Virginia driver improvement clinic (checked Oct 2026)

Virginia does not dismiss a ticket for a course by state rule. A licensed Virginia driver who finishes an 8 hour DMV certified driver improvement clinic on their own gets 5 safe driving points, which offset demerit points, once in any 2 years. A court may also order the clinic and decides whether you earn the points, so outcomes vary by court. Courts may not reduce, dismiss or defer a conviction because of a clinic for a commercial driver license holder or a commercial vehicle offense.

What a course does: Points taken off; the conviction stays
Speed limit for the course: Not published
How often: Once every 2 years
Deadline to ask: Not published
Speeding points: 3 to 6 points
Points count for: 2 years

The Virginia rule

Every field of the rule. The number points to its source at the foot of the page.

The program: Driver Improvement Clinic; Source 3
What it does: Points taken off; the conviction stays; Source 1
Set by each court: YesEach court decides part of the rule.; Source 2
Speed limit for the course: Not published
Bar at double the posted limit: Not published
Open to CDL holders: Yes; Source 5
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 2 years, counted from the day you finished the last course; Source 1
Lifetime limit: Not published
Deadline to ask: Not published
Court fee for the course: Not published
Course length: 8 hours; Source 3
Course price the rule publishes: $100The clinic may charge a fee of no more than $100 for attendance.; Source 4
Crashes: Not published

Who qualifies

CDL holders may take the course. Federal law (49 CFR 384.226) still keeps the conviction on a CDL record.
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 2 years, counted from the day you finished the last course.

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.

Get the date for your ticket

Points in Virginia

Points count for 2 years. Suspension threshold: DMV directs a driver 18 or older to a driver improvement clinic at 12 demerit points in 12 months or 18 in 24 months.

Virginia points by violation
Violation, as the state lists it	Type	Points
Speeding 1-9 mph above the posted speed limit	Speeding	3points
Speeding 10-19 mph above the posted speed limit	Speeding	4points
Speeding 20 mph or more above the posted speed limit (reckless driving by speed, 20 or more over or above 85 mph, also carries 6 points)	Speeding	6points
Failure to obey traffic signal	Red light or stop sign	4points
Failure to stop and yield right-of-way	Red light or stop sign	4points
Improper turn	Lane change or turn	3points
Failure to obey highway lane markings	Lane change or turn	4points
Following too closely	Following too closely	4points
Use of handheld communications device	Phone use or texting	3points
Driving without lights/excessive lights	Equipment or registration	3points
Reckless driving - generally	Other moving violation	6points

Source: Three Point Violations, Virginia DMV (opens in a new tab)

Fees as published

Course price the rule publishes: $100State, in its own words: The clinic may charge a fee of no more than $100 for attendance.About Driver Improvement Clinics, Virginia DMV (opens in a new tab)

Insurance

A voluntary course is published here for an insurance discount. Insurers set their own rates; ask yours.

Source: Driver Improvement, Virginia DMV (opens in a new tab)

Your court

Courts in this state set part of the rule, and we hold no court records here. The court named on your citation decides.

Courses that serve Virginia

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
$59
Length
8 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 Virginia (opens in a new tab)

Check a Virginia ticket

The form opens the checker with Virginia filled in. Add the violation and the date from your ticket.

State on the ticket

Violation

Pick the closest match.

Miles per hour over the limit

mph

Ticketed speed minus the posted limit. Speeding tickets only.

Posted speed limit (optional)

mph

Some states close the course above a set speed, such as 95 mph in Texas, or at double the limit in Utah.

Date on the ticket

The day the ticket was written. Leave it as today if you are not sure.

More about you and this ticketLicense, vehicle, crash, earlier course

Your license

Is your license from this state?

YesNo, another state

Vehicle

PersonalCommercial

Commercial means a vehicle that needs a CDL or is used for work.

Was there a crash?

Alcohol or drugs involved?

NoYes

Last traffic school or defensive driving course

The day you finished it, in any state. Leave empty if you never took one.

Your speed, dates and court stay in your browser and the page address. Picking a state loads its rules from our server.

Open the full checker for Virginia

Virginia traffic school questions

Can a defensive driving course take points off in Virginia?

In Virginia a driver improvement clinic adds 5 safe driving points that offset demerit points; the ticket stays. It applies once every 2 years. The program: Driver Improvement Clinic. Each court decides part of the rule, so confirm with the court on your citation.

How often can you take traffic school in Virginia?

Once every 2 years, counted from the day you finished the last course.

Can CDL holders take traffic school in Virginia?

Yes, the state opens the course to CDL holders, but federal law (49 CFR 384.226) keeps the conviction on a CDL record, so the course takes points off at most.

How many points is a speeding ticket in Virginia?

Virginia gives 3 points for 1 to 9 mph over (Speeding 1-9 mph above the posted speed limit); 4 points for 10 to 19 mph over (Speeding 10-19 mph above the posted speed limit); 6 points for 20 mph over or more (Speeding 20 mph or more above the posted speed limit (reckless driving by speed, 20 or more over or above 85 mph, also carries 6 points)).

How long do points stay on your license in Virginia?

Points count for 2 years in Virginia.

Does a defensive driving course lower car insurance in Virginia?