How Do I Get the Progressive Defensive Driving Course Discount?
Last Updated on September 26, 2023
You can save 5% or more on car insurance by qualifying for Progressive’s defensive driving course discount.
Just complete an authorized defensive driving course, then contact Progressive with proof of completion to qualify for the discount.
How do you get Progressive’s defensive driving course discount? How much money can you save with the discount? Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about Progressive’s defensive driving course discount and how it works.
Key Takeaways:
- Progressive offers a defensive driving course discount that can save you between 2.5% to 10% on your annual car insurance premiums, depending on your state.
- To qualify for the discount, you need to complete a state-authorized defensive driving course, submit proof of completion to Progressive, and meet certain age and driving record requirements.
- The discount typically lasts for one to five years, and you can retake the course to re-qualify once the discount expires.
- While the cost of the defensive driving course can range from $25 to $200, the potential savings on your car insurance make it a worthwhile investment.
How Progressive’s Defensive Driving Course Discount Works
Progressive offers a defensive driving course discount to some drivers in some states.
In fact, some states require insurers to offer defensive driving course discounts. Others do not.
Here’s how Progressive’s defensive driving course discount works:
- Complete a state-authorized defensive driving course (typically around four hours)
- Receive a defensive driving certificate or proof of completion
- Submit the proof of completion to Progressive to qualify for the discount
Typically, Progressive applies the defensive driving course discount to your account for one to five years, depending on your state.
Once your discount expires, you can take another defensive driving course to re-qualify for the discount.
Some states allow you to complete courses online. Others require in-person instruction (either in a classroom or in a vehicle). In most cases, you complete a defensive driving course online in about four hours, then qualify for a discount for multiple years.
How Much Can You Save with Progressive’s Defensive Driving Course Discount?
Progressive’s defensive driving course discount can save you anywhere from 2.5% to 10% per year on car insurance premiums.
If you spend around $1,500 per year for full coverage car insurance through Progressive, then you could save $37.50 to $150 per year on car insurance, depending on your state.
Of course, if a defensive driving course discount prevents you from causing a single accident, then it could save you thousands of dollars in the coming years. A single at-fault accident can cause insurance rates to rise 50% or more for three to five years, potentially costing you thousands.
Defensive Driving Discount Requirements
In most states, “defensive driving course discounts” are for older drivers who complete an authorized course.
Some states require insurers to offer defensive driving course discounts to all drivers over 55, for example. Once you turn 55, you can complete a defensive driving course and qualify for a discount, then continue re-qualifying for that discount as many times as you like.
Typically, Progressive and most other insurers require you to meet the following requirements:
- Be of a certain age (say, above 55 or 65, depending on state laws on defensive driving courses)
- Have a clean driving record
- Are taking the course voluntarily (not by a court order)
- Meet other state-specific requirements
Defensive Driving Courses for Adult Drivers vs. Driver’s Education Courses for Teens
Progressive, like most insurers, offers two types of course-related discounts, including:
- Driver’s education course discounts for younger drivers
- Defensive driving course discounts for older drivers
Driver’s Education Course Discounts for Younger Drivers: Driver’s education courses are different than defensive driving courses: they teach new drivers basic driving tips and the rules of the road. Progressive and many other insurers offer discounts to teen drivers who complete a driver’s education course. However, these discounts tend to be smaller than defensive driving course discounts.
Defensive Driving Course Discounts for Older Drivers: Defensive driving courses, meanwhile, are designed to improve existing driving skills. They’re built for older drivers who may need to refresh their knowledge of road rules, learn how to drive more safely and break bad habits they’ve developed over time.
Both courses save you money. However, defensive driving courses for older drivers tend to offer larger cost savings – and longer-lasting savings – than driver’s education courses for new drivers.
How Defensive Driving Courses Work
A typical defensive driving course lasts around four hours.
Depending on your state, classes could take place online, in a classroom, or in a vehicle with an instructor.
In most cases, however, defensive driving courses are completed online and cover basic defensive driving skills – like anticipating accidents, driving more cautiously, and taking active steps to reduce your risk of collisions.
An online defensive driving course may cost anywhere from $25 to $100 and take four hours to complete.
If your state requires you to take an in-person course or drive with an instructor, then you could pay $100 to $200 for the course.
Generally, however, the cost of the course is worth it: you may pay a fee for the course today, but the defensive driving course reduces your car insurance by a comparable amount, giving you greater cost savings over the next few years.
Final Word
Progressive, like all insurers in the United States, offers defensive driving course discounts in all states that require the discount – and in several states that don’t require it.
Contact Progressive today to discover defensive driving course requirements in your state.
In many cases, you can pay $25 and complete a four-hour online course to receive a 5% to 10% discount on your Progressive car insurance for multiple years.
