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Can a Georgia defensive driving course lower my car insurance?

Georgia's Department of Driver Services lists insurance premium reduction among the reasons to take the 6 hour Driver Improvement course. It tells you to ask your insurer whether you qualify.

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The rule, fact by fact

Course hours
A 6 hour course on safe driving attitudes and behaviorsAsk the clinic how it splits the hours across sessions.
Verified. dds.georgia.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Who needs it
Insurance premium reduction is one reason to take the courseAsk your insurer which course it takes.
Same source and date as above
Rule
Check with your insurer on eligibility; DDS cites O.C.G.A. § 33-9-42Look up that section before you call your insurer.
Same source and date as above
Agency
DDS certifies the clinics and instructors that run the coursePick a clinic from the department's certified list.
Same source and date as above
Cost
Clinics may charge up to $95 for a course taken for an insurance reductionAsk the clinic what it charges before you sign up.
Same source and date as above

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Call your insurer and ask whether you or your family members qualify for the premium reduction. The department also points you to O.C.G.A. § 33-9-42.

  2. Step 2. Choose a clinic from the department's list of certified Driver Improvement Clinics.

  3. Step 3. Take the 6 hour course. Courses the department approves are classroom only, so you will not drive.

  4. Step 4. Keep the certificate you get when you finish. If you lose it, ask the clinic you attended for a replacement. Records are kept for only three years. If it has been longer than that, you must retake the course.

Before you pay

Call your insurer before you pay a clinic. Ask which course it accepts and what it takes off.

Questions

Is the course only for older drivers?

No. The department describes Driver Improvement as a safety program for licensed drivers of any age.

Will an online course count?

The department does not recognize online Driver Improvement courses for anything tied to your driver's license. Ask your insurer whether it accepts an online certificate for the reduction before you pay.

Can I use an AARP course?

The department says courses it has not approved, such as AARP, cannot be used for driver's license issues. That limit is about your license, so ask your insurer whether it takes an AARP certificate.

Does the same course take points off my license?

It can. Licensed Georgia residents may ask the department to remove up to 7 points once every 5 years, under O.C.G.A. § 40-5-86.

What to do next

Ask your insurer before you pay. The Department of Driver Services answers common course questions on its Defensive Driving Program FAQs.

dds.georgia.gov

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