What is the Arizona Defensive Driving Program? 

An Arizona Defensive Driving Program is a Court administered education and diversion program which presents traffic safety classes through court certified commercial schools. It provides Court, Defensive Driving Board, and Certification information.

 What are the Arizona Defensive Driving Program benefits?

·         Points are not assessed to your Arizona driving record

·         Your auto insurance rate will not go up

·         You will learn driving laws, techniques and traffic information

How do I sign up for an Arizona Defensive Driving Course?

Eligibility and registration questions are best directed to the Arizona defensive driving school you select.

Can I attend an Arizona Defensive driving class online?

The Arizona Defensive Driving Course may be completed online. 

What are the eligibility requirements for taking an Arizona defensive driving program?

• You may not have attended an Arizona defensive driving course for citation diversion within the past twelve months.
•  Most common moving violations are eligible. Your traffic citation must be on the list of Arizona eligible citations.
• If eligible you can only attend a defensive driving course for one traffic violation.
• If you were involved in a fatal or serious injury accident you are not eligible for an Arizona Defensive Driving Course.
• If you hold an Arizona commercial driver’s license you are not eligible for the Arizona Defensive Driving Diversion Program.
  •  Regardless of whether you were driving your personal or commercial vehicle at the time of the violation.
  •  Also, those driving a commercial vehicle requiring an Arizona commercial driver’s license are also not eligible for a defensive driving course

 You must complete your course defensive driving course at least seven days before your court date.

 I live in a different state and received an Arizona ticket.

• Contact an Arizona Certified Defensive Driving School
• You may take an online Arizona Defensive Driving Course 
• You may return to Arizona for the Defensive Driving Program
• You can attend a defensive driving course in your home state, ONLY if coordinated through an Arizona Certified Defensive Driving School.
• You must complete your Arizona Defensive Driving course at least seven days before your court date.

I hold an Arizona Commercial Driver License or drive a commercial motor vehicle that requires an Arizona commercial driver license, am I eligible for the Arizona Defensive Driving Diversion Program? 

• If you hold an Arizona commercial driver’s license, you are not eligible for the Arizona Defensive Driving Diversion course, regardless of whether you were driving commercially at the time of the traffic violation. 
• Also, those operating a commercial vehicle requiring a commercial driver’s license are also not eligible for the defensive driving program. 
  • The exceptions to this rule are:
    • 1.)If the traffic violation occurred before the driver held Arizona CDL status 
    • 2.) If the Arizona traffic violation occurred after the driver surrendered his or her Arizona CDL status. For more information, view A.R.S. 28-3392.

What information is required to register for an Arizona Defensive Driving Course? 

•  Traffic schools are required to verify your identity with a government-issued ID before traffic school attendance.
• Traffic schools are required to collect and retain a copy of your traffic citation and a copy of an Arizona court order if one has was issued.
• Some traffic schools process registration by phone and require prepayment, while others register by telephone but collect payment at the time of the course.
• Most schools need payment by money order or cashier’s check only. You should check with the defensive driving school to make sure you have all the necessary documents to attend.
• You must complete your course seven days before your Arizona court arraignment date.

What is required for a student to have at the time they start their class?  

• The Arizona traffic citation issued to them.
• The Student’s government-issued identification card.
• Course payment.
• The defensive driving student will also be required to sign an affirmation of eligibility.

Is there anything I need to do after I attend Arizona Traffic school?

Traffic schools report course completions to the Arizona courts electronically, in some cases you would need to submit a completion certificate to the Arizona court of jurisdiction, depending on that court’s policy. 

How do I know a traffic school has been approved by the state of Arizona? 

Approved Arizona schools appear on http://www.azdrive.com website and or call (888) 334-5565 to listen to a list of certified traffic schools and their contact numbers. 

How long are the Arizona defensive driving classes? 
Arizona Defensive driving course is required to be a minimum of 4 hours and not longer than 4 and ½ hours. (The time for class registration and breaks do not count towards the minimum or maximum time.)

Can I change my mind after I elect to attend the Arizona defensive driving course? 

Yes, only before starting the defensive driving course. Once the class begins you give up your option to go to Court and to receive a refund of your class fees. 

Can I get a refund if I am unable to attend an Arizona Defensive Driving course?  

If you have started a defensive driving course, a refund will not be issued. 

Do I qualify for a discount on my Arizona insurance premium? 

Some Arizona insurance companies will provide their customers a discount for voluntarily attending an Arizona defensive driving course. 

What if I lose my Defensive driving certificate of completion?

If you need a replacement defensive driving certificate contact the school you attended.

May I take an Arizona defensive driving course for point reduction on my Arizona motor vehicle record?  

You will not be able to get the point reduction on you Arizona motor vehicle record. 

May I take an Arizona defensive driving course for more than one traffic violation?  

You are allowed to attend a defensive driving course for one traffic violation every twelve months. 

If I experience problems with an Arizona Defensive Driving School or Instructor, what can I do?  

On http://www.azcourts.gov/drive/formsandDocuments.aspx, there is a link that will take you to a traffic school complaint form. 

I’m not responsible for the Arizona traffic violation I received. Can I have a hearing in an Arizona court and then go to defensive driving school later if I lose? 

You may either attend a defensive driving school or go to traffic court, not both. One of the purposes of the Arizona defensive driving program is to reduce court caseloads.  You must complete an Arizona defensive driving school at least seven days before a hearing date. 

What if I can’t attend a defensive driving program during the time allowed by the Arizona court?

Some courts allow traffic schools to give extensions on their behalf, click here to see a list of these courts.  If your court is not listed in this table, you must contact the court for an extension.  The Arizona Supreme Court does not grant traffic citation extensions. 

You must complete the defensive driving class including taking and passing the exam seven days before your court date.

I’ve been ordered by the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division to attend a “Traffic Survival School,” or they will suspend my license.   Is Traffic Survival School the same as a defensive driving class?

Traffic Survival School is for individuals who have received have an excessive amount of points on their driving record or has more severe traffic violations.

Can I be court ordered to attend an Arizona Defensive Driving School?

Arizona courts do have the right to order a person attend a defensive driving program, but in these cases, the course is not for dismissal of the violation.

I went to defensive driving class, but the citation is still on my driving record.  What should I do? 

If the traffic citation is the citation for which you attended a defensive driving program, contact the Arizona court of jurisdiction and ask the court to correct your driver record.

The Arizona Supreme Court, Administrative Office of the Courts has a TDD telephone line (Telecommunication Device for the Deaf). You may contact them on this line by calling (602) 452-3545. Ask to speak with a representative of the Defensive Driving Program in the Certification and Licensing Division.