Learning to drive your vehicle is an exciting experience. However, it comes with numerous risks and costs like insurance rates, repair charges and other administrative costs. As auto insurance costs in Canada are increasing rapidly, car owners are looking for multiple ways to save money.
To your delight, there are various ways to get discounts on car insurance premiums without compromising coverage and financial safety. One of the simplest and quickest ways to save money on your monthly insurance premiums is to enrol in a defensive driving course.
So in this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about the defensive driving course and answer the question, “does a defensive driving course reduce insurance in Canada?”. To get the best car insurance in Canada, you can contact Surex.
What Exactly Is A Defensive Driving Course?
A defensive driving course simply helps young drivers focus on skills, strategies and awareness, which can help you avoid accidents. During the course, you learn to drive confidently and safely and about the various road conditions in the country. You also learn about the liabilities of other drivers and possible perils.
Most drivers in Canada attend defensive driving courses to learn about the various traffic hazards and driving techniques. People also enrol in this course to get an insurance discount from the car insurance companies.
What Are The Various Advantages Of A Defensive Driving Course?
Some of the benefits of attending a defensive driving course are:
1. Get lower insurance rates
After you graduate from a defensive driving course from a local driving school, you will be eligible for a defensive driving course Ontario insurance discount on car insurance by as much as 10%. You can attend the course in a classroom or stream it online.
Some provinces allow one-hour driving courses, while in other parts you have to complete a more prolonged course to qualify for this discount. However, regardless of how much of your time you spend on this course, it is worth it as you can potentially save hundreds of dollars on car insurance.
2. You become a good driver
Even if you are a beginner or an experienced driver, there is always scope for improvement, and with the help of this course, you can improve your driving techniques and learn better strategies. You cannot stop accidents, but they can be prevented by preparing yourself to overcome any driving hazards.
3. Avoid paying fines or penalties
If you have graduated from a defensive driving course, you can remove points or get rid of traffic tickets. However, if you have too many defaults, your licence will be automatically suspended.
Therefore a defensive driving course helps you keep your driving history squeaky clean.
4. Learn better driving techniques and skills
No matter how skilled or experienced you are, you will face some road hazards while you drive. All the policyholders who attend defensive driving courses will learn safer driving techniques to help them anticipate, avoid and effectively react to road accidents. You will also learn to control your emotions while driving a vehicle.
Is it Mandatory to Attend a Defensive Driving Course in Canada?
Even though it is not mandatory to attend any defensive driving course in Canada, young and new drivers will benefit significantly from this educational course. However, in some instances attending a defensive driving course is mandatory.
For example, suppose you have been in numerous accidents, or you might have received multiple traffic tickets in a short period. In that case, your Insurance company might ask you to complete this course before you can get any coverage. In such cases, the Ministry Of Transportation or traffic judge will help you participate in a defensive driving course, and until you have graduated, your licence will be suspended.
Let’s assume you are an unsafe driver and have been involved in numerous accidents and traffic violations. In that case, you will receive a notice from the ministry mentioning that you need to take an approved course within a few days. Once you have completed the course, the licenced institute will forward the acknowledgement to the Ministry. However, your driving licence might be suspended or cancelled if you fail the course or do not attend the classes.
What Discounts Will You Receive After Completing the Course?
If you are wondering, “does a defensive driving course reduce insurance?” the answer is definitely yes. To avail of this discount, you must show your driver’s training certificate to the insurance company, and if they are satisfied, you will immediately get a discount.
In addition to this, while buying auto Insurance, you must research thoroughly. Most insurance companies usually mention their discounts on their official website. It is always advised that you get in touch with the insurance provider before enrolling In this driving course. Here you can learn whether they will offer any discount if you take the course or not.
There are some other ways to reduce your insurance rates. For example, if you are a G2 driver, you can always graduate with a G license after completing an 8-month driving course instead of 12 months.
What is the Approximate Cost of a Defensive Driving Course?
There are multiple defensive driving courses. Some of them are virtual, where you can watch a list of videos and then give a test. In other courses, you must be in class and require on-road experience.
All the online courses that provide a completion certificate start at approximately $100. The licensed defensive driving institutions in Canada that offer proof of completion can cause between $150 to $1000. The price usually depends on the hours of practical driving experience you require. On the other hand, professional high-end driving courses start at about $2500.
So Does a Defensive Driving Course Reduce Insurance in Canada?
In this article, we have answered the question, “how does a defensive driving course reduce insurance in Canada?”. Now you can decide whether you want to take the course or not.
The course may help reduce your monthly premiums on auto Insurance, but you also learn to be a better driver and learn the skills necessary to avoid the chances of accidents. It is a complete win-win situation.