We offer the Defensive Driving Class, a.k.a. Point and Insurance Reduction Program in our White Plains and Eastchester branches on Sundays.
- 10% Auto Insurance Discount for 3 Years
- Up to 4 points reduction from your DMV driving record
- Fast Certificate Issuance and Free Reporting to DMV
- Meets TLC requirement
- Accepted in Traffic Court
- This class is certified by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
- We will notify the New York DMV and it will automatically reduce your active point total by up to four points.
FAQ
Here you can find the answers to the most frequently asked questions
1. what is PIRP?
PIRP is also known as the Defensive Driving Course or Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention Course. It is a comprehensive driver safety course which provides knowledge and techniques for safe and lawful driving.
2. What are the benefits of taking a Defensive Driving/point and insurance reduction program?
Completing an approved course will:
- Refresh your driving knowledge.
- Reduce up to 4 points from your DMV driving record
- Reduce the base rate of your auto and motorcycle insurance premiums 10% each year for three years
3. Completing a course does not:
- Prevent a mandatory suspension or revocation
- Eliminate your responsibility to pay a driver responsibility assessment
- Give you a way to reduce future driver violation points
4. How long is a classroom course?
The classroom course is 320 minutes long. It is presented in one or more sessions. The course must include essential information about traffic safety. It must cover these and other topics: driver attitude and behavior, defensive driving techniques, and the Vehicle & Traffic Law. No formal testing is required to complete the course.
5. May I have my certificate expedited?
Yes, you may call I Drive Safely (832)-681-7368 directly within 24 hours of your course completion date and for and extra fee they will expedite your certificate
6. How do I receive the point reduction?
The PIRP course sponsor I Drive Safely will notify the DMV within 10 weeks after you complete the course. DMV will then reduce the active points on your driving record by up to 4 points.
7. How do I know my driving record shows my PIRP course completion?
If you need to verify that your course completion is on your DMV record, you can request a copy of your driving record.
If your course completion is not recorded on your driving record more than 10 weeks after you completed it, contact the course sponsor.
If your course completion is not recorded on your driving record more than 10 weeks after you completed it, contact the course sponsor.
8. What effect does point reduction have on my license and driving record?
- Point reduction applies only to points assessed for violations that occurred within the eighteen months immediately before course completion. It does not affect points for earlier violations, and cannot be used as "credit" against future violations or points.
- Point reduction cannot reduce your point total lower than zero.
- If your license has already been revoked or suspended, the point reduction will not affect that action.
- If a violation hearing has already been scheduled, the point reduction will not affect that action.
- Point reduction does not prevent or cancel a mandatory revocation or suspension for violations such as DWI, DWAI, or three speeding violations within 18 months.
- You can only use a Point & Insurance Reduction Program course to reduce points once in a 18-month period.
- The DMV point system and your insurance company’s "point" systems are separate and not related. Point reduction on your driving record does not affect points assigned by your insurance company for violations and accidents.
- Completion of a course under the Point & Insurance Reduction Program also cannot prevent or reduce the calculation of points affecting a Driver Responsibility Assessment.
9. How do I get the insurance premium reduction?
The course sponsor will mail you a completion certificate within 45 business days after you complete the classroom course (or 14 business days after you complete an online course). If you present your certificate to your insurance company or agent within 90 days after course completion, your liability and collision premium reduction will begin immediately, retroactive to the date you completed the course. If you present your certificate more than 90 days after course completion, the insurer may issue the premium discount effective from the date presented. If you do not receive your certificate within eight weeks after completion, immediately contact the program sponsor. You must take the course once every 36 months to maintain insurance reduction benefits.
10. Will the PIRP course prevent my insurance company from raising my premiums?
No. PIRP does not prevent general premium increases, or premium increases due to violations or accidents. It provides a 10% reduction for three years, from the base rate of your current liability, no-fault and collision premiums.
11. What if more than one person named on a policy completes the PIRP course?
Only the principal operator can receive the 10% reduction.
12. Will youthful drivers and drivers participating in the assigned risk pool receive the insurance premium discount?
Yes. Any insured driver who is the principal operator and completes a Point & Insurance Reduction Program course will receive the 10% reduction.
13. if a youthful driver is already receiving a driver education reduction, will the PIRP discount also be applied?
Contact your insurance company or agent to learn if both reductions will be given at the same time.
Point and Insurance Reduction (PIRP) course does not remove a violation, conviction, or the number of points from your driving record. Even after you complete the course, most violations, convictions and points will continue to show on your driving record for up to 4 years. Violations and convictions involving drugs or alcohol will remain on your driving record for ten or fifteen years, depending on the violation. If you get 11 points for traffic violations in an 18-month period, your driver license may be suspended. "Point reduction" means the number of points on your driving record used to calculate the number of total points received within 18 months will be reduced by 4 points and may help you avoid a suspension. See About the NYS Point System for more information about how points are calculated.
