Which defensive driving course do I need?

If you live in one state and were pulled over in another, the state on the citation is the one that matters. Your case is handled by a court in that state, under that state's rules, and it accepts courses approved by that state. Where you live, where your license was issued and where you're insured don't change which course the court will accept.

Your ticket, or any notice the court mailed you afterward, is the first thing to check. It names the court and often the type of course it accepts. States use different names for the same kind of course: defensive driving, driver improvement, traffic school, driving safety. Once you know the state, the name matters less.

If the paperwork isn't clear, call the court clerk's office listed on it and ask which course they accept. Clerks answer this question all the time, and their answer is the one that counts.

Being able to buy a course doesn't mean you can use it for your ticket. Most states limit how often you can take one, and some exclude certain violations or license types. Each state sets its own rules, so we cover them on each state's course page.

We only sell a course after the state has approved it, so there are states we can't help with yet. If yours is one of them and you have a deadline, choose a provider on your state's approved list. We'd rather point you elsewhere than sell you a course your court won't accept.