Nebraska Defensive Driving

Defensive Driving Courses in Nebraska

Taking defensive driving is an excellent way for Nebraska drivers to refresh their knowledge and learn skills to improve safety on the roads. Defensive driving may also be referred to as traffic school or a driver improvement program (DIP). Many drivers take defensive driving to reduce their insurance premiums or remove points from their driving record.

NE defensive driving courses are certified by the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Why Enroll in Defensive Driving?

Nebraska defensive driving and traffic school courses offer several benefits including:

• Validating an employment driver's permit: Drivers who obtain an employment driver's permit must pass an approved driver improvement course within 60 days of receiving the permit.
• Driver’s license revalidation: Drivers who have their license suspended due to excessive point accumulation in accordance with the NE points system must pass an approved driver improvement course to earn back their license.
• Avoiding underage driver's license suspension: Drivers under 21 years of age who have at least 6 points on their driver record must pass a defensive driving class to retain their driver's license.
• Dismissal of minor traffic tickets.
• Protection from increased vehicle insurance premiums due to minor traffic violations.

You can also enroll and graduate from traffic school to subtract 2 points from the total on your record. The point waiver only applies to points accumulated before course completion.

Drivers must have no more than 11 points on their driving record to receive the 2-point credit. In addition, the option to enroll in traffic school to receive the credit is valid only once every 5 years.

Defensive Driving Courses in Nebraska

You can enroll in a Nebraska defensive driving course online or at a certified driving school.

The Nebraska DMV endorses two defensive driving classes:

• Smart driver course.
• STOP class.

Smart Driver Course

The smart driver class teaches the basics of preventing traffic violations and recognizing situations that may result in tickets or driver's license suspension.

Completing a smart driver course may help to:

• Fulfill the driver improvement course necessity if you have 6 or more points on your driver's record.
• Revalidate your driver’s license (if it was suspended for accumulating too many driving record points).
• Fulfill the provisions of an employment driving permit.
• Remove 2 points from your driving record.

At only 8 hours, smart driver courses are quick to complete. However, you must attend classes onsite at a certified location.

STOP Course

Taking a STOP course can help to void minor traffic tickets. Successful completion of a STOP course protects you from receiving more points on your driving record due to prior tickets.

Depending on how many points you currently have, you may also be able to dismiss fines and cancel court appointments. By verifying course completion with your insurance company, you can even stop your rates from rising.

Even if you don't have any points or outstanding tickets, the STOP course imparts vital skills to help you drive more safely and reduce your likelihood of incurring penalties on your record.

NE Traffic School Completion

If you enroll in either of the two traffic course offerings at a traditional driving school, your attendance must meet the minimum required class time.

If you take an online class, your active hours will be tracked to confirm that you met the prerequisite hours.

After you successfully pass the Nebraska defensive driving course, one of two things will happen depending on the location of the course provider:

• You'll receive a certificate of completion to verify with the Nebraska DMV office and your insurance company.
• OR
• Your completion status will automatically be sent to the Nebraska DMV office by your course provider.

The Nebraska DMV will then apply the course completion status to your driving record. If you have points on your license, some or all of them may be waived.