Online traffic school in North Dakota: what it's called and what it does

Is there traffic school in North Dakota?

Not by that name. The statute says "a driver training course approved by the director," meaning NDDOT's director (NDCC 39-06.1-13). NDDOT lists them under "Defensive Driving Courses" on its points reduction page. A couple of providers on that list have "traffic school" in their names. The name doesn't matter. The NDDOT approval does.

What does the course do?

Two things, and you use one or the other for a given ticket.

Use	When	Result
3-point reduction	After points are on your record	3 points off
In lieu of points	When you post bond on a new ticket	Up to 5 points never entered

The 3-point reduction works once in any 12 months and no more than 9 points in three years. It comes only from points you already had when you finished (NDCC 39-06.1-13(2)).

The in-lieu election is for a ticket worth 5 points or fewer. You tell the clerk in writing when you post bond, within 14 days of the citation, and NDDOT needs the certificate within 30 days after that (NDCC 39-06.1-10.1). It's limited to once in 12 months, and it "forfeits any point reduction option under section 39-06.1-13." How to elect it.

Will it get my ticket thrown out?

No. The bond "is forfeited even though an election is made," and the court's own guide says that by electing, "the person admits they committed the non-criminal traffic violation" (ND Legal Self Help Center). The fee stays the same. You pay the ticket and the course.

How does the online version work?

You sign up with your name, date of birth and North Dakota license number, then work through it in a browser. Ours is eight modules and a 25-question final quiz; 18 correct passes, and retakes are free and unlimited. It runs on a phone and saves your place. The certificate is a PDF you download the moment you pass.

Then you email it to drs@nd.gov. No provider reports completions to NDDOT for you. Sending the certificate.

Is there a deadline?

Only if you elected the course at court. Then it's 30 days from the day you notified the clerk. For the 3-point reduction, the statute sets no deadline.

Who shouldn't bother?

• Your ticket is 0 points, such as 10 over where the limit is 65 or less.
• You have 1 point. It comes off by itself after three months with no new points.
• You already used the reduction or the election in the last 12 months.
• You're at 12 points or more. The reduction is applied after the suspension, not instead of it.

Does it lower my insurance?

That's a separate approval. North Dakota's insurance premium reduction law requires a course approved by the superintendent of the Highway Patrol (NDCC 26.1-25-04.1), not NDDOT. Ours isn't on the Highway Patrol's list. Defensive driving and insurance.

What is our course?

The North Dakota Defensive Driving Course: 4 hours, online, $24.99 with the certificate. NDDOT approved it on September 29, 2026; NDDOT's web list hadn't been updated to show it as of October 5. Start the course.

Last reviewed October 5, 2026 against NDCC chapter 39-06.1 and NDDOT's points reduction page.