Everything You Need to Know About New Jersey Defensive Driving School

NJ EmblemIf you’ve made it to this blog post, chances are you’ve received a notice in the mail from the New Jersey MVC informing you about the voluntary option to take a defensive drivers course to remove two points from your New Jersey driving record. If you’re in this situation, or just looking to get your auto insurance discount you’re in the right place. 

A quick google search for information on defensive driving schools in New Jersey will only end up bombarding you with endless paid search ads and too many defensive driving schools to choose from. On top of that, relevant insights on New Jersey government websites are buried in between unrelated information inside of boring and hard to read webpages. 

To make your life easier and relieve you of any confusion you have about the purpose and details about defensive driving course in New Jersey, we compiled the most relevant and important facts you need to know before you consider choosing a defensive driving course in New Jersey. 

What is a New Jersey defensive driving course?

Traffic on busy highway

A defensive driving course, also referred to as traffic school, is a course through a state certified traffic school which grants the following to those who complete the course.

  • Two points may be removed* from the accumulated points you currently have on your license. *IMPORTANT NOTE: Point credits for State-approved, New Jersey defensive driving course curriculum only. Check with course providers before registering. You may only receive a two point reduction once every 5 years and only if there are points on your driving record at the time you complete the course.
  • You may also qualify for an insurance rate reduction (contact your insurance agent for more information).

The defensive driving techniques covered in the course are aimed at decreasing the drivers likelihood of receiving a future traffic violation and ultimately making the roads safer for the public.

Why take a defensive driving course? 

In New Jersey, as in most states with traffic schools, taking a defensive driving course will reduce two points from the accumulated points on your driver’s license. You can visit New Jersey’s official government website for details on how their point system works. In New Jersey, completing a traffic school course will get you two points off of your license but the number of points differs depending on the state you live in. 

You can only receive this two point reduction through taking a traffic school course once every five years in the state of New Jersey. But if you end up needing to take one every five years I think it’s time you find a better defensive driving course. 

Auto insurance discount

After completion of your defensive driving course you may be eligible for a rate reduction for your insurance. This does not apply to everyone so it’s important that you contact your insurance agent to learn more. 

Before we get into choosing a defensive driving school, let’s make sure that you are actually looking for a defensive driving course. 

New Jersey has multiple driving programs for different drivers needs, including remedial driver programs, driver improvement programs and probationary driver programs. If you’re unsure of which program you need to take, visit the official New Jersey government page on driving programs

How to choose a defensive driving course?

graduate hat sign

Now that you know the ins and outs of defensive driving courses in New Jersey, it’s time to choose the right course for you. 

Here’s a quick checklist of things to look for in a defensive driving course. If you don’t think a driving school meets this criteria, then find another one. There are plenty of them out there. 

  • The course is licensed by New Jersey MVC  
  • Great customer feedback 
  • The course is reasonably priced  
  • You can complete it on your own time 
  • Customer support is responsive and helpful 

Now that you have all of the knowledge and tools you need to find the right defensive driving course for you, start off your search by visiting Defensive Drivers Group New Jersey to see all the benefits we have to offer at an incredibly low price.