5 Bucks Traffic School is an online traffic safety course, not a government program

5 Bucks Traffic School is a private company that offers online traffic safety courses. It is not run by any government agency, and taking a course there does not automatically dismiss a traffic ticket or reduce points on your driving record. What it does is provide a course that, in some states, you can take to show a court or the Department of Motor Vehicles that you completed traffic safety education — which may then lead to a ticket dismissal or point reduction, depending on your state's rules and your specific situation.

The company's name refers to its advertised price point, though the actual cost varies by state and what you are trying to accomplish. Before you enroll, you need to know whether your state and your particular ticket even allow you to use a traffic school course as part of your defense or record improvement strategy.

Key Takeaways

  • 5 Bucks Traffic School is a private online course provider, not a government service, and enrollment does not automatically dismiss a ticket or remove points.
  • Your state's traffic laws determine whether you can use any traffic school course to reduce a ticket's impact, and not all states or ticket types allow it.
  • You must first receive permission from the court or DMV in your state before enrolling in any traffic school course.
  • The course itself is typically an online video and quiz format that takes a few hours to complete, and you receive a certificate upon finishing.
  • You are responsible for submitting the certificate to the court or DMV yourself — the company does not file it for you.

How traffic school courses work in your state's system

Traffic school courses exist because many states allow drivers to reduce or dismiss a ticket by completing a court-approved safety course. The idea is that education can prevent future violations. However, the rules about who can use this option, which tickets may have access to, and what happens after you finish vary significantly by state.

Some states allow traffic school only for minor violations like speeding under a certain threshold. Others exclude it for serious violations, commercial driver's license holders, or drivers with recent violations on their record. A few states do not offer traffic school dismissal at all. You cannot find out whether 5 Bucks Traffic School will help your specific ticket without first checking your state's DMV website or contacting the court that issued the ticket.

If your state does allow traffic school for your type of violation, the court or DMV will usually tell you so when you receive the ticket or when you contact them. They may provide a list of approved providers. 5 Bucks Traffic School is approved in many states, but not all. The court or DMV must give you permission before you enroll — enrolling on your own without that permission will not help your case.

What the course itself involves

The 5 Bucks Traffic School course is delivered entirely online. You log in, watch video lessons on traffic safety topics, and answer quiz questions as you go. The course typically takes two to four hours to complete, depending on your state's requirements. You can start and stop as needed — you do not have to finish in one sitting.

Once you complete all the lessons and pass the quizzes, the company generates a certificate of completion. This certificate is what you need to submit to the court or DMV to show that you finished the course. The company will email it to you, and you are responsible for printing it and delivering it to the right place, or uploading it if the court accepts electronic filing.

How to learn about you can use traffic school for your ticket

Start by visiting your state's DMV website and searching for "traffic school" or "defensive driving course." Most state DMV sites have a page explaining whether traffic school is available, which violations may have access to, and what the process is. If you cannot find it there, call the DMV directly or contact the court that issued your ticket.

When you contact the court, have your ticket number ready. Ask whether traffic school is an option for your violation, whether you need court permission before enrolling, and whether there is a important date to complete the course. Some courts require you to complete the course before a certain date or within a certain number of days of the ticket.

If your state and ticket do may have access to, ask the court whether 5 Bucks Traffic School is on their approved provider list. If it is not, the court will tell you which providers are approved in your area. Taking a course from an unapproved provider will not help your case.

Cost and what happens after you finish

The price advertised by 5 Bucks Traffic School varies by state, typically ranging from around $20 to $50 or more, depending on your location and any additional fees. Some states allow you to deduct the course cost from your fine, while others do not. Ask the court whether the course fee can be applied to what you owe.

After you receive your certificate, you must submit it to the court or DMV yourself. Do not assume the company will do this — they will not. Check the court's instructions for how to submit it: some courts accept email, some require mail, and some have an online filing system. Keep a copy for your records and, if mailing it, use certified mail so you have proof of delivery.

Once the court or DMV receives your certificate, they will process it according to your state's rules. This might mean the ticket is dismissed, the fine is reduced, or points are removed from your record. The timeline for this varies — it can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks.

What traffic school does and does not do

Completing a traffic school course does not erase the ticket from your record in most states. It may reduce or dismiss the fine, and it may prevent points from being added to your driving record, but the ticket itself may still appear on background checks or insurance reports. Insurance companies have their own rules about whether they consider a ticket that was dismissed through traffic school when calculating your rates.

Traffic school also does not prevent the ticket from being used against you in certain legal situations. If you are in an accident and the other party sues, the ticket can still be introduced as evidence of negligence, even if you completed traffic school.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take 5 Bucks Traffic School without permission from the court?

No. You must receive permission from the court or DMV first. Taking the course on your own will not help your case and may waste your money. Contact the court that issued your ticket and ask whether traffic school is an option before you enroll anywhere.

Will the course remove the ticket from my driving record?

Not completely. In most states, the ticket may be dismissed or the points may be removed, but the ticket itself may still appear on background checks. Insurance companies decide separately whether they will ignore a dismissed ticket when calculating your rates.

What if I do not finish the course by the important date?

Contact the court when ready and ask for an extension. Some courts will grant one, but others will not. If you miss the important date without permission, the ticket will likely proceed as if you had not taken the course, and you may owe the full fine and points.

Do I have to use 5 Bucks Traffic School, or can I choose a different provider?

Your court may have a list of approved providers. If 5 Bucks Traffic School is on that list, you can use it. If it is not, you must choose from the approved providers in your state. Using an unapproved provider will not count toward dismissal or point reduction.

How long does it take for the court to process my certificate?

Processing times vary by court, typically ranging from a few days to several weeks. After you submit the certificate, contact the court in a week or two to confirm they received it. Keep a copy and proof of delivery for your records.