FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TRAFFIC SCHOOL FOR CALIFORNIA AND NEW JERSEY
A great place to learn more about the Defensive Drivers Group Web Traffic School for California and New Jersey
Click here for New Jersey Defensive Driving Course FAQs
California FAQs
How does your web traffic school work?
- Register for the course. Start by selecting the county and the court where you received your ticket. (The names will be listed on your court papers.) Then enter your correct name, driver’s license number, date of birth, mailing address, court docket number, due date, payment information, etc. Incorrect or false entries may cause to court to reject or delay your certificate.
- Start Lesson 1. At the end of each lesson you will take a short quiz. You must answer 100% correct on each quiz to pass. If you do not pass a quiz, you will be directed back to the lesson material for additional study. Take the quizzes and final as many times as you need to pass.
- Pass the final exam after you complete the last lesson. You need to answer 80% correct to pass the final. You may attempt to pass the quizzes and final exam as many times as you wish.
- Traffic school certificate. After you pass the final exam, your California traffic school certificate will be sent electronically directly to the California Superior court. Please allow yourself plenty of time for processing.
How long does the California Web Traffic School course take?
The time it takes varies from person to person. A determined student who studies the material and takes notes can finish fairly quickly. But many students choose to spread the course out over a week or more. Rest assured you can follow whatever method works for your schedule. But give yourself plenty of time to pass the final exam prior to your court deadline!
What payment options do I have?
We accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Card, or a bank debit card. You may also pay with PayPal.
Do I need to attend a classroom to take traffic school in California?
No. The Defensive Drivers Group is entirely online. It is web learning on your schedule at your pace.
How long do I have to finish the California Web Traffic School course?
As long as you need to get your certificate to the court within the court’s deadline. We recommend you finish at least 3 business days prior to your deadline.
How many chances do I get to pass the final?
You may attempt to pass the quizzes and final exam as many times as you wish. But keep an eye on the court’s deadline.
What score do I need to pass the quizzes and final exam?
For quizzes you must answer all questions 100% correctly. For the final you need to answer only 80% of the questions correctly.
Why do the quizzes have questions that do not relate to driving safety?
The courts require that we ask “security questions” in quizzes and the final exam. The questions cannot be guessed; you will know the answers only if you read the text.
You will find the security answers sprinkled randomly in the lessons. They are obvious and not driving related. Example: “The boy’s toy fire engine was yellow.” Or “Mary wanted a puppy for her birthday.”
What is ID Verification?
Some county courts require students to prove their identities (Glenn, Lake, Lassen, Napa, Santa Cruz, Ventura counties, for example). This is known as ID Verification. It is an easy-to-follow process with clear instructions. Not every county court asks for this requirement.
If you do need to verify your ID, you will be given instructions prior to taking the final exam. Although the process varies from court to court, you generally have three options for ID Verification:
- Experian verification
- Web camera verification
- Notary public verification
Note: You may be charged a small additional fee to verify your ID. These fees are not administered by the Defensive Drivers Group. Follow the instructions.
My California traffic court due date is approaching fast. How far ahead do I need to complete the California Web Traffic School course?
We recommend you complete our California Web Traffic School course at least 3 business days prior to your due date. That will give you enough to mail your completed certificate to your court. When you receive your certificate from us, you are responsible for mailing it to your court on time. (In some counties we mail it to the court for you. Get started for more information.)
I just got a ticket but have not heard from the court. What do I do next?
We can help. Follow these steps.
- Bookmark our Get Started page for later.
- Follow the court’s instructions. The court will contact you, generally by mail two or three weeks after you got your ticket. The paperwork will explain your options, if any, for traffic school. (For court contacts, go to the California courts list.)
- Check for Defensive Drivers Group on the court’s approved list for online traffic schools.
- If we are on the list, return to Get Started.
- Start the course. Keep an eye on your court deadline; give yourself plenty of time to get your certificate.
In what California counties are you an approved or recommended online traffic school?
We are an approved and recommended web traffic school in most California counties and superior traffic courts. We are approved in: Alameda County, Amador County, Butte County, Contra Costa County, Del Norte County, El Dorado County, Fresno County, Glenn County, Humboldt County, Imperial County, Inyo County, Kern County, Kings County, Lake County, Lassen County, Los Angeles County, Madera County, Marin County, Mariposa County, Mendocino County, Merced County, Modoc County, Mono County, Napa County, Nevada County, Orange County, Placer County, Plumas County, Riverside County, Sacramento County, San Benito County, San Bernardino County, San Diego County, San Francisco County, San Joaquin County, San Luis Obispo County, San Mateo County, Santa Barbara County, Santa Cruz County, Shasta County, Siskiyou County, Solano County, Sonoma County, Stanislaus County,Tehama County, Tulare County, Tuolumne County, Ventura County, and Yolo County.
I do not see my California county listed on your site, can I still take your web traffic school?
No. Either the California county court does not accept web-based traffic schools, or we are not yet approved in that county. Please see your traffic court paperwork for your web traffic school options and approved web traffic schools.
Are you approved in Marin County San Rafael Court? How does Marin County work?
Yes, you can take traffic school in Marin county through us and our partner Go To Traffic School. Marin County San Rafael Court generally does not approve online traffic schools. However, many students get permission from the Marin County San Rafael Court to take traffic school online. If you have obtained permission from San Rafael Court, you may register here. After you're done with the online course, you will need to score at least an 80% on the final exam in order to pass. However, you are allowed to take the final exam as many times as you need to in order to pass it for no additional charge.
Marin County Certificates Mailed to You: We will submit the original certificate to you. It is then your responsibility to submit the certificate to Marin County San Rafael Court. You select the shipping method for your certificate when you register. If you are unable to complete the course at least 10 days before your due date, then you should choose one of the expedited shipping methods. We will also send you an email confirmation and a page to print upon completion of the course, to retain for your records. Certificates are mailed the same day you finish the course if you finish before 4:00 pm PST. If you finish the course after 4:00 pm, your certificate will be mailed out on the following morning.
Register for Marin County San Rafael Court here >>
How do I know if I am eligible for web traffic school in California?
Check the paperwork sent to you by the California traffic court. It will explain your options for web traffic school in California.
When registering, do I select my home county?
Select the California county in which you received your speeding ticket.
How often may I attend a web traffic school in California?
In general, drivers may attend a web traffic school in California once every 18 months. The time frame is measured from the date the driver received his or her first speeding ticket to the date he or she received the second speeding ticket in California.
I paid the court my fee to attend California web traffic school. Why do you charge me again?
Most courts charge an administrative fee you that must pay to be allowed to attend a California web traffic school. That fee is separate from and in addition to our tuition.
Can you give me an extension on my California web traffic school due date?
No. Only the California traffic court that you were cited from can grant an extension. Read our SIX STEPS IF YOU MISS TRAFFIC SCHOOL DEADLINE IN California for more information.
Will the court accept my California traffic school certificate?
We are approved in most counties in California, but some counties do not accept web-based traffic schools. The fastest way to find out if the court accepts our web traffic school certificate is to click on Get Started, and then select the county from which you received your paperwork. Or you can check the court’s approved traffic school list included with your paperwork.
What if I decide to cancel your web traffic school course?
You may cancel any time prior to attempting the final exam. We will be happy to refund 100% of your money. (Refund requests must be made prior to attempting the final exam. If you attempt the final exam we cannot issue a refund.) Call 877-883-7290 for more information. Note that for some counties you may need to contact our partner for any refund information.
(Note: Some courts require a separate identification verification process. This is separate from the Defensive Drivers Group and may require a separate fee. We have no control over those fees and cannot give refunds for them.)
Is my information secure and private?
Yes. We follow industry best practices for both security and privacy. We do not disclose your personal information to anyone, except as required by law.
New Jersey Defensive Driving Course
How does your New Jersey Online Defensive Driving Course work?
- Register for the course. Start by selecting New Jersey from the list. Then register with your correct information. Incorrect or false entries may cause the MVC to reject or delay your certificate.
- Start Lesson 1. At the end of each lesson you will take a short quiz. You must answer 100% correct on each quiz to pass. If you do not pass a quiz, you will be directed back to the lesson material for additional study. Take the quizzes and final as many times as you need to pass.
- Pass the final exam after you complete the last lesson. You need to answer 80% correct to pass the final. You may attempt to pass the quizzes and final exam as many times as you wish.
- Certificate delivery. Upon successful completion and payment for the course, the New Jersey MVC will be notified directly about your completion. Your Completion Certificate can also be emailed, faxed or sent via FedEx to you for a possible auto insurance discount. It's that easy!
Does your New Jersey Defensive Driving course replace the need to go to a classroom for 6 hours?
Yes, You do not need to attend a classroom. You can complete the course online, anywhere, anytime. Once you complete the course we will electronically notify the New Jersey MVC and send your Certificate of Completion to you.
How many points will be removed from my driver record by taking this New Jersey MVC approved course?
The New Jersey MVC will reduce 2 points on your driver record.
Do I get an insurance discount by taking your online New Jersey defensive driving course?
In New Jersey, many insurance companies offer discounts when you complete the Driving University online course. When you receive your insurance discount certificate from us, you are responsible for contacting your insurance carrier for processing. We also suggest you contact your insurance carrier prior to taking the course. (For more, see N.J.S.A 17:33B-45.1 Rate reduction for automobile insurance after approved defensive driving course)
How does the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission know I completed your course?
Once you complete the course we will electronically notify the New Jersey MVC so you can get 2-point credit.
How long does the New Jersey Online Defensive Driving course take?
The New Jersey MVC requires all students spend at least 300 minutes on the New Jersey Online Defensive Driving course. A timer will count your time spent reviewing the lessons. Note that you cannot take the final exam until you have spent at 300 minutes reviewing the course.
Do I have to take the course all at once? Can I use different computers?
Many students choose to spread the course out over a week or more. And yes, you can use any web-connected computer from virtually any location. Rest assured you can follow whatever method works for your schedule. But give yourself plenty of time to pass the final exam prior to your deadline!
What payment options do I have?
We accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Card, or a bank debit card. You may also pay with PayPal.
Do I need to attend a classroom to take the New Jersey Online Defensive Driving course?
No. The Defensive Drivers Group Web Defensive Driving course is entirely online. It is web learning on your schedule at your pace.
How long do I have to finish the New Jersey Online Defensive Driving course?
As long as you need to get your certificate to the New Jersey MVC within your deadline. We recommend you finish at least 10 business days prior to your deadline.
How many chances do I get to pass the final?
You may attempt to pass the quizzes and final exam as many times as you wish. But keep an eye on your MVC deadline.
What score do I need to pass the quizzes and final exam?
For quizzes you must answer all questions 100% correctly. For the final you need to answer only 80% of the questions correctly.
Why do the quizzes have questions that do not relate to driving safety?
The New Jersey MVC requires that we ask Òsecurity questionsÓ in quizzes and the final exam. The questions cannot be guessed; you will know the answers only if you read the text.
You will find the security phrases sprinkled randomly in the lessons. They are obvious and not driving related. Example: ÒThe boyÕs toy fire engine was yellow.Ó Or ÒMary wanted a puppy for her birthday.Ó
What is ID Verification?
New Jersey requires students to prove their identities. This is known as ID Verification. It is an easy-to-follow process with clear instructions via Experian verification.
THIS IS NOT A CREDIT CHECK: Note that Experian verification is not a credit check and your credit score will not be affected.
Also note that you will be charged a small additional fee to verify your ID. These fees are not administered by the Defensive Drivers Group, but by Experian. Follow the instructions.
My New Jersey due date is approaching fast. How far ahead do I need to complete the course?
We recommend you complete our New Jersey Online Defensive Driving course at least 10 business days prior to your due date. That will give you enough time to have your information sent to the MVC.
How do I know if I am eligible for New Jersey Online Defensive Driving?
Check the paperwork sent to you. It will explain your options. The MVC will only recognize a defensive driving course once every five years for point reduction (N.J.S.A. 39:5-30.9)
How often may I attend a New Jersey Online Defensive Driving course?
The New Jersey MVC will only recognize a defensive driving course once every five years for point reduction (N.J.S.A. 39:5-30.9)
Will the New Jersey MVC accept my New Jersey Online Defensive Driving certificate?
Yes, we are approved in New Jersey.
What if I decide to cancel your New Jersey Online Defensive Driving course?
You may cancel any time prior to attempting the final exam. We will be happy to refund 100% of your money. (Refund requests must be made prior to attempting the final exam. If you attempt the final exam we cannot issue a refund.) Call 877-883-7290 for more information.
Is my information secure and private?
Yes. We follow industry best practices for both security and privacy. We do not disclose your personal information to anyone, except as required by law.
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