An Illinois defensive driving course can teach you how to become a safer driver and practice collision avoidance techniques. These courses offer numerous benefits in addition to the education that it provides, including the prevention of insurance premium increases, auto insurance discounts and, in some counties, the prevention of a traffic ticket showing on your driving record.

In Illinois, traffic school is available both in a classroom type setting as well as through an online class and there are numerous providers that offer courses, including certain community colleges within the state. However, in some cases, you may be limited to only participating in a classroom based setting. You can learn more about defensive driving school, including what to expect from the curriculum, the benefits that it provides, the fees you can expect and how to enroll, in the sections that have been provided below.

Who can attend traffic school in Illinois?

If you are interested in a defensive driving class in Illinois, you can generally attend, regardless of your age, as long as you have already obtained your license as these classes have nothing to do with drivers education. Classes are not required in Illinois, but opting to participate in one can offer numerous benefits.

Types of Defensive Driving Courses in Illinois

In Illinois, a driver improvement course can be taken online or in person in a classroom setting. However, it is worth knowing that, if you intend to avoid a traffic ticket, you may be required by your county to attend a course in person. Course length can vary by class, however, most courses are between four and eight hours long.

Classroom vs. Online Traffic School in Illinois

An Illinois defensive driving course online can provide a greater level of convenience in comparison to classroom courses as drivers are able to work on their own time and at their own pace, so long as work is completed by the course deadline. However, not everyone will be able to participate in online classes as some improvement programs require classroom participation.

A classroom defensive driving course has its own merits as course material is taught by an instructor and group discussions are generally included in the curriculum. Some drivers may find that it is easier to learn and remember coursework material that was completed in a classroom based setting while others may learn better by reviewing coursework on their own.

How to Enroll in an Illinois Defensive Driving School

You can enroll in a driving safety course in Illinois either over the phone or online. However, you will need to complete your enrollment with the school or approved third party location where you wish to attend a class. As stated previously, some counties may require you to complete your coursework in a classroom if you are trying to prevent a ticket from appearing on your record. If this is the case, you will also need to complete your registration with your county office.

Benefits of Completing Traffic School in Illinois

The completion of a defensive driving course in Illinois offers a variety of benefits to Illinois drivers, including:

• Prevent a ticket from showing on your driving record.
• Avoid an increase to your auto insurance premiums.
• Obtain a car insurance discount.
• Learn safe driving knowledge and skills.

Prevent a Ticket From Showing on Your Driving Record

In some counties, a defensive driving course can prevent a ticket from appearing on your driving record in Illinois. However, it is important to understand that this is not a statewide program and your eligibility for participation will depend on the county that you received your ticket as well as the reason for your citation. Additionally, it is important to understand that you must still pay your ticket fee as well as your course registration fee prior to the start date of the course.

Avoid Increases on Your Auto Insurance Premiums

Illinois traffic school can help you to avoid increases to your auto insurance premiums following an auto accident or a traffic related citation. Generally, increases will be implemented following one of these incidents when it comes time to renew your policy. However, some insurers will provide the opportunity to avoid these increases by instead successfully completing an approved course.

Obtain a Car Insurance Discount

You may be able to receive a driver safety course insurance discount through your insurance provider after the successful completion of an approved driving course. Most insurance agencies will allow you to complete an online course, should you choose to do so, however some insurers will restrict courses to classroom courses.

Learn Safe Driving Knowledge and Skills

An Illinois defensive driving course can teach you how to become a safer driver through new safe driving skills and crash avoidance techniques. This knowledge can therefore impact your insurance premiums as many insurers will provide discounts for remaining accident free for a set number of years. Safe driving knowledge and skills can reduce the likelihood that you will be in an accident and, potentially, save your life.

Illinois Defensive Driving Class Curriculum Details

An Illinois defensive driving class will cover a variety of information related to safe driving practices and Illinois traffic laws. Courses may vary in length depending on the provider of the course and whether or not the course is online or in a classroom. You can expect to receive information such as:

• Safe driving practices.
• Crash avoidance techniques.
• The dangers of driving angry, fatigued or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Vehicle safety features, including headrests, airbags and seatbelts.
• Weather related practices.
• Illinois traffic laws.

At the end of the course, you will most likely have an exam that you must pass in order to complete the course. This exam will cover the information that was taught in the course.

Illinois Defensive Driving Certificates

In Illinois, a defensive driving certificate will be provided to you after you have successfully completed an approved course. If you are taking a course to avoid a ticket appearing on your record, you must provide the certificate to your county office in a timely manner. If you are interested in an auto insurance discount or avoiding a premium increase, you must provide the certificate to your auto insurer.

Illinois Traffic School Versus Drivers Education

Illinois traffic school has nothing to do with drivers education as these courses are designed to provide further education and safe driving practices to drivers who have already received their license. Drivers education is designed to teach new drivers how to operate a motor vehicle and help these prospective drivers earn a drivers license for the first time.

Illinois Defensive Driving Course Fees

In Illinois, defensive driving course fees can vary based upon the provider of the course. However, it is worth knowing that if taking a course to prevent a fee from appearing on your record, you can save money by participating in a course in the county that the ticket was issued in. In addition to paying course fees, you may need to pay the county a fee for the improvement program as well as pay for your ticket prior to the start of the course. Generally, course fees can range from $10 to $60.

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