It’s never too late for driving school, especially when it comes with a discount on your car insurance. Drivers Education courses can lower your car insurance costs even for teen drivers, who can get up to a 5% discount on their policy, which is a big deal since they are more expensive to insure.
What are Driving School Discounts?
Many states require driving school for new drivers, and completing these courses can lower your car insurance rates. Older adults can also qualify for safe driver discounts by taking approved driving courses. Many auto insurers discount drivers who complete defensive driving courses and have a clean driving record.
Driving school discounts for completing a course start at 5% and go up to 20% savings on car insurance premiums for eligible drivers. The drivers ed insurance discount you qualify for depends on age, location and driving history. Check with your insurance company to see what discounts are available. Let’s look at the options to reduce car insurance costs by driving school.
What Do You Learn in Driving School?
States now allow driving schools to offer online courses so students can complete state requirements more efficiently. These courses cover:
- Basic traffic laws, road signs, and driving skills
- How to handle difficult driving situations
- Traffic laws vary by state
- Driving in bad weather or heavy traffic
- How to reduce stress and stay focused while driving
How Do I Get A Driving Safety Course Insurance Discount?
To get a driving safety course insurance discount, check with your insurance company to see if they offer one and what the requirements are (age, driving record, state). Once you confirm they offer one, sign up for a state- and insurer-approved defensive driving course (in person or online) and ensure it meets all requirements.
Once you complete the course, you’ll get a certificate of completion, which you’ll need to submit to your insurer to activate the discount on your policy. The discount amount and time period varies by insurance provider, but many offer up to 3 years before you have to take another course.
Does Drivers Ed Lower My Car Insurance Rates?
New drivers, especially teenagers, can get a 10% discount on their auto insurance policy by taking a driver’s education course. Some insurers also give discounts to full-time students who maintain good grades or take extra defensive driving classes beyond state requirements.
Driving school benefits the entire household when a new driver is added to a family auto policy. Defensive driving courses all policyholders take can unlock more savings that can last up to 3 years and add up to more overall savings.
Studies show that structured driver’s education and graduated licensing programs can reduce teen driving accidents by up to 50%. With the potential savings on insurance and improved safety results, the cost of driving school is a small price to pay for young drivers and their families.
How to Get a Good Driver Insurance Discount
Many car insurance companies offer Good Driver Discounts to reward safe and responsible driving habits. These safe driving discounts are available to policyholders with a clean record with no accidents, traffic tickets, or claims for a certain period—usually 3 to 5 years. Insurers offer these discounts not only to lower risk but also to encourage drivers to be safer on the road.
The amount of car insurance savings varies by insurer, but most offer 5% to 30% off premiums for good drivers. Suppose you’re in a telematics-based tracking program. In that case, your discount may increase over time as you consistently demonstrate good driving habits.
How to Get a Defensive Driving Discount
Senior drivers, especially those 55 and older, may qualify for car insurance discounts by taking defensive driving courses that refresh their knowledge of traffic laws and vehicle safety features. Some auto insurance companies offer this defensive driving discount to drivers 65 and older, depending on their policies.
Defensive driving courses not only reinforce good driving habits but also allow senior drivers to keep their eligibility for these discounts. Given that defensive driving reduces accidents, many insurers see these programs as a way to lower risk, which often translates to lower premiums.
However, defensive driving insurance discounts and eligibility vary by provider and state regulations, so drivers must research before signing up for a course. To maximize potential savings, drivers should check their state’s defensive driver discount laws, ask their insurer about their specific discounts and age requirements, and make sure the state and the insurer approve the course.
Additionally, comparing course options (in-person or online) allows individuals to choose the most convenient and cost-effective program. Defensive driving discounts are often marketed to younger, older, and more experienced drivers due to their higher auto insurance rates, but many providers offer these to all age groups.
Do All Insurance Companies Offer Driving School Discounts?
Not all car insurance companies offer driving school discounts. However, many national and regional insurance companies offer discounts for completing a driver’s education course. These are usually for new or young drivers but may also be available to others.
Check with your insurance agent before enrolling in a driving course to see if they offer a driver training discount. Even if they don’t, the skills you learn from a driving school will help you avoid accidents and claims and lower your premiums.
State-sponsored driving schools are more likely to be recognized by multiple insurance companies, so you have a better chance of getting a discount than private driving schools.
Which Drivers Benefit the Most From a Driving School Discount?
Suppose you or a teenage driver in your household completes a driver improvement course. In that case, you may qualify for an auto insurance discount and gain safe driving knowledge. However, families with shared car insurance can also get a discount.
Some insurance companies extend the driver training discount to all policyholders under the same policy. This is great for families with multiple younger drivers as it reflects good driving habits and can lower insurance costs. By showing your insurance company that you’re committed to being a safer driver, you’re telling them you prioritize responsible road behavior, which can lead to lower premiums.
Where Can You Find Driving Schools?
Certified driving schools can be public or private and are found all over the country. Many first-time drivers are exposed to driving school lessons when they receive a learner’s permit or turn 15. Most high schools even include new driver education courses in their curriculum for student drivers.
Older drivers can still enroll in driving courses if their license hasn’t been active in a while or they are getting one for the first time. There is no age limit for anyone in driver education unless they are unable to operate a car safely.
Driving schools don’t advertise much, and not too many have to identify branding and competition. They all have the same objective and work in the same field, so it can be hard to pick out which driving school is the best based on cost, scheduling, and course material.
You will know you have found a good driving school if it is:
- Licensed by the state - These driver training certifications, upon successful completion, can be brought to the DMV directly and are more prone to car insurance discounts since the state technically approved them.
- Affordable - Driving schools to charge different costs per hour or lesson. These costs range from $30 to $180. You can do some comparisons to find the most affordable driving school for you, but pay attention to their reviews.
- Convenient - The best driving courses fit into your schedule, which is what many people look for. Younger drivers prefer to take their driving courses after school instead of the weekends, for example. This is more of a preference than a qualification.
- Cars are provided - Depending on your case, you should enroll in a driving school offering a field learning practice vehicle. This would be ideal for teen drivers still waiting on cars of their own.
- Course length - You don’t want to be in driving school for more than you should. A defensive driving course’s average time for successful completion is two weeks to two months. Again, this is another preference as opposed to qualification.
Online Driving Schools
As everything goes online, driving schools have followed suit and now offer online courses. Many states now allow online driver education and ticket dismissal programs. To get the most out of these courses, check with your state’s DMV and your insurance company to see if the course meets their requirements for points reduction, licensing, and premium discounts.
Contact Insurance Navy today to See What Car Insurance Discounts you Qualify for!
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