By the Ticket Dismissal HQ editorial teamReviewed Oct 21, 2026Sources cited at the endNot legal advice
Got a ticket in Austin? If it came from Austin police, your case is in Austin Municipal Court, 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 Austin is the court’s fee, its request deadline, and how it wants the paperwork. Here’s the Austin version.
Austin at a glance
- Court: Austin Municipal Court (austintexas.gov/municipal-court)
- Request deadline: before your initial appearance date
- Court fee for the DSC option: $144, or $169 for a school-zone offense, paid at the time of request (per the court’s current request form; confirm before paying)
- 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 Austin Municipal Court
Submit your request by email to court@austintexas.gov, by mail to Austin Municipal Court, P.O. Box 2135, Austin, TX 78768, or in person at 6800 Burleson Rd., Bldg 310, Suite 175 (main) or 2121 W. Parmer Ln., Suite 116 (north)
You’ll need the Driver Safety Request form, a copy of your Texas license, proof of insurance, and the fee. Plead no contest or guilty and elect the driving safety course; that plea is set aside when the ticket is dismissed.
Austin counts the 90 days from when the court processes your request, which can be a week or more after you send it. Ask for the processing date so you know your real deadline.
Step 2: take a TDLR-approved course
Austin Municipal Court 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 Austin 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 Austin Municipal Court
- 6-hour text course $28 all-in ($25 + $3 minimum charge for materials, supervision and administration), video $38
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- 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
Austin Municipal Court, 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 certificate of completion, your Type 3A driving record, and the affidavit, within 90 days of the court’s processing date (not your submission date). 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 Travis County Sheriff’s deputies, constables or DPS troopers go to a Travis County Justice of the Peace court, which has its own request form and fee. The eligibility rules and the course are identical; only the form, fee and address differ.
What a Austin speeding ticket costs if you just pay it
A typical Austin 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 Austin ticket?
Yes. Austin Municipal Court accepts certificates from any TDLR-approved online course.
Do I have to appear in court in Austin 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 Austin 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: Austin Municipal Court 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.