Mandatory Driver Safety Discounts for Mature Drivers

If you are 55 or older, chances are good you can get a discount on your auto insurance, and learn a thing or two in the process. Even if you have not been told you must take a senior driving course to keep or reinstate your driver’s license, your car insurance provider may offer discounts for completing a course.

Mandatory Mature Driver Discounts

In 34 states and the District of Columbia, insurance companies must give a discount to any senior who passes a driving course for mature drivers. States with this mandate include: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Mature Driving Course Options

While in-person classes are required in some states, you generally have two ways to fulfill the driving coursework. You can attend a course in a traditional classroom setting or take an online course.

The classroom setting is a good choice if you:

• Do better with a structured setting
• Enjoy feedback and interaction with others
• Don’t have a computer or don’t feel comfortable using one

Online courses are the best option if you:

• Prefer flexibility so you can complete the course on your own schedule
• Don’t want to or can’t travel to and from a classroom
• Have access to a computer and necessary software

Whether a classroom or online course, costs and number of hours required vary by state.

Benefits

Taking a safe driving course has its benefits beyond getting a discount on your car insurance including:

• You can brush up on what you already know and learn more about newer traffic laws so you’re safer on the road.
• You’ll be less at risk for getting into an accident.
• You can learn about newer regulations and techniques for keeping you and your passengers safer. Examples are new air bag requirements, to avoid collisions, child restraint laws and more.
• You’ll be at lower risk for getting a traffic ticket.

Check with your insurance company to see if taking a driver safety course can save you money and contact your state’s department of motor vehicles to find out which courses are approved. And, remember, with or without a discount, completing a driver safety course can be good for you and others on the road.

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