Defensive Driving School
Court diversion program
- What it does
A driver who is eligible and completes a defensive driving class has the violation dismissed, so it is not on the driving record and no points are assessed.
What the source says
“If you choose this option, and are eligible, the violation will not be included on your driving record and no points will be assessed to you for the violation.”
Arizona Judicial Branch: About the Defensive Driving Program, read October 7, 2026
- Who can take it
A court must allow a person cited for a civil traffic moving violation to attend a defensive driving school.
What the source says
“1. Shall allow an individual who is issued a citation for a civil traffic moving violation pursuant to chapter 3, articles 2, 3, 4 and 6 through 15 of this title or a local civil traffic ordinance relating to the same subject matter to attend a defensive driving school for the purposes provided in this article.”
Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-3392, Defensive driving school; eligibility, read October 7, 2026
A driver involved in a serious injury accident or a fatal accident is not eligible.
What the source says
“If you were involved in a serious injury accident or fatal accident, you are not eligible.”
Arizona Judicial Branch: Defensive Driving Schools, read October 7, 2026
An eligible driver can attend to have only one violation dismissed.
What the source says
“If eligible, you can attend to have only one violation dismissed.”
Arizona Judicial Branch: Defensive Driving Schools, read October 7, 2026
- Course length
State law requires that a defensive driving school class not exceed four and one-half hours in total, including any testing, reviewing and grading.
What the source says
“7. Require that a defensive driving school class not exceed a total of four and one-half hours, including any testing, reviewing and grading related to the defensive driving school class.”
Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-3395, Supreme court authority and duties, read October 7, 2026
The course time may not be more than 270 minutes or less than 240 minutes.
What the source says
“shall not exceed 270 minutes nor be less than 240 minutes.”
Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 7-205, Defensive Driving (October 2025), read October 7, 2026
- Taking it online
The class may be taken in person or online, unless a judge specifically ordered the driver to attend in person.
What the source says
“You may take the class in person or online. If you were specifically ordered by a judge to attend the course in person, you must register for a classroom course.”
Arizona Judicial Branch: Defensive Driving Schools, read October 7, 2026
An online course must be divided into segments of no more than 15 minutes, and the student must answer three questions about each segment correctly before moving on.
What the source says
“Divide the ADM course into segments of various lengths not to exceed 15 minutes and require the student to answer three substantive questions concerning the segment just completed correctly before the student can proceed to the next segment.”
Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 7-205, Defensive Driving (October 2025), read October 7, 2026
An online school may not allow a retest when a student fails the identity verification questions.
What the source says
“Not allow a retest when a student fails the identity verification questions;”
Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 7-205, Defensive Driving (October 2025), read October 7, 2026
- How often
A person can attend a class only once every 12 months, counted from violation date to violation date.
What the source says
“A person can only attend a class once every 12 months (violation date to violation date) for a permissible violation.”
Arizona Judicial Branch: Frequently Asked Questions for Defensive Driving School Students, read October 7, 2026
- Deadline
The course must be completed no later than 7 days before the court date.
What the source says
“You must complete your course no later than 7 days prior to your court date.”
Arizona Judicial Branch: Defensive Driving Schools, read October 7, 2026
- Good to know
The total cost to attend is the sum of four amounts: the court diversion fee, the state fee, the state surcharge and the school's fee.
What the source says
“The total cost to attend consists of the total of four amounts: (1) the court diversion fee; (2) the State Fee; (3) the state surcharge; and (4) a school fee.”
Arizona Judicial Branch: Cost to Attend School, read October 7, 2026
Each person who attends a defensive driving school is charged a forty-five dollar surcharge.
What the source says
“2. Charge an individual a forty-five dollar surcharge if the individual attends a defensive driving school.”
Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-3396, Court diversion fee, read October 7, 2026