By the Ticket Dismissal HQ editorial teamReviewed Oct 21, 2026Sources cited at the endNot legal advice
Got a ticket in Houston? If it came from Houston police, your case is in Houston Municipal Courts, and you can almost certainly get it dismissed by taking a 6-hour TDLR-approved defensive driving course (Texas calls it a driving safety course, or DSC). The state rules are the same everywhere; what’s specific to Houston is the court’s fee, its request deadline, and how it wants the paperwork. Here’s the Houston version.
Houston at a glance
- Court: Houston Municipal Courts (houstontx.gov/courts)
- Request deadline: on or before the arraignment (appearance) date printed on your citation
- Court fee for the DSC option: $110 for a moving violation, $135 for a school-zone violation (the court’s published DSC fee; confirm current amounts)
- Course: any TDLR-approved online course, $28; you get 90 days
- Then file: certificate + Type 3A driving record (~$12) + affidavit
Step 1: request the course from Houston Municipal Courts
Submit your request by mail or in person only. Houston does not accept DSC applications or completion documents by email. Mail to Houston Municipal Courts, P.O. Box 4996, Houston, TX 77210-4996, or bring them to the Municipal Courts building at 1400 Lubbock St. or an annex.
You’ll need a completed and signed DSC application, a photocopy of your valid Texas driver’s license, a photocopy of your current auto liability insurance, and the DSC fee. Plead no contest or guilty and elect the driving safety course; that plea is set aside when the ticket is dismissed.
Houston’s rule that nothing can be emailed catches people out. Send documents by trackable mail well before day 90, or walk them in and get a stamped copy.
Step 2: take a TDLR-approved course
Houston Municipal Courts accepts any course on the TDLR-approved list; it doesn’t rank providers. The course is 6 hours online, self-paced, and $28 is the legal minimum. Our pick for Houston drivers is DefensiveDriving.com: $28, instant certificate with free mailed originals for courts that want paper, and a guarantee to pay your ticket if the court rejects the certificate.
DefensiveDriving.com Our pick
$28- TDLR-approved; obtain court approval for your eligible ticket before enrolling, including Houston Municipal Courts
- 6-hour text course $28 all-in ($25 + $3 minimum charge for materials, supervision and administration), video $38
- Instant certificate download plus free mail or FedEx delivery
- Provider advertises a ticket-dismissal guarantee up to $250; review written terms and eligibility
We may earn a commission if you enroll through this link, at no extra cost to you. How we make money.
Step 3: get your Type 3A driving record
Houston Municipal Courts, like every Texas court, needs a certified Type 3A record from the DPS to confirm you haven’t used the course in the past 12 months. Order it online for $12 and it downloads instantly. How to order it.
Step 4: file everything before the deadline
Submit the TDLR certificate of completion (court copy), your Type 3A driving record, and the affidavit, by mail or in person within 90 days. Keep copies of everything and, if you deliver in person, ask for a stamped receipt. If you haven’t received a dismissal notice within two weeks, call the court and confirm the case shows as dismissed.
Not a city ticket? Check the court on the citation
Tickets from Harris County Sheriff’s deputies, constables or DPS troopers go to a Harris County Justice of the Peace court, not the city court. Each JP precinct has its own DSC form and fee; check the precinct printed on the citation. The eligibility rules and the course are identical; only the form, fee and address differ.
What a Houston speeding ticket costs if you just pay it
A typical Houston speeding ticket runs $150–$300 in fine and court costs, and the conviction stays on your record for three years, where your insurer will see it at renewal. The DSC route costs the court’s fee plus about $40 (course and record) and leaves no conviction. If you don’t qualify for the course, or used it in the past year, ask the court about deferred disposition. Full breakdown: how much a speeding ticket costs in Texas.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take defensive driving online for a Houston ticket?
Yes. Houston Municipal Courts accepts certificates from any TDLR-approved online course.
Do I have to appear in court in Houston to request it?
Generally no; the court accepts requests by the methods above. Appearing in person is only needed if you’ve missed the deadline and need a judge to approve a late request.
Am I eligible?
If you have a valid non-commercial Texas license, current insurance, haven’t taken the course for a ticket in the past 12 months, and the ticket isn’t for 25+ mph over, 95+ mph, a school bus, a crash, or a work zone with workers present, the court must grant it. Full checklist.
What if I miss the Houston request deadline?
Contact the court immediately. Some judges will still approve a late request; otherwise deferred disposition may be available. Don’t let it become a failure to appear.
Sources: Houston Municipal Courts published driving safety course instructions and forms; Texas Code of Criminal Procedure art. 45A.352. Court fees and procedures change; confirm with the court before paying.