Dismiss Your Texas Speeding Ticket
If you were cited for speeding under 25 mph over the limit, you may qualify for dismissal through defensive driving. Confirm in 60 seconds.
Free eligibility check · 10 modules · ~6 hours
Most non-school-zone Texas speeding tickets at less than 25 mph over the posted limit are eligible for dismissal — provided you request the option before your appearance date and your court approves it. Here's how the path works.
The cost of doing nothing
Speeding tickets typically add 2 points to your Texas record and trigger an insurance surcharge.
Pay it, and the violation stays on your record for three years — affecting future quotes.
Skip the request window, and the dismissal option is closed.
The 25 mph hard line and other speeding-specific thresholds
Texas allows defensive driving dismissal for most speeding citations — but the rules are tighter than for other moving violations. The 25 mph cutoff is the bright line. The cited speed (the speed actually written on the citation, not what your speedometer showed) is what the court works from.
- Cited speed less than 25 mph over the limit → eligible.
- Cited speed 25 mph or more over the limit → NOT eligible by Texas statute.
- School-zone speeding → usually still eligible, but courts review more carefully.
- Construction-zone speeding with workers present → NOT eligible by statute.
- Construction-zone speeding without workers present → usually eligible.
- Racing → NOT eligible (excluded category).
The cited speed is what counts
Officers occasionally write a lower speed than they originally clocked. Don't argue your way into a higher number. If the citation says under 25 over, that's what the court works from for eligibility.
What the court does after you request defensive driving
The court doesn't dismiss your ticket the moment you request defensive driving — it grants what's technically a 'deferred disposition.' Your case is held open while you complete the course. When you submit a passing certificate before the court's deadline, the citation is dismissed and never enters your driving record.
- 1
Request received
Submit before your appearance date. Most major courts send an automated acknowledgment within minutes.
- 2
Request granted
Court reviews eligibility, grants defensive driving, sets a completion deadline (typically 90 days), collects $10 administrative fee.
- 3
You complete the course
TDLR-approved 6-hour course online. Pass the final exam, download your certificate.
- 4
Certificate verified, citation dismissed
Court verifies certificate against TDLR records, enters dismissal in case-management system. Case closed without conviction.
School zone and construction zone — the gray areas
Two location-specific wrinkles change eligibility for speeding citations.
- School zones: doubled fines, more careful court review, but most drivers remain eligible. Confirm with the issuing court.
- Construction zones with workers present: excluded by statute. The 'workers present' designation is on the citation.
- Construction zones without workers present: standard eligibility rules apply.
- Multiple violations at once (speeding + cell phone + expired registration): courts vary on whether one defensive driving request can dismiss all — ask directly.
From "uh-oh" to certificate in four steps
No classroom, no waiting list, no shipping a DVD.
- 1
Check eligibility
60-second quiz tells you whether your court will accept defensive driving for your ticket.
- 2
Start the course
Enroll, sign in, and begin your first module in under a minute.
- 3
Complete modules
Self-paced lessons with quick quizzes. Pause and resume on any device.
- 4
File your certificate
Pass the final exam, download your certificate, submit to your court.
Built for busy Texas drivers
Help avoid points
Help keep moving-violation points off your Texas driving record.
Help prevent insurance increases
Many Texas insurers raise rates after a ticket. Completion may help avoid surcharges.
Complete online
No classroom, no DVDs. The full course works in your browser.
Mobile-friendly
Take it on your phone during a lunch break and finish on your laptop tonight.
60 seconds · No card required
Important disclaimer
DefensiveDrivingPlus is an online course platform. Ticket dismissal eligibility and court acceptance depend on your court, violation, and state requirements. Always confirm provider approval with the court that issued your citation before enrolling.
Quick answers
Always confirm with your specific Texas court that the issuing provider is approved before enrolling in any defensive driving course.