New Jersey Archives | MyImprov

Removing Points from NJ DMV Driving Record

Deborah Lockhart — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 16:15:25 +0000

Shot of a happy young woman sitting in her car

Points on your record can make it difficult to acquire affordable car insurance rates. Fortunately, it does not take a huge ordeal to clean up your driving record and remove points. Enrolling in, and completing a defensive driving course is a great way to show that you are taking steps to better your driving skills.

What do Points Mean?

When you are convicted of a traffic infraction, points will be added to your driving record. If you continue to accumulate points, you may be subject to fines or a suspension of your driving privileges.

Points and Violations on NJ DMV Driving Record

In the state of New Jersey, drivers are given a surcharge if six 6 points or more are posted to their NJ driving record a three-year period. In addition to court fees, these fines must be paid annually for three years. Once a NJ driver accumulates NJ speeding ticket points and other violations that equal 12 points or more, their NJ license may be suspended.

Common Violations

Failure to yield right of way to a pedestrian 2 points
Disregarding traffic signals 2 points
Failing to obey stop/yield sign 2 points
U-turn violation 3 points
Illegal passing 4 points
Reckless driving 5 points
Passing a stopped school bus 5 points
Speeding – 15 to 29 MPH over 4 points

30 MPH or more over 5 points

If NJ speeding ticket points are starting to add up, New Jersey drivers can take an MVC approved defensive driving course to reduce NJ speeding ticket points, New Jersey speeding ticket fines, and insurance premiums. These state-approved defensive driving schools are even conveniently available online.

Although the accumulation of points can be a negative thing, there are ways to have points removed from your NJ driving record. Drivers can have up to 3 points removed from their driving point total one year after any of these instances:

Last NJ moving violation
No violations within the past year

In addition, with the completion of an approved driver improvement program, up to two points can be deducted from a NJ defensive driving school course every five years. For more information, please contact your NJ MVC.

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New Jersey Facts For The Adventurer

Deborah Lockhart — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 20:26:58 +0000

You’re seeking a coming-of- age story—you, your best friends, and the open road. Or, you’re
middle-aged, trying to escape suburbia and relive the glory days. But whether you’re seeking to
live out Motorcycle Diaries or the equally acclaimed Wild Hogs, what better place in the entire
world to do it than the state of New Jersey? If you’re exhausted with complacency and seeking
adventure, then buckle up while we give you New Jersey facts to help you live out your story.
And try not to become a violent revolutionary in 1950s Cuba.

Quality Sleep Wherever You Go

Heed not weary travelers, your aching joints will finally find a cushiony mattress to catch some
sleep on during your journey. New Jersey may be one of the smaller states in the country, but
its stunning landscape is peppered with more than 300 hotels, bed & breakfasts, and resorts,
rich with early American history; among them, Cape May—one of the country’s oldest vacation
resort destinations.

You may not have gotten into AP US History, but you can finally take the field trip you missed out on—without those pretentious nerds incessantly suggesting new NPR podcasts to you.

Wineries

With nearly 50 wineries across the state, New Jersey is the perfect destination for you to be a
reliable, designated driver for your friends. Nothing’s cooler than being the responsible friend or
partner, drunk and high only on the ceaseless beauty of a life driving through the Garden State.

Historic Locations

From the Revolutionary War reenactments at Monmouth Battlefield State Park, to the final
homes of Albert Einstein and Walt Whitman, to the point on the Delaware where George
Washington famously crossed in Christmas of 1776, the freedom of driving in New Jersey is
part of the same freedom enjoyed, celebrated, and secured by the history of these landmarks.
It’s the freedom to turn off the few moments of remaining history on the History Channel or toss
out your textbooks—and absorb the American story firsthand.

Gamblers Paradise

Something you should never gamble: your riskiness as a driver by not taking our online defensive driving course. Something you can sometimes gamble: small, responsible portions of money that you can afford to lose. Atlantic City is home to 11 casinos, perfect for those looking for a chance to win it big, perhaps to buy our online defensive driving course for friends and
family!

Just like the subject header suggests, you can’t not have fun at the Six Flags resort in Jackson,
New Jersey. If it were up to us, we’d make it against New Jersey state law to not have
fun at the Six Flags resort in Jackson, New Jersey. But there’s really no use, since everyone
has fun at the Six Flags resort in Jackson, New Jersey.

State of Pickup Trucks

The pickup truck is the most popular car that is sold in the state of New Jersey. We can only
speculate why. Our best guesses:

● New Jersians carry a lot of things from place to place
● Driving a few feet above everyone is awesome
● It’s ingrained in friendly New Jersey culture to always be ready to help a friend move
● I mean pickup trucks are pretty sweet in general

I-95 Rest Stops

There exist 12 rest stop locations on I-95. For those small-bladdered folk, large drink fanatics, or rest stop explorers, New Jersey has more than enough to offer you.

National Parks

Within just about 9,000 square miles, the state of New Jersey contains 12 national parks, including a leg of the Appalachian trail, Ellis Island, and Paterson Great Falls. For those of us that love hiking, immigrants, and waterfalls—which is all of us, of course—we’re satisfied by just a fraction of what beauty and significance the National Park Service offers in New Jersey alone.

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Traveling To New Jersey Six Flags

Deborah Lockhart — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 00:38:18 +0000

So, you’ve completed a NJ defensive driving course and scored a sweet discount on your auto insurance! It’s time to spend that extra money on a worthwhile cause. Sure, you could hook up one of your in-laws with a comedy defensive driving course, too, but do you actually like them that much? Nah. Instead, take the whole family on a road trip to New Jersey Six Flags Great Adventure & Safari.

Six Flags is a fantastic destination all by itself, but the trip there can be a lot of fun, too. Here are some quirky, can’t-miss sights:

Six Things to See on the Way

Ashbury Park – Pinball Hall of Fame Silverball Museum Arcade

This beautiful town, located on the coast, gives you amazing views of the shoreline and one of America’s last pinball arcades. You can buy free play passes and let your kids go nuts on these classic old machines.

Franklin – Franklin Mineral Museum

The museum includes specimens of locally mined rocks which glow under UV lights. You can also edu-tain the kids with a two-story replica of a mine. There, you’ll see historical equipment and mining re-enactments.

Hammonton – Robot Auto Part Sculptures at El&M Auto Recycling

Hop out of the car for a quick look at this scrap yard’s innovative robot statues, created out of auto parts. The owners are friendly and encourage you to take photos.

Lyndhurst – Medieval Times Dinner Theater

If you’re staying in town overnight, you can celebrate, Renaissance Faire style, with a medieval-themed feast of foods designed to be dug into with your hands. While chowing down, you’ll be entertained with traditional medieval spectacles like jousting, sword fights, falconry, and horsemanship.

Stanhope – Waterloo Village

This attraction is a partially restored historical site that includes old-timey elements like a water mill and a ghost town. The ghost town has several buildings, some restored and some left in their original, creepy condition to add to the atmosphere. Guided tours are available.

Willingboro – Lucky’s Unique Antiques

For older kids or ones who like gothic and creepy things, this store may be a hit. Along with furniture and antiques you’ll find taxidermy, preserved animals in jars, animal mummies, and even Victorian-era human skeletons.

Once You Get to Six Flags

You made it to Jackson, NJ. Congratulations! Now the real adventure begins.

One new and popular attraction is the ‘Justice League Battle for the Metropolis,’ an interactive thrill ride in a 22,000-foot Hall of Justice building. You and your family will be issued laser guns and can fight the forces of evil there.

If you came for the rollercoasters, check out the ‘Nitro.’ This is one of the fastest rides in the park. You’ll be propelled at up to 80 miles per hour over hills, along turns, and ending in a 540-degree helix spiral.

Really young children can enjoy the fun too with a wide variety of rides with height requirements of 36 inches or less. Check out the Foghorn Leghorn’s Stagecoach Express. This themed ride takes kids on a magical journey through the Wild West.

Tips:

Six Flags has teamed up with local hotels, offering special deals on your overnight stay, admission tickets, and even food. Find out more here.

Your kids may beg for junk food, but keep the snacks light until you know how their stomachs can handle the rides.

Spend the night in town and you can get into Six Flags just as it opens, beating the crowds.

Check out the rides’ height requirements before making any promises to your kids.

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New Jersey Transit vs. Driving

Deborah Lockhart — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 21:11:47 +0000

Commuting on New Jersey’s complex roads and highways is often a daunting ordeal, not just for the visitors but for the NJ locals as well. One slight misstep when selecting your transport means, you risk ruining that holiday you’ve been saving for ages or missing out on that life-changing interview in NJ. Driving and using the New Jersey transit are the two most popular transportation means up for grabs for those persons on a month-long business trip or traveling packs of students. NJ roads and the drivers therein are reputed to be just as frantic and hectic as those of the neighboring Big Apple State.

If you intend to rent out a car to use during your stays in New Jersey, then it’s imperative you first sign up for the advanced defensive driving certification exam right away. Driving has its pluses and minuses, so too does transiting in NJ.

Read on to understand the unique pros associated with each of these popular transportation methods for visitors and locals in NJ. The ultimate decision, however, on the mode of transport method preferred while in New Jersey, solely rests on personal factors, for instance, your budget, tastes, the number of people, and the duration of the stay.

Cost

Traveling via the New Jersey transit network is without a doubt, the safest and most cost-effective, transport means in this state. Driving on these road networks can, however, be an expensive money pit affair. Auto owners always need to cough up cash to cater fuel and ensure their vehicles. Additionally, the cost of operating cars increases as you dole out money for parking and other routine servicing and maintenance services.

Traffic

Driving exposes you to the real risks of getting stranded in traffic snarl-ups in NJ. Most of the state’s highways and roads always come to a complete standstill at certain times of the day. Unless you perfect the fine art of timing the commuter traffic buildups, you’ll always find yourself caught up in the worst traffic jams. To escape the frustrating traffic gridlock, you’ll be better off jumping on the state’s trains than driving. These trains operate on a tight schedule and with them, you’ll never have to waste precious time and money on the massive mile-long traffic snarl-ups.

Safety

In 2017, NJ witnessed a surge in the number of road-related fatalities on their busy highways. According to the NJ.com, there were an estimated 83,751 serious crashes on the state’s roads. These accidents and incidents resulted in over 250 fatalities and over 20,969 serious injuries. The rising crashes have led to a spike in the number of people enrolling for defensive driving courses. Thanks to this course, accidents are predicted to drop over time as drivers become more aware how to evade the consequence’s arising from the common blunders made by their fellow road users.
NJ transit system has only recorded one fatality in the past decade, however. Save from that awful incident back in Sep 29, 2016, that claimed the life of a woman and injured over 100 people, this transport mode has remained the safest travel option in the state.

Convenience

The state has over 247 different bus routes linking the major urban metropolis surrounding the heart of NJ. Today, you’ll not have to wait for a second longer to book and board a public bus as there are over 1785 registered buses serving commuters the 21 counties in NJ. Commuters board these buses at the designated pick up points and pay on demand. Using public buses in NJ is more convenient and less-costly as compared to driving. What’s more, commuters take great delight in the fact that the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) railway services operate round the clock. On the other hand, there’s great convenience in not having to travel while jam-packed with other strangers on the commuter subways but all alone in your rental vehicle.

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What’s in a New Jersey Driving Manual?

Deborah Lockhart — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 23:12:25 +0000

As much as it’s easy for non-Jersey folk (and maybe a few Garden State residents) to joke about the official N.J. driving manual not teaching anything beyond better swear words and that turn signals are optional, it is actually a useful document.

Why You Need a NJ Driving Manual

Big Population

There’s a big population, plenty to see and do and all sorts of attractions that can be driven to for work or play. Interstate highways pass through the state as well, so there’s always plenty of traffic heading to and from other Northeast states.

Bad Drivers

Then there’s the state’s reputation at stake as well. From being ranked as having some of the worst drivers and worst roads in a GMAC Insurance survey in 2008, New Jersey zoomed into the Top 5 of safest drivers by state by 2015 in a list by carinsurance.com, based on factors such as road conditions, fatal and minor accidents and overall traffic citations. The research still dinged the state for too much texting while driving but the ranking is an improvement, if it doesn’t mean that every other state is simply getting worse.

New NJ Drivers

Whether the reader is a teen trying to learn the correct rules of the road to get their first license, someone who has recently relocated and is in need of a new license or someone wanting to get a refresher as part of a defensive driving course online, the State of New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle Commission wants to make sure everyone knows correct and safe procedures on the state’s 39,000 miles of public roadway.

NJ Driving Manual Top Topics

Different license types

Though people need to go elsewhere or at least find a different manual if they’re seeking a commercial driver’s license or a boating license, the bulk of auto and motorcycle drivers of any age can find information here about the requirements to earn their license. Teens, for instance, can earn a variety of licenses as they progress in experience and age, starting with a special permit, then an examination permit, then a probationary license. Even with the license, they’re still required to have a Graduated decal on their license until they turn 21.

This decal also requires them to only drive with certain adult passengers and not engage in texting or other unsafe behavior. The state also offers a supplemental driver’s guide especially for teen drivers and their parents that focuses more on safety and basic instruction vs. some of the more technical topics of the main manual.

Driver Responsibilities

Drivers will learn some of the important procedures when behind the wheel. Though some of the basic terminology and principles are similar in every state, it shares different items where New Jersey may differ. What do you do at a 4-way uncontrolled stop? What do you do on a one-way road? When do you dim or turn on your bright lights? What do certain signs mean?

Penalties

Part of learning the right way to do things requires learning how to avoid doing the wrong things. This can include everything from speeding violations to turn signals (not optional!) Law enforcement has a wide discretion on what they write tickets over, but drivers should assume that they could be cited.

The manual can be found online or at any community MVC location through the state. The online version can save someone a trip into town, and can especially be handy for those who want to start their education behind the wheel at home. However, the book is a fairly big download (250MB) so might take a bit of time unless you have a high-speed connection.

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Best & Worst New Jersey Driving Laws

Deborah Lockhart — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 23:42:22 +0000

It doesn’t matter what state you live in, there are bound to be certain laws that you adamantly agree with and others that you don’t agree with. Driving laws are no different – some are good, and some are, based on various opinions, bad. If you live in the state of New Jersey, you might want to just brush up on all of them because numerous studies routinely rank New Jersey drivers among the worst in the nation! It’s why taking a defensive driving course in NJ is so common among motorists in the Garden State, whether drivers are looking to keep a citation off their record or proactively lower their insurance rates.

With all of this in mind, here’s a part of what New Jersey residents can expect to learn in a defensive driving course when it comes to laws of the road. Like we said in the opening, some you might think are good and others you might not. Have a look:

New Jersey Driving Laws: The Good

Speed Limits

New Jersey is a congested state when it comes to motor vehicles, with many commuting to New York and elsewhere each day. Noting this, and the likelihood of traffic congestion, speed limits are designed to reflect this. For instance, on New Jersey interstates, the speed limit is 55 miles per hour. On highways, it’s typically 65 miles per hour. In most other states, speed limits tend to be at least 5 miles per hour faster.

Honk First

According to New Jersey law, before motorists can pass a bicyclist or skateboarder, they first must honk. It’s a bit of an odd law, but we think it’s a good one. After all, not only are drivers giving fair warning to someone that they’re passing, but depending on how annoying the skateboarder or cycler is acting, the honk can also let out some frustration. Unfortunately, not a lot of people follow this law. We think it’s time to change that. Honk away everyone!

New Jersey Driving Laws: The Bad

Early-Bird Driving Laws

There are two steps that New Jersey drivers must pass to get their basic driver’s license: a permit period and a provisional period. Drivers must drive supervised with a permit for six months before they can move on to the provisional license stage, which consists of one year of unsupervised, yet restricted, driving. In order to receive a basic driver’s license, where there are no restrictions, drivers must have completed both the permit and provisional stages without incident and be 18 years old. We like the emphasis on experience and safety, but some drivers might not like the restrictions during these various stages.

It’s Illegal to Frown at a Police Officer

We’re guessing that this one doesn’t get enforced too much, but it’s still an odd one. We can’t imagine too many people are happy when they get pulled over for a traffic citation.

Intoxication Means No Personalized Plates

We’re all about giving drivers second chances and helping them learn from their mistakes. So that’s why we think it’s silly that a driver that’s been convicted of driving while intoxicated can never apply for or receive a personalized license plate. Like we said, everyone makes mistakes – and while driving while under the influence is certainly a very serious one, this law seems a little bit harsh.

Regardless of your take on any of these New Jersey driving laws in this piece – or any other laws that we didn’t mention in here – it’s important to keep in mind that laws are in place for a reason. Usually, that reason is to keep motorists and pedestrians safe. In our New Jersey defensive driving course, we’ll cover these laws and more. Contact us today for more information.

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New Jersey Auto Insurance Discount

Deborah Lockhart — Sat, 08 Jul 2017 00:22:22 +0000

Though most New Jersey residents require a vehicle to get to and from work, school and around town, seasoned drivers know that the car payment is hardly the only cost associated with vehicle ownership. Yes, there’s the likes of gas to fuel it, routine (i.e., oil changes, tire rotations, etc.) and emergency maintenance to account for and, finally, car insurance premiums.

In the state of New Jersey, car insurance is mandatory for all drivers – and penalties for driving uninsured are becoming more and more severe. But being that the average annual auto insurance premium for New Jersey drivers is about $1,260 – well above the $866 national average – it makes sense for Garden State drivers to want to save on this extracurricular cost when possible. Here’s a closer look at how to secure discounts on car insurance premiums:

Securing New Jersey Auto Insurance Discounts

Drive Safe

Many auto insurance providers will reward safe driving with discounts over time. So, for instance, if you drive accident-free and citation-free over a designated time, you’re likely to be eligible for such a discount. Keep in mind that discounts vary based on providers, but safe driving discounts are becoming much more of a common offering.

Course of Action

Yes, if you’re a student who takes and passes a New Jersey defensive driving or insurance reduction course, you’re likely to receive a discount on your auto insurance policy. Again, the availability of these discounts vary based on who the insurance provider is, but most New Jersey auto insurance companies now honor this. All you’ll need to do is show the certificate of completion from an accredited institution to your insurance provider to qualify for the discount. Typically, the discount is good for up to three years. This discount can be especially helpful for younger student drivers, who typically pay larger premiums as inexperienced drivers deemed to be more at risk behind the wheel.

Bundle Up

Have a renter’s insurance policy? A life insurance policy? Boat insurance or RV insurance? Perhaps even a homeowner’s insurance policy? Moving all your policies to one sole provider is likely to secure you discounts, should you have multiple policies to work with. In most cases, the more policies you bundle the more money you’ll save overall. In New Jersey, those who bundled policies save an average of about 12 percent on their total insurance costs. Every little bit adds up.

Downsize The Plan

In New Jersey, drivers can choose from two types of auto insurance plans – basic and standard. While the latter offers more thorough coverage, it also costs more. Hence, it can make sense for drivers to shave money off their car insurance premiums by opting for the basic auto plan instead. Talk with your insurance provider to get a better idea of the savings potential you can realize by selecting a basic over a standard coverage plan.

Study Hard

If you’re in school, you already know how important good grades are for setting yourself up for success post-graduation. But many auto insurance companies are now awarding discounts to student drivers who maintain solid grade point averages. So, study hard! It could pay off in more ways than you might think.

Though auto insurance may seem like nothing more than another driving-related cost to have to budget for, coverage is made mandatory for a reason. And just because it’s the law to have coverage doesn’t mean that you can’t consider ways to reduce your premium costs. For more information on how to secure discounts, be sure to speak with your agent.

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How Much is a New Jersey Speeding Ticket?

Deborah Lockhart — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 00:07:47 +0000

Speeding Tickets in Different States:

If you drive over the speed limit, you run the risk of getting pulled over for speeding. When you are pulled over, the police officer has the discretion to issue you a warning or write you a ticket. If you were one of the unlucky ones who received a ticket, you may find yourself wondering how much a New Jersey speeding ticket will cost you. The fine associated with the speeding ticket is not the only expense you will incur because of the ticket. You may decide to participate in traffic school if you are eligible or you may take allow the ticket to hit your driving record and have surcharges issued by the state for poor driving. Here are a few of the ways that a New Jersey speeding ticket can cost you and the expenses associated with the ticket.

The Cost of the Speeding Ticket Itself

If you are caught speeding, the amount you are fined varies based on where you were speeding and how many miles over the speed limit you were going. For a simple speeding violation, one where you are going one to nine miles over the speed limit, your fine will be $85. If you are 15 to 19 miles per hour over the speed limit, the fine increases to $180. And if you are 30 to 39 miles per hour over the speed limit, your fine will be $240 to $260. Additionally, there are factors that increase fines. If you are in a construction zone, in a safe corridor, in a school zone or speeding through a crosswalk, your fines will increase. If you are looking to find out what the exact fine is for your violation, be sure to check out this chart. Also, keep in mind that these are standard fines. If you go to court and appeal the ticket, the judge has the discretion to throw the ticket out or reduce your fine amount.

New Jersey SPEEDING TICKET COST TABLE

M.P.H. OVER LIMIT	SPEEDING: POSTED ZONE	SPEEDING: CONSTRUCTION ZONE	SPEEDING: POINTS ON RECORD
1 – 9 m.p.h.	$85.00	$140.00	2 Points
10 – 14 m.p.h	$95.00	$160.00	2 Points
15 – 19 m.p.h.	$105.00	$180.00	4 Points
20 – 24 m.p.h.	$200.00	$360.00	4 Points
25 – 29 m.p.h.	$220.00	$380.00	4 Points
30 – 34 m.p.h.	$240.00	$400.00	5 Points
35+ m.p.h.	$260.00	$420.00	5 Points

*If you are caught speeding in a work zone, safe corridor, or 65 mph zone, your fine will be doubled!

Points

The state of New Jersey uses a point system. If you are given traffic tickets or involved in car accident, you receive points on your driving record. The number of points you receive for a speeding ticket varies, based on how many miles over the speed limit you were going. You receive two points if you are 1-14 miles per hour over the speed limit, four points if you are 15 to 29 miles per hour over and five points if you are 30 miles per hour over the speed limit or more. If you exceed more than six points in a three year period, the state of New Jersey will issue you a $150 surcharge plus $25 for each additional point. These fines remain in effect yearly until your points drop below six and if you fail to pay, you can lose your license. If you go a year with no infractions, you lose three points, which is the best way to reduce your points.

Traffic School Costs

Another way to reduce the number of points you have on your driving record is to take traffic school or a defensive driving course. In New Jersey, you can take NJ traffic school to remove two points from your record once every five years. Because of this, you may wish to participate in driving school if you have received a speeding ticket. In New Jersey, the lowest price allowed by law for this course is $20. There is no maximum cost allowed by law. Additionally, once you complete one of these courses, insurance companies may reduce your insurance by up to ten percent for two to five years.

If you are pulled over for speeding, research shows that being honest with the cop about why you are speeding, as well as being polite and courteous, are the best ways to avoid a ticket. However, no matter how honest or polite you are, some days a cop has a no-tolerance stance and will issue you a ticket. When this occurs, that speeding ticket will cost you. Learning how much will help you budget so you can pay off the fine and the associated costs.

Different States Speeding Ticket

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Answering common NJ & NY defensive driving course questions.

Deborah Lockhart — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 00:53:15 +0000

So, you are thinking about taking a defensive driving course but do not know where to turn? Relax, many out there have been in your situation. They know that attending so-called traffic school is good for them. However, they have no idea where to get NY or NJ defensive driving answers.

To help you make your decision about whether to take one, following are the top questions and answers about the these somewhat feared programs.

Can I find the answers to my defensive driving course online?

Once you begin your course you may find the questions harder than you thought. True, the instructors are there to help you pass. However, they will not just hand the certificate to you. Instead, they expect you to do some work.

Do not get too worried! The answers are always available to you. For example, if you are taking an online course, the answers are in the school’s online material. You can also search the state DMV website. The department usually lists the pertinent rules of the road and any recent changes to the laws.

You will also want to re-read the course material. Perhaps you missed the answer while reading a little too quickly.

If the class is in-person or taken as a group, you can ask the other students where they located the answers.

Last, but certainly not least, ask your instructor or the school staff. They will be more than willing to help. Just be sure that you have really tried to complete the assignment before making a request.

Can I complete my defensive driving course online?

In the past, you had to attend NY defensive driving school in person. Today, you can go to the school or complete the course online. This fact has made attending traffic school a no-brainer. Everyone in New York and New Jersey should take one of these courses to become a safer driver.

One benefit of the online course is that you can enroll with a group. Many workplaces and households sign up this way. They take classes online at their convenience.

Check to see if your chosen school offers a group enrollment discount!

What if I fail my defensive driving course?

The only way to fail the NY or NJ defensive driving course is if you don’t finish it. As long as you put in the minimum required time (six hours total), you will pass and receive your credits!

Are the instructors teaching the online defensive driving course difficult?

You might imagine a Defensive Driving classroom instructor as being some hardcore DMV staffer who is out to fail students. Perhaps you think they will be a former Marine drill instructor who still thinks they are in the Corps.

In reality, some instructors are retired DMV workers and veterans! Yet, you can relax. Their job is not to punish you for mistakes but to ensure that you learn from them.

Does completing a defensive driving course dismiss a traffic ticket in NJ or NY?

Unlike some states, taking a NY or NJ defensive driving will not dismiss a traffic ticket. Rather, it may help you combat points being added to your record. Check with the traffic court first before you begin the course. They will be able to advise you when you should complete the course for the best results.

Do I earn an auto insurance discount after completing my defensive driving course?

Can I complete assignments for my defensive driving course on my phone/other mobile device?

The best schools offer many ways to access the course material, including mobile platforms. Always check with the admissions office about accessibility and compatibility prior to enrolling.

It’s time to enroll in your defensive driving course!

Now that you know the top NY and NJ defensive driving course answers, you are ready to enroll! Get started right away while you are still highly motivated to succeed.

Best of luck!

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Do defensive driving courses reduce DMV points in NY & NJ?

Deborah Lockhart — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 00:52:01 +0000

If you have received a traffic ticket or were at-fault in an accident, the Department of Motor vehicles issues you a certain number of points. Different infractions and reasons for accidents are assigned different point values. If you reach a certain level of points, your driver’s license may be suspended. However, signing up for a defensive driving course may reduce the number of points you have on your driving record.

This is important because insurance companies look at the number of points you have when deciding how much you will pay for insurance, and reducing your points helps to prevent your license from being suspended. Here is some more information you will want to know about defensive driving courses and point reduction in both New York and New Jersey.

How many DMV points can I remove by completing a defensive driving course in New York?

In the state of New York, you can take a defensive driving course once every 18 months to reduce the number of points on your driving record. Participating in one of these courses can reduce up to four points from your record toward a license suspension. However, taking this course will only reduce active points or points accumulated in the last 18 months.

To have the points taken off, you must enroll in a New York approved DMV defensive driving course. If you take a course that is not DMV approved, your points will not fall off. Upon completion, the school will notify DMV and they will take the points off your record. You will also receive a certificate of completion from the school. It is up to you to mail a copy of this certificate to your auto insurer. By law, your auto insurer is required to give you a ten percent auto insurance discount off your liability, no fault and collision premiums for three years after taking this course.

How many DMV points can I remove by completing a defensive driving course in New Jersey?

In the state of New Jersey, you can take a defensive driving course once every 5 (five) years to reduce up to two points from your driving record. You can take this course anytime you have points on your record if you have not had points removed in the past three years. The infractions do not need to be recent. To receive this discount, you must enroll in a course approved by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.

Just like in the state of New York, you automatically qualify for a ten percent discount on your liability, no-fault and collision premiums for three years after taking this course. You will need to submit the certificate of completion to your insurance company to qualify for this discount.

If you have received a ticket or were involved in an accident for which you were found at fault, the state-licensing department in your state will issue points against your driving record. Your auto insurer will then see those points and increase your auto insurance rates. Fortunately, the states realize that everyone makes a mistake and a single traffic infraction does not make you a bad driver.

As such, both New York and New Jersey will allow you to take part in a defensive driving course to remove a certain number of points from your record and receive a discount on your auto insurance premiums. This is a great way to improve your driving, while also ensuring you are not punished for a prolonged period of time due to one driving mistake.

For information on California DMV Release of Liability, click:
California DMV Release of Liability

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