Will Taking a Defensive Driving Course Lower My Car Insurance Rates in Washington State?

Yes, it will. It’s the law. 

In the Evergreen State, the law guarantees that successfully passing a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)-approved defensive driving course will earn Washington motorists an automatic 10 percent discount on their auto insurance premiums. 

What that really means is that, in addition to making you or loved ones safer drivers, the course will also have a positive bottom-line impact. You’ll save money － guaranteed － on your auto insurance. 

Do Defensive Driving Courses Really Lower Auto Insurance Rates?

Like we said, it’s a state law in Washington. Merely passing the online course will earn drivers an automatic 10% break on the cost of their auto insurance coverage. 

With the average insurance rate on Washington drivers exceeding $1,800 a year, that’s virtually a “free” $180 that stays in your wallet every year. 

That savings rate can be even higher if your car insurance rates have escalated because of excessive moving violations, at-fault accidents, or a driving record that’s earned you a lot of points for other poor driving decisions. 

In other words, the more you currently pay for your insurance, the greater the financial incentive to take a DMV-approved defensive driving course. 

What Is a Defensive Driving Course, and How Does it Operate in Washington?

Let’s start with the best news first. The course you’ll take is entirely online. The total run time will be around six to eight hours, but you can stop and start the program to fit your schedule. Complete the course at your own pace and availability. 

This means you’ll never need to meet with an instructor or go driving with a trainer in your passenger seat. It’s all conducted by monitor and keypad. If you have access to the internet, you can take this course from the comfort of your home, library, local coffee shop, or wherever you plug in. 

Courses are designed for easy completion. You’ll review traffic laws, probably for the first time since you studied for your first license. You’ll also learn best driving practices for staying safe behind the wheel. To give you a better idea of what you’re signing up for, defensive driving courses are often also called accident prevention courses. 

There are several companies that issue DMV-approved courses in the state of Washington. The rates for the education can vary but generally start at about $20. Once you successfully complete the course, you’ll receive the certification you earned, and the online driving school will forward the information to your insurance company so you can receive your premium discount. 

How Long Is the Discount for a Defensive Driving Course Valid in Washington State?

You’ll maintain your accident prevention course certification for two years. After that time, you’ll either retake the course or lose the discount. 

Think of it this way: you might pay $20 or so to receive almost $400 (or maybe much more) off the cost of your Washington auto insurance rates over a two-year period. If the course takes you six hours to complete, it’s like paying yourself $60 an hour or more to learn how to keep yourself and your family safer. 

How Can I Find and Register for a Defensive Driving Course?

There are a couple of ways. You could go online and conduct a search engine query to find defensive driving courses in Washington state. You’ll see that there are several companies that offer such programs. You can compare course costs and time commitment factors to find the one that works best for you. Just make sure that the state’s DMV authorizes the course you’re considering. 

An even easier way to find the training and get all the information you need is to simply pick up your phone and ask your auto insurance agent. Your agent will know all about the course and can take care of all of the details. That includes registering you in an online course and making sure you get the insurance discount once you’ve earned it. 

Find an Independent Auto Insurance Agent

If you don’t have a source of assistance — or you aren’t all that impressed with the agent and the coverage you do have — it might be in your best interest to seek out an independent auto insurance agent. 

Many auto insurance agents work directly for a single insurer. As an employee of that insurance company, they can, of course, only offer drivers coverage products from that company, which is fine if that insurer happens to offer the best product in the market at the best cost every time. But what are the odds of that happening? 

An independent insurance agent, on the other hand, has contracted to offer lines of coverage for multiple insurers. That means that an independent agent can go shopping on your behalf for the most appropriate coverage at the most affordable rates. 

In addition, your independent agent can help you take advantage of all possible rate discounts. They’ll know all of the ins and outs of defensive driving courses and be able to steer you in the right direction here, too. So not only will you find the cheapest coverage, but you’ll earn a 10 percent discount to further reduce the cost. 

Get Affordable Car Insurance in Washington Today

Your independent auto insurance agent at Vern Fonk Insurance in Washington knows how to find you the most affordable rates on auto insurance coverage. With the help of a Vern Fonk agent, you’ll also get all of the information you need, get signed up for an online defensive driving course, and earn your certification and rate discount. 

Reach out to your independent Vern Fonk Insurance agent by calling (800) 455-8276. You can also get a quick rate quote online or find a Washington office and agent near you.