Which States Allow Online Defensive Driving?

Format isn't the hard part anymore. The question that matters is what the course is for in your state, and whether the version you sign up for is approved for that purpose. Find your state below.

Which States Allow Online Defensive Driving?

Here's what an online course does in states where I Drive Safely offers one. Each link goes straight to that state's course.

State by State

• Texas: dismiss an eligible ticket with court approval, once every 12 months. Texas course
• Florida: keep an eligible ticket's points off by electing basic driver improvement. Florida course
• New York: PIRP subtracts up to 4 points from your suspension total and cuts insurance 10 percent for three years. New York PIRP
• New Jersey: remove up to 2 points once every five years and qualify for an insurance discount. New Jersey course
• Virginia: earn 5 safe driving points once every 24 months, or meet a court or DMV requirement. Virginia course
• North Carolina: meet a court requirement for a ticket, in the 4 or 8 hour format your county uses. NC courses
• Ohio: earn a 2 point credit if you have 2 to 11 points, once every three years. Ohio course
• Indiana: earn a 4 point credit once every three years. Indiana course
• Michigan: keep a ticket's points off with a state eligibility letter, once. Michigan BDIC
• South Carolina: dismiss a ticket's points where the court accepts the course. SC course

Don't See Your State?

Check the full list on our defensive driving page. Rules change, so confirm what the course does with your court, state agency, or insurer before you enroll.

What Can an Online Defensive Driving Course Do for You?

Three things, depending on your state: deal with a ticket, lower your point total, or lower your insurance.

Ticket Dismissal

Texas, and some courts in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, can dismiss a ticket or its points after a course. Florida and Michigan keep the points off instead.

Point Reduction

New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and Indiana reduce or credit points on a set schedule, and Virginia adds safe driving points.

Insurance Discount

New York requires a 10 percent reduction after PIRP. In most other states, the discount is up to your insurer. Here's how points affect insurance.

Do Courts and Insurers Accept Online Courses?

Usually, when the course is approved for your purpose. Approval is the whole game.

Courts

Some states approve providers statewide, and some leave it to each court. When a court is involved, ask the clerk which courses it accepts before you start, or whether you're better off choosing to fight the ticket.

Insurers

Insurers decide which courses earn a discount. Call yours, ask whether an online course qualifies, and get the discount amount before you pay for anything. Taking a course just for the discount is voluntary defensive driving.

How Do You Pick an Online Defensive Driving Course?

Skip the "best" lists and check four things that actually matter.

The Four Checks

1. Approved for your reason: ticket, points, or insurance, in your state.
2. Certificate delivery: how and when the provider sends or reports your completion.
3. Fits your deadline: enough time to finish before your court or state deadline.
4. Works how you work: self paced, mobile friendly, and saves your progress.

Why I Drive Safely

Our courses are 100% online and built around short, engaging lessons, so you can finish on your schedule.

How Long Does an Online Defensive Driving Course Take?

Most states set the length, and online courses have to follow it.

Examples

• Florida basic driver improvement: 4 hours
• South Carolina online course: 4 hours
• North Carolina: 4 or 8 hours, depending on your county
• New Jersey: 6 hours

Can You Go Faster?

No. Timers enforce the state minimum. You can split the time across sessions, though. Not sure whether you need defensive driving or traffic school? Often they're the same thing under a different name.