If you got a ticket in Orlando or anywhere in Orange County, you have three options: pay it, elect a Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) course, or contest it. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV, often called the Florida DMV) says you have 30 days to choose, and you make that choice with the clerk of court listed on your citation.
Each option has different effects on your record, your wallet and your deadlines. This article explains how each one works, what the 30-day and 90-day clocks mean, and where to check whether you are eligible, so you can decide before time runs out.
BDI School
Key Takeaways
- Your 30 days start on the citation date, not the day you open the envelope, and missing them can lead to extra fines and a license suspension.
- Paying the fine is treated as admitting the infraction, so points are assessed if the violation carries them.
- Electing a BDI course must be done with the county clerk before you take the course, and it is not open to everyone.
- After you elect, the clerk gives you a set completion period, commonly 60 to 90 days from the citation date, so confirm your exact date with the clerk.
- Contesting means asking the clerk for a hearing, where a judge or magistrate decides whether you committed the infraction.
- Out-of-state and foreign license holders with an Orange County ticket handle it through the same clerk, and a Florida course applies to Florida tickets.
Table of Contents
- The short version: three options, one deadline
- Where to start: your citation and the Orange County clerk
- Option 1: Pay the ticket
- Option 2: Elect a Basic Driver Improvement course
- Option 3: Contest the ticket
- What happens if you do nothing
- A simple way to choose
- Court-ordered school is different
- Out-of-state, foreign and rental-car drivers
- Our Perspective
- FAQ
- Sources
The short version: three options, one deadline
A Florida Uniform Traffic Citation for a noncriminal infraction lists your choices on the back. FLHSMV lists them as pay the citation, contest the citation, or take a driver improvement course. You must choose within 30 days, and s. 318.14(4), Florida Statutes, sets that 30-day period from the date the citation was issued.
The clerk of court handles all three paths. For an Orlando or Orange County ticket, that is the Orange County Clerk of Courts. The county clerk handles the citation, not your city police department and not FLHSMV.
| Option | What you do | Points | Key condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay | Pay the civil penalty to the clerk, or set up a payment plan | Assessed if the violation carries points | Counts as admitting the infraction |
| School (BDI) | Elect with the clerk, pay, then finish an approved course on time | Not assessed if you are eligible and complete every step on time | Eligibility limits apply |
| Contest | Ask the clerk for a hearing | May be assessed if the judge finds you committed the offense | You or your lawyer present your side |
Fine amounts and court costs differ by violation and by county. Check the figure on your citation and confirm it with the Orange County clerk, as of November 2026.
Where to start: your citation and the Orange County clerk
Look at the citation first. It shows the violation, the civil penalty, the citation date and the county. FLHSMV notes that each county has its own procedures and fees, so the Orange County clerk is the final word on how to file.
FLHSMV’s Orange County page directs drivers to the clerk’s website for paying a citation or getting court information. It lists the clerk’s Orlando office at 425 N. Orange Ave., Room 410, with phone 407-836-2000. Office details can change, so confirm them before you go.
The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers directory also lists clerk contact information for every county. If you live in a different county than the one where you were cited, the Orange County clerk still handles your ticket.
Option 1: Pay the ticket
Paying is the simplest route. FLHSMV states that paying the civil penalty is considered a conviction, and points are added to your record if the violation carries them. Under s. 318.14(4)(b), you are deemed to have admitted the infraction and waived your right to a hearing.
You can pay by mail with the envelope the officer gave you, in person at the clerk’s office, or online. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers page explains the payment methods. The citation also points to a statewide online payment site.
If you cannot pay in full, s. 318.14(4)(a) allows a payment plan with the clerk within the same 30 days. Ask the clerk about the terms.
Two things to check before you pay
- Points. Payment can add points, and points can affect insurance. See our guide to Florida traffic citation points and how the points system adds up.
- Required courses. FLHSMV says some convictions require a driver improvement course in addition to the fine, including running a red light and passing a school bus.
Option 2: Elect a Basic Driver Improvement course
Electing school is the option that can keep points off your record. FLHSMV states that you must elect voluntarily within 30 days and inform the clerk in the county where the citation was issued before you attend the course. You also pay an election fee to the clerk.
When the rules are met, s. 318.14 says adjudication is withheld, the civil penalty is reduced by 18 percent and points are not assessed. That only applies if you are eligible, elect on time, and complete and report the course on time. Miss any step and the benefit can be lost.
Who cannot elect
FLHSMV says you cannot elect a BDI course if you:
- elected a BDI course in the preceding 12 months;
- already made eight elections in your lifetime;
- hold a commercial driver license (CDL); or
- were cited for going 30 mph or more above the posted limit.
The election is also not available for certain offenses, such as driver license, tag and registration violations. The back of the citation says so directly. Your clerk or judge makes the final call on your case.
The 90-day completion period
The 30 days is the time to elect. A separate clock covers finishing the course. FLHSMV says that once the clerk is notified, you have between 60 and 90 days from the citation date to finish the course and give proof to the clerk. It tells drivers to ask the clerk for the exact requirement.
Ask the Orange County clerk for your specific completion date in writing or on your receipt. Do not assume it is the longer figure.
What happens if you do not finish
The consequences are real. If you elect school and pay but do not attend in time, s. 318.15 says you are deemed to have admitted the infraction and are adjudicated guilty. FLHSMV adds that you then owe the clerk the amount deducted for electing, plus a processing fee of up to $18. That failed election also still counts toward your lifetime limit.
How the certificate reaches the clerk
Course providers report completions electronically to FLHSMV, and FLHSMV asks you to allow 24 to 72 hours for them to post. Under s. 318.1451, providers also send completion data with your citation number to the clerk. Keep your citation number handy when you register. For more detail, see how to submit your traffic school certificate in Florida.
Option 3: Contest the ticket
You can ask for a hearing instead. FLHSMV says you must contact the clerk of court in the county where the violation occurred to contest the citation. For an Orlando ticket, that is the Orange County clerk.
At the hearing, a judge, magistrate or hearing officer decides whether you committed the offense, and may impose a penalty and require a driver improvement course. The citation form adds that points may be assessed, and that if no infraction is found, no cost or penalties are imposed.
Penalties can be higher than the listed fine. Under s. 318.14, an official who finds the infraction proven may impose a civil penalty up to $500, or up to $1,000 for speeding in a school or construction zone. Read that before you decide.
We cannot tell you how to plead or whether to fight a ticket. For a serious violation, a crash, or a license at risk, talk to a traffic attorney. Our overview of how to contest a traffic ticket in Florida covers the process in more detail.
What happens if you do nothing
Waiting is not a fourth option. FLHSMV warns that failing to elect within 30 days may bring additional fines and a driver license suspension. Under s. 318.18(8), a person who misses the 30-day period owes an additional $16 civil penalty, as of November 2026.
FLHSMV also says that after 30 days, you are no longer eligible to elect a driver improvement course. That is why the first step is to find your citation date and count forward.
If a suspension has already happened, FLHSMV explains you clear it through the traffic court in the county that issued the citation.
A simple way to choose
- Find the citation date. Count 30 calendar days and write down the last day.
- Read the violation and fine. Note whether it carries points and whether a course is mandatory.
- Check your eligibility. Review the list above, including any BDI election in the past 12 months and your lifetime count.
- Call or visit the Orange County clerk. Confirm your options, fees and completion date for your specific citation.
- Ask your insurer. Your insurance company decides how a ticket affects your rate or discount.
- Act before the deadline. Pay, elect or request a hearing, and keep your receipt.
If the ticket is a speeding violation, see our guide to speeding tickets in Florida: fines, points and options. For a side-by-side look at more choices, read Florida traffic ticket options.
Court-ordered school is different
An elected BDI course and a court-ordered one are not the same thing. If a court orders you to attend, FLHSMV says you must notify the court once you finish and give it the necessary documentation. Your judge’s order sets the course type and the deadline. Our page on 8-hour court-ordered traffic school explains one version of that.
Out-of-state, foreign and rental-car drivers
If you hold an out-of-state or foreign license and got a ticket in Orange County, the same clerk and the same 30-day window apply. FLHSMV says the school election is made through the Florida court in the county where you were cited, and it covers Florida violations only.
The Florida course applies to Florida tickets. It does not resolve a citation from another state, and your home state may have its own rules. If you left the area, call the Orange County clerk right away so the deadline does not pass while you travel.
Our Perspective
We see the same pattern each month. Drivers lose the option they would have preferred because they waited, not because they chose wrong. The 30-day window moves quickly, especially if the citation sits in a glovebox or the mail.
Our advice is practical. Read the citation, confirm your eligibility with the Orange County clerk, and decide based on your own record, your insurance and the violation. A BDI course suits some drivers and not others, and paying or contesting can be the better choice depending on the facts.
If you do elect a course, treat the completion date as a hard deadline. Finish early, keep your citation number with you, and confirm with the clerk that the certificate was received.
— The BDI School team
Once you’ve confirmed with your county clerk that you elected (or were ordered to take) Basic Driver Improvement, you can complete the 4-hour Florida BDI course online at your own pace, in English, Spanish or Portuguese, at https://bdischool.com/register.
FAQ
How long do I have to decide what to do with an Orange County traffic ticket?
You have 30 days from the date of the citation, according to FLHSMV. Count from the date printed on the ticket. If you miss it, you can lose the right to elect a course and face additional fines or a suspension.
Can I take traffic school if I got a ticket in Orlando but live in another county?
The election is made with the clerk in the county where the citation was issued, so the Orange County clerk handles it. FLHSMV advises contacting that clerk for its specific requirements. Your eligibility still depends on the violation and your election history.
Does paying a traffic ticket add points to my license?
It can. FLHSMV says paying the civil penalty is considered a conviction and points are assessed if applicable. Check the point value for your violation on the official FLHSMV or statute pages, and ask your insurer how it treats points.
How do I check if I can still elect a driver improvement course?
Start with the clerk of court in the county where you were cited. Confirm that your citation is within 30 days, that you have no election in the past 12 months, and that you are under the lifetime limit of eight. You can also review your history on FLHSMV’s driving records page.
Sources
- Traffic Citations – FLHSMV
- Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) – FLHSMV
- Driver Improvement Courses FAQ – FLHSMV
- Driver Improvement Schools – FLHSMV
- Orange County – FLHSMV
- Florida Uniform Traffic Citation – FLHSMV
- Traffic Citations or Court Suspensions – FLHSMV
- Questions About Driving Records – FLHSMV
- Florida Statutes s. 318.14
- How Do I Pay A Traffic Ticket? – Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers
- Find A Clerk – Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers
