How often can I take defensive driving to dismiss a ticket in Arizona?

Once every 12 months, measured from the date of the violation. If you took an eligible course less than a year before your current citation's violation date, you won't qualify this time.

Will the ticket show up on my Arizona driving record?

No. When the court accepts your completion, the eligible civil violation is dismissed and no points are posted to your MVD record — so it shouldn't trigger an insurance surcharge for that ticket.

How long is the Arizona defensive driving course?

The state requires roughly a four to four-and-a-half hour program. American Roadways' Arizona course is delivered 100% online so you can finish in one sitting or in pieces.

How to Dismiss a Traffic Ticket in Arizona with Defensive Driving

Arizona lets you dismiss most civil traffic tickets by completing an approved defensive driving course — once every 12 months, with no points on your record. Here's exactly how it works.

If you've just been handed a civil traffic ticket in Arizona, you have a genuinely good option that most drivers don't fully understand: a single approved defensive driving course can make the ticket — and the points that come with it — disappear. Here's how the program works and how to make sure you actually qualify.

What "dismissal" really means in Arizona

Arizona's Defensive Driving Program is administered under the Arizona Supreme Court (with your completion reported to the Arizona MVD). When you complete an approved course before your court deadline, the eligible civil violation is dismissed. That matters in two ways:

No points are added to your driving record for that violation.
Because there are no points, that ticket shouldn't cause an insurance surcharge — which is usually where the real money is.

That's a better outcome than simply paying the fine, which would put points on your record.

Are you eligible?

The program is generous but not unlimited. In general you qualify if:

The citation is for an eligible civil traffic violation (most common moving violations).
You haven't completed a dismissal course in the last 12 months (measured from violation date to violation date).
The stop did not involve a serious-injury or fatal collision, and it isn't a criminal charge.
You hold a non-commercial license (CDL holders are generally excluded).
You complete the course and the paperwork before your court deadline — don't wait until the last day.

Rules and deadlines can change and some courts have local quirks. Confirm your specific eligibility and due date with the court listed on your ticket or at the Arizona Courts defensive driving page.

The steps

Check your court deadline on the citation.
Choose an approved school and enroll. (American Roadways runs an Arizona-approved course — and if you'd rather laugh your way through four hours, we also run Defensive Driving: The Musical.)
Complete the course online before the deadline.
The school reports your completion; the court dismisses the eligible violation.

Why this beats just paying the fine

Paying the ticket is the path of least resistance, but it's usually the most expensive one over time — points can raise your premium for three years or more. A one-time course fee that keeps your record clean almost always pays for itself on the very next insurance renewal. For more on that math, see our guide to defensive driving and insurance discounts.

Ready to take care of it? The button below routes you straight to the Arizona course.