Defensive Driving Discounts on Auto Insurance

Defensive driving courses offer the dual benefit of improving your driving skills and potentially lowering your auto insurance premiums. Enter your zip code below for a free quote and see how much you can save by switching to A-MAX!

Many insurance providers offer significant auto insurance discounts if you complete a defensive driving course.

What is a Defensive Driving Discount?

A defensive driving discount is a reduction in your car insurance premium, typically between 5 and 20 percent, if you complete a defensive driving course either online or in person. Defensive driving courses can benefit every driver, but teen drivers may especially want to consider signing up due to their lack of experience behind the wheel. A safe driving course can help instill good driving habits early on and may even be mandatory for any driver after a serious traffic violation.

Defensive driving courses typically cover topics such as road safety, traffic laws, defensive driving techniques, and more. These courses can teach you important tips about how to be a safer driver and avoid getting into a serious motor vehicle accident.

How to Earn a Defensive Driving Discount

There are multiple ways to earn a defensive driving discount, including completing an approved course offered by your insurance provider. Before signing up, ensure that your course of choice is approved by your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. You can take a defensive driving course online or in person, as long as it’s certified by your state’s DMV and insurance company.

A defensive driving course usually takes 4-12 hours to complete and typically costs between $20 and $100, depending on which course you take and which provider you take it with. Before taking a defensive driver course that is not offered directly by your car insurance company, check with your carrier to make sure that the course you are considering is one that they will accept and provide a discount for on your policy.

Who is Eligible for a Defensive Driver Training Discount?

Drivers under age 25 or above 60 are most commonly eligible for defensive driver training discounts. Teen drivers see the most significant impact on their car insurance premiums after completing a safe driving course. This can help offset the high overall cost of insuring a young driver. These courses will set up new drivers with good driving habits before they get onto the road to minimize the risk of getting into an accident or getting a costly ticket for a moving violation.

Some states, such as New York, require insurers to offer auto insurance discounts to drivers of all ages for taking safe-driving courses. For information on specific state requirements for defensive driving courses and discounts, check with your state’s DMV and your insurance agent to see what discount you are eligible for.

If a driver has gotten a serious license violation such as a DUI, they may be required to take a defensive driving course by their car insurance carrier or by their state.

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What Does a Defensive Driving Course Cover?

Defensive driving courses vary between states and providers, but most of them address the following:

• Accidents: Drivers will learn how to minimize their injuries in a crash and learn vehicle crash statistics to better understand how accidents happen and how they can be prevented.

• State Traffic Laws: Drivers will learn the laws set by their state so that they are familiar with what their state expects of them and how they can comply with the laws of the road while driving in that state.

• Dangerous Driving Situations: Defensive driving courses will address avoidable situations that a driver may encounter that could heighten their chances of getting into an accident, such as road rage, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving while fatigued, and distracted driving.

• Overview of Vehicle Safety Equipment: Drivers will learn how safety devices installed in their vehicles, such as seatbelts, airbags, windshields, and child safety seats, can minimize injuries in a crash situation.

In Person Vs. Online Defensive Driving Courses

When selecting a defensive driving course, you will have the option of completing the course in person with an instructor or online. In-person courses will allow you to ask any questions and provide you with the support and experience of your instructor and classmates. These courses will help you to retain more knowledge because you will be less distracted than if you were just completing the course online at home. However, online courses offer the convenience of accommodating your schedule and typically cost less than in-person courses. Regardless of your choice, most car insurance companies will provide a defensive driver discount or good driver discounts for completing the course.

How to Make Sure You Earn Your Auto Insurance Discount for Defensive Driving

Whether you complete your defensive driver course online or in person, you will receive a completion certificate once you have finished the course. You will need to provide a copy of the completion certificate to your independent insurance agent or directly to your car insurance company to make sure that your defensive driving course discount is added to your car insurance policy.

Defensive Driving Course Discount FAQs

Q: What is a defensive driving course discount?

A: A defensive driving course discount can credit your car insurance policy up to 20% when you complete an approved safe driving course through your state or directly with your car insurance company.

Q: How do I ensure my car insurance company gives me a discount on my defensive driving course?

A: Once you complete your defensive driving course, you will be provided with a certificate of completion that you will need to forward to your insurance agent or insurance company so that the discount can be applied to your car insurance policy.