Point Reduction in New Jersey

Determine Your “Course” of Action

New Jersey allows drivers to enroll in state-approved defensive driving courses for driving record point reduction. Drivers can enroll once every five years for a two-point reduction.

The state approves a variety of six-hour classroom and online courses for point reduction. These courses are not to be confused with the Driver Improvement Program (DIP) or Probationary Driver Program (PDP) courses. See below for more information on those.

NOTE: The MVC will remove three points from your record if you complete one year without any violations or suspensions. The year starts on the date of your last violation or most recent license restoration.

No Dismissed Traffic Tickets

NJ courts don’t dismiss tickets for attending any type of driving school.

Driver Improvement Programs

The state’s driver improvement programs differ from the defensive driving program in that the courts or MVC usually mandate driver improvement programs for at-risk drivers.

You can learn more about these programs in our NJ Traffic Schools section, but below is a brief outline.

Driver Improvement Program (DIP)

The DIP is for drivers who have accumulated 12-14 driving record points; they can enroll in this program to avoid license suspension. The program costs $150 and removes three points from the record.

Probationary Driver Program (PDP)

The PDP is similar to the DIP, except it’s geared toward probationary drivers―drivers who’ve been issued driver license permits for the first time. This period last two years, and if a probationary driver receives two or more moving violations for a total of four or more points, he must enroll in the PDP. The cost is $150 and the program removes three points from the record.

Complete a NJ Driving Safety Course

Because of the wide variety of classroom and online courses the state approves, exact curriculum and cost varies; however, per New Jersey’s requirements, you can expect to learn basic accident-prevention driving techniques such as how to drive defensively, rather than offensively, and how to handle a number of driving conditions.

Many NJ drivers choose to enroll in online defensive driving courses because of the convenience they offer. When you take an online course, you can complete the course on your own schedule. This flexibility works well for people already juggling college classes, families, and jobs.

Submit Requirements to the Court

How you submit the course completion certificate to the MVC will depend on the course you complete.

For example, some courses provide you with multiple copies of the certificate (so you can have one, the MVC can have one, and/or your insurance provider can have one). Some course providers mail you tangible certificates; others provide digital copies via e-mail or some other download process. Some course providers even digitally deliver the completion certificate to the MVC for you.

Be sure to talk with the course provider and contact your MVC for details about certificate delivery.

Lost or Damaged Certificates

If your completion certificate becomes lost or damaged, contact your course provider to order a new one.

Check Your New Jersey Driving Record

Once you complete the course and provide the MVC with your completion certificate, wait a few days and then check your driving record to make sure the MVC removed the two points; if the points are still there, contact the NJ MVC.

Get an Auto Insurance Discount

Some auto insurance providers give discounts to policyholders who complete state-approved defensive driving courses.

To avoid any confusion, contact your provider before you enroll in a course. Ask your agent whether a discount is possible and, if so, any requirements the provider has related to the completion certificate (i.e. do you need to provide the original or will a copy suffice).