Ohio Online Defensive Driving Courses FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions for Online Defensive Driving in Ohio

How to Take a Defensive Driving Course Online in Ohio

The state of Ohio allows drivers to earn a 2-point credit on their driving record by completing our Ohio online defensive driving course. If that weren’t enough, completion of our course could also qualify you for a discount on your auto insurance rates as well. Please note, however, that the 2-point credit may only be earned once every 3 years, and only 5 times total.

Whether you’re looking for a 2-point credit or discount on your auto insurance, we’ve put together a comprehensive look at the steps you’ll need to take to earn each of your incentives. If you still have questions, you can always contact our customer support staff any time you need them.

How to Earn a 2-Point Credit on Your Driving Record

How to Get a Discount on Your Auto Insurance Rate

How to Earn a 2-Point Credit on Your Driving Record

1. Contact your court or the BMV to confirm your eligibility and request a referral for traffic school.
   If you have recently received a traffic ticket, you may call your court and request permission to dismiss the points through our course. If you have not recently received a ticket, but you have accumulated points on your driving record, contact your local BMV branch and confirm your eligibility to enroll in this course.
   Eligibility requirements are as follows:
   • You may only have 2-11 points on your driver’s license
   • You may NOT have taken a course within the last 3 years
   • You may only reduce points 5 times within your lifetime
2. Enroll in and complete your I Drive Safely Ohio defensive driving course.
3. Submit your certificate of completion to your court or BMV.
   Depending upon who referred you, you will need to submit your course completion either to your court (who will forward it to the BMV), or directly to the BMV itself. I Drive Safely will send your completion certificate straight to you via the delivery method you have chosen.
4. Check your driving record.
   Give the BMV a few weeks to process your course completion, and then follow up by checking on your driving record. You should see the application of your 2-point credit.

How to Get a Discount on Your Auto Insurance Rate

1. Contact your insurance provider for details on their driver improvement discounts.
   Many (if not most) insurance companies offer a rate reduction for drivers who complete a defensive driving course. Ask your agent if you are eligible, how much you would save, and how long your discount would last. You should also find out if they allow you to renew your discount after it expires.
2. Enroll in and complete your Ohio defensive driving course.
3. Submit your certificate of completion to your insurance company.
   After you finish your course, we will send you a completion certificate that you may submit to your insurance provider. They will then process your course completion and let you know when you can expect your discounted rate to take effect.
4. Enjoy your reduced insurance rate!

Frequently Asked Questions for Online Defensive Driving in Ohio

Course Information

Course Information

1. Is this course approved?

Yes! Our Ohio defensive driving course is approved by various courts in the state of Ohio to satisfy a requirement for defensive driving or traffic school. If you’re not sure whether your court approves this course, contact them for more information.

2. I'm not sure if I'm eligible to take an Ohio defensive driving course. How do I find out?

To receive a 2-point credit on your driving record, you must meet these eligibility requirements:

• You may only have 2-11 points on your driver’s license
• You may NOT have taken a course within the last 3 years
• You may only reduce points 5 times within your lifetime

We have all of the eligibility requirements and steps to take for the Ohio defensive driving course listed on our How It Works page.

3. How often can I take defensive driving in Ohio?

You may earn a 2-point credit every 3 years. You may only reduce points 5 times total over your lifetime.

4. How long will this course take?

I Drive Safely’s Ohio defensive driving course meets the state-mandated 8-hour length requirement, and is broken up into 8 single-subject chapters. You may work through those 8 hours all in one day if you choose, or you may spread them out over a longer period of time. How long it takes is completely up to you!

5. What types of things will I study?

Each of your 8 course chapters focuses on single topics that pertain to Ohio driving and traffic laws. These topics include:

• Highway safety
• Alcohol- and drug-impaired driving
• State traffic laws
• Driving emergencies
• Vehicle maintenance

6. What is the testing and grading policy?

Each of the 8 chapters contains a quiz that reviews important content from that chapter. There are 10 questions per quiz, and you need to obtain an 80% or higher to pass onto the next chapter. The quizzes will provide you with an excellent opportunity to master the course material and prepare for your final exam. You will be provided with feedback on any incorrect answers, and you may retake your quizzes an unlimited amount of times.

You will then take your final exam at the end of your course, with 40 multiple-choice questions and a passing score of 80% or higher. You may retake the exam if you do not pass on your first try. You are allowed unlimited attempts.

7. Is there any way I can fail the course?

Absolutely not! You have unlimited retakes on your chapter quizzes and final exam, so if you fail to achieve a passing score on your first try, you may simply retake the chapter again until you do.

8. Why does this course have timers?

This course is required by Ohio law to span 8 hours in length. To comply with this law, we (and all other online defensive driving schools) are required to place timers on each page of the course. We realize that some students may read faster than the timer will permit you to advance, but state regulations prohibit us from changing this function. The timers cannot be disabled for any reason.

9. Is there a time limit to complete this course?

Deadlines are typically determined by the Ohio courts or BMV. While we allow you 180 days to complete your course before your account is suspended, the court or BMV may require you to finish your course much sooner than that. Make sure to determine their deadline before beginning the course.

Regardless of court or BMV deadlines, you MUST complete the course within 180 days of registration. Any student who has not successfully completed the course within 180 days will be terminated without notice and will not be eligible for a refund.