Community Chat

[Sooner]

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@CelticCrafter wrote:

@ahoymate & @Sooner 

No it's not a requirement and not a way for lawmakers to make money. 

If a person chooses to take the course they will get a discount on their auto insurance for a certain period of time.

In NJ it's good for three years.

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@CelticCrafter Somebody who gets a deal from the state to administer these, or a state agency who hires people makes money.  People who oversee it make money.  People who provide space for it make money, and on and on.  Oddly a lot of state license agents in some states happen to be relatives of state officials. . . 

[ScrapHappy]

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@Jordan2 wrote:

So I will be doing the course online as my certificate expired. I live in New York State and checked out DMV recommendations of various websites offering the course. The one I usually had used wants $39.99 when most others charge between $19.99-$24.95. Are they pretty much all the same, I'm not sure which one to go with? Has anyone taken the course recently and can recommend one they liked?

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My husband and I plan on taking one.  Our insurance broker recomendded it and said it will also drop our car insurance a bit.  I'd checck with your car insurance company first.  Ask if they have a list and if it lowers your insurance cost.

[gardenman]

The best defensive driving is to drive with as few distractions as possible and assume everything moving is going to try and hit you and that everything not moving will start moving and try to hit you. The more paranoid you are as a driver the better your odds are of staying out of trouble. And no matter how careful you are, some idiot can still come out of nowhere and clobber you. 

[Jaspersmom]

I live on LI and no, it is NOT a NYS requirement.  However, by taking the course, you can reduce the cost of one part of your insurance.  Mine is not a percentage, but a dollar amount and even though it's small, every bit helps. It's good for three years. It also reduces some points on your license if you have accumulated those from tickets (ex. - moving violations like speeding).  Thankfully, I don't have that problem.  

I'm a member of AAA, so I take it through them.  To the OP, check around to see if some insurance companies are offering it.  I've never taken it for free, but I have taken it at a discounted price.  I do the course in person and have had the same instructor for many years.  He's a retired teacher and knows how to keep his audience interested in what has to be covered.  He includes a lot of anecdotes about different driving-related incidents which makes the whole experience bearable.  

[Jordan2]

@Jaspersmom I'm a member of AAA. Do they only give courses for in person, do you get a discount on the fee for the course?

[SilleeMee]

My car insurance company gives a 5% discount for taking a defensive driving course. that's not hardly enough to pay for the course itself so I won't do it.

[mac116]

I live in Minnesota. The Defensive Driver Course has NOTHING to do with renewing your driver's license. I've taken the course in person, and in recent years, my husband and I take the online course (19.95...but usually there is a $5 discount available). The course provides a 10% discount from our insurance company for 3 years, which is definitely worth it to us.

[Pecky]

I have been taking the ddc classes for many years. I take it through AAA going for the 6 hours on a Saturday.  I just did it in March. It is good for three years.   I am going to do it online next time when it expires.  It is well worth the 6 hours for getting my insurance premium reduced.  You don't need to carry the certificate with you as it has nothing to do with getting stopped.  When you get the certificate you email or mail to your insurance company.  It also shows up on your DMV report.  It isn't mandatory. 

[CelticCrafter]

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@Jordan2 wrote:

@Jaspersmom I'm a member of AAA. Do they only give courses for in person, do you get a discount on the fee for the course?

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@Jordan2 AAA does an on-line course.

The last time I did it, it was through AAA and it was one royal pita.  After so many pages or hours you had to call AAA and do a voice recognition thing for them to make sure it was you.

I don't remember if there was a discount but I would never take it through them again.

[shoesnbags]

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@CelticCrafter wrote:

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@Jordan2 wrote:

@Jaspersmom I'm a member of AAA. Do they only give courses for in person, do you get a discount on the fee for the course?

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@Jordan2 AAA does an on-line course.

The last time I did it, it was through AAA and it was one royal pita.  After so many pages or hours you had to call AAA and do a voice recognition thing for them to make sure it was you.

I don't remember if there was a discount but I would never take it through them again.

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I found the online course a "royal pita" too.  I think it was AAA but I can't remember. Meanwhile my friend and her husband went to an in person course on a Saturday and said it was easy and enjoyable.