- Written ByBrandon Bankston
- 3/6/2024
You’ve done it now. You got caught doing Mach 10 in a construction zone, and now you’ve got to head to traffic school to scrub that ticket off your record and make your insurance company like you again. But it’s not all bad - you can often meet your traffic school requirements online. And it’s often fairly cheap - maybe even as cheap as 20 bucks!
There are a lot of traffic schools online, and it can be hard to figure out which one you should attend. We’ve compiled some info for you to help you pick a cheap online traffic school that’ll have you back behind the wheel, free and clear, before you know it.
But slow down! Safety issues aside, traffic school isn’t usually something you can do over and over again to clean up your record - courts usually only put up with so many repeat-offender leadfoots before they make the tickets stick.
Cheapest Online Traffic Schools
Aceable
Aceable is a relative newcomer to the cheap online traffic school game. But that means they’re only able to offer their courses in 4 states as of this writing. That’s why they’re 5th on our list, but it doesn’t mean they’re not a good option if you happen to live in a state they can serve.
Pros and Cons
- Several courses available, some as low as 19 bucks on sale.
- Defensive driving courses could get you an insurance discount.
- Courses are no longer required by the law in your state.
- If you don’t live in Florida, Texas, Indiana, or California, you can’t use Aceable for online traffic school.
IMPROVLearning
It’s not just cheap, it’s funny. IMPROVLearning started out as an in-person school taught by standup comedians. That’s a hook that even got it spoofed on noted 90’s Texas documentary series, King of the Hill. But now it’s the future, and it’s available from the comfort of your living room. Lessons are laced with laughs, and you can complete them at your own pace.
Pros and Cons
- Funny!
- Pre-approved for ticket dismissal in 11 states.
- Free tickets to an Improv Comedy show... No, really, we’re not making that up.
- Courses taken in non-pre approved states may not count - check with the court.
TrafficSchoolToGo.com
TrafficSchoolToGo.Com isn’t as funny as Improv, but it still gets the job done, and with some of the lowest prices around.
Pros and Cons
- Courses can be completed at your own pace.
- Low price guarantee - they’ll match any other school.
- California-centric. While the site offers courses in a few other states, the links jump you to a different company.
Go To Traffic School
Go To Traffic School offers courses in all 50 states, and somewhat unusually offers free access to its courses in states that allow it - you don’t have to pay until it’s time to take the final exam. And they offer a lowest price guarantee, where if you find a lower priced course, they’ll match the price, then subtract another dollar. So if you’re looking for cheap online traffic school, this company is a good contender!
Pros and Cons
- Price match guarantee means you should always get the lowest possible price.
- Wider range of states eligible to take courses than other schools.
- Some reviewers complain the course materials are boring.
iDriveSafely
iDriveSafely is one of the better known online traffic schools; not surprising, since they’ve been around for over 15 years. They offer a number of courses nationwide to help you get that ticket off of your driving record or lower your insurance rates.
Pros and Cons
- Large number of covered states.
- Courses can be taken on a desktop or mobile device.
- Courses as short as 6 hours when allowed by state laws.
- Some info on the website is oddly dated, such as the section that says some courses use the Macromedia Flash player. Macromedia ceased to exist in 2005 when Adobe bought the company, and Flash itself was put out to pasture in 2020.
What to Look For in an Online Traffic School?
The most important consideration when looking for a school, even before worrying about whether it’s a cheap online traffic school, is whether or not the court will accept the course. If you take a class your court doesn’t accept, you’ll have thrown away the time and money you spent. Your best bet is to check with the court before you sign up for any particular traffic school, to make sure you don’t waste hours and money on something that won’t work for you.
Don’t go by the school’s website. Many businesses will tell you anything you need to hear to hand over your money. Some traffic schools will be more than happy to let you take their course even though they haven’t gotten pre-approved for acceptance by courts in your state. The only real authority on whether a school will be accepted by the court is, well, the court.
Generally, if a school is approved by your court, it will probably meet your basic needs. After all, your main need is to get the court to take that ticket off your record, and/or to get your insurance company to give you a break on any premium increases they assigned after you got stopped. Anything beyond that from a certain point of view, is just gravy.
But that doesn’t mean you should necessarily just go with the cheapest online traffic school. If there’s a school with a format that’s easier for you to digest, it might be worth tossing a few extra bucks their way to make sure you pass the course without problems. If dry text isn’t your thing, for instance, the Improv school with its penchant for humor might do the trick for you. Not that we know anything about mixing car advice with humor around here. Not even close!
We also know a thing or two about research and good, solid advice. Take a look below at our Golden Wrench Winners for the Best Online Traffic Schools, to help you in your search.
Golden Wrench Winners for Best Online Traffic School
4.9
of 5
IMPROVLearning is a great program geared towards keeping the student engaged in the materials. Classes are a mixture of text, audio and video and hold the attention of the user using comedy whenever possible. The site is user-friendly and engaging.
Full Review
4.8
of 5
Safe2Drive is a highly rated program featuring nationwide course offerings. The company maintains excellent reviews and ratings and is known for very responsive, 24 hour customer service.
Full Review
4.8
of 5
Aceable is not only an excellent program in terms of content, it is incredibly user-friendly and engaging. Classes are available on any device, have accessible audio and video and manage to make the subject matter interesting and fun. The site itself is easy to use and intuitive.
Full Review
4.3
of 5
This solid program is less flashy than others in the industry, but is a good choice in terms of content. The site is easy to use and self explanatory. The program tracks your progress and helps you along with prompt questions throughout.
Full Review
3.7
of 5
This program is filled with all the information you need to pass the tests. The site is a little slow and simple compared to others in the industry. This content is timed, and users are expected to get through the material at a set pace. An audio option is available for a price.
3.2
of 5
This program is the basic offering in terms of frills. IDriveSafely has all the information you need, and no extras or distractions. The user-experience is very basic, but the content is complete.
Full Review
What is the Cost of Online Traffic School?
We’ve seen prices as low as 20 bucks on sale. We’d be surprised to see a traffic school class or defensive driving course run you much more than that, really, since online traffic schools are competing with each other. But be wary of the school charging 5 bucks - we’re not saying they’re definitely scams, but it’s definitely a red flag.
Once you find that cheap online traffic school that’s a good blend of inexpensive and legitimate, check online reviews - they’ll give you an idea of whether or not the course will be right for you. Remember that a few bad reviews among lots of good ones aren’t necessarily a reason to avoid a school. But if you see lots of upset customers, that could be a sign that you’ll be unhappy too.
Make sure you understand any fees or charges that might not be advertised up front. If the company’s evasive on that point, move on to one that isn’t. Companies know you’re searching for the cheapest online traffic school, so if they can advertise a lower price and then raise it on the back side with hidden fees, they might get you to bite when you otherwise wouldn’t have.
Read more on Car Talk's picks and recommendations for the Best Online Traffic Schools here.
FAQ
- Which is the best cheap online traffic school?
The best cheap online traffic school for one person might not be for another. After making sure your court will accept a school you’re considering, check reviews to make sure it meets your needs.
- Are online traffic schools legit?
Yes! Some of them, anyway. Scams exist in any industry, so make sure to read reviews and check up on the companies you’re considering.
- What is the fastest traffic school online?
How long traffic school takes is often mandated by state law, so the fastest in one state might not be the fastest in another.
- Is traffic school worth it in California?
If the court agrees to remove or reduce the mark on your driving record, or your insurance company will give you a discount to offset the increased premiums from your joyride, it’s probably worth it. Read more on the Best Online Traffic Schools in Florida here.
- Is traffic school the same as drivers ed?
No. Drivers Ed is for new drivers who’ve never had a license to learn the ins and outs of traffic laws and usually get practice behind the wheel. Traffic school is for drivers who’ve gotten a traffic ticket and want to get it off their record or reduce their insurance premiums. But many online traffic schools also offer Drivers Ed options.
- How much is online traffic school?
Usually in the neighborhood of $30 or so. You can find schools advertising courses for $5 or even less, but take steps to make sure they’re legit before you go for the bottom dollar. We’ve seen some prices as low as $20, especially when there’s a sale.
Editor's note and disclaimer: Car Talk is supported by our fans, readers and listeners. When you click on some of the links on our website, we may receive referral compensation. However, you should know that the recommendations we make are based on our independent editorial review and analyses.
