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The Great 8 - Tip #1 Defensive Driving Course
Jeff Ryan - CLU, ChFC, AIA, CIC, CPCU
June 26, 2024
The Defensive Driving Course is the most universal and non-discriminatory way to save on auto insurance.
EVERYONE (good drivers or not so good!) is eligible to reap its benefits. (Well…there is an exception if you're forced to because of your driver's record! But we know that's not you!)
You'll only need to commit six hours to take the class online or in a classroom near you.
The course is technically called the "New York Point and Insurance Reduction Program" (PIRP for short).
The New York Department of Motor Vehicles designed the course to help people reduce "points" on their licenses. However, an ancillary benefit was also reducing the base rate of your auto and motorcycle premiums.
Most people take the course to reduce the cost of their insurance. And the cost reduction is real.
The six-hour course results in a 10% discount applied to the majority of your car insurance coverage parts and can add up over three (3) years.
- A real-world example works like this:
- Current Annual Premium before taking the Defensive Driver Course = $1,200
- Annual Discount for taking the course = $100
- Total Discount over three (3) years = $300
If you'd like to know how much you would save, call us! We would be happy to see what the result is for your exact situation.
Most of the courses available cost $40 or less. At that rate, most policyholders can realize a significant return on their investment in time and money.
Where can you take the course? We recommend taking the course from the comfort of your home, right on your computer.
Improv provides the company with the most flexible and enjoyable class, allowing you to start and stop the course over 30 days at your own pace and when you have the time.
Would you prefer a classroom experience? Numerous
classroom providers are available. For more information about classes that are available locally, please contact our office.
Regardless of your driving tenure or skill, the Defensive Driving Course (or PIRP) is one of the most effective and attractive ways to
SaveSmart on your car insurance for the next three years!
About the Author: Jeff Ryan has been a licensed insurance agent since 1978, later becoming a full-time insurance professional in 1983. Since then, he has been the principal of The Ryan Agencies with offices in Hornell, Jasper, and Wellsville. The agencies serve approximately 15,000 clients in New York and Pennsylvania. Jeff holds numerous credentials including the Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designations. He holds a Master's Degree from the American College. Jeff enjoys writing about all things insurance and welcomes your questions and feedback.
This article may have been originally published at Quora.com.
To see Jeff's Quora.com profile click here.
Factors You Can’t Easily Control These factors are built into your profile, but still play a major role: Your location: Claim trends, traffic, and weather patterns where you principally drive. Your age and driving experience: Especially for younger drivers. Other drivers in your household: Their age and driving history. The vehicle you own: Unique to the Year, Make, Model, and Sub-model’s damageability and cost of parts/labor. These factors significantly influence price differences, but they don’t tell the whole story. Factors You Can Control This is where habits and wise decisions can make a real difference: Your driving habits: Minimizing tickets and accidents can have a direct impact. Your coverage choices: Liability limits, deductibles, and optional coverages can vary widely. Your insurance consistency: Avoiding lapses in coverage. Your annual mileage: How much and how often you drive. Discount opportunities: Bundling, pay-in-full, NYS defensive driving course. Your Insurance Score (Yes—You Can Influence It) Insurance companies use a credit-based insurance score as part of their rating process. While it’s based on financial behaviors, it is not permanent—and it can be improved over time. Simple habits like: Paying bills on time Reducing outstanding debt Avoiding excessive credit inquiries… can positively impact your score—and in turn, your insurance rates. Your insurance score is under your control and a worthy mid to long-term project in and of itself. For more information on what you can do to positively influence your score, see: Great 8 Tip #8 - What's Credit Got to Do with Insurance? How Can I Improve My Auto Insurance Score Why Comparing Rates Doesn’t Work When someone says, “I only pay…” , the uniqueness of their fingerprint is missing. What are their: Deductibles Driving history Insurance score Household profile Coverage limits: what they may be giving up in terms of protection. Price without context can be misleading and discouraging.
Part 7 – Designing a Value-Driven Insurance Plan
Part 6 – Advice, Advocacy, and Answers
Part 5 – Can Your Company Deliver?
Part 4 – Custom Coverage = Real Protection
Part 3: Coverage Limits - "The Ceiling You Don't Want to Collapse"
Part 2 – The Risks of Chasing Cheap
Part 1: What Are You Really Paying For?
Insurance fraud is a significant problem, exceeding $300 billion annually, with the Property and Casualty sector contributing nearly $50 billion to that total.
Living in New York, you might have a stack of insurance documents—auto, homeowners, health, or life insurance policies—filed away somewhere. But how long should you keep those documents, and specifically, what papers should you hold on to?
