How It Works – Driver Improvement Course in Virginia

There are plenty of reasons why you might want to take a Virginia driver improvement online course. You may have been ordered by the court or DMV to do so, you might be looking to earn a 5-point safe driving Credit on your record, or maybe you want to earn an insurance discount.

Regardless of what you want to accomplish, I Drive Safely has gathered the exact processes you’ll need to follow in order to satisfy your traffic-related needs. Simply find your reason below and follow the appropriate guide.

PLEASE NOTE: The state of Virginia requires that all driver improvement students complete their final exam at an approved testing center. To do so:

• Choose the most convenient facility near you, within the state of VA (for VA residents)
• Schedule an appointment to take your final exam.
• At the testing center, log in to your I Drive Safely Virginia driver improvement course and take your exam.
• You may retake your exam as many times as needed to pass. However, if you fail, you must wait until the next calendar day to return and retake the test.

How to Satisfy a Court or DMV Requirement

How to Remove Points on Your License from a Violation

How to Reduce Fines and Court Fees from a Violation

How to Voluntarily Earn 5 Safe Driving Points

How to Earn a Discount on Monthly Insurance Rates

How to Satisfy a Court or DMV Requirement

1. Request at your hearing that you intend to take a state approved online driver improvement course.
2. Enroll in and complete your I Drive Safely Virginia driver improvement Course.
   The court or DMV will determine whether you may receive a 5-point credit for completing your course.
3. Take your final exam at your chosen approved testing facility.
4. Send your completion certificate back to the court or DMV by the deadline given.
5. Check your driving record.

Make sure you’ve received credit for your course and that your violation isn’t erroneously outstanding. If you’ve also been allowed to receive 5 safe driving points for completing your course, they will also appear on your record at that time.

How to Remove Points on Your License from a Violation

1. Contact the court and request permission to take a driver improvement course.
   Depending upon the county in which you received your ticket, you may do so by phone or mail, or you may need to appear on the date listed upon the citation. Note that you may only reduce points through a driver improvement course once every 2 years.
2. Enroll in and complete your I Drive Safely Virginia driver improvement Course.
   The court will give you a deadline by which you must submit your course completion to earn your point reduction.
3. Take your final exam at your chosen approved testing facility.
4. Submit your completion certificate to the court by the deadline you were given.
5. Check your driving record.

Make sure that your driver improvement course shows up on your record, and that you have received all points that the court granted for successful completion.

How to Reduce Fines and Court Fees from a Violation

1. Contact your court and request permission to take a driver improvement Fine Reduction course.
   While you may not be able to remove points based upon your violation – or you’ve already taken a point reduction course in the last 2 years – you may still request to take a course for the reduction of fines and court fees. You may do so by phone, mail, or you may need to appear at the date listed upon the citation (county-depending).
2. Enroll in and complete your I Drive Safely Virginia driver improvement Course.
   The court will give you a deadline by which you must submit your course completion to earn your point reduction.
3. Take your final exam at your chosen approved testing facility.
4. Submit your completion certificate to the court by the deadline you were given.
   If you paid your reduced fee up front at your court date, you won’t need to complete any more steps at this time.
   If you did not pay your fee at your court date, you will be informed how much your reduced fine will be. You will then pay your fee at this time.

How to Voluntarily Earn 5 Safe Driving Points

1. Enroll in and complete your I Drive Safely driver improvement online course.
   You may take a driver improvement course for safe driving points once every 2 years. Since you’re voluntarily taking this course, you won’t have any court or DMV deadline to meet. Simply work through your course as leisurely as you like!
2. Take your final exam at your chosen approved testing facility.
3. Submit your completion certificate to the DMV.
   You can mail it in to your local branch, but it’s likely a better idea to bring it directly to an office to ensure that it gets delivered and processed.
4. Check your driving record.
   Make sure that those 5 safe driving points have been applied. This way, if you ever do get a citation, you’ll have a cushion in place to absorb the points you would have been assessed. And of course, keep driving safely!

How to Earn a Discount on Monthly Insurance Rates

1. Check with your insurance provider to request permission and confirm eligibility requirements.
   Most providers have the same basic requirements, but check to make sure your driving history grants you eligibility to reduce your insurance rate.
2. Enroll in and complete your I Drive Safely Virginia driver improvement online course.
   Since you’re taking this course voluntarily, you likely won’t need to worry about any deadlines – so take your time!
3. Take your final exam at your chosen approved testing facility.
4. Submit your completion certificate to your insurance company.
   Depending on your insurance company:
   • You will be notified of your new insurance rate and when it will take effect; or
   • Your discount will be processed immediately and your next bill will be lower.

   Some companies will retroactively credit you from the time you enrolled in the course; others will begin your discount when they receive your certificate of completion.

5. Enjoy your reduced insurance premium!