Ways to Get Points Removed from Your Texas Driver’s License

What Changed in 2019?

From 2003 to 2019, Texas operated the Driver Responsibility Program (DRP). It assessed points for moving violations (2 points for most, 3 if a crash was involved) and slapped surcharges on drivers who hit 6 or more points. Lots of drivers ended up with suspended licenses just from unpaid surcharges.

The Texas Legislature repealed the DRP effective September 1, 2019. Outstanding surcharges were forgiven, suspended licenses tied to unpaid surcharges were reinstated, and the points system was eliminated. So technically, "removing points from your Texas license" is no longer a thing because there are no points to remove.

So What Actually Happens When You Get a Ticket Now?

The points are gone, but the ticket itself still has teeth. Here's what a moving violation conviction actually does to you in Texas today:

• Conviction on your record. The court reports the conviction to DPS, and it stays on your driving record for typically 3 years.
• Insurance rate increase. Your insurer sees the conviction at your next renewal, and premiums usually stay higher for 3 years.
• License suspension risk. Four moving violations in 12 months, OR seven in 24 months, triggers automatic suspension.
• Employer record checks. Many jobs (delivery, sales, CDL) pull your driving record, and the conviction is visible for 3+ years.

One ticket can easily cost you more in insurance increases over three years than the original fine ten times over. And that's before any suspension risk if you stack up multiple convictions.

The Real Way to Keep a Ticket Off Your Record: Defensive Driving

Here's the only legitimate way to make a Texas traffic ticket disappear: complete a TDLR-approved defensive driving course AND get court approval for ticket dismissal. Our Texas defensive driving course for ticket dismissal is built specifically for this purpose.

Here's how it works:

1. Plead guilty or no contest to the ticket and request driving safety course (DSC) approval from the court.
2. Pay the court costs and any required deferred fees.
3. Complete a TDLR-approved 6-hour defensive driving course online within the deadline the court sets (usually 90 days).
4. Submit your certificate of completion and an updated driving record (Type 3A) to the court.
5. The court dismisses the ticket. No conviction goes on your record. No insurance hit. Done.

Eligibility is the key. Most moving violations qualify, but some don't. You're not eligible to dismiss a ticket through defensive driving if:

• You were going 25+ MPH over the posted speed limit
• The violation occurred in a construction zone with workers present
• You were driving a commercial vehicle (CDL holders use a different process)
• You took defensive driving for ticket dismissal within the past 12 months
• You were cited for fleeing the scene, passing a stopped school bus, or driving without insurance

Our Texas defensive driving eligibility guide covers the full list of qualifying and disqualifying violations.

How to Request Ticket Dismissal in Texas

Each court has slightly different procedures, but the steps are similar across the state:

1. Contact the court listed on your ticket within the deadline (usually 10-30 days from the citation date).
2. Submit a written request to take a driving safety course in lieu of a conviction. Some courts let you do this online or by mail; others require an in-person appearance.
3. Pay the court costs and a small administrative fee (varies by jurisdiction).
4. Get court approval and a deadline for completing the course (usually 90 days).
5. Complete the 6-hour course and submit your certificate before the deadline.

If you don't request defensive driving in time, the court will process the ticket as a normal conviction. So move fast.

What If You Already Got Convicted?

If the conviction is already on your record, defensive driving can't undo it retroactively. But you can still take the course voluntarily for two reasons:

• Insurance discount. Many Texas insurers offer a 10% discount for completing a state-approved defensive driving course, even without a ticket attached.
• Self-improvement. The course covers updated road laws, defensive driving techniques, and hazard awareness, which is genuinely useful regardless of your record.

Our Texas defensive driving course works for both ticket dismissal and the insurance discount.

How Long Do Convictions Stay on Your Texas Driving Record?

The DPS keeps moving violation convictions on your record for 3 years from the date of conviction. Some serious offenses (DWI, vehicular manslaughter, fleeing) stay much longer or permanently. After 3 years, regular moving violations should drop off automatically.

You can check your own driving record by ordering a Type 1, Type 2, or Type 3A report from the DPS website. It costs a small fee but it's the only way to see exactly what's on file.

What Can Slow Down Ticket Dismissal in Texas

• Missing the court deadline. If you don't request defensive driving within the window on your ticket, you lose eligibility automatically.
• Choosing a non-TDLR-approved course. The court won't accept the certificate. Always confirm TDLR approval.
• Taking another course in the past 12 months. Texas only lets you use defensive driving for ticket dismissal once per 12-month period.
• Construction zone or 25+ MPH speeding. Automatically disqualifies you from the dismissal program.
• Forgetting to submit the updated driving record. Most courts require a Type 3A driving record alongside the course certificate.

The ticket isn't permanent. You just have to act.

Texas dropped the points system, but tickets still hit your insurance and your record for years. The 6-hour defensive driving course is the court-approved way to dismiss eligible tickets before they ever land on your record. Pause and resume anytime, finish on your phone, walk away with a clean record.

• Pre-conviction ticket dismissal, so no points and no record entry
• Accepted by every Texas municipal and JP court
• Eligible up to once every 12 months
• Online and self-paced, finished in a single afternoon