States That Require an Insurance Discount for Driving Courses

Most driving course discounts are a choice the insurance company makes. But in some states, the law takes the choice away. If you finish an approved course and show proof, the insurer has to lower your premium.

We read the actual statutes, regulations and state agency pages for the states in this guide. Below is a table of 21 states where we confirmed a required discount, what kind of course earns it, and how long it lasts.

This list is not complete. We only included a state after reading its law or an official state page ourselves. Rules change, and some states may have laws we did not get to. Before you sign up for a course, check with your state insurance department and your insurer.

Three kinds of courses

The laws cover three different kinds of courses. It helps to know which one you are dealing with.

• Teen driver education. The course new drivers take, often classroom plus behind-the-wheel time. Very few states require a discount for it. Georgia and South Carolina are two we confirmed.
• Defensive driving or accident prevention (any age). A short course for licensed drivers. New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Georgia (25 and older), Kansas, Oklahoma and South Carolina require a discount for these.
• Mature driver (55 and older, or 60 in some states). This is the most common required discount by far. Most states in our table fall in this group.

The table: required discounts by state

"Appropriate reduction" means the law requires a discount but lets the insurer set the amount, usually based on its own loss data. Where the law names a minimum percent, we show it.

State	Course type	Required discount	How long it lasts	Law
New York	Defensive driving (PIRP), any age	10% of base rate, per NY DMV	3 years	NY Ins. Law 2336
New Jersey	Approved defensive driving, any age	Appropriate reduction	3 years, ends early at 4+ points or suspension	N.J.S.A. 17:33B-45.1
Georgia	Teen course (30 hrs classroom plus practical) under 25; 6-hour defensive course 25+	At least 10%	3 years	O.C.G.A. 33-9-42
Delaware	Defensive driving, all named operators	10%, 15% after a refresher	3 years	18 DE Admin. Code 607
South Carolina	Driver ed (under 25); driver training course (25+)	Credit set by insurer	Under 25: while in youthful class. 25+: at least 36 months	S.C. Code 38-73-736, 737
Oklahoma	Accident prevention course	Appropriate reduction (usually 5% to 10%, per OID)	3 years	36 O.S. 924.1, OID Bulletin PC 2003-04
Kansas	Accident prevention, principal operator	Appropriate reduction	3 years	K.S.A. 40-1112a
Connecticut	Accident prevention, 60+	At least 5%	At least 24 months	CGS 38a-683, via CT DMV
Pennsylvania	Mature driver, all named insureds 55+	At least 5%	3 years	75 Pa.C.S. 1799.2
Minnesota	Accident prevention, 55+	At least 10%	Retake every 3 years	Minn. Stat. 65B.28
Alabama	Accident prevention, 55+	Appropriate reduction	3 years	Act 2000-432, via AL DOI
California	Mature driver, 55+	Appropriate percentage	3 years	Cal. Ins. Code 11628.3
Florida	Accident prevention, 55+	Appropriate reduction	3 years	F.S. 627.0652
Illinois	Defensive driving, over 55	Appropriate reduction	3 years	215 ILCS 5/143.29
Maine	Accident prevention, 55+	Appropriate discount	3 years	24-A M.R.S. 2902-G
Nevada	Approved course, 55+	Reduction required	3-year periods	NRS 690B.029
Ohio	Accident prevention, 60+	Appropriate reduction	3 years	ORC 3937.43
Oregon	Accident prevention, 55+	Appropriate reduction	3 years (2 years if 70+)	ORS 742.490 to 742.492
Virginia	Mature driver crash prevention, 55+	Appropriate reduction	3 years	Va. Code 38.2-2217
Washington	Accident prevention, 55+	Appropriate reduction	2 years	RCW 48.19.460
West Virginia	Accident prevention, 55+	Appropriate reduction	3 years	W. Va. Code 33-20-18

Most of these laws have conditions. Common ones: the course must be state approved, a court-ordered course may not count, and the insurer can drop the discount after an at-fault crash or a moving violation. Read your state's law for the details.

A few states worth a closer look

Georgia is rare because its law covers new drivers. Under O.C.G.A. 33-9-42, insurers must offer "a reduction of not less than 10 percent in premiums" when a driver under 25 completes a course "of not less than 30 hours of classroom training" plus practical training, or a driver 25 or older completes "a defensive driving course of not less than six hours." The discount lasts three years.

South Carolina covers both age groups. The law for drivers 25 and older says: "The insurer must provide the driver training course credit upon receipt of satisfactory evidence of course completion." For drivers under 25, the credit lasts "for as long as the premium rates continue to be determined by a youthful driver classification."

Delaware sets the number itself. Its regulation says "A 10% discount shall be applied" if all named operators finish the course, and 15% after a refresher taken before the three years run out.

Virginia shows how wording matters. For drivers 55 and older, the law says rate plans "shall provide for an appropriate reduction." For younger drivers, a separate part of the same section uses "may," so that discount is optional.

Louisiana is a state we left out of the table on purpose. Its law says a defensive driving rate reduction "of up to ten percent shall be authorized by the commissioner" when a carrier files for one. That lets insurers offer a discount, but it does not require one.

Why a required discount makes proof matter

When a discount is optional, an insurer can set any rules it likes for proof. When the law requires it, the insurer generally has to give the discount once the driver shows they finished an approved course. South Carolina says it plainly: the insurer must give the credit "upon receipt of satisfactory evidence of course completion."

That puts a lot of weight on one piece of paper. Here is the reasoning:

• The discount is priced on the idea that trained drivers crash less. A discount given on a fake certificate is premium the insurer prices for but does not collect, with no safer driver behind it.
• The insurer often cannot refuse a certificate that looks right. Its main protection is checking that the certificate is real.
• Calling or emailing a school to confirm each certificate takes staff time, and a small school may not answer quickly. That makes it tempting to accept a certificate on sight.
• Honest drivers and honest schools lose too. If fake certificates spread, insurers have less reason to trust any of them.

We cover how insurers check certificates today in How Insurance Companies Check Driver's Ed Certificates (and How They Could Do It Better), and the warning signs of a forged one in How to Spot a Fake Driving School Certificate: A Checklist.

How checkable certificates help

A certificate with a unique code or QR that links to the issuing school's record lets anyone confirm it in seconds. That is what RoadVerified is built for. Licensed schools can claim your free listing a free listing and issue certificates that insurers and parents check at check a certificate. Insurers can read more at RoadVerified for insurers.

If you are a driver, keep your certificate and ask your insurer, in writing, to apply the discount your state requires.

FAQ

Do all states require an insurance discount for a driving course?

No. Many states leave it up to each insurer. We confirmed required discounts in 21 states for this guide, mostly for drivers 55 and older. This list is not complete, so check with your state insurance department.

Is the teen driver's ed discount required by law?

In most states, no. Georgia and South Carolina are two states where we confirmed the law requires a discount or credit for young drivers who complete driver education. Elsewhere, teen discounts are usually an insurer's own policy. See Does Driver's Ed Lower Car Insurance? Discounts by State for more.

How much is the required discount?

It depends on the state. Some laws set a minimum, such as at least 10% in Georgia and Minnesota or at least 5% in Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Many others say only "appropriate reduction" and let the insurer set the amount based on its data.

How long does a mandated discount last?

Usually three years. A few are shorter: in our table, Washington is two years, Connecticut is at least 24 months, and Oregon is two years for drivers who take the course at 70 or older. Most states let you keep it by retaking an approved course.

What proof do I need to get the discount?

A certificate of completion from a state approved course. Give it to your insurer and ask that the discount be applied. A certificate with a code the insurer can check online makes it easier for them to accept it quickly.