About the Course
Yes, we are an approved Computer-based Driver Improvement Clinic with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. You can locate us under American Institute for Public Safety, Inc. on the list of approved providers.
You may complete the course at your own pace, but state regulations require that you spend a minimum of 8 total hours logged into the course.
IMPORTANT: If the Virginia DMV ordered you to take a Virginia Driver Improvement course, you must complete the course within 90 days or your driving privilege will be suspended.
There are 10 chapters in the course.
There are five (5) different reasons for taking the Virginia Driver Improvement Course:
1. Ordered by DMV. Typically, the DMV will require Virginia drivers to take the Virginia Driver Improvement Course:
* Please Note: If you are under age 20 and were ordered by the VA DMV to complete a Driver Improvement Clinic, a computer-based course will not be accepted and you will be required to attend a live classroom course.
2. Voluntary to receive 5 safe driving points. You may complete an approved Driver Improvement course once every 24 months to earn 5 safe driving points. Safe driving points can be used to offset demerit points already reflecting on your Virginia driving record, or can be accumulated or "banked" to offset future demerit points. A maximum of 5 safe driving points can be accumulated.
3. Court Referred – Point Reduction. Select this option if a Virginia court has agreed to dismiss the demerit points associated with a specific violation you received in order to keep points off of your Virginia driving record.
* Please Note: If you were referred by the court to take a Virginia Driver Improvement course, you will not be eligible to receive an insurance premium reduction.
4. Court Referred – Fine Reduction. Select this option if a Virginia court has agreed to reduce the court fees associated with a specific violation you received. Demerit points are usually not reduced with this option.
5. Insurance Discount. Select this option if your insurance company offers a discount to their Virginia customers who complete a defensive driving course. Contact your insurance company to verify that this discount is available prior to registering for the course.
* Please Note: If you take a Virginia Driver Improvement course to reduce your insurance premium, you will not be eligible to receive safe driving points.
1. Ordered by DMV. Typically, the DMV will require Virginia drivers to take the Virginia Driver Improvement Course:
- If you were convicted of a traffic violation or safety belt/child restraint violation when you were age 18 or 19*;
- If you accumulate 12 demerit points within a 24-month period
- To restore your driving privilege after being suspended for excessive demerit points
* Please Note: If you are under age 20 and were ordered by the VA DMV to complete a Driver Improvement Clinic, a computer-based course will not be accepted and you will be required to attend a live classroom course.
2. Voluntary to receive 5 safe driving points. You may complete an approved Driver Improvement course once every 24 months to earn 5 safe driving points. Safe driving points can be used to offset demerit points already reflecting on your Virginia driving record, or can be accumulated or "banked" to offset future demerit points. A maximum of 5 safe driving points can be accumulated.
3. Court Referred – Point Reduction. Select this option if a Virginia court has agreed to dismiss the demerit points associated with a specific violation you received in order to keep points off of your Virginia driving record.
* Please Note: If you were referred by the court to take a Virginia Driver Improvement course, you will not be eligible to receive an insurance premium reduction.
4. Court Referred – Fine Reduction. Select this option if a Virginia court has agreed to reduce the court fees associated with a specific violation you received. Demerit points are usually not reduced with this option.
5. Insurance Discount. Select this option if your insurance company offers a discount to their Virginia customers who complete a defensive driving course. Contact your insurance company to verify that this discount is available prior to registering for the course.
* Please Note: If you take a Virginia Driver Improvement course to reduce your insurance premium, you will not be eligible to receive safe driving points.
Safe Driving Points: The Virginia Driver Improvement Course can be taken once every 24 months to receive safe driving points on your VA license.
Court Referred: The court has the discretion to decide if and how often you will be allowed to take the course to reduce court fees or to reduce demerit points for a ticket you received.
Court Ordered: The court has the discretion to order that a Driver Improvement course be taken at any time.
Insurance Discount: Check with your insurance company to confirm how long the insurance discount is applicable to your automobile insurance policy.
Court Referred: The court has the discretion to decide if and how often you will be allowed to take the course to reduce court fees or to reduce demerit points for a ticket you received.
Court Ordered: The court has the discretion to order that a Driver Improvement course be taken at any time.
Insurance Discount: Check with your insurance company to confirm how long the insurance discount is applicable to your automobile insurance policy.
Nearly all Virginia courts permit online Driver Improvement courses, but it is always best to be certain, so check with your specific court first. However, if you are under age 20 and are required to complete a Driver Improvement course, you must attend a live classroom course.
No. If you hold a CDL or committed an offense while operating a commercial vehicle and you are required to attend a Virginia Driver Improvement clinic, you must attend a Commercial Driver Improvement clinic.
Yes, you must be 20 years or older to take the Virginia Driver Improvement course online.
Yes, there are three (3) quiz questions at the end of each chapter, but they are for review purposes only and no passing grade is required. As well as a final quiz, which consists of 50 questions, and you need 80% to pass (40 correct answers). Don't worry though; you will be given unlimited attempts to pass the final quiz, so failing the course is NOT possible. However, per Virginia DMV regulations, you may only take the final exam once per day.
Once you complete all requirements of the Virginia Driver Improvement Course you will be able to download your own certificate within minutes of completing the course! Simply log back into your account minutes after completing the course requirements, and click on ‘Print my Certificate!’
Your certificate of completion for the Virginia Driver Improvement Course contains both a 'Student Copy' and one duplicate copy in one document.
Court Referred: You should detach the 'Court Copy' and either mail or hand-deliver it to the court. Remember, it is your responsibility to provide the court with a copy of your completion certificate by the due date.
VA DMV Ordered: If you took the course because you were ordered to do so by the Virginia DMV, your completion will be electronically reported to the DMV on your behalf within 24 hours of completion.
Insurance Reduction: If you took the course because you are seeking an insurance premium reduction, you should submit the top copy to your insurance company so that your insurance reduction will be applied to your policy. You should retain the 'Student Copy' for your own records.
DMV Reporting: Please note that we electronically report completions to the Virginia DMV for drivers who hold Virginia driver licenses. If you were cited in Virginia but have an out-of-state driver license, your completion will not be reported to the Virginia DMV; you should follow the instructions to submit your completion certificate to the court directly.
Court Referred: You should detach the 'Court Copy' and either mail or hand-deliver it to the court. Remember, it is your responsibility to provide the court with a copy of your completion certificate by the due date.
VA DMV Ordered: If you took the course because you were ordered to do so by the Virginia DMV, your completion will be electronically reported to the DMV on your behalf within 24 hours of completion.
Insurance Reduction: If you took the course because you are seeking an insurance premium reduction, you should submit the top copy to your insurance company so that your insurance reduction will be applied to your policy. You should retain the 'Student Copy' for your own records.
DMV Reporting: Please note that we electronically report completions to the Virginia DMV for drivers who hold Virginia driver licenses. If you were cited in Virginia but have an out-of-state driver license, your completion will not be reported to the Virginia DMV; you should follow the instructions to submit your completion certificate to the court directly.
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