What Is the Tennessee Driver Education Course (Traffic School)?
The Tennessee Driver Education Course is a 4-hour online course approved by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS). It is commonly referred to as Tennessee Traffic School. Completing it may allow you to dismiss a traffic ticket, remove points from your driving record, or qualify for an auto insurance discount.
What Does the Course Do?
Depending on your situation, the Tennessee Driver Education Course can:
Dismiss a traffic ticket — if your court has granted you permission to take a traffic school course instead of having the violation added to your record.
Remove points from a speeding conviction — if you received a letter from the Tennessee DSHS stating you are eligible for point reduction. Up to 5 points may be removed.
Qualify you for an insurance discount — many insurers offer a rate reduction to drivers who voluntarily complete an approved driver education course.
Who Can Take This Course?
The course is available to Tennessee-licensed drivers who:
Have received court permission to take a traffic school course for ticket dismissal, or
Have received a letter from the Tennessee DSHS notifying them of eligibility for point reduction, or
Want to take the course voluntarily for an insurance discount or personal improvement
Commercial driver's license (CDL) holders are generally not eligible for ticket dismissal or point reduction through this course. Contact your court or the DSHS if you have questions about your eligibility.
How Does the Course Work?
The course is completed entirely online. It is 4 hours long and organized into 8 chapters. Each chapter ends with a quiz you must pass before the next chapter unlocks. There is a final exam at the end of Chapter 8.
Page timers enforce the 4-hour minimum required by Tennessee law. You cannot move through the course faster than the minimum required time.
Quick Facts
Detail | Information |
Approved by | Tennessee DSHS |
Course length | 4 hours |
Chapters | 8 |
Online | Yes — no classroom required |
Eligible drivers | Tennessee license holders (CDL generally excluded) |
Cost | $29.97 |
Use cases | Ticket dismissal, point reduction, insurance discount |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the same as Tennessee defensive driving? Yes. Depending on the context, this course is also referred to as a defensive driving course, traffic school, or driver education course. The official state name is Driver Education Course.
Is the course approved statewide? The course is approved by the Tennessee DSHS. For ticket dismissal, acceptance is on a court-by-court basis — confirm with your specific court before enrolling.
Can I take this course without a ticket? Yes. Drivers may take the course voluntarily for an insurance discount or personal enrichment without a court requirement or DSHS letter. Contact your insurer before enrolling to confirm they accept this course.
Is this the 4-hour or 8-hour course? This is the 4-hour Driver Education Course. Tennessee also has a separate 8-hour Driver Improvement Program for drivers who have exceeded certain point thresholds and been ordered by the DSHS to attend. These are different courses.