Defensive Driver Course Discounts
All automobile insurers in New Jersey must provide a defensive driving course discount. This discount must be a minimum of 5% off the base rate for each of the following coverages: bodily injury liability, property damage liability, personal injury protection and collision. If you purchase combined single limit coverage instead of bodily injury liability and property damage liability, you must receive this discount for combined single limit coverage also.
As we discussed in our rating section, not all discounts apply to all coverages. The fact that you took a defensive driving course does little to change the likelihood of your car being stolen or vandalized. Therefore, the defensive driving course discount does not apply to comprehensive coverage.
This discount must be provided for a three-year period.
The discount is applied only to the auto operated by the individual who has taken the course and only one discount may be applied per vehicle. So for example, if there are two drivers that have taken the course and only one car in the household, only one 5% discount applies. Conversely, if there is one driver who has taken the course, but he owns two cars, the discount applies only to the car he operates most frequently.
On the following two pages is a list of companies or groups that provide defensive driver courses that have been approved by the Division of Motor vehicle Services.
