Defensive driving costs

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Drivers in a hurry often end up with a ticket. But if you get in a hurry to take care of that ticket with a defensive driving course? You could still end up losing cash.

"I was going a little fast,” said Austin driver Jamie Aragon. “I Googled ‘driving record Texas’ and the top one looked like the one I needed to pick."

Hoping to defer her ticket, saving money and her driving record, Jamie clicked on the first course a Google search brought up. Then she realized that she’d paid double what others were paying for her own driving record from the school..

"I noticed that some of the other people had only paid $12.00, and I was like $24.95? Maybe I got the wrong driving record."

Aragon didn’t get the wrong record, but she could have paid half as much by getting her record from the state directly.

"The driving school can generally offer you a copy of your driving record, but that's going to cost you a few extra bucks than versus getting it from the state which will cost you a very nominal fee." says Erin Dufner, Sr. Vice President of Communications for the Better Business Bureau.”

That why the BBB says it's important to do your research, and be on the offensive, finding out early what deadlines you'll need to meet for defensive driving.

According to the Austin Municipal Court , you only have 10 days from the date your ticket is issued to request permission to take defensive driving. Once you get that permission, you have 90 days to complete the course and get your paperwork to the state.

If you're taking the class online, make sure the site is secure by looking for “https” in the web address or a lock symbol in the bottom right-hand corner of your browser.

The BBB also recommends picking a class with 24-hour technical support.

"They may only offer tech support between 8 (a.m.) and 5 (p.m.),” says Dufner. “You may not have time to work out those issues and then get close to that deadline and end up having to pay the ticket anyway."

Also, make sure the class is approved for Texas by going to the Texas Education Agency's website for a list of approved course providers.

And once you're narrowed down your search, check out the company on the BBB’s website.

"That way you can find out information how the company has responded to complaints if they have had any in the past,” said Dufner.

Check out the tip sheet below for more ways to make sure you don’t spend more than you need to on an online defensive driving course.

Online Defensive Driving Course Tips

1) Don’t wait until the last minute. According to the Austin Municipal
Court, you only have 10 days from the date your ticket is issued to
request permission to take a driving course for dismissal of your
citation. If permission is granted, then you will have 90 days to
submit proof of a driving safety course and a copy of your driving
record. Filing paperwork and getting your records delivered in the
mail can take several weeks – so don’t procrastinate. If you have
questions about the specific requirements or procedure, contact the
City of Austin Municipal court.

2) Check the company with BBB. If you are taking an online
defensive driving course, research their rating with BBB and look
for the BBB Accredited Business seal that designates the business
has met all BBB Standards of Trust. The majority of complaints BBB
receives about defensive driving courses allege that consumers
run into certificate delivery delays, class cancellations and/or
technical support problems, so be sure that you are working with a
company that is held to high standards of integrity and performance.

3) Verify that the course is approved for Texas. Some online
defensive driving courses do not meet all state requirements.
Check the Texas Education Agency website for a list of approved
course providers and double-check that the course provider
explicitly guarantees that their course is suitable in Texas.

4) Make sure the course you select offers 24/7 technical support.
If you encounter a problem or technical difficulty, you will likely
request help from the course provider and you’ll be frustrated if
unable to get help without delay.

5) Check that you have a secure connection. Look for the “https”
or “lock” symbol to ensure any payment you make is through an
encrypted, secure webpage. If the course stores your personal
information so you can come back later and complete it, make sure
the entire course is done over a secure server to reduce the risk of a
data breach.

6) Keep all of your paperwork, including the original ticket.
These documents will help you to track your citation and provide
helpful information if there are any remaining questions.