Optional defensive driving courses

January 5, 2011 6:07 PM

Are online defensive driving courses worth it?

I'm insured by GEICO, and they offer a defensive driving discount. I'm under 30, never had an accident or ticket, and paying a pretty cheap rate already, but more money is always better.

Geico's info for my state indicates youngish people with bad driving records will not get the discount, but nowhere does it say how much the discount is.

I've got a good idea how to calculate whether it's worth it based on my estimated hourly wage, time to complete the course and duration of the discount (3 years).

So I guess I'm interested in 3 things:
1. How long it took to complete the course.
2. How much the discount was.
3. Whether these courses are recognized between insurers.

posted by pwnguin to work & money (7 answers total)

I took an online defensive driving course roughly four years ago after I got a speeding ticket. I went through a website called I Drive Safely (http://www.idrivesafely.com/). I seem to remember it costing roughly $100. This was four years ago, so prices may very well have changed since then.

Even though I took it for the express purpose of getting out of a speeding ticket (62 in a 45, central TX), I still talked to my insurance (USAA) and they gave me a discount that still applies to this day.

I don't have my insurance papers in front of me, so I can't give you the exact dollar amount, but it is something like a couple dollars per month.

Time to complete the course was the good part of two consecutive Saturdays. I could have finished much more quickly if I weren't so distracted by Civ 4 and by general internet browsing.

YMMV, IANAL, IANACop, etc.
posted by AMSBoethius at 6:29 PM on January 5, 2011

My brother took one last year to hide a speeding ticket from my parents (he's on their insurance). He paid for the ticket, then took the course (online because the ticket was in a different state than the one he lives in), and nothing ever showed up on the insurance. I don't know what he paid for the course, but he doesn't have much disposable income (so it couldn't have been too exorbitant) and he considered it very much worth it.

And if my parents ever come across this (hi, Dad!), I'm talking about some other brother that you don't know and I'm not actually related to in any way.
posted by phunniemee at 6:43 PM on January 5, 2011 [4 favorites]

I don't remember how much money the course saved me, but I remember that I took it online and I finished it MUCH faster than however long they said it would take (maybe 1/3 of the time?). If you have common sense and are a fast reader, clicker, and question-answerer, then it's not as time-consuming as they say it will be, and I would definitely recommend it even if the savings aren't that much. Better than nothing, right?

As far as usefulness and becoming a better driver? I don't think the course covered anything that most good drivers don't know.
posted by KateHasQuestions at 7:53 PM on January 5, 2011

We had to take these for work and they took about a quarter the time they were supposed to. it was pretty worthless (wear your seat belt! use your mirrors!) but not a major expenditure of time or anything.
posted by fshgrl at 9:16 PM on January 5, 2011

Ok, so I'm surprised nobody told me to do this, but I went ahead and just asked GEICO. The answer is pretty simple: my 6 month policy will be 21.70 cheaper (I pay in full -- less hassle.) After 3 years the course expires, so assuming a constant return over those 6 policies, I'll wind up paying 110.25 less. This works out in favor for me assuming the advertised 4 hours.

I think I'll set aside some time next month to do this. And again in 3 years assuming I don't double my salary. I should probably also mention it to my cash strapped mom. I've always assumed it wasn't a big ticket item, given that passive restraint (aka airbags) is only 7 dollars.
posted by pwnguin at 8:11 PM on January 6, 2011

I am wanting to do this for myself and get the discount, but I want to wait in case I get a ticket and can take it to get out of it. I don't think this is an option in all states. Here in Texas the online defensive driving was about $30.
posted by getawaysticks at 8:53 AM on January 7, 2011

Should have added - Mr. Getawaysticks has done online DD course twice (for previously mentioned ticket issues) in 5 years and the discount has been well worth it.
posted by getawaysticks at 8:54 AM on January 7, 2011