Dealing with a traffic ticket is a pain in just about any state. You have to deal with fines, court fees, appearing in traffic court, and implications for your car insurance rates. In many states, you can take a defensive driving course to get a ticket dismissed or reduce your insurance rates. In just a handful of states like Texas, California, and Florida, you can take those defensive driving courses online.
Defensive driving courses online are easy to sign up for and convenient to take, allowing you to complete the work on your own schedule. Sounds great, right?
There is just one problem with online defensive driving courses, though: which one do you sign up for? In Texas alone, there are over 40 state-approved defensive driving courses online. How do you know which ones are good and which ones are a waste of your time and money?
A lot of the time, it’s hard to even tell if certain courses are certified in your state. If you sign up for a defensive driving course online that isn’t certified in your state, it won’t count towards the dismissal of your traffic ticket.
Even if you are able to verify that the course you’re looking at is certified in your state, the certification does not in any guarantee the quality of the instruction offered by the course. In fact, the certification requirements in most states are so low that, some are nothing more than glorified online scams designed to take your money.
Check Out Our Reviews
Traffic School Critics has comprehensive, meticulously researched reviews of all the major defensive driving courses online. We take into consideration the quality of the instruction, usability of the website, versatility, and ease of access, and value for your money.
Our reviews are written by a former long-haul trucker and certified CDL driving instructor with firsthand experience designing online driving courses. He knows the importance of road safety and makes it a priority in our reviews.
TSC Certification Program
Due to the fact that most state certification programs have such a low standard, Traffic School Critics has designed its own rigorous certification program that guarantees a level of quality far above and beyond any state certification program. In fact, less than 5% of all defensive driving courses online meet the TSC Certification standard.
There are five qualifications a defensive driving course online must meet to receive a TSC Certification:
• the course must have and maintain an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. The BBB rating is an accurate indicator of customer satisfaction, and anything less than an A+ is unacceptable. If the rating ever drops below an A+, we rescind our certification.
• the course must provide outstanding and exceptional customer service. Automated answering systems are frustrating and uninformative, so we require the course to provide person-to-person customer service by phone, chat, and email.
• the course must have had at least 500,000 customers over a period of at least 5 years. Longevity is a good indicator that the company offers quality instruction that leads to repeat and referral business. It also ensures that the course is not simply an online scam, but has a long-term presence.
• the course must submit clear proof of certifications for all states in which it claims to be certified. Although state certification doesn’t guarantee the quality, this requirement ensures that you sign up only for courses that will get you credit in your state.
Traffic School Critics Can Help You Find Value
Our reviews aren’t just about assigning arbitrary metrics, they’re about helping you find the course that’s right for you. Whether you value quality, flexibility, speed, or price, our reviews help you find the course that best fits your needs. Our reviews recommend only courses that cost less than the industry average or the minimum prices mandated by state law. There are a lot of courses out there and you shouldn’t be paying more than you have to.
Traffic School Critics also negotiates special deals and discount codes for our readers with the major defensive driving courses online. When you use our site, you can rest assured that you will never overpay for an online driving course.
FAQs About Online Defensive Driving Courses
Still, wracking your brain about how online driving courses work? Well, here are a few FAQs that may answer those questions.
Are online driving courses cheaper than in-person courses?
Heck, yeah. They’re cheaper, by A LOT!
How much do online defensive driving courses typically cost?
You’re looking at about $20 – $150 depending on your state and the school.
Will I be able to take my time on completing my online defensive driving courses?
Yes. But not too much time! Make sure to get it done in time for your court’s deadline. Also, some schools make their courses available for only 6 or 12 months. So check if there are any deadlines first.
How can online defensive driving courses lower insurance premiums?
Insurance companies like responsible drivers. If your agent sees that you have a defensive driving certificate or that you have no violations, they’re likely to give you a better deal.
So don’t forget to ask!
Can I take my classes on my mobile phone?
Yes, you sure can!
How long do online defensive driving courses last?
Online classes last about 4-6 hours. If your state requires a course timer, then expect these online courses to follow that requirement.
How do I receive my Certificate of Completion?
After completing your course, the Certificate of Completion will either be sent to you through email, the post office, or be automatically sent to your court.
What do I do with the Certificate of Completion once I get it?
After you receive your certificate, you will sign it and submit it to your court. Refer to your court’s documentation and instructions on how to complete your ticket dismissal/point reduction process.