Texas · Houston
Defensive driving in Houston: what the court asks for
Got a ticket from Houston police? The City of Houston Municipal Courts handles it. You ask the court first. If it says yes, you take a 6-hour driving safety course and turn in your papers by the court’s deadline. The course is online and costs $25. The table below is what this court says on its own site.
See the Houston court’s steps ↓
Approved statewide · TDLR License CP994
City of Houston Municipal Courts
Phone: (713) 247-5479
Deadline, address, papers: in the court table below
Court first. Course second.
From the court’s own site
How the Houston court handles defensive driving
| What to know | City of Houston Municipal Courts |
|---|---|
| Court address | Herbert W. Gee Municipal Courthouse, 1400 Lubbock Street, Houston, TX 77002 |
| Phone | 713-247-5479 |
| How to ask | By mail, by email, or in person at a court location. The court has no online request form. Juveniles must appear in person with a parent or guardian. |
| Deadline to ask | On or before your arraignment court date. The court says that after that date you lose the right to the course. A late request is up to the court and costs more. |
| What the court charges | The court lists $144 for a moving violation and $169 in a school zone when you ask on time. If you ask late, or took a court-ordered course within the past year, the court lists $184 and $209. This is the court's money, not ours. |
| Time to finish | 90 days. |
| What to turn in | The signed Court Copy of your certificate, a certified Type 3A driving record, and a signed, notarized affidavit. |
| How to turn it in | By mail or in person. The court says completion documents may not be emailed. |
- Also on the Houston court’s page
- Send a copy of your Texas driver license and your auto insurance with the request.
- A clerk will notarize the affidavit at the counter for $10.
Check your citation
Is the Houston municipal court your court?
Only if Houston police wrote the ticket. A ticket from a sheriff’s deputy, a constable or a state trooper usually goes to a Harris County Justice of the Peace court. Those courts have their own steps and amounts. The court named on your citation is the one to ask.
Texas law (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. arts. 45A.351–.353) sets who can take the course at all. Run the 30-second eligibility check, or read how Texas ticket dismissal works, start to finish.
After the court says yes
The course: 6 hours online, $25
TDLR-approved, for use statewide.
$25 is the lowest price Texas law allows any school to charge, and nothing is added at checkout. Eleven short units, each with a two-question quiz you can retake free. There is no final exam. We email your certificate the moment you finish and file your completion with the TDLR within 48 hours. You sign the certificate and get it to the court by your deadline.
Houston questions, answered
Houston defensive driving FAQ
Can I take defensive driving online for a ticket in Houston?
Texas lets you take the course online, and ours is approved by the TDLR (License CP994). You ask the court first. The City of Houston Municipal Courts decides whether you may take it for your ticket.
How do I request defensive driving in Houston?
By mail, by email, or in person at a court location. The court has no online request form. Juveniles must appear in person with a parent or guardian. Mind the deadline: on or before your arraignment court date. The court says that after that date you lose the right to the course. A late request is up to the court and costs more.
How much does the Houston court charge?
As of September 20, 2026, the court lists $144 for a moving violation and $169 in a school zone when you ask on time. If you ask late, or took a court-ordered course within the past year, the court lists $184 and $209. That money goes to the court. Our course is $25, paid to us, with nothing added.
Can I email my defensive driving certificate to the Houston Municipal Court?
No. The court says completion documents may not be emailed. Mail them, or bring them to a court location such as the Herbert W. Gee Municipal Courthouse at 1400 Lubbock Street. Turn in the signed Court Copy of your certificate, a certified Type 3A driving record and a signed, notarized affidavit. A clerk will notarize the affidavit at the counter for $10. You have 90 days.
My ticket is not from Houston police. Is this my court?
Maybe not. A ticket from a sheriff's deputy, a constable or a state trooper usually goes to a Justice of the Peace court in Harris County. Those courts have their own steps. The court named on your citation is the one to ask.
Other Texas cities: El Paso · San Antonio · Dallas · Fort Worth · Austin.
Court said yes? The rest takes 6 hours.
$25 total — the lowest price Texas law allows, with nothing added at checkout. 100% online, instant certificate, free quiz retakes.
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