It’s a bit past midnight and you’re finally driving home. You’re sleepy, but almost home.
Then it happens.
You hear a siren and see the red and blue lights. You’re getting pulled over.
You roll down your window and the officer explains that you just ran a stop sign. Now you’ve got to pay for an expensive ticket and attend traffic school.
Traffic school can be expensive and costly. Nobody wants to waste their precious time or money, but you don’t have an option.
Since you must attend, you might as well pick the best online traffic school available. Tickets and other fees are expensive enough, so it’s best to aim for the lowest price traffic school you can find.
Unfortunately, you must attend a DMV traffic school unless you want a point on your DMV record. You don’t need to attend if you’ve already attended within the last 18 months even if it’s for another violation.
Part of the reason defensive driving courses are important is that they can help reduce insurance costs. You can typically get a discount of up to 10% by taking traffic school online.
What’s the Best Online Traffic School?
There are many factors to consider when looking for a traffic school online, but the price is usually the main one.
What’s the best online traffic school? Well here are our picks:
1. IDriveSafely
IDriveSafely is one of the oldest traffic schools around. Since 1998, this traffic survival school has been helping out millions of people improve their driving skills. They focus mostly on defensive driving which helps drivers remain safe by avoiding collisions and other hazardous situations.
IDriveSafely allows you to complete your traffic school online course and is accepted in most states. It’s incredibly affordable and costs around $20-30 for most drivers. Prices are slightly higher in states like Ohio, Oregon, and Texas.
The courses are quick and easy. In fact, IDriveSafely’s courses are designed to meet the minimum time frame required in each state. You won’t find a traffic school online that’s faster.
Plus, the courses are all available online in mobile-friendly formats. The classes come in both video and text format, whichever you prefer. Most people probably prefer the video, but the text-based classes often go by much quicker.
Their customer support is also top-notch. Many companies outsource their customer support to third-party call centers, but not this one. One quick call and you’ll be in touch with a helpful representative.
One notable thing about IDriveSafely is that they’ve frequently lobbied for government legislation. Their activism has helped online traffic schools get approved by bodies like the DMV.
2. DriversEd
Along with IDriveSafely, DriversEd is one of the oldest traffic schools available. They were founded in 1997 and based in California, but have since expanded to Arizona, Michigan, and Texas.
While DriversEd focuses mostly on — you guessed it — basic driver’s education, it does offer some quality traffic school online courses. The website began as a way to teach teens about driving but later expanded to help drivers who need extra education.
The highlight is their animated 3D videos which make learning enjoyable. The teen appeal is still there as you can see through its fun interactive features. While most traffic schools are boring, DriversEd does its best to make the process a little less painful.
Of course, you don’t have to be young to enjoy DriversEd. Since the courses are clearly aimed at teenagers, you can expect them to be easy. The exams are especially simple and you’ll have no problem passing on your first try.
But DriversEd has two more advantages. Much like IDriveSafely, this is a contender for the fastest and best price traffic school available.
The courses are as quick as possible. You can finish them with little effort. They’re mobile-friendly with apps on both Android and Apple.
Plus, the prices are unbeatable. Expect to pay between $20 and $40 depending on your state.
3. Improv Traffic School
While DriversEd makes traffic school fun, Improv Traffic School takes it to a whole new level. Their motto is “Traffic School With a Smile.” I don’t know if it’s the best online traffic school, but it will certainly make you laugh the hardest.
Improv Traffic School uses comedy, animation, pictures, and jokes to make learning fun. They explain all the normally boring concepts in ways that will make you laugh. This school was founded by the same people who made Improv Comedy Clubs, so you know they’re the real deal.
Don’t believe me? Check out their video about beating up ninjas with golf clubs.
Most traffic schools are boring and hard to pay attention to. It’s not uncommon for people to skip through courses to get to the end. But the comedic elements will keep you engaged and learning.
This traffic survival school is one of the fastest available. Plus, it will feel even faster since the videos are so much fun.
The courses themselves are mobile-friendly. You can learn anywhere if you have your phone.
Plus, the tests are very easy. You can retake quizzes as much as you want, but you’ll likely pass on the first try. The final exam is open-book too.
You can take their courses in many states. This includes New Jersey, Idaho, Delaware, and Nevada. Just be aware that not all of their courses are DMV approved.
One of the best things is that Improv Traffic School gets constant updates. The owners keep up with the times to add new elements. Many older traffic schools often feel outdated.
If you’re not convinced yet, consider this. You can get free comedy show tickets by taking the course. How can you say no to that?
4. Aceable
Do you want something modern and innovative? Do you want a traffic school that makes the best use of technology?
You’re in luck. When it comes to cutting-edge, Aceable is unbeatable.
Founded in 2012, Aceable is a strong contender for the title of the best online traffic school. Why? Its strong use of technology outshines its peers.
Aceable is app-based and works on all devices. You can tell they prioritize quality over everything else.
But what’s so great about this app?
First, it offers an immersive experience. You can see what it’s like to parallel park in 3D thanks to the app. You’ll feel as if you’re behind the driver’s wheel.
Second, the company was built from the ground up a few years ago. Remember how I mentioned that many other schools feel outdated? Not Aceable.
You won’t need to worry about slow loading times, device compatibility, or identity authentication.
It also offers both video and text. The videos are more immersive but usually take longer than just reading plain text.
Aceable received $55 million in funding and made good use of it so far. One can only expect the app to improve further over time.
You can expect to pay $15-35 for a defensive driving course. As a newer company, it’s only available in a few states like Florida and Indiana. Hopefully, it will expand its reach in the coming years.
5. Approved Course
The first thing to know about Approved Course is that it’s not just a traffic school. You can find classes about topics like healthcare and real estate as well.
That doesn’t mean its driving courses aren’t worth checking out though. You’ll find nothing but high-quality content here.
You have the option of picking what type of class you wish to take.
The video course is what you’d expect: 100% videos. It costs a few dollars more than the text-based course but is worth it. It will take about six hours to complete.
The text-based course isn’t bad either. It’s got graphics and videos to help supplement your learning. You’ll have consistent quizzes to ensure you’re paying attention.
The course was designed by a handful of Texans. It feels neither too corporate nor low-budget. Some of the videos are a bit corny, but that’s not much of a problem for most.
You can tell that the owners put hard work and passion into creating it.
One of the best things about Approved Course is its excellent customer service. With a single dial, you’ll get in touch with the owner or his family. That’s not something other driving schools can say.
Plus, Approved Course has tons of happy customers. Just look at any review site and you’ll find countless five-star reviews.
Want to Learn More About Defensive Driving Courses?
Nobody wants to go to traffic school, but it’s something that can help ensure the safety of everyone. Hopefully, one of our choices will help make the process less painful. We’re not sure which is the best online traffic school, but we wholeheartedly recommend all of them.
Want to find out more about online traffic schools and local driving laws? Learn more at DefensiveDriving.org. We have comprehensive information on each state’s traffic laws and how to stay safe while driving.