How To Get A Defensive Driving Discount

Key Points:

• Many insurance providers offer discounts for taking defensive driving courses, while some offer in-house driver training programs.
• Defensive driving courses for adults can cost between $15 and $100, while driver’s education training can cost as much as $800 or more.
• In addition to defensive driving courses, safe driving practices and usage-based car insurance programs can lead to further discounts.

Whether you’re a new driver or have decades of experience behind the wheel, driving safely will play a large role in determining your auto insurance premium. Some providers even offer a driving school or defensive driving insurance discount if you complete a professionally led course.

In this article, we’ll discuss driving school discounts offered by the best auto insurance companies on the market. We’ll also discuss different kinds of driving schools, common costs, and other benefits of completing a course.

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Driving School Overview

Each state has different driving school requirements for new drivers. While some require behind-the-wheel training and a strict curriculum, others leave it up to teens to determine their training preferences. In some states, you may be required to complete an in-person or online defensive driving course for driver safety if you’re in an at-fault accident or receive a speeding ticket. See what’s required in your state on the National Highway Safety Administration (NHSA) website.

However, driving school insurance discounts aren’t just offered for new drivers. A majority of adult-oriented driving school options are labeled as “defensive driving” courses. These classes teach a series of skills and tactics to handle difficult situations on the road, as well as educate drivers on state traffic laws.

Defensive driving courses typically range from four to eight hours and may cover crash prevention, dealing with harsh conditions like traffic or bad weather, and right-of-way laws. You’ll also learn defensive driving techniques like keeping a safe distance from other drivers and how to manage psychological factors that come into play on the road.

Many organizations, like AAA, also offer safe driving courses for seniors. These can help lower your car insurance rate if age is impacting your premium. Similar to defensive driving courses, these classes cover how to handle stressors on the road and become a safer driver. They may also cover driving while taking certain medications, managing physical and visibility changes, and generally lengthening your time as a driver.

Do All Insurance Companies Offer A Driving School Insurance Discount?

Most providers offer auto insurance discounts for finishing driving school or a defensive driver course. These discounts can be especially helpful to teen and senior drivers who may expect higher premium costs.

The size of the driving course discount often depends on your state’s laws. For example, drivers in New Jersey who choose Geico can receive a five-percent driving school insurance discount if they complete a course from an approved school, and drivers in Arkansas could get up to 15% off. State Farm is another company that publicly advertises a defensive driving course discount, though the number also depends on your state’s limits.

Even if your provider doesn’t list driving school discounts on its website, it’s worth asking your insurance agent about your options.

How Much Do Driving Courses Cost?

The standard defensive driving course ranges anywhere from between $15 to $100, which many find is well worth the price in the long term. Seniors can complete an AARP Safe Driving Course for $25 to $30, depending on membership status.

Teen driver’s education courses are another story. Because these driving classes include a lengthy classroom element and often require one-on-one mentoring, costs can range anywhere from $200 to $800.

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Does Driver’s Ed Lower Insurance Rates?

The average drop in car insurance rates for driver’s ed courses is about 10 percent. If you’re a teen driver dealing with high insurance costs, this can add up to significant savings, especially when paired with other discounts. Many insurance providers offer teens money-saving opportunities for things such as:

• Being a good student
• Taking an extra defensive driving course
• Leaving your car at home when you go to college
• Being a member of the military
• Being a safe driver and using a telematics program

In other words, driver’s ed courses are just one way to reduce rates for new drivers.

Driver’s ed courses may also pay off financially in the long run. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) highly recommends driver’s education for reducing the common distractions linked to teen driving. In states that implement the graduated driver licensing (GDL) system, which requires driver’s ed, the NHTSA says teenage car accidents decrease by 50 percent. This leads to safer driving and lower premium costs in the long run.

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Do Defensive Driving Courses Lower Insurance Rates?

Safe driving is one of the most common categories for car insurance discounts, but each company handles this its own way. Some offer a driving school insurance discount, and others offer their own safe driving program through a motor vehicle tracker or mobile app. Using these tools, demonstrating good driving habits over time could decrease your premium.

Even if your insurer offers this technology, taking a course can be a great way to remove points from your driving record after a traffic violation. An insurance underwriter looks at your driving record each time your insurance renews, so a defensive driving course could demonstrate responsible habits that could lower your rate.

Senior drivers may also be eligible for driving school insurance discounts. Nationwide advertises a defensive driving course discount for drivers over 55 with no accidents in the past 35 months. Farmers Insurance offers a similar premium reduction for drivers either over 55 or 65–depending on the state–with a provided certificate of completion.

No matter your age, if you’re interested in receiving a driving school insurance discount, it’s important to double-check that the course you choose is approved by both your state and your insurance provider.

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Extra Benefits Of Driver Safety Courses

Many drivers end up pursuing driver education courses to remove points from their driving records. You may get points on your license after a moving violation, and the number of points varies based on how severe an infraction you commit. For example, if you cause an accident, you will likely receive more points.

Having points on your driving record can make your car insurance policy more expensive and even lead to fines. Depending on your state, a driver safety course can remove an average of four points from your record.

There are a few other main reasons adults and seniors take driver’s education or defensive courses, including:

• To receive a discount on their insurance premium
• To renew their driver’s license if too much time has passed after its expiration
• To change driver’s license certifications
• To feel more comfortable on the road
• To learn state laws after moving

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Other Ways to Save on Car Insurance

Driving school insurance discounts are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to saving money on auto policies. Most insurance companies offer discount opportunities for things including:

• Good driving: Many companies offer lower rates to drivers who practice good driving habits or hold a clean driving record when signing up for a policy. Driving school insurance discounts may also fall into this category.
• Safe vehicles: If your vehicle has specific safety features and is affordable to repair, you could receive a lower car insurance rate or specific discounts.
• Bundled policies: The more coverage you purchase from one insurance agency, the more you can save. Drivers can often cut costs by insuring multiple vehicles or bundling homeowners and auto insurance.
• Good grades: Teens who get good grades or leave their cars at home when they go away to college can receive insurance discounts.
• Payment discounts: Car insurance companies often reward dependable customers. You may get a discount for setting up automatic payments, paying your premium in full, paying your bills on time, or enrolling in paperless billing.

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How To Get A Defensive Driving Discount: Our Take

Taking a defensive driving course is a good way to become a better driver. You may not only get a discount from your insurance provider just for taking the course, but you may save even more money on your premiums over time for being accident and ticket-free. Talk to your insurance agent to see how you can qualify for a defensive driving discount. 

Our Recommendations For Car Insurance

As mentioned, Geico and State Farm are two quality providers that offer discounts for taking an approved defensive driver course. Each has a rock-solid industry reputation and offers unique coverage and discount opportunities for drivers from all walks of life.

State Farm: 4.7 Stars

Based on our research into dozens of insurance companies, State Farm is the best overall provider for most drivers. This is because the company offers multiple discounts and programs for teens including its Steer Clear^® program, which teaches and rewards good habits for drivers under the age of 25.

In addition to state-specific driving school insurance discounts, State Farm offers the following money-saving opportunities:

• Vehicle safety and anti-theft discounts
• Good student discount
• Student away at school discount
• Military discount
• Accident-free discount
• Safe driving discounts
• Multiple vehicle discount
• Multiple policy discount
• Vehicle safety discounts

To find out more about coverage with State Farm, read our complete State Farm insurance review.

Geico: 4.5 Stars

In addition to being one of the highest-ranked companies in our study, Geico clearly lays out how to receive a driving school insurance discount. The company’s website clarifies that discounts come down to your state laws, typically ranging between five and 15 percent off your premium.

Geico’s other discount opportunities include:

• Good student discount
• Good driver discount
• Safety feature discounts
• Anti-theft device discount
• Multiple policy discount
• Military discount
• Federal employee discount

Geico is a financially stable company that’s highly respected in the industry. Plans are offered in all 50 states with in-person locations and online communication options. Learn more about this provider in our full Geico review.

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How To Get A Defensive Driving Discount: FAQ

Learn more about getting a defensive driving discount on your car insurance with our answers to the questions below:

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How We Rate Auto Insurers

Our review team extensively researches auto insurance providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:

• Reliability: It’s important that an auto insurer is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong financial strength rating from AM Best score best in this category. Established insurers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
• Availability: Insurance companies that offer wider availability to consumers in terms of state availability and few eligibility requirements are more likely to meet consumer needs.
• Coverage: To determine our coverage score, we look at the number of coverage options available as well as coverage limits and deductible options. Our ratings also take into account additional services and benefits like roadside assistance.
• Pricing: Cost can be difficult to compare between insurers because so many factors impact annual premiums. The cheapest insurer for one driver may not be the cheapest for another. To determine our cost score, we look at insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, discount opportunities, and consumer reports.
• Service: We comb through customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn about customer experiences. Insurers with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the claims process, giving higher ratings to car insurance providers that offer a smooth experience.
• Technology: Providers with an online quote tool, easy-to-use claims app and a usage-based insurance app score best in this category.

*Data accurate at time of publication.

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