Is Colorado Traffic School Worth the Cost?

woman looking through rearview mirror

What is Colorado traffic school? Some call it adult driver's ed or defensive driving. Whatever nickname you use, traffic school is a Colorado driving school course that traffic courts may allow drivers to take if they have been convicted of a traffic violation. 

Benefits of Colorado Driving School

If you go to traffic court and your sentence is traffic school, consider yourself lucky. The court may allow you to completely dismiss your ticket — and avoid those dreaded points — if you complete the class. 

But what if you haven't gotten a ticket? Is traffic school still worth the cost? We checked in with an expert to find out.

"Whether it's in a car, a motorcycle, or any other vehicle, there's no such thing as too much driver training," says Trooper Josh Lewis, Public Information Officer for the Colorado State Patrol. 

"You should have practice in a variety of circumstances, especially with the variable weather we have in Colorado. Practice at night, practice in the snow, learn as much as you can. Someday, when you're faced with dangerous circumstances on the road, your training will come back to mind and you'll be able to make good decisions that might save your life. So my answer is yes. Invariably. Whatever driver training you can get, it is well worth the cost." 

There might also be some financial benefits to traffic school. When you complete additional driver's ed, Colorado auto insurance companies may offer you a discount. 

So to sum up, here are the benefits of completing a traffic school course in Colorado:

  • The court may completely dismiss your ticket.

  • No points on your driver's license.

  • Improved driving skills.

  • Increased sense of confidence and security on the road.

  • Insurance discounts.

How Does Traffic School Work?

If you plan to register for a defensive driving course in Colorado, you probably want to know what to expect. Are you going to have to sit in a high school gymnasium every Saturday morning with other adults who were caught speeding? Not necessarily. 

If you choose, you can take the entire course online. Just make sure the program is a state-approved online traffic school course, as otherwise, it might not be valid. A good course will teach you:

  • Defensive driving techniques.

  • How to avoid getting more tickets and fines.

  • How to avoid collisions and reduce the need for expensive repairs.

  • How to get your insurance discount.

  • How to get your ticket dismissed. 

After your class is complete, ask the DMV for a copy of your driving record so that you can see with your own eyes that the ticket has been dismissed.

As you can see, we believe that traffic school is well worth the cost. In fact, it could pay for itself in insurance discounts. If you're looking for a Colorado driving school for your defensive driving course, we'd love to help.