Defensive is the fastest online course allowed by state law. There is also no final exam when you use Get Defensive. Just pass the quizzes after each section and you're done!
Get Defensive is also the cheapest online defensive driving course you will find in Texas and they guarantee that. If you find any online traffic school for cheaper, they will match or beat the price.
They are still trustworthy, too. This course launched more than 20 years ago and has served millions of students. I wouldn't say this is the most technologically advanced online traffic school that I've ever seen, but the fact it's cheap, easy, and fast is enough for most people to seriously consider it.
Things To Consider When Searching For The Best Online Traffic School
In my opinion, the above top 10 best online traffic schools are the ones you should stick with.
When I first set out to write this article, I figured I'd give you the top 3 choices, but hey, having as many choices as possible isn't a bad thing, so I just kept going! And in case you're wondering, yes, I personally have gone through every online traffic school I listed above.
However, you shouldn't just take my word for it. Everyone has a different learning style and doing independent research is always a good thing vs. blindly accepting what someone tells you.
So, what should you look for? Here's a short list of things you should pay attention to before signing up for any online traffic school:
- Check customer service hours to make sure they are available when you need them to be.
- Be extra certain they are certified in your specific state and court jurisdiction. Some online traffic schools are deceitful.
- If you plan on using a mobile device, make sure the course is mobile optimized. Many still do not work well on phones and tablets.
- Look for an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. If there are issues, you can complain there.
- Look for a money back guarantee. A quality course should stand behind their product.
- Make sure they offer free certificate delivery. Many online traffic schools charge you at the end with a hidden fee.
- Check reviews from multiple sources. Don't even trust this page, get info from as many places as possible.
- Compare prices. In most states, online traffic school prices can fluctuate sometimes as much as $20 or more.
Q&A About Finding The Best Online Traffic School
I often receive the same general questions regarding finding the best online traffic school, so here are some answers to frequently asked questions:
Is there a difference between online traffic school, basic driver improvement, and an online defensive driving course?
No, these are all essentially the same thing. Some states call it traffic school, others call it a defensive driving course, and some call it driver improvement. In each case, those courses are mostly used to dismiss traffic tickets or reduce points on driving records.
Should I notify my auto insurance company that I completed an online traffic school?
Absolutely! If you're taking an online traffic school because you got a traffic ticket, you might not want to tell your auto insurance provider about taking traffic school because they'll basically know you got a traffic ticket. That doesn't matter. If your ticket is not on your record, they will not increase your rates because of it. Telling them you completed an online traffic school could very likely even get you a discount!
How long does online traffic school take?
The time it takes to complete online traffic school will be determined by two factors. First is the state you live in. Some states require it take longer than others. It also depends on how fast you as an individual can get through the online traffic school course material and pass the quizzes. In general, you can assume your online traffic school will take between 2 and 8 hours.
How often can I take traffic school to reduce points on my driving record?
Again, this will depend on your specific state. Some states only allow you to take traffic school if it is court ordered, but in other states you can take traffic school every 2 years to remove points from your record.
How much does online traffic school cost?
Depending on your state, online traffic school will cost anywhere from about $20 to $50. However, there will likely be additional fees charged by the state you live in, especially if you're trying to have a traffic ticket dismissed.
Is it better to take traffic school online or in a classroom?
In my personal opinion? Online all the way! And I say this as a former driving instructor! However, some people just don't like using computers and would rather have a physical instructor to talk to. It's really just a matter of personal preference. I've just found that online traffic school is usually faster, cheaper, and way more convenient.
Why do you review online traffic schools? Seems kinda weird.
Ok, fair enough. Yes, I actually go through every traffic school I review! I'm just a bit of a nerd. I've created online driver training courses myself (mostly in the trucking industry), so I'm sort of an "insider" and like to go through other courses to help improve my own courses. Since there are so many low quality online traffic schools out there, I figured I'd share my knowledge to save people from the pain of going through a low quality course. Plus it makes for popular content on this site!
As a so-called "industry insider" which online traffic school would you take if you had to choose just one?
I would personally choose Aceable if it was approved in my state. I just like how mobile friendly it is and they deliver content better than anyone else, but this is just my opinion. Any of the courses I listed above are acceptable.
Final Thoughts
Taking traffic school, even online, just plain sucks. There's no real way around that. These reviews of the best online traffic schools to sign up for are mostly to help make it as painless as possible.
There are a lot of very low quality online traffic schools out there, so do your research and be careful not to sign up for a course that will make a bad time even worse.
I highly recommend you stick with one of the courses I've reviewed and vetted. If you grab the best online traffic school, you'll get it done quick and soon this will all be a distant memory.
Good luck and drive safe!