Considering taking a defensive driving course to lower your insurance premiums?

This is one auto insurance discount that’s not available to all drivers, but there are other reasons why brushing up on safe driving techniques is valuable, even if it won’t save you money.

Let’s take a deeper dive into what driving skills these courses typically teach, whether a defensive driving course can save you money, and how to determine if you’re eligible for this popular car insurance discount.

What is a defensive driving course?

Defensive driving courses are public safety classes offered both in person and online. Typically, they combine text, audio, and video instruction and require passing a test to earn a certificate of completion.

The driving skills commonly covered in a defensive driver course include:

• Basic road safety and crash statistics

• Collision avoidance techniques

• Your state and nationwide traffic laws

• Road awareness, environmental hazards, and scanning techniques

• How to maintain safe following and passing distance

• Safety equipment

• Vehicle emergencies

• Drug and alcohol education

Requirements vary by state, but defensive driver training usually lasts anywhere from four to 12 hours. Although most defensive driving courses aren’t free, you can expect to pay a relatively affordable fee somewhere in the range of $25-$55 for an online class. In-person defensive driving courses may be more expensive, depending on your location.

How much is the defensive driving insurance discount?

In a majority of states, car insurance companies are required by state law to offer a discount to motorists over a certain age who complete an approved defensive driving course.

The following states do not have laws mandating defensive driving discounts. If you live in one of these states, you should still contact your insurance company for more information about potential discounts.

• Arizona

• Hawaii

• Indiana

• Iowa

• Maryland

• Massachusetts

• Michigan

• Missouri

• Nebraska

• New Hampshire

• North Carolina

• Ohio

• South Dakota

• Texas

• Vermont

• Wisconsin

Some insurance companies offer defensive driving discounts to all drivers who meet the age criteria and take a defensive driving course regardless of state laws. The discount varies but usually falls in the range of 5% to 20% off your auto insurance premiums for three to five years.

It’s also worth noting that defensive driving discounts aren’t just for drivers over 50. Several insurers like State Farm and MetLife provide savings to teen drivers or young drivers under 25 who complete defensive driving courses. In fact, New York drivers of all ages are usually eligible for a defensive driving discount once they’ve completed the state’s Point and Insurance Reduction Program (PIRP).

How to earn a defensive driving discount

Since defensive driving is all about avoiding an at-fault accident, most insurance companies reward drivers with a discount for taking and completing an approved course. Here’s how to determine if you’re eligible for a defensive driving discount and how to get it applied to your insurance premiums.

1. Check to see if you qualify

Two groups of drivers are usually eligible for defensive driving discounts: drivers under 25 or drivers over 50. These age groups are statistically more likely to be involved in an at-fault accident. Many states mandate discounts for certain drivers who take safe driving courses.

Defensive driver discounts may have other eligibility criteria such as not having an at-fault accident for the past several years or the absence of any serious traffic violations on your driving record. You can access the GEICO database of defensive driving discounts and courses to learn more about your state’s criteria.

2. Decide if you'll take an in-person or online course

Many vendors offer in-person classroom courses at traffic schools or other educational settings, or online courses, which can sometimes be done at your own pace. While online courses have the advantage of being cheaper and more convenient, you should check with your insurer (and state) to verify an online class qualifies for the insurance discount before you log on.

A few popular options for online safe driving courses are offered by AAA, AARP, American Safety Council, and the National Safety Council.

3. Ensure the course is eligible for a defensive driving discount

In some states, traffic school is optional to remove points from your license or may be part of a mandatory sentence for traffic tickets and other violations. These classes are typically different from the approved courses you’d take to earn an insurance discount.

To ensure the driver education course you’ve selected is eligible for an insurance discount, check your state laws and then contact your insurance agent to confirm the course qualifies.

4. Complete the approved defensive driving course

Once you sign up for a driver safety class, the key is to show up and do the work. You may be required to answer questions or take a test to confirm your successful completion of the course.

Once you’ve passed, request proof of completion so that you can submit documentation to your insurer. This may be an electronic certificate or a form that gets sent directly to your auto insurance company.

5. Verify the defensive driving discount has been applied

You may need to follow up with your insurance company or agent directly to get the discount applied to your insurance policy. Once it’s been verified, that discount should be good for anywhere from three to five years.

When the discount expires, you may be eligible to take a defensive driving class again and get the discount reapplied depending on your age, state of residence, and other eligibility criteria.

Other benefits of taking a defensive driving course

Auto insurance discounts aren’t the only reason to take an accident prevention course or brush up on your driving skills. Getting a refresher on avoiding accidents and becoming a safer driver offers a kind of security behind the wheel that’s hard to put a price on.

Even if your safety course doesn’t qualify for an insurance discount, you could ultimately save money on your car insurance rates by avoiding expensive collisions, keeping your driver’s license from being suspended, and learning safe driving techniques that allow you to leverage telematics or usage-based insurance at some point down the road.

Frequently asked questions

1. How do I find an approved defensive driving course?

To find courses offered in your state that might qualify for a good driver discount, swing by your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles website.

For a state-by-state look at online defensive driving classes, start with the American Safety Council and the National Safety Council for more information.

2. How long are defensive driving discounts good for?

Once you’ve completed a safe driving skills class, the insurance discount should last anywhere from three to five years.

This can vary according to state laws and each insurer’s rules, so continue to check your premiums and contact your insurance company with questions.

3. How much does a defensive driving course cost?

The cost can vary, but online defensive driving courses are typically $50 or less. Online classes tend to cost less, while in-person, full-day courses taught by an instructor usually cost more.

For instance, the online defensive driving course from the New York Safety Council, referred to as NY Online Defensive Driving (IPIRP), provides a 10% discount on insurance premiums for three years, can be taken every 18 months, and rings in at a bargain price of $24.95.