According to the NJ Department of Banking and Insurance (the insurance regulator for the state), New Jersey law requires insurers to offer discounts for drivers who have completed a Defensive Driving course approved by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.

Successful completion of an approved motor vehicle defensive driving course renders licensees eligible for automobile insurance rate reduction pursuant to NJ Statutes 17:33B-45.1 and motor vehicle point reduction in accordance with N.J.S.A. 39:5-30.9.

Since January 1996, when N.J.S.A. 17:33B-45.1 was signed, NJ requires insurance premium discounts for drivers who successfully completed an approved Driver Safety course. It goes on to state that all insurance companies writing private passenger policies in New Jersey, would apply a minimum of five percent discount to the base rate for Bodily Injury Liability, Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection and Collision coverages.

The rate reduction is available for three years or until a driver accumulates four (4) motor vehicle points or loses his/her license. Discounts apply to private passenger automobiles, with only one discount per vehicle. If the policy insures two or more vehicles, the discount applies to the vehicle principally operated by the person who completes the course.

With some insurance companies this discount is called an accident prevention discount and comes with certain other requirements so you would need to adhere to. To find out how much the discount would affect your rates or cause them to be reduced by you would need to speak to your insurance agent.

In 2007 the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) proposed amendments and new rules relating to the addition of an online defensive driving school option to the already existing defensive driving school regulatory scheme. The Commission’s proposed amendments to N.J.A.C. 13:21-24 include requirements for course providers to offer the same curriculum, quality and length of course as a traditional in-classroom course.

Additionally the course providers would be required to administer a proficiency examination with a passage rate of at least 80 percent in order for a student motorist to successfully complete the course. To the best of our knowledge the 6 hour in-class course is available for insurance rates reduction but the online course is not yet available to drivers. We would advise you to check with the NJ DOBI or MVC to find an approved school near you and tell you for certain if online school is an option yet in New Jersey.