Which tickets qualify for the Missouri Driver Improvement Program?
By Road Ready Safety · Checked against Missouri law on
Short answer
Three kinds of tickets qualify: speeding, careless and imprudent driving, and ordinary 2-point moving violations such as a stop sign or following too close. DWI, leaving the scene, driving while suspended, no insurance and passing a stopped school bus do not. The court still has to approve it.
- Qualifies
- Speeding
- Qualifies
- Careless and imprudent driving
- Qualifies
- Ordinary 2-point moving violations
- Does not qualify
- DWI, no insurance, school bus, leaving the scene
Which violations does the program cover?
RSMo 302.302.5 lists them by reference to the points table. The program is accepted in place of points for:
- Subdivision (1): any moving violation not listed elsewhere in the table. These are 2 points. Stop signs, red lights, failure to yield, following too close, improper lane use, improper turns and improper passing are all here.
- Subdivision (2): speeding. 3 points under state law, 2 under a local ordinance.
- Subdivision (4): careless and imprudent driving. 4 points under state law, 2 under a local ordinance.
- Subsection 3: the 2 extra points added when a violation caused injury or property damage.
Which violations are left out?
Everything else in the points table:
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Leaving the scene of an accident | 12 state, 6 local |
| Driving without a valid license | 2, 4 or 6 |
| Driving while suspended or revoked | 12 |
| Getting a license by misrepresentation | 12 |
| Driving while intoxicated or with excess blood alcohol | 8 or 12 |
| Felony involving a motor vehicle | 12 |
| Letting an unlicensed person drive | 4 |
| No insurance | 4 |
| Endangering a highway worker or emergency responder | 4 or 12 |
| Passing a stopped school bus | 5 |
Does a qualifying ticket mean I'm approved?
No. The Missouri Safety Center says the court decides "on a case by case basis and there is no guarantee that the court will allow you to attend." A qualifying ticket means the court is allowed to say yes.
Who is ruled out even with a qualifying ticket?
- CDL holders, and anyone ticketed in a commercial vehicle
- Drivers licensed in another state
- Anyone who used the program in the last 36 months
What about a ticket on a motorcycle?
The course is different. For a violation committed on a motorcycle, the law calls for an approved motorcycle-rider training course in place of the Driver Improvement Program. Our course doesn't satisfy that.
Do I need the program for a ticket with no points?
No. Speeding by 5 mph or less, texting and equipment violations carry no points in Missouri, so there is nothing for the program to keep off.
What should I do with a qualifying ticket?
Ask the court before you plead guilty or pay. Once it's approved, take the course within 60 days.
Quick answers
Which tickets qualify for the Missouri Driver Improvement Program?
Speeding, careless and imprudent driving, and other ordinary moving violations that carry 2 points, along with the 2 extra points for injury or property damage. The court must approve it.
Can I take the Driver Improvement Program for a DWI in Missouri?
No. RSMo 302.302 limits the program to ordinary moving violations, speeding and careless and imprudent driving. Alcohol-related convictions are not included.
Can I take the Driver Improvement Program for a no insurance ticket in Missouri?
No. A conviction for failing to maintain financial responsibility carries 4 points and is not one of the violations the program covers.
Does a red light or stop sign ticket qualify for the Missouri Driver Improvement Program?
Yes. Both are ordinary moving violations under subdivision (1) of the points table, which the program covers when the court approves it.
Sources
- Missouri Revised Statutes 302.302: point system and the driver-improvement program
- Missouri Department of Revenue Form 899: violation descriptions and points assessed (revised 08-2026)
- Missouri Safety Center: Driver Improvement Program
- Missouri Safety Center: Driver Improvement Program Process
- Missouri Revised Statutes 304.009: speeding by five miles per hour or less
We read each source on September 29, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Your court decides whether you can use the Missouri Driver Improvement Program. See a mistake? Email info@roadreadysafety.com.
More Missouri guides
- Missouri driver license points by violation
- Can CDL holders take the Missouri Driver Improvement Program?
- Out-of-state drivers and the Missouri Driver Improvement Program
- How to ask a Missouri court for the Driver Improvement Program