North Carolina Defensive Driving Course

North Carolina defensive driving courses give drivers the necessary techniques for safer driving. The goal of these courses is to develop safer driving practices. It’s common for drivers to use the driver improvement program after getting a traffic ticket.

The North Carolina defensive driving course is offered online and in the classroom. The online version allows you to complete the work at your own pace from the comfort of your home.

You can use defensive driving in North Carolina to dismiss a traffic ticket or gain a car insurance discount. It can also be used to reduce the number of points on your driving record.

The Division of Motor Vehicles requires drivers to go through a state-approved defensive driving class for these reasons:

• Point reduction
• Court-ordered
• Driver’s license reinstatement
• Personal education voluntarily
• For an insurance discount

Drivers can use the North Carolina defensive driving course online or in a classroom to fulfill the requirements.

Top Providers of Defensive Driving in North Carolina

1. I Drive Safely

Whether you need to take the four-hour or the eight-hour defensive driving course, I Drive Safely offers what you need. They offer the right online courses for your specific needs in North Carolina. In addition, the fun, interactive, and engaging content makes it much easier to complete this course online.

Our Top Pick for NC

I Drive Safely

With approvals in nearly every state in the U.S., I Drive Safely lets you drive safe with a driving school that brings you the most advanced, convenient driver safety courses and defensive driving courses available online.

Choose iDriveSafely

We may earn a small commission if you use this link at no additional cost to you.

You can take the I Drive Safely courses on any device with an internet connection. They offer text, audio, and video formats to choose from.

2. MyImprov

Another top option for defensive driving in North Carolina is MyImprov. This provider is one of the top options and offers certificates in 30 minutes. With over 20 years of experience, MyImprov provides defensive driving courses with humor and entertainment.

3. GoToTrafficSchool.com

Take the right course to get an insurance discount or dismiss your ticket from GoToTrafficSchool.com. These courses are all responsive, which means they work on any internet device. It’s available in multiple languages and offers engaging content in each course.

4. AAA

AAA offers court-approved courses at a discount for members. You can take the comprehensive courses online with fun videos, including 3D animations. Professional instructors developed the courses.

Non-members can also take the courses for a slightly higher fee. Enjoy the award-winning course material and same-day processing from AAA defensive driving in North Carolina.

5. DriveSafeOnline.org

Take the one-hour course for a car insurance discount or the four-hour course. DriveSafeOnline.org offers both for a low cost with no hidden fees. Enjoy full-screen videos and a money-back guarantee from this provider. All courses are also mobile-friendly and self-paced.

Online vs. Classroom Defensive Driving Course

You can take the North Carolina defensive driving course online or in the classroom. Make sure you choose a state-approved provider, either way.

If you choose the online version, you can work on the coursework on your schedule. In addition, it will allow you to work on the course from a computer or mobile device. This means you can take it on the go.

Classroom courses have to be completed in one or two sessions, typically. You will have to sit in a classroom and learn from an instructor. It can be a rather boring option.

Our Top Pick for NC

I Drive Safely

With approvals in nearly every state in the U.S., I Drive Safely lets you drive safe with a driving school that brings you the most advanced, convenient driver safety courses and defensive driving courses available online.

Choose iDriveSafely

We may earn a small commission if you use this link at no additional cost to you.

With an online course, you can complete the defensive driving course at your pace from home. This makes it easy to work 15 minutes or do the entire course in one day.

Topics Covered in the Defensive Driving Course in NC

The topics covered in the defensive driving course will include:

• Accident risk reduction techniques
• Dangerous driving behaviors
• Collision prevention techniques
• Safe driving resources
• How to avoid aggressive driving
• Traffic laws and regulations in North Carolina
• Distracted driving
• Strategies for defensive driving

You can complete the course in single or multiple sessions. If you choose the online version of North Carolina defensive driving, you can work at your own pace.

North Carolina Defensive Driving for Ticket Dismissal

The most common reason drivers in NC take defensive driving is to dismiss a traffic ticket. If you’re eligible for this option, you can take defensive driving courses to keep the ticket off your record. However, you will still need to pay the court fines and fees, along with a fee to enroll in the course.

You will need to complete the course by the deadline. Once you have completed your defensive driving course, you will get a certificate of completion. This will need to be submitted before your deadline.

Point Reduction from Defensive Driving in NC

You can also use the defensive driving course to reduce the points on your driving record. Maybe you have accumulated too many points. Maybe you want to avoid license suspension. Either way, you can use this course to have three points removed from your driving record.

Once every five years, you’re allowed to take the defensive driving course to reduce points. You will need to qualify before you take the course. A conference with the driver’s license hearing officer is necessary before you take the course for point dismissal.

Our Top Pick for NC

I Drive Safely

With approvals in nearly every state in the U.S., I Drive Safely lets you drive safe with a driving school that brings you the most advanced, convenient driver safety courses and defensive driving courses available online.

Choose iDriveSafely

We may earn a small commission if you use this link at no additional cost to you.

Without completing the North Carolina defensive driving course, you won’t get any benefits. Your ticket will go on your record, along with the point. It will lead to higher insurance rates. Over the long term, this can cost you quite a bit more than you might think.

Eligibility for Defensive Driving in North Carolina

Most drivers will be able to use defensive driving to dismiss their tickets. You will be eligible as long as your offense doesn’t fit one of the categories below:

• Driving without insurance
• Driving with a suspended driver’s license
• Violations including alcohol, drugs, accidents, or excessive speeding

You will also be ineligible if you have taken the course for ticket dismissal in the past three years. As long as your violation doesn’t fall into one of the categories above and it has been at least three years since you’ve taken the course, you’ll be eligible.

Earning an Insurance Discount

Along with dismissing a ticket and removing points, you can use the NC defensive driving course to gain an insurance discount. This discount can be up to 10%, depending on the company you have insurance through. The discount will likely last three years before you must retake the course.

Your age doesn’t matter when it comes to the insurance discount. From teenage drivers to the elderly, any driver can use an approved defensive driving course in NC to discount their insurance.

Speaking to your agent before enrolling in an approved course for an insurance discount. They will let you know how much of a discount you will get.

Frequently Asked Questions About North Carolina Defensive Driving

How will a traffic ticket impact my insurance rates?

With one traffic ticket, you can see your insurance rates go up as much as 20%. However, if you can take an online defensive driving course, you can avoid the ticket from going on your driving record. This means you can keep your insurance rates from going up, too.

How long is the North Carolina defensive driving course?

The online course in North Carolina varies. There’s a 1-hour, 4-hour, and 8-hour version. The reason you are taking the course will determine how long it will be.

Can I fail the final exam?

While you can fail the final exam, you get unlimited options to pass it. If you fail, you get to retake the exam until you pass.

How many points will be removed from my driving record?

After completing the defensive driving course, you will have three points removed from your driving record. You can use the defensive driving course once every five years to remove points.

Can I take the defensive driving course every time I get a traffic ticket?

You are allowed to use the defensive driving course in North Carolina once every three years to have a traffic ticket dismissed. So as long as you don’t get a ticket more than once every three years, it will be available for you to keep tickets off your record.

If you get more than one traffic ticket in three years, you won’t be able to remove more than one ticket from your record.

How much does online defensive driving in North Carolina cost?

The cost of the online course can range from about $25 to $65. It depends on the provider and the course you decide to take.

Which defensive driving course do I need?

If you need a defensive driving course for a minor traffic violation, the four-hour course known as the DDC4 is the right option for you. Those with more serious traffic violations will need to take the ADD8, eight-hour defensive driving course. This course costs more and will go further in-depth on many defensive driving courses. It’s mainly for those caught speeding at high speeds, in a school zone, or any aggressive driving violations.

Our Top Pick for NC

I Drive Safely

With approvals in nearly every state in the U.S., I Drive Safely lets you drive safe with a driving school that brings you the most advanced, convenient driver safety courses and defensive driving courses available online.

Choose iDriveSafely

We may earn a small commission if you use this link at no additional cost to you.

After getting a traffic ticket in NC, you can have it removed from your driving record. Just use one of the online North Carolina defensive driving course providers. This will protect your driver’s license and your insurance rates.

Jordan Fabel

Covering different 'paths' that people's lives can take. Creative, foster parent, ticket dismissal, you get the idea. Exploring the requirements, certifications, exams, and obviously, approved courses along each path. I, personally, am the high school dropout son of two teacher parents. So how did I get here? That story is coming soon!