Have you found yourself in a situation where you want or need to complete a defensive driving course in North Carolina? In some cases, the court will order drivers to take one because of a traffic ticket. In others, you may want to take one to dismiss points from your record or save on insurance. Either way, here's what you'll need to do.
4 Steps to Take a Voluntary Defensive Driving Course
First, here are the steps to follow if you want to opt into a defensive driving course.
1. Ensure You Are Eligible
Taking a defensive driving course in NC can remove three points from a driver's record. However, you'll need to have at least seven points on your record to qualify. If you've had a previous suspension, you'll need to have at least four points on the eight-point scale. Further, you can't have taken a defensive driving course in the last five years.
2. Schedule a Hearing
Next, you'll need to schedule an eligibility hearing with the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), which costs $40. You'll hear back about your hearing within 30 business days.
3. Attend Your Hearing
Be sure to attend your hearing and you'll find out if you can take the defensive driving course to have your points removed or not. If you want to take your course online with a state-approved provider like I Drive Safely, you'll also need to request approval for the online course at your hearing. Otherwise, you'll be required to attend a scheduled in-person course in a classroom. After qualifying, you'll find out which course you need to take — the four-hour or eight-hour one.
4. Complete the Course
The next step is to enroll in your course and complete it in full. Both courses contain eight chapters and a 25-question final exam. Once finished, you'll get a Certificate of Completion that you'll need to submit to the DMV. Upon verification, your points will be removed. If you're trying to get an insurance discount, you'll need to submit the certificate to your insurance provider.
Steps to Take an Involuntary Defensive Driving Course
In some cases, the court will require drivers to complete a defensive driving course. If you've received a court order, you won't have to worry about the first three steps above. The order should specify which course you need to take and when you have to take it. From there, you can enroll, complete the course, pass the exam, and provide the proof of completion to the required parties.
What Is the North Carolina Defensive Driving Course?
North Carolina's defensive driving courses aim to motivate students to change their attitudes and behaviors while behind the wheel to prevent injuries and deaths. They include lessons on the key skills and techniques required to reduce future violations and avoid collisions.
Take Your North Carolina Defensive Driving Course Online!
Looking for the easiest and quickest way to complete your defensive driving course? Check out I Drive Safely! We offer both the four-hour and eight-hour courses, so we can help drivers in all NC counties. Our courses are fully online and interactive so they're not only convenient but fun. Plus, we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Ready to get started?
Learn more about I Drive Safely's online North Carolina defensive driving courses.
