Texas drivers are allowed to take a defensive driving course once every twelve months to dismiss a traffic ticket or prevent points from being added to their driving record. The rule applies statewide and helps balance the opportunity for drivers to correct their habits while keeping the system fair for courts and insurers. Understanding how often you can take defensive driving, when it resets, and what happens if you take it too soon can save you time, money, and unnecessary legal issues.

How Often You Can Take Defensive Driving in Texas

Under Texas Transportation Code §543.103, drivers can take a state-approved defensive driving course once every 12 months from the completion date of their last course. The timing is important—courts track completions by the date listed on your certificate, not when your ticket occurred. If you complete another course before that 12-month window expires, the court will likely reject your request for dismissal.

This means if you completed a driving safety course on March 5, 2024, you won’t be eligible again until March 5, 2025. Even if you receive another citation in between, you’ll need to wait until that date to request another defensive driving dismissal.

Why the One-Year Limit Exists

The one-year rule helps maintain accountability among drivers and prevents the system from being abused. Defensive driving is designed to help drivers improve their behavior and reduce risk on Texas roads. If people could take the course repeatedly without restriction, it would lose its impact as both an educational and corrective measure.

Instead, the program rewards drivers who use it responsibly—by allowing one dismissal per year while also keeping tickets and points off their record. For drivers who simply want to refresh their skills or earn an insurance discount, the course can still be taken voluntarily more often, just not for ticket dismissal.

How to Check If You’re Eligible

If you’re unsure whether you qualify to take a course again, the easiest way to confirm is by reviewing your driving record. A Type 3A certified driving record shows all recent course completions and citations. You can request your official record online through the Texas Driving Records portal linked on TDLRApproved.com.

Once you receive it, check the “defensive driving” or “DSC” entry. If your last completion date is over a year old, you’re eligible to take another course for dismissal. If it’s within 12 months, you can still take a course for learning or insurance discounts—but not to remove a ticket.

What Happens If You Take It Too Soon

Taking defensive driving too soon can cause your certificate to be rejected by the court. When that happens, your ticket remains active and could lead to additional fines or points on your record. That’s why it’s always best to verify your eligibility before registering. The court will confirm your eligibility, but they rely on your honesty when you submit your request to take the course.

If you mistakenly complete the course without being eligible, you can still submit the certificate for insurance discount purposes, but it won’t remove the citation from your record.

How to Choose the Right Course

Only courses approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) qualify for ticket dismissal. You can browse a full list of approved schools and programs through the TDLR course directory. Each provider is vetted for content accuracy, completion tracking, and compliance with Texas law.

Here are a few other types of courses available on the same platform:

• Driver Education — for new drivers earning a permit or first-time license.
• Continuing Education — for professionals renewing state licenses such as electricians, cosmetologists, or HVAC technicians.

By choosing a listed provider, you can be confident your course completion will be accepted by both courts and insurers statewide.

How to Submit Your Certificate After Completion

After finishing your course, you’ll receive a completion certificate. You must submit this certificate, along with your Certified Type 3A Driving Record, to the court before your deadline. Most courts allow online submission, though some may require physical copies. Failure to meet the deadline can result in a conviction being added to your record, even if you finished the course on time.

Always double-check the court’s specific requirements for submission methods and deadlines to avoid delays or rejections.

Bottom Line

In Texas, you can take a defensive driving course once every twelve months to dismiss a ticket. Checking your driving record and choosing a verified, TDLR-approved provider ensures your time and money are well spent. If you’re eligible, you can find trusted courses and start immediately using the TDLR Approved Online Course Directory.

Visit TDLRApproved.com for official resources on defensive driving, driver education, continuing education, and certified driving records.