How to Lower Your Insurance Rates with a Defensive Driving Course

High car insurance rates can seriously hurt your finances each month. Not only do you have to cover the monthly cost, you can further damage your credit if you miss any payments.

Luckily, there are options to get cheaper rates. In fact, did you know that you can lower your car insurance rates by up to 10 percent per month? A defensive driving course makes this discount possible.

A defensive driving course teaches you about safe driving techniques and skills and traffic laws. It is designed to lower your driving risks and avoid harmful accidents

Here are the steps to help you complete a defensive driving course - and access your auto insurance discount.

1. Contact Your Insurance Company

Check with your insurance company to first make sure that they offer a discount for completing a defensive driving course. While most insurance companies do adhere to state rate discounts, it’s best to ask. If they do offer a discount, also inquire about your insurance company’s eligibility requirements to determine if you qualify. For example, some states prohibit a discount for drivers under or over a certain age. Also ask if they approve online defensive driving classes.

As a quick guide, 34 states and Washington, D.C., require that insurance companies offer a discount for defensive driving courses. Learn more about those states here. Insurance discounts by state can range from 5-20%.

2. Register for an Online Defensive Driving Course

You have options when it comes to registering with a defensive driving course provider. However, do your research and make sure you select a provider that is certified in your state.

It’s also more convenient to choose a provider that offers the defensive driving course online. An online defensive driving course ensures that you don’t have to drive to a physical location and waste money on gas. You can complete the course from the comfort of your home (and on your own schedule) rather than in a stuffy classroom.

Also known as “traffic school” and “driver improvement course,” here are a several defensive driving course provider options by state:

• New jersey defensive driving course
• Florida basic driver improvement course
• California traffic school
• Delaware defensive driving course
• Texas defensive driving course
• Tennessee traffic school
• Virginia driver improvement course
• Georgia Defensive Driving Course
• Missouri Driver Improvement Course
• Nevada traffic school online

Once you’ve selected a provider, simply create an account, pay for the course (typically $40 or less), and get started with the lessons.

3. Complete the Course and Final Exam

A defensive driving course normally takes 4-6 hours to complete. After you’ve registered for a course, you’ll have access to different lessons. These lessons cover topics such as state traffic laws, defensive driving skills, and how to drive in bad weather.

With an online defensive driving course, lessons are available 24/7 and can be completed on any device such as your mobile phone, laptop, or tablet. Your progress is also saved as you go so you can always pick up where you left off.

Once you’ve completed the lessons, you’ll take a final exam. You normally have to score at least 80% on the final exam to pass the course. Choose a course provider that allows unlimited final exam retakes for free! 

4. Submit Your Certificate of Completion

After you’ve passed the final exam, you’ll receive a certificate of completion from your course provider. You can either download online or select the option to have the certificate printed, signed, sealed, and mailed to you. 

Submit this certificate of completion to your insurance company. Your insurance company should then apply the discount to your monthly premium. You can normally take a defensive driving course every 3-5 years to renew the discount.

Sign Up and Save with a Defensive Driving Course

A defensive driving course is an excellent way to save on your auto insurance. And a 10% monthly discount adds up over time. 

The national average cost of auto insurance for a good driver with poor credit is over $2,500. With a 10% discount, you’ll save $250 per year. In 3 years, you'll have saved over $750. 

By learning how to be a defensive driver, you’ll also avoid costly traffic accidents. Considering that one at-fault accident can raise your rates by 31% or more, a defensive driving course is worth the time. If you’re looking for a certified defensive driving course provider, we recommend DriveSafeToday. DriveSafeToday offers state-and-court-accepted online defensive driving courses for multiple states. Learn more here.