North Dakota guide

North Dakota defensive driving: 3-point reduction and in lieu of points

In North Dakota, an approved defensive driving course can help your record in one of two ways. It can take up to 3 points off your record, or it can keep a new ticket's points from being added at all. The two options have different deadlines, and choosing one means giving up the other, so decide before you enroll.

  • 1 min read
  • 3 sections
  • Cites official state sources

Option 1: Take 3 points off your record

After you complete an approved course, NDDOT will remove up to 3 points from your record. You can do this once every 12 months. When you pass our course, we email your certificate to NDDOT at [email protected] for you. If you are serving a points suspension or cancellation, the reduction is applied after that period ends.

Source: NDDOT, Driver License Points Reduction and Points Schedule

Option 2: Take the course in lieu of points

For a non-criminal violation worth 5 points or fewer, you can choose the course instead of having the points added:

  1. Pay the bond within 14 days of the date on the citation.
  2. Tell the clerk you're choosing the course when you pay the bond. Once the case is closed, it's too late.
  3. Finish the course within 30 days of notifying the court. NDDOT must have the certificate by then; we email it to them the day you pass.

This option isn't available if you used it in the previous 12 months, if the offense is worth 6 or more points, or if the offense is listed in N.D.C.C. ยง 39-06.1-05.

Source: North Dakota Courts, electing a driver training course in lieu of points

You can't use both

Choosing the course in lieu of points forfeits the regular 3-point reduction. Settle with the court clerk which option you're using before you enroll.

Source: North Dakota Courts, electing a driver training course in lieu of points

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