Driver Safety Program in Indiana

SUMMARY: Indiana Defensive Driving & Traffic School Courses

If you've recently received a traffic ticket, are at risk of a driver's license suspension, or want to earn a car insurance discount, an Indiana defensive driving course/traffic school program may be your answer.

These courses are also known as driver safety programs (DSP) or traffic school/defensive driving courses and are approved by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).

Whatever your reason for completing a traffic school program, you'll gain safe driving knowledge that may help to reduce your risk of committing traffic violations and causing accidents in the future.

On this page you'll find information about the situations that may warrant a defensive driving course and your options for completing a program.

Taking Indiana Defensive Driving Courses

Depending on your specific circumstances and your personal driving history, an Indiana defensive driving course may be taken to:

  • Satisfy an Indiana BMV or traffic court requirement.
  • Deduct points from your driving record.
  • Avoid a suspended driver's license.
  • Earn a car insurance discount.

Your eligibility will be based upon your traffic offense or driving history.

You'll have the option of completing a defensive driving course online, at home with a DVD/video, or in the classroom. While your choice usually only depends upon your personal preferences and schedule, an Indiana traffic court may only allow you to complete the program in person.

For a complete list of Indiana BMV-approved traffic schools/driver safety programs, please visit the following pages on the IN DMV website:

NOTE: If you are required to complete traffic school as a court requirement, please check with your court before enrolling in a program.

Mandatory Indiana Traffic School

The Indiana BMV may require you to complete a defensive driving program if you:

  • Have received 2 traffic convictions or more within 12 months.
    OR
  • Are under 21 years old and have received any  points on your driving record.

If this applies to you, you'll need to complete your course with 90 days.

NOTE: If you have not completed an Indiana defensive driving course within the past 3 years, 4 points will also be removed from your driving record.

For more information, please contact the Indiana BMV.

Indiana Driving Record Point Reduction with Traffic School

You can take traffic school voluntarily once every 3 years to deduct 4 points from your driving record.

It generally takes up to 10 days for the IN BMV to receive your defensive driving completion information and update your driving record points.

Completing a course before you have accumulated too many driving record points could prevent your driver's license from being suspended.

For more information about checking your driving record and driver's license suspensions, please visit our pages on the following topics:

Car Insurance Discounts

Completing a defensive driving voluntarily may allow you to earn a safe driving discount from your car insurance company.

Check with your auto insurance provider to check if you're eligible and for specific requirements.

If you're not eligible for a defensive driving discount, another way to lower your car insurance payments is to shop around and compare rates. Visit our Insurance Center for help with this.

Indiana Defensive Driving Course Details

Regardless of whether you complete traffic school online, at home with a DVD, or in the classroom, you course will cover topics including:

  • Defensive driving techniques.
  • Safe driving behaviors.
  • Indiana traffic laws and safety.
  • Sharing the road.

You'll driver safety program (DSP), will last at least 4 hours and cost up to $55.

You'll likely need to pass a final exam after you complete your program's lessons. Some providers may give you multiple attempts to pass the test.

Once you complete your defensive driving course, your provider will either present you with a completion certificate or submit your information to the Indiana BMV electronically.

After you submit your results, the Indiana BMV will usually take up to 10 days to update your driving record.

Check with your chosen course provider for specific details.

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