Texas defensive driving course›Ticket dismissal›Houston
Got a Houston 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, by the appearance date on your citation.
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 mostHouston-area tickets aren't handled by the City of Houston. Each of these 28 courts sets its own deadline and fee.
Stopped outside city limits by a constable or sheriff's deputy? Your ticket goes to a Harris County Justice of the Peace court instead. Find your JP court.
By the appearance date on your citation
- Houston MunicipalAppearance 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 →
- BaytownAppearance dateYou'll need a certified Type 3A driving record from Texas DPS — most drivers do not have this ready.Full court steps →
- BellaireAppearance dateCourt fee: $144 ($169 school zone)Bellaire charges $144 ($169 school zone) — request at the clerk window or before the judge by your court date; insurance proof must be paper.Full court steps →
- Bunker HillAppearance dateCourt fee: $144 ($169 school zone)Bunker Hill Village (Memorial Dr) charges $144 ($169 school zone) plus a $10 DPS record fee — request in person by your appearance date; 90 days.Full court steps →
- Deer ParkAppearance dateCourt fee: $144Deer Park rejects certificates without the Type 3A record — both must be turned in together. Court fee $144.Full court steps →
- El LagoAppearance dateCourt fee: $144 ($169 school zone)El Lago (NASA/Clear Lake) charges $144 ($169 school zone) — submit a notarized request form in person, by mail, or online by your appearance date.Full court steps →
- Galena ParkAppearance dateGalena Park (Ship Channel) takes DSC requests in person, by fax, or mail — call (713) 672-2556 for the fee before your court date.Full court steps →
- Hedwig VillageAppearance dateCourt fee: $144 ($169 school zone)Hedwig Village (I-10 Memorial) charges $144 ($169 school zone) — request in person on or before your court date with a guilty/no-contest plea.Full court steps →
- Hilshire VillageAppearance dateCourt fee: $144 ($169 school zone)Hilshire Village's court runs through Spring Valley — $144 ($169 school zone), request in person by your court date; 90 days, Type 3A record.Full court steps →
- HumbleAppearance dateCourt fee: $144 ($159 school zone)Humble (US-59) charges $144 ($159 school zone) and gives 90 days — request in court, by mail, or at the court office, not the clerk window.Full court steps →
- Hunters Creek VillageAppearance dateHunters Creek Village (Memorial) approves the DSC by request — a fee is due on approval; 90 days, and a driving record filed with your certificate. Call (713) 465-5646.Full court steps →
- Jacinto CityAppearance dateJacinto City (I-10 East) hasn't posted its DSC fee online — call (713) 674-8424 by your appearance date to confirm the amount and request process.Full court steps →
- Jersey VillageAppearance dateCourt fee: $144 ($169 school zone)Jersey Village (US-290) charges $144 ($169 school zone) and takes DSC requests in person, by email, or mail by your appearance date.Full court steps →
- KatyAppearance dateCourt fee: $114 ($139 school zone)Katy's court fee is unusually low — $114 ($139 school zone) — but mail/online requests need a notarized affidavit.Full court steps →
- La PorteAppearance dateLa Porte doesn't post DSC fees online — and paying your fine online counts as a conviction. Request DSC first.Full court steps →
- Morgans PointAppearance dateMorgan's Point (Harris County, near La Porte) hasn't posted its DSC fee online — call (346) 222-7396 or email by your appearance date for the amount.Full court steps →
- Nassau BayAppearance dateNassau Bay (NASA/Clear Lake) asks you to contact the court directly for eligibility — email (preferred) or call (281) 336-6297 by your appearance date for the fee.Full court steps →
- PasadenaAppearance dateCourt fee: $144 ($169 in a school zone)Pasadena charges $144 ($169 in a school zone) and takes requests by certified mail or in person by the court date on your ticket — no notary needed, just the unsworn declaration on the application.Full court steps →
- Piney Point VillageAppearance dateCourt fee: $144 ($169 school zone)Piney Point Village (Memorial) charges $144 ($169 school zone) — request the DSC in writing before paying; pay online only after you're enrolled.Full court steps →
- SeabrookAppearance dateSeabrook (SH-146) takes DSC requests in person, by email (2 business days ahead), or online — sign via DropBox by 4 p.m. that day.Full court steps →
- ShoreacresAppearance dateShoreacres consolidated into La Porte in 2026 — former Shoreacres citations are now handled by La Porte Municipal Court; confirm at (281) 471-4683.Full court steps →
- South HoustonAppearance dateSouth Houston (its own court, not City of Houston) takes DSC requests in person at your arraignment — call (713) 947-7700 for the fee.Full court steps →
- Southside PlaceAppearance dateCourt fee: $144 ($169 school zone)Southside Place (near West U) charges $144 ($169 school zone) — request at the clerk's window by your court date; 90 days, Type 3A record.Full court steps →
- Spring Valley VillageAppearance dateCourt fee: $144 ($169 school zone)Spring Valley Village (I-10 Memorial) charges $144 ($169 school zone) — request court permission in person, then submit your certificate and Type 3A record by the due date.Full court steps →
- Taylor Lake VillageAppearance dateCourt fee: $144 ($169 school zone)Taylor Lake Village (Clear Lake) charges $144 ($169 school zone) — get court approval first, then present your certificate by day 90.Full court steps →
- TomballAppearance dateCourt fee: $144 ($169 school zone)Tomball (SH-249) charges $144 ($169 school zone) and takes DSC requests in person, online, or by notarized mail by your answer date.Full court steps →
- WebsterAppearance dateCourt fee: $144 ($169 school zone)Webster (I-45/NASA) charges $144 ($169 school zone) and takes DSC requests in person or through its online form before your court date.Full court steps →
- West University PlaceAppearance dateCourt fee: $144 ($169 school zone)West U charges $144 ($169 school zone) — give written notice by your court date in person or by email; 90 days to finish.Full court steps →
Not one of these 28? Search every Texas court in our directory.
How do you get a Houston ticket dismissed?
Four steps, the same at every Houston-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 Houston 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 Houston?
The court's cost is typically up to about $144 ($169 in a school zone), set by each individual court — some Houston-area courts charge less or add a small school-zone fee. The TDLR-approved course itself is separate; ours is $25. Check your specific court's page for the exact amount.
Can I take the Houston defensive driving course online?
Yes. Once your court approves the request, you can take a TDLR-approved 6-hour course fully online and submit the certificate. Every Houston-area court accepts a state-approved online course.
My ticket is from Bellaire / West U / Jersey Village, not Houston proper. Does that change anything?
The legal process is the same, but you deal with that city's court, not the City of Houston. Each enclave court has its own fee, request method, and deadline rules — open its page in the table above for specifics.
How long do I have to finish the course?
Generally 90 days after the court approves your request. You must request the course by your appearance date first — don't pay the ticket, because paying is a guilty plea and a conviction.
Does dismissing the ticket 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 be used against you or 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.