THIS TRANSACTION MUST BE PROCESSED BY APPOINTMENT AT THE
DRIVER LICENSE BRANCH – 904 301 BLVD W, BRADENTON
Customers will be charged a $6.25 Tax Collector service fee for information and processing, and additional transaction fees may apply. Visit taxcollector.com to schedule your appointment. Services are for Manatee County residents and businesses only.
1. Basic Driver Improvement School (BDI) - 4 Hours
You must complete a Basic Driver Improvement School (also known as a Traffic Collision Avoidance Course/TCAC) if you want to retain your driver license privileges in the following circumstances:
- You were a driver in a crash and are found at fault and (1) someone was transported to the hospital, or (2) you had two crashes in a two-year period, which resulted in property damage greater than $500.
- You were cited for passing a stopped school bus
- You were cited for reckless driving
- You were cited for running a red light
If you receive a ticket for a non-criminal moving violation and you do not hold a commercial driver license, you may elect to attend a BDI School for the following reasons:
- Insurance rates should not go up and your policy should not be cancelled because of the violation, unless it involved a crash where you were at fault. In some cases, you may be eligible for insurance discounts; however, any discount is solely at the discretion of your insurance company.
- Points may not be added to your driver license record, adjudication of guilt is withheld, and your safe driver status is maintained, if applicable.
Attending a BDI School is entirely optional in the case of a non-criminal moving violation.
Note: You can choose to attend a driver improvement course once in a 12-month period and no more than five times in a lifetime. Visit mydmvportal.flhsmv.gov/home/en/publicweb/dlcheck to see if you are eligible.
2. Electing to Take Basic Driver Improvement School (BDI)
Within 30 days from the date you received the traffic citation and prior to attending class, you must:
- Inform the Clerk of Court in the county where you received the citation that you want to go to traffic school, and
- Pay an election fee to the Clerk of Court in the county where you received the citation.
You may contact the traffic school of your choice to register for the course. However, traffic schools must be approved by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Traffic schools are listed in your local telephone directory under "driving instruction" or "traffic schools”. And, approved providers are available at flhsmv.gov/ddl/bdis.html.
Note: A full list of your options for satisfying your traffic citation is located on the back of the citation. You are required to choose one of the three options within 30 days of receiving the citation.
3. Points
If you choose to pay the civil penalty or are adjudicated guilty by a judge, your driver record will be assessed as follows:
Moving Violations.........................................................................3 Points
Speeding 15 mph or less over posted speed....................3 Points
Littering............................................................................................3 Points
Violation of child restraint laws...............................................3 Points
Speeding more than 15 mph over posted speeds..................................4 Points
Passing stopped school bus..............................................................................4 Points
Moving violation (non-speeding) resulting in an crash..........................4 Points
Reckless driving (criminal traffic violation)...................................................4 Points
Unlawful speed resulting in a crash...................................................6 Points
Leaving scene of crash with damage................................................6 Points
If you accumulate:
- 12 points in 12 months, your license will be suspended for 30 days
- 18 points within 18 months results in a 3 month suspension
- 24 points within 36 months results in a 12 month suspension
4. Special Note for 15-17 Year Olds
If you are driving with a Florida Learner License, you must hold it for at least 12 months without a traffic conviction before you may apply for a Florida Class E License. You may avoid conviction by electing to attend and completing a Basic Driver Improvement Course approved by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
If you are driving with a Florida Learner License or a Florida Class E License and you receive 6 points (regardless of time period), you are restricted to driving for business purposes only for 12 months or until you reach the age of 18. (Restriction time is increased if additional points are accumulated.)
5. Advanced Driver Improvement School (ADI) - 12 Hours
If your driver license was suspended in Florida for points, or as a Habitual Traffic Offender (non-DUI related), or by court order, or you were cited for failure to render aid (“hit and run"), you must complete Advanced Driver Improvement School. This school is also required when a customer convicted of racing on a highway (or being a spectator at a race) applies for early reinstatement (hardship license).
You may contact the traffic school of your choice to register for the course. However, traffic schools must be approved by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Traffic schools are listed in your local telephone directory under "driving instruction" or "traffic schools”. And, approved providers are available at flhsmv.gov/ddl/adicphone.html.
Visit mydmvportal.flhsmv.gov/home/en/publicweb/dlcheck to see if you are eligible.
6. Invalid License Information
Is your license currently suspended, revoked and/or cancelled? If your driver license is suspended, revoked and/or cancelled, driving any type of vehicle may result in:
- ARREST by law enforcement
- TOWING of your vehicle
We urge you to respect the law and make arrangements other than driving a vehicle to avoid the unfortunate events above. A free public phone and computer are provided in the lobby to call for a ride from our office or to access the Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) website.
Note: A minor child operating a motor vehicle with a learner license must be accompanied by another adult with a valid license (non-suspended).
How can you get your license back once it's reinstated? If your license was retained by one of our branches due to a suspension, revocation and/or cancellation, you may be able to have it returned for no additional fee once it has been reinstated. Licenses retained by our office are only kept for a short period of time before they are destroyed.
If you are interested in getting your license back, you must do the following within 1-2 days after your license was retained.
- Return to the branch that retained your license.
- Print the screen from https://mydmvportal.flhsmv.gov/home/en/publicweb/dlcheck that shows your license is “VALID” that day.
- Provide the screen print to the receptionist.
If your license has been destroyed or you opt to purchase a replacement license at the time you reinstate your driving privilege, you would be subject to the $31.25 replacement fee.
7. Additional Information
Visit flhsmv.gov/ddl/dicfaq.html for additional information on Driver Improvement Courses.
Verify that your driving school has been added to your driver record online – or scan the QR code below to access the site.
Check the status of your license at mydmvportal.flhsmv.gov/home/en/publicweb/dlcheck!

An Online Application is REQUIRED for all transactions! To complete your driver license or ID card transaction at one of our branches, you must complete the Online Driver License & ID Card Application (https://taxcollector.jotform.com/210103795736152) – or scan the QR code to access the application – prior to your appointment. Do not print the application; an associate will access your electronic submission during your appointment. Applications are valid for 90 days.
Not a Manatee County Resident? Our offices are open by appointment only for Manatee County residents/businesses only. All out-of-county residents must visit their home county for information and processing. To find a location, visit flhsmv.gov/locations.