Texas defensive driving course›Ticket dismissal›Fort Worth
Got a Fort Worth ticket? Don't pay it yet.
You can likely get it dismissed and kept off your record with a 6-hour defensive driving course. But you have to ask the court first, and some Fort Worth-area courts give you as little as 10 days.
So the first question isn't how. It's which court has your ticket, and how long do you have?
By Road Ready Safety, TDLR-licensed provider CP1234 · Court rules checked August 4, 2026
Which court has your ticket, and how long do you have?
It's the court printed on your citation, and mostFort Worth-area tickets aren't handled by the City of Fort Worth. Each of these 33 courts sets its own deadline and fee; 5 of them give you three weeks or less.
Stopped outside city limits by a constable or sheriff's deputy? Your ticket goes to a Tarrant County Justice of the Peace court instead. Find your JP court.
Short deadlines: act this week
- Benbrook10 daysBenbrook (SW Fort Worth, I-20/US-377) takes the DSC request in person within 10 days of your offense — don't pay online if you want dismissal; 90 days.Full court steps →
- Crowley11 daysCrowley gives you only 11 days from the citation to request DSC — by email, mail, or in person.Full court steps →
- Westworth Village20 daysCourt fee: $144 ($169 school zone)Westworth Village (west Fort Worth, SH-183) charges $144 ($169 school zone) — request at the window, by email, or mail within 20 days of your citation.Full court steps →
- Fort Worth Municipal21 daysFort Worth takes DSC requests within 21 calendar days of the citation date (judicial approval is required after that) — and says not to send money with the request; the court bills you after approval.Full court steps →
- Pantego30 daysPantego (enclave in Arlington, Pioneer Pkwy) takes a mailed DSC request within 30 days of your citation — judge approval required first; 90 days.Full court steps →
Everyone else: by the appearance date on your citation
- ArlingtonAppearance dateYou'll need a certified Type 3A driving record from Texas DPS — most drivers do not have this ready.Full court steps →
- BedfordAppearance dateYou'll need a certified Type 3A driving record from Texas DPS — most drivers do not have this ready.Full court steps →
- Blue MoundAppearance dateBlue Mound (north Fort Worth, US-287) takes the DSC request in person at the court window by your appearance date; 90 days, TDLR-approved course + DPS record.Full court steps →
- ColleyvilleAppearance dateCourt fee: $144 ($169 school zone, incl. $10 admin fee)Colleyville charges $144 ($169 school zone, incl. $10 admin fee) — request with the clerk by your court date; insurance proof must be a paper copy.Full court steps →
- Dalworthington GardensAppearance dateDalworthington Gardens (enclave in Arlington) approves the DSC at the court's discretion — request in person or by phone by your appearance date; don't pay online first.Full court steps →
- Edgecliff VillageAppearance dateEdgecliff Village (south Fort Worth, US-287) approves the DSC before you pay — call or email by your appearance date; don't pay online or you'll be convicted.Full court steps →
- EulessAppearance dateYou'll need a certified Type 3A driving record from Texas DPS — most drivers do not have this ready.Full court steps →
- EvermanAppearance dateEverman (SE Fort Worth, US-287) takes the DSC request in person by your appearance date — court costs plus an admin fee due then; 90 days.Full court steps →
- Forest HillAppearance dateCourt fee: $144 ($169 school zone)Forest Hill takes DSC requests by email or fax and charges $144 ($169 school zone).Full court steps →
- GrapevineAppearance dateCourt fee: $144You'll need a certified Type 3A driving record from Texas DPS to submit with your certificate. Court fee: $144.Full court steps →
- Haltom CityAppearance dateYou'll need a certified Type 3A driving record from Texas DPS — most drivers do not have this ready.Full court steps →
- HasletAppearance dateCourt fee: $144 ($169 school zone)Haslet (north Tarrant, I-35W) charges $144 ($169 school zone) — request in person, by mail, or phone; DSC payments can't go through the online portal.Full court steps →
- HurstAppearance dateCourt fee: $144Hurst's court fee is $144 for most violations. Take a $25 TDLR-approved defensive driving course online. Certificate downloads the same day.Full court steps →
- KellerAppearance dateCourt fee: $144Keller tickets go through the joint Keller-Colleyville court in Colleyville — $144 plus a $10 admin fee.Full court steps →
- KennedaleAppearance dateKennedale takes a DSC request online, in person, or by mail before your due date — don't pay online first or it's a conviction.Full court steps →
- Lake WorthAppearance dateLake Worth (SH-199) takes DSC requests through its online form and gives 90 days — you lose the option if you miss your appearance date.Full court steps →
- LakesideAppearance dateCourt fee: $144Lakeside (NW Tarrant, near Lake Worth) charges $144 — submit a notarized request by email, in person, or mail by your appearance date; 90 days, Type 3A record.Full court steps →
- MansfieldAppearance dateCourt fee: $144Mansfield requires a signed DSC affidavit before you enroll — most drivers miss this step. Court fee: $144.Full court steps →
- North Richland HillsAppearance dateYou'll need a certified Type 3A driving record from Texas DPS — most drivers do not have this ready.Full court steps →
- Pelican BayAppearance datePelican Bay (NW Tarrant near Azle) hasn't posted its DSC fee online — call the clerk at (817) 444-1234 by your appearance date for the amount and request steps.Full court steps →
- Richland HillsAppearance dateRichland Hills (NE Tarrant, Loop 820) charges a $10 admin fee plus court cost — mail or bring the request form by your appearance date (no fax or email).Full court steps →
- River OaksAppearance dateRiver Oaks (SH-183) doesn't publish a DSC process online — contact the court directly and get approval before paying.Full court steps →
- SaginawAppearance dateCourt fee: $144Saginaw requires DSC requests in person — no online or mail option. $144 fee at the window.Full court steps →
- Sansom ParkAppearance dateSansom Park (NW Fort Worth, SH-199) charges court costs plus a $10 admin fee — submit the request form in person or by mail by your appearance date; 90 days.Full court steps →
- SouthlakeAppearance dateCourt fee: $144Southlake requires a notarized affidavit with your request — court fee $144. The 90-day window starts when your plea is received.Full court steps →
- WataugaAppearance dateWatauga requires an in-person DSC request but accepts your completion documents by email.Full court steps →
- Westover HillsAppearance dateCourt fee: $144 ($169 school zone)Westover Hills (Tarrant County enclave within Fort Worth) contracts its municipal court to Westworth Village — DSC dismissal costs $144 ($169 school zone); call (817) 710-2507 before your appearance date.Full court steps →
- White SettlementAppearance dateWhite Settlement requires a notarized affidavit and gives no extensions on the 90-day window.Full court steps →
Not one of these 33? Search every Texas court in our directory.
How do you get a Fort Worth ticket dismissed?
Four steps, the same at every Fort Worth-area court. Only the deadlines and fees change.
- 1Ask the courtRequest defensive driving instead of paying.By your court's deadline
- 2Pay the court feeUsually $144, or $169 in a school zone.When the court approves you
- 3Take a 6-hour courseAny TDLR-approved course, fully online. Ours is $25.Within 90 days
- 4Send in your proofYour certificate plus a certified DPS Type 3A driving record.Before day 90
Can you take defensive driving for your ticket?
Most drivers can, once every 12 months. Four situations rule it out.
You're likely eligible if you have
- A valid Texas driver license
- Proof of insurance
- No dismissal in the last 12 months
- A plea of guilty or no contest
It's off the table if you were
- Going 25+ mph over (or 95+ mph)
- Driving on a CDL
- Passing a stopped school bus
- In a work zone with workers present
How much does it cost to dismiss a Fort Worth ticket?
Usually about $144 to the court, plus the DPS record and the course. The court fee is the same whichever course you pick. The course is the only part you shop for.
What does Road Ready Safety charge?
$25, and that's the only number you'll see at checkout.
- The 6-hour TDLR-approved course (CP1234) Verify on TDLR ↗
- Certificate the moment you finish, court and insurance copies
- Unlimited quiz retakes
- No delivery, rush or record fees
- Full refund if you request it before you complete the course or get your certificate
- Two costs we can't include: the court's fee and the DPS record, because the court and DPS collect those. Our full pricing policy
Quick answers
How much does it cost to dismiss a ticket in Fort Worth?
The court cost is typically up to about $144 ($169 in a school zone) and is set by each court — some Tarrant-area courts charge less. The TDLR-approved course is separate; ours is $25. Check your court's page for the exact amount.
Can I take the course online for a Tarrant County ticket?
Yes. Once the court approves your request, a TDLR-approved 6-hour course can be completed fully online. Every Fort Worth-area court accepts a state-approved online course.
My ticket is from Arlington / North Richland Hills, not Fort Worth. Does that change things?
The process is the same, but you deal with that city's court, which sets its own fee, request method, and deadlines. Open its page in the table above.
How long do I have to finish?
Generally 90 days after the court approves the request. Request the course by your appearance date first, and don't pay the ticket — paying is a guilty plea and a conviction.
Does a dismissal keep it off my insurance?
Yes. A driving safety course dismissal keeps the charge off your driving record under Texas law, so it can't raise your insurance — unlike paying, which is a conviction.
Can a course website approve me for defensive driving?
No. Only the court on your citation can. Course providers, including us, and directory sites cannot grant it; they can only tell you how to ask.
Keep reading
General information, not legal advice. Courts set their own fees and deadlines, so confirm with the court on your citation. Sources: Tex. Code Crim. Proc. ch. 45A; each court's published procedures. Road Ready Safety is a TDLR-licensed course provider (CP1234), not a court. Last updated August 4, 2026.