If you have points on your driving license or would like to reduce your car insurance premiums, the New York DMV has a "Point and Insurance Reduction Program" (PIRP). This program includes approved courses offered by private companies called "course sponsors." You can take this course in a traditional classroom setting (PIRP) or entirely online via the Alternate Delivery Method (I-PIRP). Both versions consist of 320 minutes of instruction regarding traffic safety, driver attitude, defensive driving techniques, and NY Vehicle and Traffic Law.
Once you successfully complete the course, you qualify for:
- A reduction in your active point total by up to 4 points, applied to your record to help prevent a license suspension.
- A 10% reduction in the base rate of your automobile liability, no-fault, and collision insurance premiums. This discount lasts for three years.
If you have pleaded guilty to a speeding ticket or any other moving violation in the last 18 months, you have points on your license, and taking one of these courses is a highly recommended way to reduce your risk for suspension.
1. Points are Subtracted from Calculations, Not Physically Removed
A common misconception about these driving courses is that they erase or eliminate points from a driver's record. This does not occur. Taking a PIRP course does not physically remove a violation, conviction, or the number of points from your driving record. Violations and points will continue to show on your record for up to 4 years (and up to 10 or 15 years for drug and alcohol-related violations).
In New York, acquiring 11 points in any 18-month period will subject a driver to suspension. "Point reduction" simply means the DMV will "subtract" up to 4 points when calculating your total for suspension purposes. Effectively, if you had 11 points, the point total used for suspension calculations would be reduced to 7, allowing you to keep your license.
Need a Clean Record? For the driver with an otherwise clean record who pleads to a 2, 3, or 4 point ticket, taking a course will not make their record completely "clean" again. The only way to actually remove a conviction from a driving record is via a formal motion to the court to reopen the case, called a motion coram nobis.
2. What the Point Reduction Does NOT Do
While the point reduction is an excellent tool for avoiding standard point-based suspensions, the NY DMV explicitly notes several things the course cannot fix:
- It does not affect points for violations that occurred prior to the immediate 18-month window before you completed the course.
- It cannot be banked as "credit" against future traffic violations.
- It cannot reduce your point total below zero.
- It does not prevent or cancel a mandatory revocation or suspension, such as for a DWI, DWAI, or receiving three speeding tickets within 18 months.
- If a violation hearing is already scheduled, the point reduction will not affect that specific action.
3. Insurance Premiums & Driver Responsibility Assessments
Upon completing the course, the course sponsor will notify the DMV within 10 weeks. However, you must directly provide your certificate of completion to your insurance agent or insurer to get your premium discount.
- You must retake the course every 36 months to maintain the insurance reduction benefits.
- Your insurance company may still raise your overall base rates due to new accidents or severe traffic violations.
- If more than one person is named on the insurance policy, only the principal operator of the vehicle receives the 10% reduction.
- It Does Not Cancel DRAs: Completing a PIRP course will not eliminate your responsibility to pay a New York Driver Responsibility Assessment. If you have accrued 6 or more points on your record, you must still pay the DMV fee.
4. NY DMV-Approved Online Courses (I-PIRP)
Online courses must be completed within 30 days of registration, but you can take them at your own pace from home.
Note on Identity Validations:
Identity validations are required as part of the online IPIRP course to ensure that the customer is a real person and is who they say they are. Providers use different methods (e.g., Voice Prints, Keystroke Analysis, Facial Recognition, or Phone Contact). If you prefer a specific identity validation method, please review the provider details below before registering.
AAAA Online Defensive Driving Course by IMPROV
Validation Method: Facial Recognition, Content Questions
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American Safety Council SafeMotorist
Validation Method: Voice Print, Content Questions
*Available in English and Spanish
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I DRIVE SAFELY, LLC
Validation Method: Keystroke Analysis, Personal and Content Questions
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National Safety Council
Validation Method: Phone Contact, Personal and Content Questions
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AARP Smart Driver Online Course
Validation Method: Keystroke Analysis, Personal and Content Questions
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AAA Driver Improvement Program
Validation Method: Voice Print, Personal and Content Questions
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New York Safety Program (NYSP)
Validation Method: Phone Contact, Personal and Content Question
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National Traffic Safety Institute (NTSI)
Validation Method: Phone Contact, Personal and Content Questions
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Empire Safety Council
Validation Method: Phone Contact, Personal and Content Questions
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American Safety
Validation Method: Keystroke Analysis, Personal and Content Questions
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Driver Training Associates (DTA)
Validation Method: Phone Contact, Personal and Content Questions
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Additional Official Resources
Need to Clear Your Record or Fight a Ticket?
If a driving course isn't enough, you may need a motion coram nobis to reopen a case, or aggressive representation to reduce your charges. Contact us today to discuss your options.