Driver’s Education and Your Insurance Rates

In most states, successfully completing a driver’s education program is a prerequisite for getting a driver’s permit. Without this permit, of course, you cannot get a driver’s license. Consequently, formal driver’s education is the most important step to having the freedom to operate a motor vehicle. Many years ago, driver’s education was part of the high school curriculum. Taking this course was a rite of passage for teenagers itching for their independence. In recent years, however, schools have dropped driver’s education due to budget cuts and other issues. This has forced teens – and their parents – to go looking for acceptable courses that will enable them to get their driver’s license. To fill this need, many driver’s education services have sprung up over the years. But teenagers and new motorists aren’t the only customers for these companies.

Beyond High School – Other Reasons for Driver’s Education Courses

According to the American Safety Council, there are several other reasons for driver’s education courses. Some of these reasons include:

• Insurance rate reduction. Many auto insurance companies offer reduced insurance rates for customers who take driver’s education courses in certain areas, such as defensive driving.
• Defensive driving. Courts may order a motorist to take this course after getting a traffic ticket. He or she may also be given an option to take this to erase points from their license.
• Suspended license. Courts may also order a motorist to take this course before their suspended or revoked license can be reinstated.
• Aged drivers. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) offers driver’s education courses to older motorists who need to sharpen their driving skills or need a refresher course on driving rules.

States vary on what, if any, of these courses they permit. Auto insurance companies also vary on whether driver’s education courses will result in an insurance rate reduction. Before taking a course, therefore, check with both your state and insurance company to see if you will receive any benefits.

Online Driver’s Education Courses

The internet has made taking driver’s education courses easy. Yes, you can look in the phone book for in-person classes nearest you, but they do not offer the flexibility of an online classroom. The benefits of taking online courses are many:

• You can learn on your own time and schedule.
• You don’t have to waste time or money traveling to a driver’s education facility.
• Online courses can be more interesting than in-person ones, as the internet facilitates interactive courses
• Many states now allow online driver’s education courses to fulfill some or all of their licensing requirements. (These states include California, Florida, Indiana, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Texas.)

The only drawback to taking online courses is that some states require a certain number of hours of driving time with a license instructor before you are eligible to get your permit. If you take your driver’s education courses exclusively online, you will not have the benefit of driving with a trained instructor. However, many online courses offer students the chance to drive with an instructor if they live within a certain geographical area. Before you register for an online course, call your state’s DMV to make sure they accept online courses. During this phone call, you can also find out which online course meet the DMV’s licensing requirements. Alternately, you can call the Department of Public Safety in your state to see whether online courses are acceptable and which ones are state-approved.

Driver’s Education Courses

Whether you take it online or in person, a complete driver’s education course usually teaches you:

• Safety rules
• Maintenance and proper operation of a motor vehicle
• State laws
• Road markings, traffic signs and signals
• Driving in all different environments, i.e. highways, cities, residential districts
• Driving in hazardous conditions such as snow and ice
• Road emergencies
• Defensive driving
• Responding to aggressive drivers

And more.

Getting an Insurance Rate Reduction

As previously mentioned, many motorists can get an insurance rate reduction by completing state-approved driver’s education courses. For instance, if you take a defensive driving course, you may be eligible for a safe driver discount. Many insurance companies also offer discounts for senior citizens and those younger than 21, because they are in a high risk group. (Taking a driver’s education course could reduce this risk.) Check with your auto insurance company to see what kinds of discounts you could get for taking driver’s education courses.

Comparing Driver’s Education Course Providers

To give you an idea of what different companies offer, the following 3 driver’s education course providers have been selected for comparison.

1. Driver’s Direct - http://www.driverseddirect.com/

Located in California, Driver’s Direct offers both online and behind-the-wheel driving instruction, although only about 65 cities in California offer behind-the-wheel training. 

Pros and Cons

• Pro: They offer informative and entertaining supplemental materials, both DVD and online, to help you with your driver’s educations. Some of these items include:
  • Online DMV Written Practice Tests
  • Rules of the Road Interactive DVD
  • Roadworthy DVD Parent Training Guide
• Con: But these supplemental materials are only for educational purposes. Purchasing them will not satisfy your state’s licensing requirements.
• Pro: Their courses are DMV-approved in six states: California, Nevada, Colorado, Florida, Oklahoma, and Texas.
• Con: The website has no pricing or sign-up information. However, the home page asks you to input your state and zip code to enter the site. If you live in one of the above DMV-approved states, you will probably be taken to a page where you can see pricing and registration information.

· Pro: They have a wide variety of training methods, including interactive online courses and DMV practice tests.

2. Driver’s Ed - http://driversed.com/

Driver’s Ed has been in business since 1997.

• Pro: Offers both online and behind-the-wheel driving courses.
• Con: Behind-the-wheel courses are only offered in 3 states: California, Georgia, and Texas.
• Pro: Their online courses are DMV-approved in at least 14 states, which include:

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Florida
• Georgia
• Indiana
• Minnesota
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Texas
• Utah
• Virginia
• Con: Pricing and registration information is not readily available on the website. Like Driver’s Direct, you have to enter your zip code to find course information for your state. Presumably, if you live in one of the states in which their courses are DMV-approved, you will be able to see this information.
• Pro: Their online courses are interactive, which makes them more interesting than reading boring text on the screen.

3. I Drive Safely - http://www.idrivesafely.com/

I Drive Safely has been in business since 1998.

• Pro: Offers online courses
• Con: Does not appear to offer behind-the-wheel courses
• Pro: Their online courses are DMV-approved in more than 25 states, which include:
  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Florida
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Maine
  • Nevada
  • New York
  • Ohio
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • Washington
• Pro: Their prices are clearly listed on the website and are fairly cheap, around $40.00

Summary

Online courses can be a great way to get your driver’s education for your permit or to get an insurance rate reduction. Each of the above online courses can help you get there. However, because the I Drive Safely courses are DMV approved in more states than the other two, you may want to start there. Call them and see what they offer. Good luck!