A Georgia defensive driving course can offer numerous benefits to drivers, including reductions on insurance premiums and a reduction on driving record points. Traffic school is also often required as part of a court order or to reinstate a drivers license within the state. Therefore, it is important to review the benefits that can be provided after the completion of an approved course as well as the fees that you can expect to pay.

Georgia defensive driving school is only available in classroom settings, unless you are solely attending for educational purposes. By reviewing the state provided curriculum for courses, you will know what to expect when attending as well as be aware of the strict attendance policy that is issued in each Driver Improvement Clinic. You can learn how and when to enroll in a course in Georgia by reviewing the information that has been provided within the sections below.


Who can attend traffic school in Georgia?

A Georgia driver improvement course can be attended by drivers of all ages. You do not need to meet any specific qualifications to attend. However, it is also worth being aware of the individuals who may be required to complete a course. If you receive a court order requiring course completion, you must complete the course prior to your given deadline in order to avoid further penalties. If you are required to complete a course as part of a drivers license reinstatement, you must do so before your reinstatement can be approved.

Types of Defensive Driving Courses in Georgia

In Georgia, a driving safety course can only be completed in a classroom type setting, unless you intend to take a course purely for educational purposes. The state does not currently recognize online courses or courses that use other mediums, such as workbooks and DVDs. Furthermore, it is worth knowing that all courses provided by Driver Improvement Clinics include the same type of curriculum and the same course length.

Classroom vs. Online Traffic School in Georgia

While a defensive driving course online often provides greater convenience, the state of Georgia does not currently recognize online classes. If you are seeking any type of benefit outside of education, you will be required to attend a classroom style course. Many of these courses are completed in one day, however, some courses are split among two day periods.

How to Enroll in a Georgia Defensive Driving School

If interested in a Georgia driving safety course, it is important to know that you may only attend a course through a Driver Improvement Clinic, unless you are attending a course solely for educational purposes. These courses can be scheduled by contacting one of your local Driver Improvement Clinics or, in some cases, you may be able to complete scheduling online through the Clinic’s official website.

Benefits of Completing Traffic School in Georgia

Georgia traffic school can provide numerous benefits to drivers, including:

  • Remove points from your driving record.
  • Avoid increases on your auto insurance
  • Obtain car insurance discounts.
  • Fulfill a court order.
  • Reinstate a drivers license.
  • Learn safe driving knowledge and skills.

Remove Points From Your Driving Record

Georgia DMV traffic school can reduce a driver’s driving record by up to seven points once every five years. Upon the completion of the course, points can be reduced by submitting the completion certificate either by mail or in person at any Customer Service Center.

Avoid Increases on Your Auto Insurance Premiums

In some cases, Georgia traffic school can prevent the cost of your auto insurance from rising following an accident or traffic ticket. While it is common for premiums to rise following one of these instances, some insurers will agree to waive the increase if the driver completes an approved course.

Obtain a Car Insurance Discount

A driver safety course for an insurance discount is one of the most common reasons that drivers complete courses in Georgia. While insurers are not required by state law to provide discounts, a majority of insurers do.

Fulfill a Court Order

The driver improvement program is, at times, required in Georgia through a court order. In order to avoid further penalties, it is important to complete the course prior to the deadline that is given by the court ruling.

Reinstate a Drivers License

In Georgia, a driver improvement course is sometimes required as part of a drivers license reinstatement. If you are faced with this requirement, you must complete a course and provide the DMV with your completion certificate. It is also worth knowing that you can request the DMV to reduce the points on your driving record, if you are eligible for point reduction, with the same certificate that will be used to reinstate your drivers license.

Learn Safe Driving Knowledge and Skills

A Georgia defensive driving course will provide you with safe driving and crash avoidance knowledge and skill. These skills can ultimately help you to become a safer driver, leading to less accidents and citations. Not only can having a clean driving record help reduce your car insurance payments, but implementing safe driving techniques can save your life.

Georgia Defensive Driving Class Curriculum Details

A defensive driving class in Georgia is six hours in length and, depending on the Driver Improvement Clinic that is providing your course, your course may be divided into two days as opposed to one. Behind the wheel and practical instruction is not included in the curriculum and instead you can expect to receive information regarding:

At the end of the defensive driving course, you may be required to pass a final exam in order to successfully complete the course. It is also worth knowing that you must have a 100 percent attendance throughout the course. If you do not, you will need to retake the course at full cost.

Georgia Defensive Driving Certificates

A Georgia defensive driving certificate must be submitted in order to receive benefits such as insurance discounts, point reductions or to fulfill court orders. Where and how you will need to submit this document will depend on your reason for attending the course. If you lose your certificate, you can request a replacement.

Georgia Driver Improvement Course Versus Drivers Education

A Georgia driver improvement course is designed for experienced drivers who are seeking to reduce points on a driving record, reinstate a license, reduce insurance premiums and learn new safe driving and crash avoidance techniques. These courses are not drivers education. Drivers education is a program available to youths who wish to learn how to drive and work towards their Georgia drivers license.

Georgia Defensive Driving Course Fees

A Georgia defensive driving course could cost up to $95, depending on the reason that you are attending the course. Driver improvement clinics are required to charge a certain fee if you will be taking the course for:

  • Court purposes.
  • Drivers license reinstatement.
  • Driving record points reduction.

However, if you are attending the course for educational purposes or to receive an insurance premium reduction, it may be in your best interest to get quotes from multiple clinics in your area.

Last updated on Wednesday, October 14 2020.