Which States Allow Online Defensive Driving?

Defensive driving can be a great benefit to those who want to increase their alertness on the road. It can also be helpful when you get a traffic ticket and want to dismiss it. In the past, defensive driving courses required hours of in-person coursework, but in many states, that's not the case anymore.

Today, many states allow online defensive driving courses — meaning you can work on improving your driving skills or dismissing your traffic ticket all from the comfort of your home. This list covers all the states that permit online defensive driving. 

States That Allow Online Defensive Driving 

1. AlabamaAlabama Defensive Driving 

An online processOnline Traffic Resolution Otr Blount.alacourt.gov allows defendants to defend their citation instead of going to court. For those who have been approved for driving school, a four-hour online course is acceptable.  

2. AlaskaAlaska Defensive Driving 

Through a list of accredited online driving schoolsDmv Akol Driving_schools.htm Doa.alaska.gov, Alaska offers drivers the opportunity to complete an online course. This can help reduce driving infraction points and lower insurance rates. 

3. Arizona 

Arizona allows online defensive driving coursesFrequently Asked Questions Drive through certified providers. A course can prevent your insurance rates from going up and points from being added to your license. Drivers need to check their eligibility, and the course needs to be completed at least seven days before the court date. 

4. California California Traffic School 

You will need to be approved by the court9410.htm to attend traffic school in California. This will help to dismiss points from a traffic violation. 

5. ColoradoColorado Traffic School

If a driver wishes to contest their citation, a court appearance is requiredTickets And Penalty Assessments Dmv.colorado.gov. The court will then decide whether the driver is eligible for an online defensive driving course. 

6. ConnecticutConnecticut Defensive Driving 

Online defensive driving courses in Connecticut are used to reduce insurance premiums. There is a list of approved online providersDMV Insurance Insurance Insurance Discounts And Driving Courses Portal.ct.gov on the state website. 

7. DelawareDelaware Online Defensive Driving 

Delaware offers drivers an opportunity to reduce insurance premiumsDriving_courses Index.shtml?dc=defensive_driving DriverServices and take a refresher for further reductions. A list of online providers is provided. 

8. FloridaFlorida 4 Hour Traffic School

Online driving courses are allowed in FloridaEducation Courses Driver Improvement Schools Basic Driver Improvement Bdi Find Approved Listing Bdi Course Providers Driver Licenses Id Cards and can help those with citations reduce points and avoid higher insurance premiums. 

9. IdahoIdaho Traffic School 

Idaho allows drivers to complete online driver improvement courses for a three-point reduction on their driver recordWp Content Uploads 2016 07 Defensive Driving Accident Prevention.pdf Itd.idaho.gov. A list of online providers is available. 

10. IndianaIndiana Defensive Driving

Four-hour defensive driving coursesLicenses Permits Ids Suspension And Reinstatement Citation Points And Driver Safety Program Bmv are approved through certified providers to reverse the suspension of a license and to remove up to four points from a driving record. 

11. Kentucky 

In Kentucky, the Kentucky State Traffic SchoolDriver Licensing Pages Kentucky State Traffic School.aspx Drive.ky.govoffers an online and in-person class. The advantage is that no points are added to the driving record; however, non-attendance may result in a license suspension. 

12. Maine 

The five-hour Driving Dynamics courseBhs Driving Dynamics Index.html Dps (in-person or online) allows a three-point reduction and possible discounts on insurance. 

13. MassachusettsMassachusetts Defensive Driving 

Massachusetts has a healthy approach to online driver training, which it refers to as driver attitudinal retraining coursesDriver Attitudinal Retraining Courses Info Details. 

14. Michigan Michigan Driver Improvement 

Eligible drivers can sign up for online driver improvement coursesAll Services Bdic Sos. 

15. MinnesotaMinnesota Defensive Driving

Certain advanced driving courses are approved for those over the age of 55 to qualify for discounted insurance ratesDivisions Dvs Forms Documents Documents AccidentPreventionCourseList.pdf Dps.mn.gov. 

16. MississippiMississippi Defensive Driving

Drivers may be eligible to attend traffic schoolTraffic Ticket.htm Ms Mississippi to reduce points on their driver record and possibly qualify for an insurance discount.

17. MissouriMissouri Driver Improvement

This state allows a four-hour driver correction programPage.jsp?id=1940 that can reduce points and insurance costs. 

18. MontanaMontana Defensive Driving

Montana allows a number of online defensive driving coursesMontana Ntsi.com that can reduce points and lower insurance rates. 

19. Nebraska Nebraska Defensive Driving 

Eligible drivers may qualifyFr Driver Education And Training Courses Certified Dmv Dmv.nebraska.gov for revocation of point reinstatement and a two-point credit to their driving record. 

20. NevadaNevada Traffic School 

Nevada allows online course completionDlschoolstss.htm Dmv.nv.gov for eligible drivers to remove points from their driving record. 

21. New MexicoNew Mexico Online Defensive Driving 

New Mexico offers a list of certified driver improvement schoolsBernalillo County Metropolitan Court Self Help Certified New Mexico Driver Improvement Schools In Albuquerque Metro.nmcourts.govin each county that allow users to complete their driver improvement course online for license reinstatement and possible point reduction. 

22. New YorkNew York Pirp Defensive Driving 

Online defensive driving courses are approved in New YorkPirp Online Dmv.ny.gov and can offer reduced points on a driver's record and cheaper insurance costs.

23. North CarolinaNorth Carolina Defensive Driving

As long as an online course is approved by the District Attorney's office or you were referred by your attorney, you can take online defensive driving in North Carolina.

24. North DakotaNorth Dakota Defensive Driving 

North Dakota lists a number of online coursesDriverslicense Dldriverinfo.htm Divisions that aim to reduce points on a driver's record.

25. OklahomaOklahoma Defensive Driving

Driver improvement courses are approved on a case-by-case basis,Municipal Court Driving School Departmentsand online courses are offered through Oklahoma Traffic School-approved facilities. 

26. OregonOregon Traffic School 

The Traffic School Diversion ProgramUnion Programs Services Pages Traffic.aspx Courtsis used to dismiss minor traffic violations and is offered online. 

27. PennsylvaniaPennsylvania Defensive Driving 

The Mature Driver Improvement CourseDvspubsforms BDL BDL%20Publications PUB%20474.pdf Public allows drivers aged 55 and older to possibly get a discount on their insurance rates. 

28. South CarolinaSouth Carolina Defensive Driving 

South Carolina temporarily allowsCommunity Interest Defensive Driving.php Cce the completion of defensive driving courses online. 

29. TennesseeTennessee Traffic School 

There are a number of defensive driving schools listed for TennesseeTn Safety Driver Services Driverimprovement Defensivedriving.html Content, and online options are offered. These classes are for traffic violation point reductions.

30. TexasTexas Defensive Driving

Texas allows drivers to take online defensive drivingDessearch from TDLR-approved course providers.

31. UtahUtah Defensive Driving 

Utah allows the online completion of a defensive driving courseUtah Point System Dld.utah.gov that allows drivers to reduce their driving record points. 

32. VirginiaVirginia Driver Improvement 

Drivers can use online courses#di_reason.asp Drivers to reduce their license points and improve insurance rates. 

33. WashingtonWashington 4 Hour Defensive Driving 

Online collision prevention coursesSeniors.html Driverslicense are available to those over 55 and can reduce insurance rates. 

34. Washington, D.C. Washington Dc Defensive Driving 

The district recommends online defensive driving courses, however, it doesn't state whether it will count toward points reduction or better insurance rates for drivers. 

Why You Should Consider an Online Defensive Driving Course 

There are legally motivated reasons to consider an online defensive driving course, such as points reductions and license reinstatements. There's also the possibility of a reduced insurance rate for the driver on the completion of this course.

But there are also safety reasons. A defensive driving course helps drivers to make better decisions when on the road. This can include only driving when you're alert, how to stay focused in difficult driving conditions, and how to make decisions ahead of time to accommodate for other drivers. 

No matter your reason for taking defensive driving, become a safer driver with our online defensive driving coursesDefensive Driving.