Kern County traffic school: payment, deadline and proof of completion

Who this guide is for

This guide is for adults with a traffic infraction citation handled by Kern County Superior Court. Kern says each citation shows at the bottom which court facility handles it. Citations that require a mandatory court appearance are not eligible for ordinary traffic-school sign-up; DUI matters go to the Criminal Department, parking tickets go to the citing agency, and juvenile matters follow separate rules. Kern Traffic Court overview. California Courts says your court notice should say whether you can go to traffic school; if you are not sure, ask the court. California Courts guidance.

Pay the court and request traffic school

Kern lists four steps, to be completed in order. Paying a school first does not give you court permission. Kern process.

1. Pay the bail amount and fee. Kern says this can be done in person or by mail. The bail is the amount on your Courtesy Notice, and the Traffic School administrative fee is $69.00; both are payable to Kern County Superior Court.
2. Choose a traffic school. After the court receives your payment and request, it says it will send further instructions, including a list of DMV-certified schools in your area.
3. Attend the traffic school. Contact the school to arrange the course. Kern notes schools are private businesses that charge their own fees.
4. Get proof of completion to the court. Kern says the school submits proof of completion directly to the court, and the certificate must be received by the due date the court gives you.

Kern’s Pay Traffic Citations page links to the court’s online payment service and says that after you sign up for traffic school, the court responds within 3–4 weeks with traffic-school information that includes your due date. It also notes the payment provider charges a fee for the service. If your Courtesy Notice shows a mandatory appearance, or the online option is not offered for your case, contact the court instead.

Separate court charges from school tuition

Kern lists two court amounts: the bail shown on your Courtesy Notice and a $69.00 Traffic School administrative fee. The school charges separately. Check your notice for the exact bail; do not add a fee twice if your notice already includes it. Kern fees · Court-versus-school cost guide.

For a new, non-delinquent case, Kern lists Metro Traffic Financial Services at 3131 Arrow Street, Bakersfield, (661) 610-7000, for payment arrangements; delinquent cases go to Revenue Recovery. Ask the court how any arrangement affects your traffic-school request before relying on it. Kern financial services.

Track the due date the court sends

Kern says that once it receives your payment and request, it gives you a future date of approximately 60 days to complete traffic school; if you mailed your request, that information is mailed to you. Use the date the court gives you, not an estimate. The court must receive your certificate on or before that date. Kern deadline.

Eligibility also requires that the due date on your ticket has not passed. Kern says you should receive a Courtesy Notice within a few weeks and at least 10 days before the appearance date; if it does not arrive, appear on or before the date on your citation. The payment page says you may receive only one extension for your citation. Courtesy Notice · Extension note.

Choose a licensed school and confirm completion

Kern warns not to attend traffic school before paying the bail and the administrative fee; if you do, the court will not accept your completion certificate. After paying, check a provider’s license and type of instruction on DMV’s traffic school list, then confirm price, enrollment and reporting availability with the school. DMV says you register with the school, not through DMV. Kern warning · How to verify a school.

Kern says the school submits proof of completion directly to the court, and that when the court receives it, a confidential conviction masks the violation from your public record. Keep your completion record. If you are unsure whether the court received it before the due date, ask the school to check the details it submitted and contact the court. Proof of completion.

Check eligibility with the court

Kern’s list says you may be eligible if you have a valid driver’s license; did not attend traffic school for a prior citation issued within 18 months of the current citation’s issue date; were not cited for more than 25 mph over the maximum or reasonable speed, or as determined by the judicial officer; have no mandatory appearance; and your ticket’s due date has not passed. Kern eligibility.

Statewide rule 4.104 measures the 18-month window from the previous violation and counts having attended or elected to attend; if a prior ticket is close, ask the court. Kern says Class A, B or commercial Class C license holders cited in a non-commercial vehicle may attend under the usual rules; the conviction is not masked, but no point is assessed. Commercial-license note.

Contact Kern Traffic Court

Kern lists the Metropolitan Traffic Division at 3131 Arrow St, Bakersfield, CA 93308, (661) 610-7000, and branch courts in Delano (661) 610-7300, Lamont (661) 610-7100, Mojave (661) 610-7400, Ridgecrest (661) 610-7450 and Shafter (661) 610-7200. You can also use the court’s Email Traffic Court form; Kern says response time depends on volume. Check current hours before visiting. Enter case details only through the court’s official services; this guide collects none. Kern contact information.

Frequently asked questions about Kern County traffic school

Can I sign up for Kern County traffic school online?

Kern’s Traffic School page describes paying in person or by mail. Its Pay Traffic Citations page, which links to the court’s online payment service, says the court responds within 3–4 weeks after you sign up for traffic school with information that includes your due date. Traffic School page · Pay Traffic Citations.

How long do I have to complete traffic school?

Kern says it gives you a future date of approximately 60 days. The certificate must be received by the court on or before the date the court gives you. Kern deadline.

Can I take the course before I pay the court?

No. Kern says that if you attend before paying the bail and administrative fee, the court will not accept your completion certificate. Kern warning.

Who sends my completion to the court?

Kern says the school submits proof of completion directly to the court. It must be received on or before your due date. Proof of completion.

What does traffic school change on my record?

Kern says courts can no longer dismiss the infraction after traffic school; it is recorded as a conviction, and the first conviction in an 18-month period is kept confidential. For commercial-license holders cited in a non-commercial vehicle, the conviction is not masked but no point is assessed. Kern record information · Points guide.

What this guide cannot do

This guide summarizes the court pages listed below as they read on November 1, 2026. Court procedures, fees and hours change, and your courtesy notice, case record or a court order controls your case. It cannot decide eligibility, look up your citation, extend a deadline, submit anything to the court or predict how your driving record or insurance will be affected. If this guide and the court disagree, follow the court.