Defensive Driving Info

Arizona Defensive Driving Program

Got an eligible Arizona traffic ticket? You may be able to dismiss it.

Arizona lets drivers with a qualifying civil traffic citation take an approved defensive driving course to have that ticket dismissed — no conviction, and no points on your record for that citation. This page explains how the option works and where to find an approved school. It's information only: no sign-ups, nothing to buy.

Find an approved school →Check if you might qualify

How the program works

  1. 1

    Confirm you're eligible

    Eligibility depends on the specific violation, your recent history, and your court's rules. Check the court listed on your citation, or use Arizona's official eligibility resources.

  2. 2

    Elect the program before your deadline

    Most courts require you to choose the Defensive Driving option (and pay any required fees) by a deadline. Miss it and you can lose the option even if you qualified.

  3. 3

    Take an approved course

    Complete a course from a school on the Arizona Supreme Court's approved list. Courses are widely available online.

  4. 4

    Your eligible citation is dismissed

    When you complete an approved course on an eligible citation, there's no conviction entered — so no points post to your record for that ticket.

Who is generally eligible?

Eligibility is decided by the court on your citation — this is a general guide, not a guarantee. Confirm your specific situation with the court or Arizona's official resources before you rely on it.

You may qualify if…

  • You received an eligible civil (non-criminal) traffic citation in Arizona.
  • You have not completed the program for another ticket within the last 12 months.
  • You act before your court's response deadline (you usually must elect the program in time).

You usually won't qualify if…

  • The citation is a criminal traffic charge (for example, DUI).
  • The violation was part of a collision causing serious injury or death.
  • You were driving a commercial vehicle or hold a CDL.
  • The citation is for speed above the program's threshold, or another excluded violation.

Check if your ticket might qualify

A few quick questions for a general read — it runs entirely in your browser, and nothing is sent or stored. For the official list, see Arizona's eligible violations.

  1. 1.Is your citation an Arizona civil traffic violation (not a criminal charge such as DUI)?

  2. 2.Is the citation for excessive or criminal speed (for example, roughly 20+ mph over the limit, or a criminal speeding charge)?

  3. 3.Was the citation connected to a collision that seriously injured or killed someone?

  4. 4.Were you driving a commercial vehicle, or do you hold a commercial driver license (CDL)?

  5. 5.Have you completed Arizona's Defensive Driving Program for another citation in the past 12 months?

  6. 6.Is your court's deadline to respond to the citation still open (you haven't missed it)?

Official resources

Straight from the Arizona Supreme Court — the authoritative sources for schools, eligibility, and cost.

Approved defensive driving schools →

The state's official list of approved schools. Take your course from a provider on this list.

Eligible violations →

Arizona's official list of which traffic violations qualify for the program.

Cost to attend school →

The state's breakdown of the fees involved in completing the program.

Arizona's efficacy study (PDF) →

Research on whether defensive driving reduces future violations and crashes.

Source: 2024 Defensive Driving Impact Study, Arizona Supreme Court, 2024.

Frequently asked questions

What is Arizona's Defensive Driving Program?
It's a state option that lets eligible Arizona drivers with a qualifying civil traffic citation attend an approved defensive driving course to have that citation dismissed — so no conviction is entered and no points post to their record for that ticket. Eligibility and deadlines are set by the court, so always confirm with the court on your citation.
How do I know if my violation qualifies?
Eligibility depends on the specific violation, whether you've used the program recently, and your court's rules. Serious offenses (like DUI, commercial-vehicle violations, or a citation tied to a serious-injury collision) are generally not eligible. The court listed on your citation is the authority — confirm with them or with Arizona's official eligibility resources before assuming you qualify.
How often can I use it?
Arizona generally limits the program to once within a 12-month period. The exact rule can vary, so confirm your eligibility with your court.
Where do I take the course?
From a school on the Arizona Supreme Court's approved list. This page links to that official list so you can choose an approved provider.