How Florida Traffic School Can Reduce Your Traffic Fine by 18%
Most people take Florida traffic school to keep points off their licenseWhat Point Drivers License Blog. But there's a benefit many drivers miss: completing a state-approved Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) courseWhat Florida Basic Driver Improvement Course Blog also reduces your traffic fine by 18%. That's written into Florida Statute 318.14(9)Statutes 2018 318.14 Laws — not a promotion, not a limited offer. It's the law.
Here's how it works, who qualifies, and why the fine reduction is actually the smallest reason traffic school is worth it.
How the 18% Fine Reduction Works
When you elect to take traffic school for a Florida traffic ticket, the Clerk of Court in your county applies an 18% reduction to your civil penalty — that's the fine portion of your ticket.
This happens when you:
- Elect traffic school within 30 days of receiving your ticket by contacting the Clerk of Court in the county where you were cited
- Pay the reduced fine amount to the Clerk of Court
- Complete a state-approved 4-hour BDI course
- Submit your certificate of completion before the deadline (typically 60–90 days, depending on your county)
The 18% reduction applies to the base civil penalty — not to court costs or surcharges, which are set separately by each county.
How Much Can You Actually Save?
The savings depend on your ticket amount. Here's what the 18% reduction looks like on common Florida speeding ticket finesWhat Are Speeding Ticket Fines Florida Blog:
| Violation | Typical Civil Penalty | 18% Savings | You Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speeding (6–9 mph over) | $129–$204 | $23–$37 | ~$106–$167 |
| Speeding (10–14 mph over) | $204–$254 | $37–$46 | ~$167–$208 |
| Speeding (15–19 mph over) | $254–$279 | $46–$50 | ~$208–$229 |
| Running a red light | ~$158 | ~$28 | ~$130 |
| Improper lane change | ~$154 | ~$28 | ~$126 |
| Failure to yield | ~$154 | ~$28 | ~$126 |
Civil penalties vary by county. These are typical ranges — check with your county's Clerk of Court for exact amounts. Court costs and surcharges are additional.
The Fine Reduction Is Actually the Smallest Benefit
Saving $25–$50 on your ticket is nice. But if that's all you're thinking about, you're missing the bigger picture. Traffic school delivers four financial benefits — and the fine reduction is the least valuable one.
1. Fine Reduction: Save 18%
The direct savings on your civil penalty, as described above. Estimated value: $23–$50+
2. No Points on Your License
Points from the ticket are not added to your driving record. This matters because accumulating points leads to license suspensionHow To Check Your Driving Record Blog: 12 points in 12 months triggers a 30-day suspension, 18 points in 18 months means a 3-month suspension, and 24 points in 36 months results in a 1-year suspension.
3. Insurance Rate Protection
This is where the real money is. A traffic ticket on your record can increase your auto insurance premiums by 20–50% for 3–5 years. On an average Florida auto insurance policy (roughly $3,000/year), even a 20% increase means $600/year extra — that's $1,800 to $3,000 over the period your rates stay elevated. A 50% increase? You're looking at $4,500 to $7,500 in additional premiums.
By keeping points off your record through traffic school, you avoid triggering those rate increases entirely. That's not a hypothetical — Florida Statute 626.9541Statutes 2018 626.9541 Laws prohibits insurers from raising your rates for a violation when you complete BDI, as long as there's no accident and you weren't exceeding the limit by more than 15 mph.
4. Adjudication Withheld
When you elect traffic school, adjudication of guilt is withheld. You are not formally convicted of the traffic violation. This can matter for employment background checks, professional licensing, and your peace of mind.
The Total Value, Put Together
| Benefit | Estimated Value |
|---|---|
| Fine reduction (18%) | $23–$50+ |
| Insurance rate protection | $1,800–$7,500+ over 3–5 years |
| License protection (avoided suspension) | Varies |
| Clean record (no conviction) | Varies |
Against a traffic school course that takes 4 hours and costs [INSERT PRICE], the math isn't even close. This is one of the best returns on your time you'll find.
Who Qualifies for the Fine Reduction?
You're eligible if:
- You hold a valid Florida drivers license (not a commercial drivers license)
- Your ticket is for a non-criminal moving violationWhat Type Traffic Tickets Can Be Dismissed Florida Blog (speeding, red light, improper lane change, etc.)
- You have not taken traffic school in the past 12 months
- You have not exceeded 5 lifetime elections
- You elect traffic school within 30 days of receiving the ticket
You are NOT eligible if:
- Your violation is criminal (DUI, reckless driving, etc.)
- You hold a commercial drivers license (CDL)
- You've already used your traffic school election for the year
- You've exceeded the lifetime limit
- You were cited for exceeding the speed limit by 30+ mph (this may require a mandatory court appearance)
Not sure if your ticket qualifies? Check with the Clerk of Court in the county where you received the citation — they can confirm your eligibility.
How to Get Started
- Contact your county Clerk of Court to elect traffic school and pay the reduced fine. Do this within 30 days of your citation.
- Enroll in a state-approved BDI course. Make sure the provider is approved for your specific county — not all providers are approved statewideHow Many Times Can You Take Florida Driver Improvement Course BlogHow Many Times Can You Take Florida Driver Improvement Course Blog.
- Complete the 4-hour course online, at your own pace, from any device.
- Submit your certificate to the Clerk of Court before your deadline (typically 60–90 days).
Ready to knock this out? Aceable's Florida BDI course is state-approved, takes 4 hours, and works on your phone. All fees and certificate delivery included. Start your course today.Florida Driver Improvement
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Florida traffic school automatically reduce my fine?
The 18% fine reduction is applied by the Clerk of Court when you elect traffic school. You pay the reduced fine amount to the clerk, then complete the BDI course and submit your certificate. The reduction is required by Florida Statute 318.14(9).
Can I get a fine reduction without taking traffic school?
The 18% reduction is specifically tied to electing traffic school. If you simply pay the ticket without electing traffic school, you pay the full fine and the points go on your record.
Does the 18% apply to all traffic fines in Florida?
The reduction applies to the civil penalty portion of non-criminal moving violations that don't require a mandatory court appearance. Court costs and county surcharges are not reduced. The exact total may vary by county.
Is Florida traffic school tax deductible?
No. Florida traffic school is not tax deductible as it is a court-related requirement, not a business or education expense.
How long do I have to elect traffic school?
You must elect traffic school within 30 days of receiving your citation. After that window closes, you lose eligibility for both the fine reduction and the point withholding. Once elected, you typically have 60–90 days to complete the course depending on your county.
Can I take Florida traffic school more than once?
Yes — you can elect traffic school once every 12 months, up to 5 times in your lifetime. Learn more about how many times you can take the courseHow Many Times Can You Take Florida Driver Improvement Course BlogHow Many Times Can You Take Florida Driver Improvement Course Blog.
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