How to Get a Traffic Ticket Dismissed in Tennessee
In most Tennessee courts, you can have a traffic ticket dismissed by completing an approved driver improvement course. The court decides whether to offer it, the course is usually four hours, and you must finish before the deadline the court gives you. Completing it typically means no points on your license and nothing reported to your insurer.
Key takeaways
- Most Tennessee courts will dismiss a traffic ticket if you complete an approved driver improvement course — but it's the judge's decision, not an automatic right.
- There are three separate paths: a judge orders it, a clerk offers it before your court date, or you remove points within 90 days of a speeding conviction.
- Dismissal keeps the conviction off your record, so your insurer never sees it. That's worth far more than the fine itself.
- You usually still owe the fine and court costs. Traffic school protects your record, not your bill.
- Check the court name on your citation, not just the county. Courts in the same county follow different rules.
Last updated: August 21, 2026
In most Tennessee courts, you can have a traffic ticket dismissed by completing an approved driver improvement course. The court decides whether to offer it, the course is usually four hours, and you must finish before the deadline the court gives you. Completing it typically means no points on your license and nothing reported to your insurer.
That's the short version. The details depend on which court your ticket came from, so it's worth understanding the three different ways this actually happens.
The three paths to dismissal
Tennessee doesn't have one statewide traffic school program. Instead, there are three separate routes, and which one applies to you depends on your court and your citation.
1. The judge orders it
This is the most common path. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 55-10-301, a court can require you to complete an approved driver education course "in addition to or in lieu of" other penalties. In practice, most judges dismiss the charge once you turn in your certificate.
The same statute requires the court to give you a list of approved providers in your county. If you were handed a list or a pamphlet at the courthouse, that's what it was.
2. The clerk offers it before your court date
Some counties let you resolve the ticket without appearing before a judge at all. Knox County, for example, runs a Driver Improvement Program where you apply through the Clerk's office before your court date, complete an approved course, pay the citation, and the charge is dismissed with no points.
If your county works this way, calling the Clerk's office is faster than waiting for your court date.
3. Points removal after a conviction
This one is different — it doesn't dismiss the ticket, it removes points. Under T.C.A. § 55-8-207, if you complete a department-approved defensive driving course within 90 days of a speeding conviction, up to five points can be removed from your record.
The limits are strict:
- Speeding offenses only
- One offense per course
- Usable once every four years
- The conviction itself stays on your record
What dismissal actually gets you
| Outcome | Ticket dismissed | Points removal (§ 55-8-207) |
|---|---|---|
| Charge on your record | Removed | Stays |
| Points added | No | Up to 5 removed |
| Insurance notified | No | Conviction already reported |
| Fine owed | Usually still owed | Still owed |
| How often | Judge's discretion | Once every 4 years |
The important line in that table is insurance. A dismissed ticket generally doesn't reach your insurer, which is where the real money is. A single moving violation can raise a Tennessee premium for three years — often several hundred dollars total, well beyond the cost of the ticket itself.
What it costs
| Option | Typical cost | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Online driver improvement course | $24–$40 | Ticket dismissed, no points, insurer not notified |
| Court-operated traffic school | $50–$90 | Same outcome, often requires attending in person |
| Traffic ticket attorney | $100–$500 | May resolve without a class |
| Just paying the fine | $150+ fine, plus 3 years of higher premiums | Points on your record, insurer notified |
Paying the fine looks like the cheap option on the day and is usually the most expensive one over three years.
Step by step
- Read your citation. Find the court name — not just the county. A ticket from Goodlettsville goes to Goodlettsville Municipal Court, which is a different court from Metro Nashville General Sessions, with a different judge and different rules.
- Confirm you're eligible. Call the court or clerk listed on your ticket and ask two things: does this court allow an online driver improvement course, and what's my deadline?
- Pick an approved provider. Tennessee requires providers to be approved, and courts can be particular. Confirm the provider you choose is accepted by your court.
- Complete the course. Tennessee court-ordered courses run a minimum of four hours and may be taken in a classroom or online.
- Submit your certificate before the deadline. Some courts want it from you; others accept it directly from the school. Ask which.
- Confirm the disposition. Call the clerk a week later and verify the charge was actually dismissed. Don't assume.
Deadlines
There is no single statewide deadline. The court sets it, and it's commonly 30 to 90 days from your court date or citation.
The one deadline fixed in state law is for points removal: 90 days from the conviction date under § 55-8-207.
Missing a court's deadline usually means the original penalty applies — the fine, the points, and the insurance consequences. If you're going to miss it, call the clerk before the date, not after. Courts are far more accommodating in advance.
Points and your license
Tennessee assigns points to moving violations. What matters is how many you accumulate in a 12-month period:
| Points in 12 months | What happens |
|---|---|
| 6–11 | Advisory letter from the state |
| 12+ | Notice of proposed suspension, with a right to a hearing |
| 12–20, first offense | May be allowed to take an 8-hour defensive driving course instead of a 6-month suspension |
Drivers under 18 face lower thresholds and reach state action sooner.
Note that the 8-hour course in that last row is a different product from the 4-hour course used for ticket dismissal. If the state sent you a letter about accumulated points, you likely need the 8-hour version.
Where this doesn't work
Courts that run their own program. Some Tennessee courts — including Metro Nashville General Sessions — operate their own traffic school and require you to use it. No outside provider is accepted, regardless of state approval.
Commercial license holders. CDL holders are generally excluded from ticket dismissal programs.
Serious violations. Reckless driving, DUI, and criminal traffic offenses are not eligible.
Out-of-state drivers. If you hold an out-of-state license, ask the court directly. Rules vary.
Find your county
Rules vary court by court in Tennessee. Find your county to see which courts are there, which of them accept an online course, and how each one handles certificates.
También disponible en español: Cómo desestimar una multa de tránsito en Tennessee
Frequently asked questions
Last updated: August 24, 2026