How To Get a Defensive Driving Discount

Lots of insurers offer discounts to drivers who complete a defensive driving class, and these discounts can range from 5% to 20% off your car premium. Most classes can be anywhere from four to eight hours long, and members can choose from in-person or online courses. Each state has its eligibility requirements on top of your carrier’s policies, and many discounts are age-based: offered mostly to teenagers and those over 60. Still, taking a defensive driving course can be worthwhile even without a discount as they can help you drive safer. Before registering, here are a few things you should do:

Go over your state's laws and regulations regarding defensive driver discounts
Ask your insurance company about eligible discounts, including defensive driving discount age limits
Make sure you take a defensive driving course that is approved by your state and insurer if a defensive driving discount is available

Who Is Eligible for a Defensive Driver Training Discount?

Defensive driver training discounts are usually for drivers under 25 and above 55 since these age groups tend to be at higher risk for accidents and have higher insurance premiums. Age restrictions vary from state to state — New York, for example, requires that insurance companies offer rate discounts to drivers of all ages who successfully complete a defensive driving course. You should always contact your insurer to see what’s available to you.

Some insurers may impose other eligibility requirements; for example, Allstate requires that drivers not have any recent driving violations or at-fault violations. With most insurers, your discount generally lasts for three to five years, at which point you can retake the class to qualify again for the discount.

How Can I Get a Defensive Driving Discount?

Most drivers can get a defensive driving discount for their auto insurance by successfully completing an approved driver's education course. Keep these points in mind:

Always check with your insurance company before taking a defensive driver course to confirm that they will offer a discount and if they have a list of approved courses, some insurers may only offer discounts for specific classes that meet certain criteria. Allstate, for example, requires the course to be a minimum of six hours long.
In some states, students can decide to either take it in a classroom setting or online. Find out which option is available to you by looking at your state’s laws or talking to your insurance agent.
During the driving safety class, drivers will learn about safe driving and road safety statistics. They will also learn about their state’s traffic laws, how to maintain proper distance and how to scan the road.
Once you’ve completed the class, you just have to provide your insurance provider with a certificate of completion to have the discount applied to your policy.

Finding a Defensive Driver Course

Most states offer defensive driving classes at local driver’s ed schools or online as approved by the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles or Public Safety. As long as your insurer and state DMV approve it, you are free to take any course.

Many drivers prefer defensive driving courses through AAA, American Safety Council and the AARP.

Before taking a defensive driver course, confirm with your insurer that they will offer a discount.

What Is It Like to Take a Defensive Driver Training Class?

A defensive driver training class is commonly taught in a classroom or online. These classes can be anywhere from four to 12 hours long, depending on the class and state regulations.

In-person classes

Typically around $50–$100
Classes are at a specific time and place
Can ask the instructors questions
Done in one afternoon

Online classes

Typically around $15-$40
Can be done remotely
Times are flexible
Less one-on-one time with the teacher
Need to verify that it is accredited

What Do They Cover in a Defensive Driving Class?

Defensive driving classes teach drivers different techniques to prevent accidents — such as maintaining safe distances between cars or being aware of your circumstances. In traffic school, you will learn road and driving safety statistics, such as how speed can impact the severity of a crash and what times of day are most likely to see car accidents. Drivers will also learn how to avoid accidents by scanning the roadway, obeying their state’s traffic laws and more. Once the course is completed, drivers may have to undergo a comprehension test in order to pass and qualify for a discount from their insurer.

The defensive driver training class commonly goes over the following topics:

Defensive driving techniques
Crash prevention strategies
Drug and alcohol education
Basic car maintenance
Traffic safety issues and laws

Which Car Insurance Companies Offer Defensive Driving Discounts?

Insurer	Eligibility	Discount amount	Additional Information
USAA	Drivers who meet their state's eligibility requirements and complete a defensive driving course	Total amount varies	USAA is available only to active-duty military members, military families and veterans
State Farm	Drivers who meet their state's eligibility requirements	Up to 15%
Farmers	Drivers 55 and older who complete an approved driver's education class	Up to 15%	Drivers must finish a Driver’s Education course approved by the state DMV
Travelers	Drivers who complete an approved driver education course	Up to 8%
Nationwide	Drivers 55 and older who complete an approved driver's education course	Up to 5%	To qualify, drivers must have no at-fault accidents in the past 35 months and have completed a state-approved course
American Family	Drivers 55 and older who complete an approved driver's education course.	Total amount varies	To be eligible, drivers must complete an approved driver course and live in Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Utah or Washington.
Esurance	Drivers 55 and older who complete an approved driver's education course	Up to 10%
Allstate	Drivers who complete an approved driver education course	Amount varies by state
The Hartford	Drivers who complete an approved driver education course	Total amount varies
AAA	Varies by state	Up to 10%
Liberty Mutual	Drivers 20 and younger who complete an approved driver's education course	Amount varies by state
MetLife	Varies by state	5%-10%
Amica	Age requirement varies per state.	Varies by state	Qualified drivers must complete an approved driving course.

Remember that a defensive driving discount is only one of many discounts available to insurance shoppers. If you want to reduce your rates, comparing quotes for the lowest price on auto insurance may be just as effective.

Additional Reasons You Need to Take a Defensive Driving Course

Defensive driving classes are used as either mandatory or optional solutions for traffic violation sentences. They are also known as remedial driving courses or traffic schools. For example, a court or judge may order you to finish a defensive driving class after a serious moving infraction, or you might decide to take a class in order to reduce the number of points you have on your license. Court-ordered defensive driving courses are separate from those designed to reduce your insurance rates. Additionally, many insurance companies require drivers to have a clean driving record in order to be eligible for a discount. Therefore, if you are assigned by the court to attend traffic school, you will likely have to wait for the violation to drop off your record before you can qualify for an insurance discount.

Defensive Driving Discount - Find Affordable Rates

State-Specific Defensive Driver Training Courses

In most states, drivers can take a state-approved defensive driver training course to reduce points on their license, dismiss a ticket or save on insurance rates. Keep in mind that a driver training discount lasts for three to five years. Plus, you’ll save even more if the course helps you avoid a traffic or accident violation.

State	Defensive Driving Eligibility	Coverage After Completing an Approved Defensive Driving Course
Alabama	Alabama offers an online traffic system so you don’t have to appear in court. You can ask to attend a defensive driving course to prevent the ticket from being part of your record.	Varies
Arizona	Drivers can take an approved online defensive driving course to dismiss a traffic ticket.	Up to 10%
Arkansas	Drivers can take a defensive driving course online to dismiss the ticket.	Up to 15%
California	Once approved by the court, drivers can take an approved online defensive driving course to dismiss a traffic ticket.	Up to 5%
Connecticut	Connecticut allows drivers to take online defensive driving classes to reduce their insurance rates.	Up to 10%
Delaware	Drivers can take state-approved online defensive driving courses to reduce insurance rates.	Up to 15%
Florida	Drivers can qualify to attend an online driving improvement course to improve their insurance rates and reduce their fines.	Up to 10%
Hawaii	Drivers can complete online defensive driving classes to dismiss a traffic ticket	Hawaii does not offer discounts at this time.
Idaho	Idaho Transportation Department allows drivers to take online defensive driving courses to reduce points on your license.	Up to 10%
Illinois	Drivers are allowed to complete an online defensive driving course for an insurance discount.	Up to 5%
Indiana	Drivers can complete programs set forth by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles to get a point credit on their driving record.	Up to 10%
Kansas	Kansas drivers can dismiss a ticket and lower insurance rates by attending an online state-approved defensive driving class.	Up to 10%
Kentucky	Kentucky has court-ordered online defensive driving options that allow drivers to dismiss a traffic ticket.	Up to 10%
Louisiana	Drivers can take a court-approved online defensive driving course to dismiss a ticket.	Varies
Maine	Drivers can take driver safety courses and online defensive driving to lower their insurance rates and reduce points on their license..	Up to 10%
Maryland	Maryland drivers can take driver improvement courses and online defensive driving classes.	Up to 10%
Massachusetts	Massachusetts drivers can take state-approved online driving safety courses to reduce points on their license.	Massachusetts does not offer discounts at this time.
Michigan	Drivers can take a Michigan-approved driver improvement class to avoid adding points to their driving record.	Michigan does not offer discounts at this time.
Minnesota	Minnesota drivers can take approved online defensive driving classes for discounted car insurance rates.	Up to 12%
Mississippi	Mississippi drivers have limited online state-approved options for defensive driving classes and drivers must meet certain criteria to have their ticket dismissed, such as not getting a traffic ticket in the last three years.	Up to 10%
Missouri	Missouri allows drivers to take approved online defensive driving classes to reduce points from their driver's license. Classes must be a minimum of eight hours.	Up to 10%
Montana	Montana drivers can take defensive driving classes to reduce insurance rates.	Up to 10%
Nebraska	Nebraska drivers can take online defensive driving courses online along with eight hours of classroom instruction to remove two points from their license.	Up to 10%
Nevada	The Nevada DMV allows drivers to take online defensive driving courses to reduce points on their driver's license or insurance rates.	Up to 10%
New Jersey	New Jersey approves online defensive driving courses.	Up to 5%
New Mexico	New Mexico DMV allows drivers to take approved online defensive driving courses to have a traffic ticket dismissed from their record.	Varies
New York	New York allows drivers to reduce points on their driver’s license and reduce insurance rates after taking an online defensive driving course online.	Up to 10%
North Carolina	North Carolina drivers can attend an online court-ordered defensive driving course through an approved provider.	North Carolina does not offer discounts at this time.
North Dakota	North Dakota drivers can complete online approved defensive driving courses to reduce points on their driver’s license.	Up to 10%
Ohio	Ohio drivers can attend an online defensive driving course to receive two-point credits on their driving record.	Varies
Oklahoma	Oklahoma drivers can attend an online defensive driving course to dismiss their traffic ticket.	Varies
Oregon	Oregan allows drivers to take approved online defensive driving courses to dismiss traffic tickets on a case-by-case basis.	Varies
Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania drivers are allowed to take online driver improvement courses to lower their insurance rates.	Varies
South Carolina	South Carolina courts approved online defensive driving courses to reduce points on your driver's license.	Up to 10%
Tennessee	The Tennessee Department of Safety approves online live-stream defensive driving classes which are about eight hours long.	Up to 10%
Texas	Texas allows drivers to take a state-approved online defensive driving course to dismiss a traffic ticket.	Up to 10%
Utah	Drivers can take online defensive driving courses to reduce points from their license.	Varies
Virginia	Drivers can take a state-approved online driver improvement program to lower their insurance rate and reduce points on their license.	Up to 10%
Washington	Washington drivers can take an approved online defensive driving course to reduce their insurance rates.	Up to 10%
Washington D.C.	Washington D.C. drivers can take an approved online defensive driving course to reduce their insurance rates.	Varies
West Virginia	West Virginia. drivers can take an approved online defensive driving course to reduce their insurance rates.	Up to 10%
Wisconsin	Drivers can take a state-approved online defensive driving course.	Up to 10%
Wyoming	Drivers can take state-approved online defensive driving classes to reduce insurance rates, dismiss a traffic ticket and reduce points from their license.	Up to 10%

Drivers can take a defensive driver training course to reduce points on their license, dismiss a ticket or save on insurance rates.

Key Takeaways:

Check with your insurer regarding all their requirements before signing up for a course.
Defensive driving courses provide more than just a discount — drivers can learn how to prevent collisions, why accidents happen and how to react to dangerous situations.
Taking a defensive driving course may result in a car insurance discount of 5% to 10%

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How To Get a Defensive Driving Discount

Christa Ehrler

Fran Majidi

On This Page

Who Is Eligible for a Defensive Driver Training Discount?

How Can I Get a Defensive Driving Discount?

Finding a Defensive Driver Course

What Is It Like to Take a Defensive Driver Training Class?

In-person classes

Online classes

What Do They Cover in a Defensive Driving Class?

Which Car Insurance Companies Offer Defensive Driving Discounts?

Additional Reasons You Need to Take a Defensive Driving Course

State-Specific Defensive Driver Training Courses

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