Can I Take Texas Defensive Driving for a Speeding Ticket?

If you received a Texas speeding citation, an approved online driving safety course may help you qualify for ticket dismissal. The answer depends on the speed alleged, your driving history, and the court handling your ticket.

Quick Answer: Yes, many Texas speeding tickets can qualify for dismissal through an approved defensive driving course. However, the standard dismissal procedure excludes a speeding offense involving 95 mph or more or 25 mph or more above the posted speed limit. Other eligibility requirements also apply. Request the driving safety course option from your court before enrolling for ticket dismissal; completing a course alone does not dismiss the ticket.

What speeding tickets may qualify?

Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.352 excludes citations for speeding at either of the following:

  • 95 mph or faster, regardless of the posted speed limit.
  • 25 mph or more above the posted speed limit, even if the total speed is below 95 mph.

For example, a citation alleging 79 mph in a 55-mph zone is 24 mph over the limit and may meet the speed threshold; a citation alleging 80 mph in that same zone reaches the 25-mph exclusion. A citation alleging 95 mph in an 80-mph zone reaches the absolute-speed exclusion. Meeting the speed threshold does not guarantee eligibility or dismissal.

Other factors that affect eligibility

In addition to the speed alleged, Texas courts review statutory conditions. Depending on your situation, those include:

  1. Commercial driver license status. Article 45A.351 excludes drivers who hold, or held at the time of the offense, a commercial driver license from this dismissal procedure.
  2. Prior course use. Ordinarily, the driver must not have completed an approved driving safety course for a qualifying dismissal within the 12 months before the new offense, subject to statutory exceptions.
  3. License or qualifying military status. Article 45A.352 contains requirements involving a Texas license or permit, with specified exceptions for active-duty service members and family members.
  4. Insurance documentation. The court generally requires proof of financial responsibility.
  5. Other offense restrictions. The dismissal rules do not apply to every type of offense. Ask the court about the specific violation listed on your citation.

For a broader checklist, see How Do I Know If My Texas Traffic Ticket Qualifies for Defensive Driving Dismissal?

How do I request defensive driving for a speeding ticket?

  1. Read the citation and court instructions. Identify the court and answer date and determine whether it offers driving safety course dismissal for your charge.
  2. Request the option on time. Follow the court's procedure to request a driving safety course, including the required plea, documents, and any applicable court fees. Under Article 45A.352, the normal request is made on or before the appearance/answer date. Some late requests may be considered before final disposition.
  3. Confirm authorization. Ask the court whether you are approved and what it requires from you. Do not treat online course enrollment as court permission.
  4. Complete a TDLR-approved driving safety course. National Driver Training offers a six-hour online Texas Defensive Driving course, with an included downloadable completion certificate.
  5. Submit required evidence on time. Follow court directions for the certificate, driving record, and any other paperwork; confirm the case outcome with the court.

Need more detail on requesting the option? Read Do I Need Court Permission Before Taking Texas Defensive Driving?.

Will the court dismiss the ticket as soon as I finish the course?

No. Successful completion is one part of the court-administered process. You must also meet the court's deadline and submit acceptable proof. Some courts request a Type 3A driving record and an affidavit or other documents. The court, not the school, decides whether dismissal conditions have been satisfied.

Read What Happens After I Complete Texas Defensive Driving? and Do I Need a Type 3A Driving Record? for the next steps.

Why choose NDT for Texas online defensive driving?

National Driver Training's TDLR-approved Texas online defensive driving course takes six hours and is designed for drivers completing a qualifying court-authorized ticket-dismissal requirement. NDT currently advertises a $25 course price, online access from computers and mobile devices, English and Spanish options, and an instant PDF certificate download upon completion. Confirm with the court that the course is appropriate for your specific citation.

Explore NDT Texas Online Defensive Driving

If your speeding citation qualifies and your court has authorized the driving safety course option, review National Driver Training's online program.

Explore Texas Online Defensive Driving

Important: Course enrollment or completion does not guarantee a court dismissal. Check your citation and court requirements before enrolling.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take defensive driving to dismiss a speeding ticket in Texas?

Yes, many Texas speeding citations qualify for dismissal after completing a TDLR-approved driving safety course, but you must meet statutory eligibility rules and follow your court’s approval and submission requirements.

What is the speeding limit for Texas defensive driving ticket dismissal?

Under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.352, the ordinary driving safety dismissal procedure excludes speeding at 95 mph or more and speeding 25 mph or more over the posted speed limit. Either limit can make the citation ineligible.

If I was going 24 mph over the speed limit, am I eligible?

You may satisfy the relative-speed limit, but that alone does not establish eligibility. Your cited speed must also be below 95 mph, and you must meet the other licensing, prior-course, insurance, and court requirements.

Can I take defensive driving if I have a commercial driver license?

Generally no. Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.351 excludes an offense committed by someone who holds or held a commercial driver license at the time of the offense from this ticket-dismissal procedure.

Do I need permission from the court before taking a course?

Request the driving safety course option from the court handling the ticket by the required answer date. Do not assume purchasing or finishing a course automatically dismisses your ticket. A court may consider certain later requests before final disposition.

What happens after I finish online defensive driving?

Download your completion certificate and follow your court’s instructions to submit it and any required driving record, affidavit, or other documents within the court’s deadline. Confirm that the court actually dismisses the charge.

Related NDT guides

Official sources

Reviewed November 9, 2026. General information only, not legal advice. Court requirements and deadlines may vary; contact the court handling your case.