Get Started! Virginia Driver Improvement

by John Fabel | Last Updated: September 29, 2022

Taking a Driver Improvement course rarely appears high on anyone’s to-do list, but if you have a ticket to dismiss or would like to save a little money on your car insurance, there’s really no easier way. Not ready to jump in yet? Here are a few more answers that may help you decide.

Answers in this post:

What Are the Reasons for Taking Virginia Driver Improvement?

How Does the Virginia Point System Work?

Is Virginia Driver Improvement Available Online?

How Often Can VA Driver Improvement be Taken?

What Are the Steps to Completing Virginia Driver Improvement?

What Are the Best Online Driver Improvement Courses in Virginia?

What are Some Reasons for Taking a VA Driver Improvement Course?

Believe it or not, Virginia doesn’t have one reason for taking a driver improvement class, there are seven, and each comes with its own code. Let’s break them down.

Commercial driver improvement is a specialized course. Ask your court or provider for details.

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What Are Virginia “Safe Driver Points?”

Like most states, Virginia uses a driver record points system to keep track of at-risk drivers. Unlike most other states, Virginia awards both safe driver points and demerit points.

Demerit points are added to a driver’s record following an accident or ticket. The number of points and how long they remain on the record depends on the type of violation. Points are also added for violations that occur in another state.

With the exception of speeding, 3-point violations remain on a driving record for three years. Speeding 1-9 MPH over the limit remains for five.

As with 3-point violations, 4-pointers stay on a record for three years except speeding which stays for five. Failure to stop at a crash remains for 11.

Six-point violations remain on a record for 11 years.

The consequences of accumulated points depend on your age.

You can check your current point total on the Virginia DMV website.

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What are Safe Driver Points?

Safe driver points subtract from the number of demerit points on a driver’s record. Drivers are awarded one safe driving point for every 12 months of citation-free driving. Annual safe driving points are awarded in early April of each year for the previous calendar year. In addition, five safe driving points are awarded after successfully completing a driver improvement course.

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Can I Take Driver Improvement Online in VA?

Absolutely. In fact, there’s really no better or easier way to complete a driver improvement course. An online course allows you to get the job done quickly and easily on a schedule and at a pace that works for you. Work on it whenever you have a few minutes, and it will be over before you know it. Just be sure that the online clinic you choose has been approved by the VA DMV. We’d hate to see you have to go through this dance twice!

It must be noted here that an online driver improvement course is not acceptable for drivers under 20 years of age. These drivers are required to complete a classroom version of the course.

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How Often Can You Take Driver Improvement in Virginia?

Virginia drivers can voluntarily complete driver improvement once every 24 months to earn five safe driver points. The number of times it can be taken for the dismissal of demerit points is up to the courts.

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How Do I Complete Virginia Driver Improvement?

To check whether your course has been reported you can get your driving record.

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Need More Help Deciding on a Course?

For help deciding, you can read reviews of our number one choice (as well as a couple of others), or you can just get started with any of the other fine, DMV-approved providers in the chart below. By the way, if three choices aren’t enough, we also have a list of all the online Driver Improvement providers in Virginia.

Best VA DMV-Approved Online Driver Improvement Providers

Website

Name

Phone

Register NOW!

888-329-7069

#1 in VA!


800-391-8536

855-982-9444

John Fabel

I have a long and checkered history with defensive driving. I took my first "court invited" course at age 15 and realized immediately that there had to be a better way. Since that first experience, I have gone on to teach defensive driving classroom courses and to author four internet courses in 2 states. After nearly 25 years in the industry, I can help you find a course that will be the best fit for you.