Florida Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) Course

The Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) Course is a 4-hour educational program approved by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). This course is a voluntary option for drivers who receive a traffic citation and want to avoid having points added to their license. By electing to attend BDI within 30 days of your citation date, you can keep your driving record clean, have adjudication of guilt withheld, receive a reduced fine, and prevent your insurance rates from increasing. The comprehensive curriculum covers defensive driving techniques, Florida traffic laws, hazard awareness, and safe driving practices designed to make you a better, safer driver.

Any driver who receives a moving violation citation in Florida can elect to take the BDI course, with certain restrictions. You cannot elect BDI if you have already made an election to attend BDI in the preceding 12 months, have made eight lifetime BDI elections, hold a Commercial Driver License (CDL), or were cited for driving 30 mph or more over the posted speed limit. Additionally, BDI may be mandatory if you were cited for passing a stopped school bus, highway racing, reckless driving, running a red light, were at fault in a crash resulting in hospitalization, or had two crashes within two years resulting in property damage over $500. You must make your election within 30 days of the citation date and notify the clerk of court in the county where the citation was issued.

Taking the BDI course provides several significant benefits when elected in lieu of paying the fine and accepting points. First, points are not added to your driving record and adjudication of guilt is withheld, keeping your record clean. Second, your civil penalty (fine) will be reduced, saving you money. Third, your insurance company cannot increase your rates, cancel your policy, or issue a non-renewal notice based on the citation when adjudication is withheld and no points are assessed. This can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars over time in increased insurance premiums. Plus, you’ll gain valuable defensive driving skills that can help you avoid future violations and become a safer driver.

You must elect to take BDI within 30 days of your citation date. Contact the clerk of court in the county where your citation was issued to inform them of your election. You’ll need to pay an election fee to the court clerk at that time. After you’ve made your election with the court, you can then register for and complete an FLHSMV-approved BDI course. It’s critical that you make this election within the 30-day window – you cannot elect BDI after this initial period has expired. The options for satisfying your traffic citation should be listed on the back of your citation, but you should contact the court if you have any questions about the election process.

Yes! Our BDI course is 100% online and can be completed entirely from the comfort of your home. You can access the course from any device with internet access, including computers, tablets, and smartphones. The course features an engaging, interactive format that keeps you involved with the material. You can start, stop, and resume at your convenience, and your progress is automatically saved so you can work through the 4 hours in sessions that fit your schedule. There’s no need to attend in-person classes or travel to a physical location.

The BDI course is a 4-hour program as mandated by the FLHSMV. Most students complete the course in one or two sessions, though you can break it up however works best for your schedule. The interactive format keeps you engaged throughout the material, and you can take breaks whenever needed. Your progress is automatically saved, so you can log back in anytime and pick up exactly where you left off. While there’s flexibility in how long you take to complete the course, remember that you must finish it in time to submit your completion certificate to the court by their deadline.

The FLHSMV-approved BDI curriculum provides comprehensive coverage of essential traffic safety topics including:

– Defensive driving techniques and strategies
– Florida traffic laws, regulations, and road signs
– Hazard recognition and collision avoidance
– Safe vehicle operation and control
– The dangers of aggressive and distracted driving
– Impaired driving risks and consequences
– Sharing the road safely with all users
– Weather-related driving challenges
– Proper following distance and speed management
– Intersection safety and right-of-way rules
– Responsible driving attitudes and decision-making
– Preventing future violations and citations

Upon successful completion of the course and passing the final exam, you’ll immediately receive your BDI certificate of completion. Your completion is automatically reported to the Florida court that issued your citation, satisfying your BDI election requirement. The court will then process your case with adjudication of guilt withheld and no points assessed to your driving record. Your reduced fine amount should be paid according to the court’s instructions. The entire process results in a clean driving record with no points, a reduced fine, and protection from insurance rate increases – all significant benefits from completing this educational course.

You can elect to take the BDI course to avoid points, but there are important limitations. You cannot make an election to attend BDI if you have made an election in the preceding 12 months – meaning you must wait at least one year between elections. Additionally, you are limited to a total of eight BDI elections in your lifetime. These restrictions are in place to encourage safe driving habits and prevent drivers from repeatedly using BDI to avoid the consequences of continued traffic violations. If you’ve reached these limits, you’ll need to pay the fine and accept the points for any new citations.

If you don’t pass the final exam on your first attempt, don’t worry! You can review the course material and retake the exam. We want every student to succeed and thoroughly understand the important safety information covered in the course. You can review specific sections or go through the entire course again before attempting the exam. There’s no penalty for retaking the exam, and you can attempt it as many times as needed at no additional cost. Take your time to master the material, as understanding these defensive driving concepts will help you become a safer driver and avoid future violations.