Florida Basic Driver Improvement (BDI): Points, Rules, Deadlines

If you get a qualifying Florida traffic ticket, you can elect a Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) course within 30 days, pay the fine, and finish an approved course of at least four hours. Do that and no points are added to your license.

The catch is in the details: strict deadlines, a cap on how often you can use it, and a requirement that the course come from a state-approved provider. This guide covers each step.

What BDI does for you

When you elect BDI and complete it, Florida withholds adjudication and assesses no points for the violation. That matters because points add up. Florida suspends a license for 30 days at 12 points in 12 months, and points stay on the record for at least five years. A single speeding ticket is 3 points.

What BDI does not do: it does not cancel the fine. You still pay the civil penalty set by the clerk, and you pay for the course separately.

Who is eligible

Most drivers with a non-criminal moving violation can elect BDI. You cannot elect it if you:

• Elected BDI in the past 12 months, or have already made five elections in your lifetime
• Hold a commercial driver license (CDL), whatever vehicle you were driving
• Were cited for going 30 mph over the posted limit
• Were charged with a criminal violation

An election you made but never completed still counts toward the limits.

Teen drivers: drivers 15 to 17 with a learner's license can avoid a conviction by completing a FLHSMV-approved BDI course.

Step by step

1. Elect within 30 days

You must voluntarily elect BDI within 30 days of the citation date by notifying the clerk of court in the county where you got the ticket. Some officers give out an affidavit envelope you can use. Miss the 30 days and you forfeit the right to elect, and points are assessed.

Once you sign the affidavit, the election cannot be reversed.

2. Pay the fine and fees

Pay the civil fine and election fees within the same 30 days. Unpaid fees can lead to a suspension for failure to pay. The clerk's traffic division sets the exact amount, which varies by county and violation.

3. Pick an approved provider

Use FLHSMV's Approved BDI Course Providers table. It shows each provider's delivery method (classroom, internet, DVD or booklet), phone number and website. Some providers serve only certain counties. Contact the provider from that table to register.

Florida law requires the department to approve and regulate the courses of all driver improvement schools, including courses delivered online, and adds a $2.50 assessment fee collected by the school. Course prices are set by providers; compare a few and ask what is included.

4. Complete the course

Florida's rule sets BDI at a minimum of four hours devoted to course content, not counting breaks of up to 30 minutes. That is why you see it called the "4-hour" course.

5. Finish by the court's deadline and confirm

The FAQ says you have between 60 and 90 days from the citation date to complete the course and submit proof, and procedures vary by county, so confirm your exact date with the clerk.

Providers report completions to FLHSMV electronically; allow 24 to 72 hours for it to post. FLHSMV does not accept paper certificates for licensing purposes. You are still responsible for giving the court proof of completion and payment.

What happens if you don't finish

If you elect BDI and do not complete it, you are adjudicated guilty, must pay the amount that was deducted plus a processing fee of up to $18, and the points go on your record. The election also still counts toward your 12-month and lifetime limits. Missing a court-required completion period can lead to a suspension for failure to attend.

When BDI is required, not optional

The same course can be mandatory. FLHSMV says you must take BDI if you were cited for a crash you caused that sent someone to the hospital, had two crashes in two years each causing more than $500 in property damage, or were convicted of offenses like passing a stopped school bus, racing, reckless driving or running a red light. Mandatory-school drivers have 90 days from the citation date to finish, or their driving privilege is canceled.

Florida also has longer courses for other situations, such as the 12-hour Advanced Driver Improvement course for drivers whose license was suspended for points.

Your insurance

The FLHSMV FAQ notes that insurers may not raise premiums or refuse renewal solely because of a non-criminal infraction, with exceptions: a second infraction within 18 months, a third within 36 months, or speeding more than 15 mph over the limit. Ask your agent how your policy treats a ticket. For how points work in other states, see How Driver's License Points Work and How Long They Last and Can Traffic School Dismiss Your Ticket? Eligibility Rules.

FAQ

How long is the Florida BDI course?

Florida's rule requires a minimum of four hours of course content, not counting up to 30 minutes of breaks.

How often can I take BDI to avoid points in Florida?

Once in any 12-month period, and no more than five times in your lifetime. Elections you did not finish still count.

What is the deadline to elect traffic school in Florida?

Within 30 days of the citation date. You must notify the clerk of court in the county where you were cited and pay the fine and fees in that window.

Can I take the Florida BDI course online?

Yes, if the provider is on FLHSMV's approved list for internet delivery. The list shows each provider's delivery method.

Can CDL holders elect BDI?

No. FLHSMV says CDL holders are not eligible, regardless of the vehicle they were driving.

Learn it right the first time

The best way to avoid needing BDI is good training from the start. If your teen is learning, choose a school your state has licensed. Find one in our directory, and check a certificate issued through RoadVerified.

Find a verified driving school for your new driver.