Quick Answer
BDI (Basic Driver Improvement) is Florida's standard 4-hour traffic school course for first-time minor violations. ADI (Advanced Driver Improvement) is a 12-hour course for suspension or habitual-offender cases, and a separate 8-hour Intermediate Driver Improvement (IDI) course covers certain repeat situations. Most drivers with a single speeding or red light ticket need BDI.
Florida uses different course types for different situations, and the naming is confusing to most drivers. This guide explains exactly which course you need based on your specific situation.
The three Florida driver improvement courses
| Course | Length | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) | 4 hours | First-time minor moving violation, voluntary election |
| Intermediate Driver Improvement (IDI) | 8 hours | Certain repeat situations, court or FLHSMV requirement |
| Advanced Driver Improvement (ADI) | 12 hours | Suspension, habitual traffic offender, reinstatement |
Basic Driver Improvement (BDI): the standard course
BDI is what most Florida drivers need. It applies when:
- You received a noncriminal moving violation ticket
- You are electing traffic school to withhold adjudication (prevent points from being assessed)
- This is your first election of traffic school within the past 12 months
What BDI does: Completing BDI withholds adjudication on your citation. This means:
- No points are added to your driving record
- Your insurance company is not notified of the violation
- The citation remains as a "withheld adjudication" but does not count as a conviction
BDI is 4 hours and can be completed entirely online — see how long does online traffic school take for course lengths in every state. Florida DHSMV-approved BDI courses are accepted by all Florida courts.
Intermediate Driver Improvement (IDI): 8-hour course
The 8-hour IDI is required in specific situations:
- You have been convicted of a second moving violation within 12 months
- A court has ordered you to complete it as a condition of your plea or sentence
- You are required to complete it as a condition of avoiding license suspension
IDI is not something you choose voluntarily. It is either court-ordered or triggered by a second-conviction threshold.
Advanced Driver Improvement (ADI): 12-hour course
The 12-hour ADI applies to habitual traffic offenders — drivers who have accumulated a defined number of serious violations within a specific period. It is also used for certain license reinstatement requirements. If this applies to you, the Florida DHSMV will notify you directly.
How to elect BDI: the process
Step 1: Do not pay your ticket yet
This is the most common mistake Florida drivers make. If you pay the full fine amount on your citation, you waive your right to elect traffic school. The payment is treated as a guilty plea and adjudication is entered immediately.
Step 2: Elect traffic school within 30 days
You must elect traffic school within 30 days of the citation date. Contact the clerk of court in the county where you received the ticket. You can usually do this online through the county court's portal.
A small election fee applies — typically $18–25 in most Florida counties.
Step 3: Enroll in a DHSMV-approved BDI course
Your course must be approved by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV). All approved online courses are accepted by all Florida courts.
See the best Florida online traffic school BDI courses ranked by price.
Step 4: Complete the 4-hour course
BDI is 4 hours minimum. You can complete it in multiple sessions. Your completion deadline is typically 60 days from the election date.
Step 5: School submits electronically
Florida law requires your school to electronically submit your certificate of completion to the DHSMV within 5 days of you finishing the course, and to the court within 3 days after that. You do not mail anything yourself.
How often can you elect BDI?
Florida allows BDI election:
- Once every 12 months
- Up to eight times in your lifetime (s. 318.14(9), as amended in 2025)
If you have already used BDI within the past 12 months, you cannot elect it for a new violation during that period.
Cost comparison
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Court election fee | ~$18–25 |
| BDI course | $5–25 |
| Total | ~$23–50 |
| Typical ticket fine (avoided or reduced) | $100–$400 |
| Insurance increase avoided | ~$990 over 3 years |
Quick decision guide
| Your situation | Course needed |
|---|---|
| First ticket, minor violation, within last 12 months no BDI | BDI (4 hours) |
| Second conviction within 12 months | IDI (8 hours, likely court-ordered) |
| Court has ordered a course | IDI (8 hours) or ADI (12 hours) as specified |
| License reinstatement requirement | ADI (12 hours, per DHSMV instruction) |
| Not sure | Call your county court clerk |
For a general overview of the traffic school process across all states, see how to dismiss a traffic ticket online.
Sources
- Fla. Stat. § 318.14(9) — electing a basic driver improvement (BDI) course to withhold adjudication; once every 12 months and up to eight times per lifetime (as amended by ch. 2025-77), elected within 30 days of the citation. (flhouse.gov)
- Fla. Stat. § 318.14(11) — adjudication withheld is not a conviction; § 322.27 — no points are assessed on a withheld adjudication.
- Fla. Stat. § 318.1451 — the school files your certificate electronically. Fla. Admin. Code R. 15A-8 — BDI and ADI course content standards.
- Florida DHSMV, Driver Improvement — the BDI/ADI course types and eligibility. (flhsmv.gov)
- Course price and insurance figures: TrafficSchoolPicker per-state pricing and ticket-cost data.
General information, not legal advice — confirm current rules and fees with the clerk of the county court on your citation.