Before You Register
Do You Qualify for Traffic School in California?
Eligibility is set by California law and by your own court — not by us. Take a minute to confirm you qualify before you pay anyone.
✓ You probably qualify if…
- You hold a valid driver's license — California, or out-of-state if your court authorizes it
- You were driving a non-commercial vehicle
- The citation is a minor infraction (not a misdemeanor or DUI)
- Your court has granted traffic-school permission
- At least 18 months separate the prior violation date for which you used TVS and the current violation date
✗ You likely don't qualify if…
- You were cited while driving a commercial vehicle
- The ticket is for a misdemeanor or a DUI offense
- The violation requires a mandatory court appearance
- The current violation date is within 18 months of the prior violation date for which you used traffic school
- Your court hasn't approved traffic school for the citation
A couple of common mix-ups: an out-of-state license can still qualify when your court authorizes it (those completions are usually self-reported to the court rather than filed electronically). And a commercial license (CDL) only rules out the citation if you were actually driving a commercial vehicle — a CDL holder cited in a personal vehicle may still be eligible, though the conviction is recorded differently on the record. When in doubt, confirm with your court.
Confirming eligibility with your court up front really matters, because registrations that turn out to be ineligible can't be refunded — a quick look at your citation or a call to the court settles it.
