Driver Safety Course Car Insurance Discount: How to Qualify, Potential Savings, and More
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Written byMandy Sleight
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Mandy Sleight has over 15 years of insurance knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, health, pet, supplemental benefits, and other insurance products. She’s a sought-after insurance expert, appearing in Bankrate.com, Moneygeek.com, U.S. News & World Report, Reviews.com, CNET, and other publications, and she's been writing for Compare.com since 2023.
Mandy uses her background and experience working for well-known insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide Insurance to create engaging and easy-to-understand content that helps readers make smarter insurance choices that have a positive effect on their budgets and finances.
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Edited byLequita Westbrooks
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Lequita WestbrooksSenior Editor
Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.
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Table of contents
A driver safety course (also known as a defensive driving course) teaches you safe driving techniques to help you avoid accidents and other traffic violations. Taking one of these courses can increase your confidence behind the wheel and potentially earn you a discount on your insurance premium.
Completing a state-approved course can typically save you between 5% and 15% on your auto insurance in many states. A few companies offering the discount include Amica, GEICO, and State Farm.
Keep reading to learn how and where to get a driver safety course discount and other ways to maximize your car insurance savings.
How Much You Can Save With a Driver Safety Course Discount
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The savings you can earn with a driver safety course depend on your state and insurance company. After completing an approved in-person or online course, you can save 5%–15% over two or three years.
Thirty-five states and the District of Columbia require insurers to offer this discount. Of those states, 23 plus Washington, D.C., accept online courses. The discount is voluntary in the following states:
Though some states allow drivers of all ages to complete a course and get the discount, others have age restrictions. For example, Florida only allows seniors 55 and older to get the discount, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).
How to Get a Driver Safety Course Discount
States and insurance companies have different criteria for qualifying for a driver safety discount. In many states where the discount is mandatory, you’ll need to have a clean driving record free of at-fault accidents and tickets in the last three years.
You also typically have to be 50 years old or older to get a mature driver course discount. But some states, like Delaware, New York, Iowa, and Oklahoma, don’t have an age minimum. Connecticut mandates a minimum 5% discount for drivers age 60 and older, no matter your driving history, but makes the discount optional for drivers younger than 60.
You should check your state’s department of motor vehicles (DMV) website for a list of approved defensive courses, usually available online and in the classroom. The website will likely also list the eligibility requirements for the discount. It’s also worth checking with your agent or insurer, as companies may have other criteria to meet, like a clean driving record.
Once you complete the course, you’ll receive a certificate of completion. You’ll need to provide this certificate to your insurance company to apply the discount to your policy.
Where to Get a Driver Safety Course Discount
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Many insurance companies offer discounts for completing a driver safety or defensive driving course. Your state typically determines the amount of the discount, though it can also vary by insurer.
The table below outlines states where a driver safety discount is available and the potential savings you could earn, according to our research.
State ▲▼ | Advertised Discount ▲▼ |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | Minimum 5% |
| Delaware | 10%–15% |
| Georgia | 10% |
| Idaho | Minimum 5% |
| Iowa | 10%–20% |
| Kentucky | 10%–15% |
| Louisiana | Up to 10% |
| Massachusetts | 5%–20% |
| Michigan | Up to 15% |
| Minnesota | 10% |
| Nebraska | 5%–20% |
| Nevada | 5%–20% |
| New Jersey | 5%–10% |
| New York | 10% |
| Pennsylvania | 5% |
| South Dakota | Up to 15% |
| Tennessee | 5%–20% |
| Utah | 5%–20% |
| Washington | 5%–15% |
| Wisconsin | 5%–15% |
If you want to get the most out of your driver safety course certificate, consider getting quotes from the largest insurance companies first. Bigger insurers typically offer the biggest discounts.
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Which companies offer the largest driver safety course discounts?
It’s important to check information like age restrictions and where to buy approved courses before spending hours completing a driver safety course. Though some insurers offer the discount to only senior drivers, others allow anyone with a driver’s license to get it if they pass the final exam and get a certificate.
The following companies give driver safety course discounts when you complete an approved course on a voluntary basis, though some states may have age limits.
GEICO
Advertised discount amount: Up to 20%
GEICO has an extensive list of discounts, including up to 20% savings for customers who complete a defensive driver training course. But some states allow the discount only for drivers 50 and older. The company website lists available courses and discount eligibility criteria by state, making it easier to determine who is eligible and where to complete a course.
Allstate
Advertised discount amount: Up to 10%
In many states, drivers who complete an approved driver safety course can save up to 10% with Allstate, but age restrictions may apply. The techniques you learn to make you a safer driver may unlock other discounts, too, such as the company’s Safe Driving Club discount.
Farmers
Advertised discount amount: Up to 10%
Drivers who are at least 55 years old can qualify for Farmers’ mature driver discount after completing a state-approved driver training course. The discount lasts for three years and is renewable if you complete another in-person or online class. You can also qualify for a safe driver discount if you haven’t had a DUI, ticket, or at-fault accident in the last three years.
How to Maximize Your Driver Safety Course Discount Savings
Insurance customers in many states can take advantage of the driver safety training discount to save on their policies. Still, having the most current information is essential to maximizing your savings. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Check your state and insurer requirements: Some states may have age restrictions or offer the discount only for in-person courses. Check your state’s and insurer’s websites to make sure you take an approved driver’s education course that qualifies for the discount.
Compare costs: Driving courses aren’t free, but the price can be worth it to lower your overall discount savings. Online courses typically cost between $25 and $50, and you can typically complete them on your computer or tablet. The in-person class fee is usually $100 or more and requires hours in a classroom to complete.
Protect your driving record: A driver training course can improve your driving habits and, in some states, prevent a speeding ticket conviction, which typically increases your premium.
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Other Common Car Insurance Discounts
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The defensive driver course discount is just one of many auto insurance discounts companies offer to help you keep rates low. Here are a few common discounts you might also qualify for:
Safe driver: Good drivers who avoid tickets and accidents usually qualify for a safe driving discount.
Good student: Teen drivers and young adults with a B or above GPA in high school or college can apply for a good student discount.
Telematics: Get a usage-based discount by allowing your insurance company to track your driving habits.
Safety features: Getting a newer car with updated safety features can make you safer while driving and land you an additional discount on your car insurance.
Driver Safety Course Discount FAQs
We answered the most common questions about getting a driver safety course discount.
Can you receive discounts on your insurance premium if you take a defensive driving course?
Yes, a defensive driving discount is available in most states. Once you complete a state-approved in-person or online defensive driver course, provide a copy of your certificate to your insurance company to get the discount.
Do defensive driving courses lower insurance costs in California?
It depends. California drivers age 55 and older are eligible for a mature defensive driver class discount. After completing an approved driver’s education course, you can receive a discount for up to three years. You can continue the discount by completing another in-person or online defensive driving course before the expiration date of the prior one.
What’s the maximum driver safety course discount percentage?
The maximum defensive driving school discount you can receive is 20%. The amount varies by state and insurance company, but it’s usually between 5% and 15%.
How do you get a driver safety course discount?
You have to complete an approved driver’s education course to get a driver safety course discount. The American Safety Council, I Drive Safely, DefensiveDriving.com, and the National Safety Council offer approved courses in most states. Send the course completion certificate to your insurance agent or company to apply the discount to your policy.
Sources:
Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, “Mature Driver Discount Insurance Courses,” accessed October 7, 2024.
Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, “Insurance discounts and other driving courses,” accessed October 7, 2024.
California Department of Motor Vehicles, “Mature Driver Improvement Program,” accessed October 7, 2024.
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Mandy SleightInsurance Writer
Mandy Sleight has over 15 years of insurance knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, health, pet, supplemental benefits, and other insurance products. She’s a sought-after insurance expert, appearing in Bankrate.com, Moneygeek.com, U.S. News & World Report, Reviews.com, CNET, and other publications, and she's been writing for Compare.com since 2023.
Mandy uses her background and experience working for well-known insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide Insurance to create engaging and easy-to-understand content that helps readers make smarter insurance choices that have a positive effect on their budgets and finances.
Lequita WestbrooksSenior Editor
Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.