Determine Your “Course” of Action

Additional demerit points that result from a VA traffic ticket could lead to increased auto insurance rates and decreased driving privileges. Fortunately, the state offers safe driving points as a way to clean up your record. Those who hold a valid Virginia driver’s license can earn five safe points to offset demerit point in two ways:

• Driving for one calendar year without any violations or suspensions
• Completing a state-approved Driver Improvement Clinic*

The highest balance of safe driver points you can accumulate is five. You can earn these five every 24 months by completing a driver improvement clinic.

NOTE: If the court requires you to complete a driver improvement clinic, it will also determine whether you’ll be awarded safe driving points.

Complete a Driver Improvement Clinic

Taking a state-approved driving improvement clinic is the quickest way take points off your driving record. You might be able to take either an eight-hour classroom session or a computer-based course online, depending on what the court will accept. Drivers younger than 20 years old must enroll in a clinic offering classroom instruction.

Those required by the DMV to take attend a clinic must complete the full eight-hour course within 90 days. Otherwise, you’ll face driver’s license suspension until you fulfill this requirement.

Submit Requirements

Most likely, the clinic provider will hand and or mail you a certificate of completion. Your next step is determining to whom you need to submit this along with any other requirements and fees.

If the court or the VA DMV ordered you to complete a Driver Improvement Clinic, double check on when and how you should submit your completion certificate. For example, a particular court might handle this differently than the DMV, which gives you 90 days to complete the course. Don’t assume your traffic school will notify the court and/or the VA DMV that you passed.

Check Your Virginia Driving Record

Once the court processes your VA traffic ticket and you’ve completed a Drive Improvement Clinic, check your driving record to be certain the state’s record reflects the accurate number of points associated with your driver’s license. Even if you haven’t been pulled over in a while, it’s a good idea to periodically check your driving record for accuracy.

Get an Auto Insurance Discount

Virginia drivers can complete a Driver Improvement Clinic for the sole purpose of getting an auto insurance discount. However, if your plan is use the course to reduce your insurance premium, you will not be eligible to receive safe driving points. Additionally, if a court orders you to complete a clinic, you will not be eligible to receive the car insurance premium reduction.

After getting a Virginia traffic ticket and points added to your driving record, you might see an increase in your auto insurances rates at the next renewal. Therefore, take the time to compare car insurance rates online to find the best deal.