Finding the best defensive driving course in Texas can be a bit of a challenge. As a certified driving instructor, I am very well versed in all of the defensive driving Texas online defensive driving courses.
I thought I would share with you some of my opinions on which online defensive driving courses are best for the state of Texas, then give some advice on how to get your defensive driving course done as quickly and as cheaply as possible.
So, for starters, here are my top recommended online defensive driving courses for Texas…
Aceable
While Aceable is one of the newcomers to the online defensive driving world, they have quickly become my absolutely favorite defensive driving course for any state it is approved in.
Seeing as though the company is based in Texas, they are indeed approved for ticket dismissal in the state. Aceable began 2 years ago and was able to acquire millions of dollars in venture capital.
In turn, they have revolutionized the online defensive driving world. Ok, well, “revolutionized” might be a bit of an overstatement, but let’s just say they quickly raised the bar and so far nobody comes close to the quality of service they provide. It’s not going to be a super fun time, but this is certainly one of the most pain free ways to complete your Texas defensive driving requirements.
iDriveSafely
The iDriveSafely Texas Defensive Driving Course is one of the most popular courses you can take online and for good reason. They are a legit company running a legit program that has been approved in the state of Texas for well over a decade. More than 5 MILLION people have gone through their traffic school and defensive driving programs. So, what makes them so special?
Well, first of all, you don’t have to spend a second longer on your online defensive driving course than is required by Texas state law. You also get access to 24/7/365 customer support via phone, chat, or email. Unfortunately, online defensive driving courses are not known for their friendly and helpful customer service.
Due to the “identity verification systems” and other systems in place due to state requirements, it is important to choose an online defensive driving course with good customer service as hiccups are common.
And finally, the course is not only mobile and tablet friendly, but you can take the course in whatever format you prefer (text, audio, or video). This is not only the most commonly used online defensive driving Texas course, but it is also one of my favorites if not my favorite.
Improv Traffic School
While the Improv Traffic School Texas Defensive Driving Course hasn’t been around as long as iDriveSafely in the state of Texas, they have been a certified traffic school and defensive driving course provider since before you could even take the courses online.
Improv Traffic School specialized in providing humor based classroom courses to people in an effort to make traffic school a bit more fun. It took off very quickly and they have been providing that service now for decades.
They took this same approach and applied it to their online defensive driving courses. In case you’re wondering, yes, this is the same company that owns the nationwide chain of Improv Comedy Clubs across the United States.
So, basically, in this course you not only get 24/7/365 customer support and a defensive driving course with a great reputation, but you also get to laugh a little. Traffic school is boring. This course makes it a little less boring. Give it a shot!
Go To Traffic School
Ok, I get it. A lot of you don’t care about fancy video based courses or learning from Hollywood comedians. That’s why I’m also listing Go To Traffic School. This Texas state approved online defensive driving course is for those of you who just want to sign up for the cheapest option and get it done fast.
Sure, the customer service isn’t as great and maybe their course is a little outdated, but they GUARANTEE to be the lowest priced defensive driving course you’ll find online in the state of Texas. If you find one that is cheaper, they will match or beat the price.
While this isn’t my top recommendation, this course will get everything done in the cheapest way possible and at the state minimum time requirements. What else do you really need?!
Traffic School 101
What makes Traffic School 101 different than the rest? Quite simply, it’s a simple course! When I say simple, I don’t mean it is any easier (or harder) than any of the other defensive driving courses I’ve listed so far, I’m just saying that the way the course is set up is very simple.
They don’t offer flashy videos, animations, and interactive games. You don’t get comedians telling you about safe driving and they aren’t going to “wow” you with unique content that is engaging and exciting. What they do well is keeping things as simple and straightforward as possible.
Think of this course as being an ebook for traffic school. You go through the text page by page and that’s about all there is to it. Some people find this to be a very boring way to go through their defensive driving course, but for some of you, it is preferred. If you just want to take the course in the most simple way possible, this is for you.
Defensive Driving Texas: Online Or Classroom?
If you’re going to take your Texas defensive driving course online, I HIGHLY recommend you stick with the recommendations I gave you above. Sure, there are other legit online defensive driving courses in Texas, but nobody knows how these courses operate as well as I do. Trust me, the above are the absolute best options you have and I made very sure to give several options so that you can choose the best one for you.
With that said, is taking your Texas defensive driving course online the best option? For most of us, it is. You get to log into and out of the course whenever you want, all the courses I listed have money-back guarantees (pass or don’t pay), and you don’t spend a second longer on the course than you have to. You could literally be sitting in your underwear watching TV and get it done online.
On the other hand, while spending a Saturday in a classroom being lectured at about driving safety doesn’t sound like a great time, some people actually prefer to do it that one. Get it done in one swoop and forget about it. No online signups, no flashy videos and graphics, no identity verification systems, and no customer service numbers. Just you, your fellow traffic violators, and an instructor. So, while it’s definitely a more popular option to take defensive driving online in Texas, you can still sign up for a classroom based course and there is nothing wrong with that if you prefer it.
Don’t Procrastinate!!!
Notice how I used not one, but THREE exclamation points there? That means this is important! It can take up to 2 weeks to have your defensive driving completion certificate processed and mailed to you. In the state of Texas, you must hand in your completion certificate yourself.
Many times, if you get it done, say, the day before the due date, you can ask for an extension and hand in your certificate when it arrives in the mail. But this is just a pain in the butt. Another option is to get the “expedited shipping” option for your certificate.
The problem with that is it can cost $20 or more just to rush ship a piece of paper. Ridiculous! My advice? Get it done now, or at least 2 weeks prior to the date you need to hand in the completion certificate. You’ll save yourself a lot of headaches.
I sure hope this helped you decide which online defensive driving course to sign up for in Texas. If you have any tips or tricks of your own, feel free to post in the comment section below!
Texas Defensive Driving Course FAQs
Am I eligible to attend a defensive driving course in Texas?
If you meet the following requirements, you can take the Defensive Driving Course for ticket dismissal:
- Your ticket was for a minor moving violation.
- You did not receive your citation in a construction zone.
- You have not previously completed a defensive driving course within the last 12 months.
- Your driver’s license is a non-commercial class.
Your court should be able to provide you with all the necessary information on your eligibility for a driving safety course.
You can, however, take the course for supplemental learning if you wish to attend one.
Do I have to go to court if I take defensive driving?
No, it’s either you complete a defensive driving course OR go to court, but not both.
This is because one of the reasons why you are allowed to take the defensive driving program is to reduce the number of cases being handled in court trials.
Take note though that you must complete a defensive driving school at least seven days before a hearing is scheduled.
Is it better to take the defensive driving course than go to court in Texas?
For most drivers, this option is a lot better because you can have the points dismissed in a matter of days, depending on how fast you can complete the online defensive driving course. This means that the points you receive will not be assessed and they won’t appear on your motor vehicle record.
In addition, completing the course to get the traffic ticket dismissed means your insurance rate will not go up. And as a bonus, you will learn valuable traffic information, driving techniques and be updated with the current driving laws within and outside Texas.
How long does it take to complete a defensive driving course in Texas?
All state-approved defensive driving courses in Texas must be 6 hours long.
However, if you take the course online, you won’t be required to take all six hours in one sitting. You can log in and out as needed and the course will save your progress.
With that, you can take the course any time you want (unless the course you chose implements course timers even if it’s not required in Texas).