Dismiss a Texas ticket with defensive driving
If you qualify, Texas law gives you the right to take a 6-hour driving safety course and have the ticket dismissed — but only if you ask by the answer date on your citation.
- Based on Code of Criminal Procedure Arts. 45A.351–45A.359
- Updated for the September 2025 changes
- Court guides from each court's own website
Does your ticket qualify?
Answer a few questions about your ticket and your license. Takes about a minute.
Check my ticketThe key rules
- Request by
- The answer date on your citation
- Plea
- Guilty or no contest
- How often
- Once in 12 months, counted back from the offense date
- Time to finish
- 90 days from the court's order
- Court fee
- Up to $10, plus court costs
- File
- Certificate, Type 3A driving record, affidavit
- Not for
- CDL holders; 25+ mph over or 95+ mph; school bus, crash-duty and work-zone offenses
Choose an approved course
Only a course approved by the state counts. Use the official list to pick any approved provider, online or in a classroom.
Texas guides
How to dismiss a Texas traffic ticket with a driving safety course
The full process: who qualifies, the answer-date deadline, the 90 days to finish, the documents and the $10 fee.
How to get your Texas driving record for defensive driving
Order the certified Type 3A record online from DPS for $12 and print it straight away. Type 2A isn't accepted.
Deferred disposition vs defensive driving in Texas
Defensive driving is a right with a $10 fee. Deferred disposition is up to the judge and usually costs more — but it's open to more people.
Court guides
Each court runs its own process. Find the court named on your citation.
Houston Municipal Courts
Request by your arraignment date by mail, email or in person. $144 ($169 school zone); $184 on the discretionary track. 90 days to file.
Dallas Municipal Court
Request within 21 days online, by mail or in person and pay $144 ($169 school zone). Wait for approval before you start the course.
Austin Municipal Court
Send the notarized request form with $144 ($169 school zone) by your appearance date. Proof can go in by email or fax.
Fort Worth Municipal Court
Request within 21 days online, by mail or in person — without payment. The court's approval notice tells you how much to pay.
El Paso Municipal Courts
Request online, by mail, in person or at your hearing. Finish within 90 days and file your Type 3A record, court copy certificate and insurance.
Arlington Municipal Court
Request by your 30-day appearance date; $144 total ($169 school zone). Some course providers can e-file your certificate.
Corpus Christi Municipal Court
File the affidavit, plea and $144 ($169 school zone) within 14 days of the violation. 90 calendar days from the interim judgment.
Irving Municipal Court
Send the affidavit, $144 and your insurance within 21 days — online, by email, mail, eFax or in person. 90 days after approval.