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Defensive driving school is a voluntary program designed to help improve your driving record and reduce your insurance premiums. It is not to be confused with New Jersey’s remedial driving programs, which we’ll discuss in more detail below.

Two Driver Programs in New Jersey

New Jersey has two kinds of remedial driver education courses that have been approved by the state’s court system: 

• Driver Improvement Program (DIP) 
• Probationary Driver Program (PDP). 

The DIP and PDP are similar in that they both help to educate drivers on safe driving practices, but they differ in a few key areas. Most notably is the fact that the DIP is for experienced drivers whereas the PDP is for new or inexperienced drivers.

Successful completion of either a state-approved DIP or state-approved PDP course will result in you receiving a certificate and a warning. The warning states that any traffic-related conviction that lands on your record in the next year will result in the automatic suspension of your driver license. But if you don’t go to classes as required by the courts, that could also result in your driver license being suspended.

Driver Improvement Program (DIP)

The Driver Improvement Program, or DIP, is a classroom course with a curriculum regulated by the state of New Jersey. If you’ve received between 12 and 14 points on your license from traffic-related convictions in 24 months, you might receive a notice in the mail from the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) giving you the option to take this course. 

Given that your other option is to have your driver license suspended for 30 days, taking the class is generally a good choice. Unfortunately, the course is not free. Enrollment in a DIP course requires a $75 administration fee plus an additional training fee due to the provider for classroom instruction.

Probationary Driver Program (PDP)

The New Jersey MVC considers drivers who receive a driver license for the first time to be probationary drivers and requires them to serve a two-year probationary period. If any such probationary driver is found guilty of two or more moving violations with a total of four or more points, they will receive a Fee Due notice to pay for and enroll in a PDP course to correct their driving habits.

This is a four-hour classroom program provided by state-approved and state-licensed organizations around New Jersey. Successful completion of a PDP course will result in up to three points being removed from your driving record. Like with DIP courses, PDP courses are not free. They require you to pay a $75 administration fee plus an additional training fee due to the provider for classroom instruction.

Approved DIP and PDP Locations

There are a few approved DIP and PDP locations around the state. This list is subject to change over time. For a complete list of DIP and PDP course providers who have been approved by the state of New Jersey, contact the Motor Vehicle Commission. Here are two state-approved providers:

National Safety Council
www.nsc.org/drivesafenj
(877) 441-9721
ddcnj@nsc.org

Superior Driving School
www.superiordrivers.com
(732) 505-9470
superiorttt@aol.com 

Defensive Driving Courses

Unlike DIP and PDP courses, defensive driving courses in New Jersey are entirely voluntary. You will not face any legal backlash if you decide to not take one of these courses. However, taking a defensive driving course can come with some serious benefits.

Successful completion of a state-approved defensive driving course in New Jersey can result in up to two points being removed from the list of active points on your driver license and your auto insurance premiums being reduced. The rate of insurance premium reduction will depend on your insurance provider. For more information, contact your insurance agent.

Approved Defensive Driving Course Locations

As with DIP and PDP courses, only state-approved defensive driving courses can be applied toward your point total. The following table includes a list of approved defensive driving course providers, their addresses, contact names, and phone numbers:

Approved Online Course

It is also possible to take these courses online (under select conditions). The rise in popularity of online courses is due in part to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is a table of state-approved online traffic schools:

Mature Defensive Driver Courses

Mature defensive driving courses are identical to ordinary defensive driving courses but with one major difference: they are specifically designed to cater to New Jersey’s drivers aged 55 years or older. This is equal to one fourth of all New Jersey drivers, a ratio that is expected to increase in the coming years.