How long do I have to elect BDI in Florida?

You must elect the Basic Driver Improvement option with the clerk of court within 30 days of receiving your citation. Miss that window and points are assessed automatically.

Does BDI lower my fine?

Yes. Electing BDI reduces the civil penalty by 18% under Florida Statute 318.14(9), on top of keeping points off your record.

Can my insurance go up if I take BDI?

When you elect BDI and adjudication is withheld with no points assessed, Florida law prevents insurers from raising your premium, cancelling, or non-renewing based on that citation. A narrow exception applies to certain at-fault crashes.

Florida BDI: Dismiss Points and Protect Your Insurance

Florida's Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) course lets you elect to keep points off your record, cut your fine by 18%, and block an insurance increase. Here's how to do it right — and on time.

Florida gives drivers a powerful tool to handle a traffic ticket — but it comes with a tight clock. The Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) course can keep points off your record, shrink your fine, and stop your insurer from raising your rate. You just have to elect it in time.

What BDI does for you

When you elect BDI with the clerk of court and complete an approved course, three things happen:

No points — adjudication is withheld, so the citation doesn't add points to your record.
18% smaller fine — Florida Statute 318.14(9) automatically reduces the civil penalty.
Insurance protection — with no points assessed, your insurer generally can't surcharge, cancel, or non-renew you over that ticket.

That combination is why BDI is almost always the smart move over just paying.

The 30-day rule (don't miss it)

Here's the catch: you must elect BDI with the clerk of court within 30 days of your citation. If you let that window pass — or simply pay the ticket — points get assessed and the insurance protection is gone. So step one is contacting the clerk, then taking the course.

Confirm current rules and your county's process with the Florida DHSMV BDI page.

How often can you use it?

Florida lets you elect BDI more than once over your driving life, but no more than once every 12 months. (Confirm the current lifetime cap with the DHSMV, as the details are periodically updated.)

Steps

Elect BDI with the clerk of court within 30 days.
Enroll in an approved online course — American Roadways is approved in Florida.
Finish online and we report your completion.
Points stay off, your fine drops 18%, and your insurance is protected.

Taking a defensive driving course in another state? See our Arizona and Michigan guides — the rules differ in important ways.