Florida Traffic School Online: BDI Course Guide

In Florida, traffic school is called the Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) course. It's a 4-hour course that keeps points off your license and prevents your insurance from going up.

Here's everything you need to know about taking it online.

What is the Florida BDI course?

The BDI course is Florida's version of traffic school. It's approved by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). When you complete the course, the ticket still appears on your record but no points are added.

That's the key: no points means your insurance company has no reason to raise your rates.

Florida is unique

Unlike most states where traffic school hides the ticket entirely, Florida's BDI course prevents points from being added. The ticket still shows on your record, but without points, your insurance company typically doesn't raise your rates.

Who is eligible?

You can take the BDI course if:

You have a valid Florida driver's license
The violation is a moving violation (speeding, red light, careless driving, etc.)
You have not elected the BDI course in the past 12 months
You have not elected BDI more than 5 times in your lifetime
The violation is not a criminal traffic offense

How to take the Florida BDI course online

Elect the BDI option with your court (you must do this before your court date)
Sign up for an approved online course
Complete 4 hours of course material
Pass the final exam — 40 questions, you need 80% to pass
Get your certificate — We electronically report your completion to the FLHSMV

How long does it take?

The course is 4 hours long. Florida requires you to spend a minimum of 4 hours in the course — the system tracks your time. Most people finish in one sitting.

You can take breaks and come back. Your progress is saved automatically.

How much does it cost?

Cost	Amount
NoToTicket course fee	$39.99
Court election fee	$0–$16
Traffic fine	Varies by violation
Total (course + fees)	$39.99–$55.99 + fine

You still pay the fine

Electing the BDI course doesn't eliminate your traffic fine. You still pay the fine — the course just prevents points from being added to your record.

What does the Florida BDI course cover?

The FLHSMV requires these topics:

Florida traffic laws and regulations
Right-of-way rules
Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs
Aggressive driving and road rage
Distracted driving
Sharing the road with vulnerable users
Crash avoidance techniques

Florida BDI course: the numbers

Without BDI	With BDI
Points added to record	No points added
Insurance increase: ~$671/year	No insurance increase
3-year insurance cost: ~$2,013	$0 insurance cost
Total extra cost: $2,013+	Total course cost: $39.99

How many times can you take the BDI course?

Florida allows you to elect the BDI course:

Once every 12 months
Up to 5 times total in your lifetime

After you've used all 5 elections, points will go on your record for future tickets.

Use your elections wisely

You only get 5 lifetime BDI elections. Don't waste them on small tickets if you can avoid it — save them for when you really need them. That said, the insurance savings make it worth using every time.

What if I miss the deadline?

If you don't elect the BDI option before your court deadline, you lose the chance. The points go on your record, and your insurance goes up for 3 years.

Most Florida courts give you 30 days to elect the BDI option. Don't wait until the last minute.

Start your Florida BDI course today

Keep those points off your record and your insurance rates down. Take the course online, on your schedule.

Related reading:

Ready to take the Florida BDI course?

Start Traffic School — $39.99