Court-ordered driver improvement is one of the most common requirements attached to traffic-related convictions in Virginia. If a judge has added this to your sentence, the process is straightforward, but there are deadlines and rules you need to understand to avoid making your situation worse. This guide covers exactly what court-ordered driver improvement means, what you need to do, and how to get it done without complications.
What Does Court-Ordered Driver Improvement Mean?
When a Virginia judge orders you to complete a driver improvement course, the court has made course completion a condition of your sentence. This is separate from any fines, community service, or license restrictions the court may also impose. The course itself is an 8-hour program approved by the Virginia DMV that covers defensive driving techniques, Virginia traffic laws, and strategies for making safer decisions behind the wheel.
Court-ordered driver improvement is common in cases involving:
- Reckless driving convictions, including driving 20+ mph over the speed limit
- Speeding tickets where the judge reduces the charge in exchange for course completion
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Following too closely or aggressive driving
- First-offense DUI/DWI as part of a broader sentence
- Driving on a suspended or revoked license
- At-fault accidents where the judge determines additional education is appropriate
In many cases, a judge will order the course as part of a plea agreement. For example, if you were charged with reckless driving, the prosecutor may offer to reduce the charge to improper driving on the condition that you complete a driver improvement course within a specific timeframe. This is a common and favorable outcome, but it only works if you actually complete the course on time.
Deadlines Matter: Do Not Miss Your Completion Date
Your court order will specify a deadline by which you must complete the driver improvement course. This deadline isn’t flexible. If you miss it, the consequences can be serious:
- License suspension: The court can notify the DMV to suspend your driving privileges until you complete the course.
- Contempt of court: Failing to comply with a court order can result in additional legal penalties, including fines or even jail time in extreme cases.
- Loss of a favorable plea deal: If your course completion was a condition of a reduced charge, failing to meet the deadline could result in the original, more serious charge being reinstated.
Find out your deadline and complete the course well before it arrives. Don’t wait until the last week to start looking for available classes. At Abba Driving School, we run our driver improvement course every two weeks, which gives you regular opportunities to get enrolled and finished without cutting it close.
What to Bring to Your Court-Ordered Course
When you show up for your driver improvement course, you’ll need to bring specific documents. Missing any of these can prevent you from participating that day, which could put your deadline at risk.
Required Documents
- Government-issued photo ID: A valid Virginia driver’s license, state-issued ID card, or passport. The name on your ID must match the name on your court documents.
- Court documents: Bring a copy of your court order or sentencing paperwork that shows you are required to complete the course. This documentation is essential because it tells the driving school how to code your completion, and it specifies whether you are eligible for safe driving points.
A Note on Safe Driving Points
This is an important detail that many people get wrong. Completing a court-ordered driver improvement course doesn’t automatically earn you +5 safe driving points on your Virginia driving record. Safe driving points are only awarded if your court order explicitly states that you’re entitled to receive them. If your court documents don’t mention safe driving points, you won’t receive them, even though you’re completing the same 8-hour course.
When you register for the course, review your court paperwork carefully. If you’re unsure whether your order includes safe driving points, contact the court clerk’s office before your class date so you know exactly what to expect.
Court-Ordered (COU) vs. DMV-Required (DMV) Reason Codes
Virginia’s driver improvement system uses reason codes to track why a person completed the course. Understanding the difference between the two most common codes helps you make sure your completion is reported correctly.
- COU (Court-Ordered): This code is used when a judge has ordered you to complete the course as part of your sentence. Completion is reported to both the court and the Virginia DMV. The court needs confirmation that you satisfied the requirement, and the DMV updates your driving record accordingly.
- DMV (DMV-Required): This code is used when the DMV itself has required you to take the course, typically because you accumulated 18 or more demerit points within a 24-month period. In this case, completion is reported to the DMV only, since no court is involved.
If you received your requirement from a court, your reason code must be COU. This ensures the court is notified when you finish. If the wrong reason code is used, the court may not receive your completion notice, which could result in a bench warrant or license suspension even though you completed the course. At Abba Driving School, we verify your court documents at registration to make sure the correct reason code is assigned from the start.
Drivers Under 20: In-Person Attendance Required
If you’re under the age of 20 and have been ordered to complete a driver improvement course, Virginia law requires you to attend the course in person. You can’t satisfy this requirement through an online course, regardless of what the course provider’s website may say. This rule applies to both court-ordered and DMV-required courses for drivers under 20.
Abba Driving School’s in-person driver improvement course satisfies this requirement for all age groups. Our course is held at our location in Haymarket, VA, and is open to anyone who needs to complete driver improvement, whether you are 18 or 68.
How Completion Is Reported to the Court and DMV
Once you finish the course, the driving school handles the reporting. You don’t need to file paperwork with the court or DMV yourself. The process at Abba Driving School works like this:
- You complete the full 8-hour course. Attendance for the entire session is mandatory. You can’t leave early or skip portions of the class.
- You receive a completion certificate. This is your personal proof that you finished the course. Keep this document in a safe place.
- We report your completion to the Virginia DMV. This is done electronically and updates your driving record.
- We report your completion to the court. For court-ordered courses, we send notification to the court that issued your requirement so they can close out that condition of your sentence.
In most cases, the court and DMV receive confirmation within a few business days of your course completion. However, if your deadline is approaching, it is wise to complete the course with enough lead time that any processing delays do not create a problem. We recommend finishing at least two weeks before your court deadline whenever possible.
How to Enroll and What to Expect
Enrolling in a court-ordered driver improvement course at Abba Driving School is simple. We offer classes every two weeks at our Haymarket, Virginia location. The course costs $100 and covers the full 8-hour DMV-approved curriculum. No hidden fees, no additional charges for court reporting.
A typical course day looks like this:
- Arrive on time with your photo ID and court documents.
- 8 hours of instruction covering Virginia traffic laws, defensive driving strategies, collision avoidance, and the consequences of unsafe driving behavior.
- Breaks are included throughout the day. You don’t need to sit through 8 hours without a pause.
- Receive your certificate at the end of the day. We handle all reporting to the court and DMV on your behalf.
The course has a 100% pass rate. As long as you attend the full session and participate, you’ll complete the requirement. There’s no written test that you can fail. The goal is education, not elimination.
You Have a Requirement. Get It Done.
Dealing with a court order is stressful, but the driver improvement course itself doesn’t have to be. It’s an 8-hour class, it costs $100, and once you complete it, that part of your obligation is finished. The most important thing you can do is act early. Find your deadline, pick a class date well before that deadline, and show up with your ID and court documents.
Abba Driving School has been helping Virginia drivers satisfy court-ordered requirements since 2011. We understand the process, we handle the paperwork, and we make sure your completion is reported to the right people. If you’re ready to check this off your list, register for our next available class and take care of it. If you have questions about how the course works alongside your demerit points or want to understand your options for getting points removed from your license, those guides have you covered as well.