Does Defensive Driving Remove Points in Arizona?

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

The answer to does defensive driving remove points in Arizona is no: the class cannot take away points already on your record, but it keeps points off the one eligible ticket it dismisses. The Arizona Supreme Court FAQ says plainly that you may not take the class for point reduction. What it does is stop new points before they land.

Key Facts

  • Removes old points? No. See the short answer.
  • Prevents new points? Yes, for one eligible ticket. See prevent vs remove.
  • Timing: finish at least 7 days before your court date. See timing.
  • CDL holders: no points, but the record still goes to MVD. See CDL holders.
  • Waste of a finite resource: a separate law keeps it from being used to suspend a license. See that rule.

Does Defensive Driving Remove Points in Arizona?

No. The court FAQ asks whether you may take a defensive driving course for point reduction on your motor vehicle record. Its answer is one word: “No.”

The program works on a ticket, not on your record. When you finish the class, the court dismisses that citation. Because the citation is dismissed, no points are assessed for it.

So the class acts before points exist. Points that are already on your record from past convictions stay there.

Prevent vs Remove

The two ideas sound alike, but the rules treat them very differently:

Preventing new pointsRemoving old points
What it meansNo points are added for one open ticketPoints already assessed come off
Can defensive driving do it?Yes, if you are eligibleNo
What the court FAQ saysPoints are not assessed for the dismissed citationYou may not take the course for point reduction
When it worksBefore the ticket ends in a convictionNot at any time

That is the whole story in one table. Defensive driving is a dismissal program, not a point reduction program.

How Arizona Defensive Driving Points Rules Work

Here is the chain of events the court describes:

  1. You get an eligible civil ticket. Its code is on the court’s list.
  2. You register with a certified school. The school checks the court database to confirm you qualify.
  3. You finish the class. It must be done at least 7 days before your court date.
  4. The school reports it. Schools send completions to the courts electronically.
  5. The court dismisses the citation. No points are added for it.

Some courts still ask for a completion certificate. Follow any instructions from your court, and ask the school if you lose the certificate.

The class covers one violation only. If a stop produced two citations, the class can dismiss just one of them.

Five questions to ask about Arizona defensive driving points, from whether the ticket is still open to CDL rules

Timing: Points Land at Conviction

ADOT’s Points Assessment page says points are assessed when you are convicted of, or forfeit bail for, a moving violation. That is the moment to beat.

Defensive driving has to be done first. The court requires you to finish at least 7 days before your court date. If your court date is December 15, finish by December 8.

The FAQ adds two warnings about the choice itself:

  • Court or class, not both. You can go to court or attend the class, but not both.
  • Starting locks you in. Once you begin the course, you lose the option to go to court, and the fee is not refunded.

Who Qualifies

The prevention only works if the court accepts you. The Defensive Driving Schools page lists the rules:

  • Twelve-month rule: no class for a ticket issued in the past 12 months, counted from violation date to violation date.
  • Eligible code: the violation must be on the List of Eligible Violations.
  • No serious crash: a violation tied to a serious injury or fatal accident does not qualify.
  • Deadline: finish at least 7 days before court.

State law, ARS 28-3392, says the court shall allow the class for a civil traffic moving violation that meets these terms. Our ticket dismissal guide covers each rule in depth.

Two Different 12-Month Clocks

Two separate clocks run here, and they are easy to mix up.

  • The class clock. The court counts 12 months from the date of your last eligible violation to the date of your new one. The date you took the class does not matter.
  • The MVD points clock. ADOT looks at points in any 12-month period. Eight or more in that window may bring MVD action.

A ticket that is too soon for the class clock goes through court in the usual way. If it ends in a conviction, its points count on the MVD clock.

Worked Examples

These examples use only the court rules and ADOT’s point values:

  • Six points, new speeding ticket. A driver has two speeding convictions this year, worth 6 points. If the new ticket is eligible and the class is done on time, the total stays at 6. If the new ticket ends in a conviction, the total is 9, past the 8-point line.
  • Too soon for the class. A driver’s last eligible violation was March 1. A new violation on December 1 of the same year is inside 12 months, so the class is not an option for it.
  • Old points, clean new ticket. A driver with 5 points takes the class for an eligible ticket. The count stays at 5. It does not drop.

CDL Holders

Commercial drivers get a different result on paper. Since September 1, 2019, a CDL holder may attend if all of these are true:

  • The vehicle needed a Class D or Class M license.
  • The use was not commercial.
  • The other rules above are met.

The court FAQ says that for a CDL holder, the court must forward the judgment record to MVD. No points are assessed to the driver’s record.

Depending on the violation code, MVD may still direct the driver to Traffic Survival School. And under ARS 28-3392, a CDL holder driving a commercial motor vehicle cannot have the ticket dismissed this way. The court may require the class as part of a sentence instead.

Criminal Speeding

Criminal speeding is not a civil ticket. On the eligible list, codes marked CM, including criminal speeding under ARS 28-701.02, qualify only with the express permission of the presiding judge.

Criminal speeding is a class 3 misdemeanor, with court penalties of its own. So the points question depends on the judge first. Ask the court before you count on defensive driving for a criminal charge.

Waste of a Finite Resource

Arizona has one speeding category with built-in limits. ARS 28-702.01 covers going no more than 10 mph over on roads posted at least 30 mph outside an urbanized area, or at least 40 mph inside one.

If the ticket is written as waste of a finite resource, the law sets three limits on how it can be used:

  • No suspension. It cannot be used to suspend or revoke a license.
  • No insurance rating. It cannot be treated as a moving violation for insurance rating.
  • No cancellation. It cannot support canceling or not renewing a policy.

The penalty is capped at $15 plus surcharges. This protection comes from the statute, not from defensive driving.

Summary card of what the Arizona court FAQ says about points: none for a dismissed ticket, no point reduction, one violation per class

Points You Already Have

If your record already shows points, defensive driving will not lower the count. What it can do is keep one new eligible ticket from adding to it.

We read the court FAQ again on October 25, 2026. Its answer to the point reduction question was still a single word: no.

That matters near the line. ADOT says 8 or more points in any 12-month period may lead to Traffic Survival School or a suspension of up to 12 months. Our guide to how many points to suspend license in AZ explains each level.

To see your current total, order your driving record. The Arizona driving record guide explains how.

What the Class Does Not Change

Keep these limits in mind, each drawn from the court FAQ:

  • Past convictions stay. The class works only on the ticket you take it for.
  • A TSS order stands. The FAQ says TSS is for drivers with more serious violations or too many points, so a defensive driving class does not replace it.
  • One ticket per class. Other tickets from the same stop are handled on their own.

Court-Ordered Classes

Sometimes a judge orders a defensive driving class as part of a sentence. The FAQ says court-ordered attendance does not lead to dismissal.

In that case the conviction stands. The points follow the ADOT table, which our guide to how many points a speeding ticket is in Arizona lists in full.

If a Dismissed Ticket Still Shows

The FAQ says that if the citation still appears on your record after you finish, call the court of jurisdiction. That is the court named on your ticket.

The court FAQ also says your insurance rate should not go up for a dismissed ticket. See our insurance guide for more.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

These come from the court FAQ, ADOT and state law:

  • Taking the class to clear old points. The FAQ says it is not for point reduction.
  • Waiting until after court. Points land at conviction, and the class deadline is 7 days before court.
  • Expecting two dismissals. One class covers one violation.
  • Assuming a CDL record stays clean. The judgment record still goes to MVD.
  • Counting on a court-ordered class. It does not dismiss the ticket.

How Requirements Can Vary

Arizona’s defensive driving rules are set by state law and the Arizona Supreme Court, but each court handles its own cases. The total cost includes a court diversion fee that each court sets, so the price depends on the court on your ticket.

Extension allowances also differ by court, from 14 to 60 days on the Supreme Court’s list. If a judge orders in-person attendance, you must take a classroom course.

Court fees can change in April and October each year. Check the Arizona Supreme Court Defensive Driving Program and the court on your citation for current rules before you register.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does defensive driving remove points in Arizona?

No. The court FAQ says you may not take the course for point reduction. It keeps points off the one ticket it dismisses.

Will the dismissed ticket add points?

No. The FAQ says that once you complete the class, the citation is dismissed and points are not assessed to your motor vehicle record.

Can I go to court and also take the class?

No. The FAQ says you can go to court or attend the class, not both. Once you start the class, you lose the option to go to court.

Do CDL holders get points after defensive driving?

No points are assessed, per the court FAQ. But the court forwards the judgment record to MVD, and MVD may direct the driver to Traffic Survival School depending on the violation code.

Can one class dismiss two tickets?

No. The program dismisses only one violation.

Can a waste of a finite resource ticket suspend my license?

No. ARS 28-702.01 says it cannot be used to suspend or revoke a license. That rule comes from the statute itself.

Can defensive driving cancel a Traffic Survival School order?

No. The court FAQ says TSS is for drivers with more serious violations or too many points. If MVD orders TSS, our guide to Arizona Traffic Survival School explains what to do.

Will a dismissed ticket raise my insurance?

The court FAQ says your insurance rate should not go up for a ticket dismissed through the class. Some insurers also give a discount for taking the class on your own.

Conclusion

Defensive driving does not remove points in Arizona, but it can keep one eligible ticket from adding any, as long as you finish at least 7 days before court. Check your eligibility early, before a conviction locks in the points.

Driving Logic’s Arizona Defensive Driving Course is coming soon. Until then, find a certified school at azcourts.gov/drive.

Sources

Billy Forte is the owner of Driving Logic, a state-approved driver improvement course provider serving Florida and other U.S. states.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Arizona defensive driving eligibility, deadlines, and fees are set by Arizona law, the Arizona Supreme Court, and each court, and can change. Check the Arizona Supreme Court Defensive Driving Program and the court on your citation for current requirements before you register for a course.