New Jersey defensive driving course rules
In New Jersey a defensive driving course removes 2 points already on your record; the ticket stays. It applies once every 5 years.
Rules checked
New Jersey has no course that dismisses a ticket. A voluntary State-approved defensive driving course removes 2 points from the points already on your record, once every five years, and only when you have points when you finish. The conviction stays. The provider reports completion to the MVC. You may also qualify for an insurance rate reduction; ask your insurer. Separate remedial programs (Driver Improvement and Probationary Driver) apply only when the MVC sends you a notice.
- What a course does
- Points taken off; the conviction stays
- Speed limit for the course
- Not published
- How often
- Once every 5 years
- Deadline to ask
- Not published
- Speeding points
- 2 to 5 points
- Points count for
- Not published
The New Jersey rule
Every field of the rule. The number points to its source at the foot of the page.
- The program
- Defensive Driving Course (State-approved, voluntary point reduction)
- What it does
- Points taken off; the conviction stays
- Set by each court
- No
- Speed limit for the course
- Not published
- Bar at double the posted limit
- Not published
- Open to CDL holders
- Not published
- Open to tickets in a commercial vehicle
- Not published
- Open to learner and provisional licenses
- Not published
- Open to drivers licensed in another state
- Not published
- How often
- Once every 5 years, the rule does not say what the window counts from
- Lifetime limit
- Not published
- Deadline to ask
- Not published
- Court fee for the course
- Not published
- Course length
- 6 hours
- Course price the rule publishes
- Not published
- Crashes
- Not published
Who qualifies
- Not published for CDL holders. Ask your court.
- Not published for tickets written in a commercial vehicle.
- Not published for drivers licensed in another state.
- Speed limit for the course: not published. Your court decides.
- Once every 5 years, the rule does not say what the window counts from.
Left out of the program, in the words of the rule
- no point credit when there are no points on the record at the time the course is completed
Deadline and how to ask
- Ticket writtenDay 0
- Deadline to askBy the date on your citation
The state rule names no day count. The date on your citation or notice applies.
Points in New Jersey
| Violation, as the state lists it | Type | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Exceeding maximum speed 1-14 mph over limit (39:4-98) | Speeding | 2points |
| Exceeding maximum speed 15-29 mph over limit (39:4-98) | Speeding | 4points |
| Exceeding maximum speed 30 mph or more over limit (39:4-98) | Speeding | 5points |
| Failure to stop for traffic light (39:4-105) | Red light or stop sign | 2points |
| Failure to observe stop or yield signs (39:4-144) | Red light or stop sign | 2points |
| Red light camera violation (no points) | Red light or stop sign | 0points |
| Improper passing of school bus (39:4-128.1) | Red light or stop sign | 5points |
| Failure to observe traffic lanes (39:4-88) | Lane change or turn | 2points |
| Improper right or left turn (39:4-123) | Lane change or turn | 3points |
| Improper u-turn (39:4-125) | Lane change or turn | 3points |
| Improper passing in no passing zone (39:4-86) | Lane change or turn | 4points |
| Tailgating (39:4-89) | Following too closely | 5points |
| Use of a handheld cellphone or electronic communication device while driving (39:4-97.3); points only for a third offense within 10 years of a second offense and later offenses | Phone use or texting | 3points |
| Careless driving (39:4-97) | Other moving violation | 2points |
| Reckless driving (39:4-96) | Other moving violation | 5points |
| Failure to yield at intersection (39:4-90) | Other moving violation | 2points |
| Moving violation committed out-of-state (39:5D-4) | Other moving violation | 2points |
Source: NJ Points Schedule, New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (opens in a new tab)
Insurance
A voluntary course is published here for an insurance discount. Insurers set their own rates; ask yours.
Courses that serve New Jersey
Listed by name. The order never changes with price or commission.
Points Clear may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never changes the verdict or the order.
Aceable
- Price
- $39
- Length
- 6 hours
- Format
- Online, mixed
Aceable's own figures, as of October 2026. Confirmed on the state list. The record names I Drive Safely as the school that runs this course.
See the Aceable course for New Jersey (opens in a new tab)DefensiveDriving.com
- Price
- $20
- Length
- 6 hours
- Format
- Online, text
DefensiveDriving.com's own figures, as of October 2026. Confirmed on the state list.
See the DefensiveDriving.com course for New Jersey (opens in a new tab)
Check a New Jersey ticket
The form opens the checker with New Jersey filled in. Add the violation and the date from your ticket.
New Jersey traffic school questions
Can a defensive driving course take points off in New Jersey?
In New Jersey a defensive driving course removes 2 points already on your record; the ticket stays. It applies once every 5 years. The program: Defensive Driving Course (State-approved, voluntary point reduction).
How often can you take traffic school in New Jersey?
Once every 5 years, the rule does not say what the window counts from.
How many points is a speeding ticket in New Jersey?
New Jersey gives 2 points for 1 to 14 mph over (Exceeding maximum speed 1-14 mph over limit (39:4-98)); 4 points for 15 to 29 mph over (Exceeding maximum speed 15-29 mph over limit (39:4-98)); 5 points for 30 mph over or more (Exceeding maximum speed 30 mph or more over limit (39:4-98)).
Does a defensive driving course lower car insurance in New Jersey?
A voluntary course is published here for an insurance discount. Insurers set their own rates; ask yours.
Sources
Checked against these pages in .
- Driver Programs (Remedial Driver Programs and Defensive Driving Courses), New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (opens in a new tab)
- Suspensions, Points System, New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (opens in a new tab)
- NJ Points Schedule, New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (opens in a new tab)
- N.J.A.C. 13:21-24.2, Point reduction; computation; course completion (regulation text as reproduced by Cornell LII) (opens in a new tab)
- N.J.A.C. 13:21-24.5, defensive driving course requirements (regulation text as reproduced by Cornell LII) (opens in a new tab)