KevNYC
Premium
join:2002-03-31
Seattle, WA
1 edit | Defensive Driving Courses Now Online! The NYSDMV now allows D.D. point reduction/insurance reduction courses to be taken online! Right now there are only 4 approved providers, their prices range from ~$37-60.
I signed up for the "Improv Traffic School" course earlier today. Things to note:
*Had to verify my identity with DL client number.
*Each section/chapter has a timer that MUST run out before I can take the mandatory quiz and move on to the next section. All chapter timers equal 320 mins total.
*Some type of security feature that recognizes the way I key in my password, its supposed to prevent people from allowing friends to complete the course for them.
*Can sign out and pick up where I left off later on.
I'll update once I complete the course (probably tomorrow).
Press release »www.NewYorkSafetyCouncil.com/nys···ment.pdf
Course offering list »www.nysdmv.com/pirp.htm#class
Update: Completed the course a few minutes ago, wasn't very impressed with this particular company. There were quite a few typos through the course material, and the videos in each chapter were grainy and poor quality. Also the site just wasn't very pleasing to look at. The course is $37.95, but I used coupon code "NJ39" which knocked $10 off. The DMV is electronically notified of the course completion, and the certificate of completion to send to my insurance company is being mailed first class. They offered other shipping options for the certificate, i.e. priority, overnight. I attached a copy of the syllabus for anyone interested.
Final thoughts: I'm glad NYS finally got on board and chose to allow the online courses, especially since I'm a college student away from home and I don't feel like spending 5 hours taking the course in person when I'm home on vacation. I wasn't pleased with the site, but I'm not going to complain since I spent $30 on the course and it knocks off ~$200 from my insurance premium.
Feel free to ask any questions.  | |
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 Dodge
Premium
join:2002-11-27
clubs: 
| Re: Defensive Driving Courses Now Online! Oh wow, finally. I've let my course expire simply because for me the savings were not worth the hassle of sitting in some stuffy autoschool room watching crappy videos for 6 hours.
This post alone just made my day. Thank you for posting this. | |
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Network Guy
join:2000-08-25
New York | Good shit. It knocks off 10% off my policy too, but like Dodge said, time is money and never felt like wasting a Saturday sitting thru the dumbass class at local driving school.
Might just do this, especially for the $10 cost. | |
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archaned
Premium
join:2003-06-18
Brooklyn, NY | this is great!!! thanks | |
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KevNYC
Premium
join:2002-03-31
Seattle, WA
| Another update for you guys. So I received my certificate of completion via mail. Called my insurance company, Liberty Mutual, and told them I took course, they ask me to fax in certificate which I did. A few minutes later I get a call back from LM saying that although its a DMV approved course, the NYS Dept of Insurance doesn't approve of online classes therefore they can't (or won't) apply the discount. After trying to argue my case, I realized I was getting no where and decided to call the Dept of Insurance. Much to my surprise, the rep on the phone sided with the insurance company and said they haven't approved online DD classes and therefore the insurance company does NOT have to apply to discount, AND they have no idea what the DMV is doing.
Why am I not surprised? Anyway, I'm going to call the DMV tomorrow and see what they say. | |
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Dersgniw
Disco Crunchin
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-10
behind you
clubs:
 ·Optimum Online
| Re: Defensive Driving Courses Now Online! Let us know what you find.. my certificate is on the way. I can't imagine it won't be approved since that company is on the DMV website.
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I Smell Cures! -- Our Hope | |
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KevNYC
Premium
join:2002-03-31
Seattle, WA
| After speaking with 5 people from the DMV and Dept of Insurance, they are asking people to file a complaint online if an insurance carrier is not applying the discount. The Dept of Insurance rep I just spoke to seemed to be the most knowledgeable, she mentioned that since the program is still relatively new, it's still being communicated to insurance companies. She recommended filing the complaint and mentioned that the Dept of Insurance will be calling insurance companies on our behalf and and straightening the situation out.
Online Complaint Form »www.ins.state.ny.us/complhow.htm | |
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Dersgniw
Disco Crunchin
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-10
behind you
clubs:
·Optimum Online
| Re: Defensive Driving Courses Now Online! I just called and my agent said he'd take care of it... I've actually been pretty fortunate with my Allstate agents over the years.. they're typically pretty helpful.
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I Smell Cures! -- Our Hope | |
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Dodge
Premium
join:2002-11-27
clubs: | So was anyone successful in getting their insurance to recognize this? | |
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KevNYC
Premium
join:2002-03-31
Seattle, WA | Re: Defensive Driving Courses Now Online! I actually just checked my policy online and the discount was applied. So file with the Dept of Insurance if their giving you the run around. | |
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Dersgniw
Disco Crunchin
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-10
behind you
clubs: | Re: Defensive Driving Courses Now Online! Mine was applied as well. Thanks for saving me some money Kev! | |
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| | Network Guy
join:2000-08-25
New York | Yah, forgot to say thanks for saving me dough too. Thx Kev  | |
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Coderedpl
Premium
join:2003-03-13
Brooklyn, NY | Anybody have the answers? :P
J/k
This will knock off up to 4 points off your record too, correct? | |
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KevNYC
Premium
join:2002-03-31
Seattle, WA | Re: Defensive Driving Courses Now Online! Yep.. "If you take a DMV-approved accident prevention course, you can"
reduce your driver violation point total by a maximum of four points, and
save 10 percent on your automobile liability and collision insurance premiums." | |
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| | Dodge
Premium
join:2002-11-27
clubs:
| Re: Defensive Driving Courses Now Online! said by KevNYC  :Yep.. "If you take a DMV-approved accident prevention course, you can" reduce your driver violation point total by a maximum of four points, and save 10 percent on your automobile liability and collision insurance premiums." That's not exactly true. It raises the maximum allowed points to suspension by 4. NYS licenses get suspended for having 11 points. If you have the course you can go as high as 15 points, but if you had 11 on your record you still have 11 not 7. | |
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KevNYC
Premium
join:2002-03-31
Seattle, WA
| Re: Defensive Driving Courses Now Online! said by Dodge :said by KevNYC :Yep.. "If you take a DMV-approved accident prevention course, you can" reduce your driver violation point total by a maximum of four points, and save 10 percent on your automobile liability and collision insurance premiums." That's not exactly true. It raises the maximum allowed points to suspension by 4. NYS licenses get suspended for having 11 points. If you have the course you can go as high as 15 points, but if you had 11 on your record you still have 11 not 7. I quoted from the NYSDMV website. In the end, what's the difference? | |
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Dersgniw
Disco Crunchin
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-10
behind you
clubs:
·Optimum Online
| Re: Defensive Driving Courses Now Online! By quickly reading that your points are reduced by 4, I would (surely ignorantly) think that those points are wiped away. The cop that pulls me over next won't see them and my insurance won't see them.
In his explanation your insurance will still see your points after taking the course. But, you're allowed 4 extra points before you get your license revoked, meaning this part of the program has little incentive to most of us.
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I Smell Cures! -- Our Hope | |
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NY Tel
Premium
join:2004-04-09
Smithtown, NY
 ·VOIPo
| Re: Defensive Driving Courses Now Online! said by Dersgniw :By quickly reading that your points are reduced by 4, I would (surely ignorantly) think that those points are wiped away. The cop that pulls me over next won't see them and my insurance won't see them. In his explanation your insurance will still see your points after taking the course. But, you're allowed 4 extra points before you get your license revoked, meaning this part of the program has little incentive to most of us. Yeah, sounds like Abbot and Costello logic to me too. | |
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way2evil
Premium
join:2007-09-14
Great River, NY
 ·Verizon FIOS
| What a joke. I read the text in five minutes and then waited for the timer to run down. Then I took a 3 question quiz with one of the questions: "What color was the background in the firs comic?" The final exam was "Do you promise to abide by all NY laws?"
I used improv driving school so if you want an easy class go with them. | |
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Dersgniw
Disco Crunchin
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-10
behind you
clubs:
·Optimum Online
| Re: Defensive Driving Courses Now Online! It is easy, but you have to baby sit. You can read the material for each chapter in about 5 minutes (if you choose) and then you have to wait 30 minutes for the timer. And sometime in that 30 minutes you'll have to type your password within 2 minutes.
It is a joke, but what do you expect when you mix government with insurance?
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I Smell Cures! -- Our Hope | |
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| Network Guy
join:2000-08-25
New York
·PHONE POWER
·Broadvox Direct
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| said by way2evil : The final exam was "Do you promise to abide by all NY laws?" I used improv driving school so if you want an easy class go with them. I used IMPROV too. One of the questions in the survey was "Has this course had any impact in your driving habits?"
I answered no
lol | |
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Coderedpl
Premium
join:2003-03-13
Brooklyn, NY
| I visited the DMV today and spoke with one of the guys at the "counter"
I was told the same thing as someone mentioned, it raises your maximum by 4 instead of removing 4. Don't really see a point in this except for the insurance deduction because of my 4 points :/ | |
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| Network Guy
join:2000-08-25
New York
·PHONE POWER
·Broadvox Direct
·Verizon Online DSL
1 edit | Re: Defensive Driving Courses Now Online! If the violations were minor, it wouldn't affect your premiums anyway.
I have five points on mine from two moving violations. GEICO didn't raise my premiums on the last renewal. GEICO did lower the premium by $80 per year with the driving course though. | |
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Coderedpl
Premium
join:2003-03-13
Brooklyn, NY | took the course from myimprov. Did it in one day (both at work and home). Received certificate few days later, sent out to geico and discount was applied. | |
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NY Tel
Premium
join:2004-04-09
Smithtown, NY
·VOIPo
| Re: Defensive Driving Courses Now Online! said by Coderedpl :took the course from myimprov. Did it in one day (both at work and home). Received certificate few days later, sent out to geico and discount was applied. Ok I am with Geico and thinking of my wife and I taking the course online.. How much was your bill before and how much is it now? In other words, to what portion of the bill is the discount applied? | |
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See 6 replies to this post |
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PCInTech
In another place and time.
Premium
join:2004-06-07
Massena, NY
clubs: | problem with this is, not everyone in NYS has a COMPUTER and can do this. So it costs them more, and in some cases, having to drive an hour each way or more, to take the test. | |
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way2evil
Premium
join:2007-09-14
Great River, NY
·Verizon FIOS
| Re: Defensive Driving Courses Now Online! said by PCInTech :problem with this is, not everyone in NYS has a COMPUTER and can do this. So it costs them more, and in some cases, having to drive an hour each way or more, to take the test. You are in NY and have to drive an hour to use a computer???? | |
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KevNYC
Premium
join:2002-03-31
Seattle, WA
| said by PCInTech :problem with this is, not everyone in NYS has a COMPUTER and can do this. So it costs them more, and in some cases, having to drive an hour each way or more, to take the test. What? Not sure if I understand you correctly. This is by no means required for your insurance, and the regular in-class course is still being offered. Also, don't all public libraries have computers if you REALLY wanted to do it online.
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University of Washington - Class of 2009. Go Huskies! | |
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