Geico Defensive Driving Course Review: Compare Rates, Discounts, & Requirements [2023]

The GEICO Defensive Driving Course was created to help people become better drivers by learning techniques for accident prevention and anticipating and reacting to situations. It takes four to six hours for drivers to complete the course, but you are able to move at your own pace.

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Laura Berry

Former Licensed Insurance Producer

Laura Berry has experience as a licensed producer selling life, health, and property insurance coverage for both Allstate and State Farm. She has dedicated many hours to helping her clients understand the insurance marketplace so they could find the best car, home, and life insurance products for their circumstances. While she currently helps businesses take advantage of the federal R&D tax...

Former Licensed Insurance Producer

Joel Ohman

Founder & CFP®

Joel Ohman is the CEO of a private equity backed digital media company. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, author, angel investor, and serial entrepreneur who loves creating new things, whether books or businesses. He has also previously served as the founder and resident CFP® of a national insurance agency, Real Time Health Quotes. He has an MBA from the University of South Florida. Jo...

Founder & CFP®

UPDATED: Jun 2, 2022

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Here's what you need to know...

  • Geico offers defensive driving courses online that teach safe driving techniques for car accident prevention
  • The average driver receives discounts of up to 15% for up to three years
  • You can take three quick and easy steps to sign up for Geico’s defensive course

Some people may wonder, what is a defensive driver discount, and who can it help?

Geico offers its clients defensive driving courses to help them become safer drivers. Completion of the course results in a certificate and premium discounts depending on your state of residence.

Find out if your insurance company offers a free defensive driving course. To shop around and look for the best deal on insurance, enter your ZIP code and get a free quote today.

What is Geico’s Defensive Driving Course?

Geico offers defensive driving courses that teach safe driving techniques for car accident prevention. The course focuses on anticipating and reacting to situations. You can adopt defensive driver techniques and get Geico to offer you a discount by taking a course to learn these skills.

Eligibility rules and requirements for defensive driving discounts vary between states. Geico defensive driving course discount is not available in HI, MA, MI, NC, or VT.

The average driver can receive discounts of up to 15% for up to three years. Below are the driving discounts in some major states:

  • California — 5%
  • Texas — 10%
  • Florida — 10%
  • New York — 10%
  • Illinois — 10%
  • Pennsylvania — 10%
  • Georgia — 10%
  • New Jersey — 5%

Here is what the Geico Defensive Driver Course includes:

  • Controlling your speed
  • Looking ahead and expecting the unexpected
  • Being alert and distraction-free
  • Preparedness for all sorts of actions and reactions of other drivers and pedestrians
  • Not expecting the other drivers to do what you would ordinarily do
  • Watching and respecting other drivers
  • Maintaining a safe following distance
  • Driving safely considering (adjusting for) weather and/or road conditions
  • Adjusting your speed before entering a bend, in order to avoid applying the brakes in the middle of a bend

How does the course work?

Once you are registered, you will be able to log into the course on a computer or a smartphone. A laptop or desktop computer would most likely be the easiest way to access the course.

The allotted time for course completion is between four and six hours, depending on your state’s requirements. This course can be completed at any pace that you feel comfortable with.

Once you have completed the defensive driving course, you will receive a certificate of completion to forward to Geico.

How do I sign up for and complete Geico’s Defensive Driving Course?

Take these three quick and easy steps to sign up for and complete Geico’s Defensive Driving Course.

  1. Check with Geico to determine the amount of your discount. Ask about each family member or driver on the policy to potentially secure an even greater discount.
  2. Register for and complete your Defensive Driving Course using any digital device.
  3. Submit your certificate to Geico and receive your savings.

Registration for the course is $39.95.

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Geico Defensive Driving Course: The Bottom Line

If you have Geico insurance, taking the Geico Defensive Driving Course is a good investment, as it allows you to become a safer driver and to potentially receive a substantial discount.

Now that you know more about how defensive driving discounts can impact your insurance rates, enter your ZIP code to view free quotes and shop around for the best rates for you.

FAQs for Geico Defensive Driving Course

Can I use a course for an insurance discount if I don’t have insurance with Geico?

Yes, you can use a course for an insurance discount if you don’t have insurance with Geico. Many other car insurance providers offer discounts for completing an online defensive driving course such as SafeDriver.com.

When will I see my Geico insurance discount after completing the defensive driving course? 

Once you have completed the course, you will need to submit your certificate of completion to Geico. As soon as the certificate has been received, your insurance discount will be applied based on your course completion date.

Will I save more if other drivers on my Geico insurance policy take the course? 

You may be able to receive an additional discount depending on the age of the person taking the course. For example, if you are a senior or over 50, you could qualify for Geico defensive driving course for seniors. Contact your Geico insurance agent to find out if anybody else on your policy qualifies for a defensive driver course discount.

What should I do if my insurance discount expires? 

Your defensive driver course discount will last three years in most states. Check with your Geico agent to see how long your discount will apply in your state. When it expires, you are able to retake the course and receive the discount again.

Will the defensive driving course help with ticket dismissal? 

This defensive driving course provides an insurance premium discount for Geico customers. In some states, such as Texas, the SafeDriver.com defensive driver course is also used for ticket dismissal.

How else can I save with Geico? 

Discount NamePotential SavingsDiscount Category
Air Bag23%Vehicle Equipment
Anti-Lock Brakes5%Vehicle Equipment
Anti-Theft System23%Vehicle Equipment
Daytime Running Lights3%Vehicle Equipment
New Vehicle Discount15%Vehicle Equipment
Good Driver22% (Five Years Accident-Free)Driving History & Habits
Seat Belt UseVariesDriving History & Habits
Defensive DrivingVariesDriving History & Habits
Driver's Educational CourseVariesDriver's Education
Good Student15% Driver's Education
Emergency Deployment 25%Driver Affiliation
Federal Employee (Eagle)12%Driver Affiliation
Membership & EmployeeVariesDriver Affiliation
Military 15%Driver Affiliation
Multi-Vehicle25%Customer Loyalty
Multi-Policy VariesCustomer Loyalty

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What other insurance companies offer defensive driving discounts? 

A lot of major insurance companies offer defensive driving discounts to their customers:

  • Allstate
  • American Family Insurance
  • Farmers
  • MetLife
  • Nationwide
  • State Farm
  • Travelers
  • USAA

Some insurance companies offer the courses, but not discounts. The above companies offer both.

Reviews
for GEICO

4.11 (19,116 reviews)
1
January 3, 2022

Volodymyr_Korolevych

Adjuster stopped responding

Cant get ahold of anyone. Always different people giving me different numbers. No resolution Mr [REDACTED NAME], claim adjuster stopped responding to my requests without any resolution. Also not picking up my phone
1
May 17, 2021

Sergei_K

Can't get rid of them

From my personal experience, GEICO is the best place if you want to be fooled. Once you open the door, you can't get rid of them. About a year ago I canceled my policy ceasing any dealings with Geico. I paid the premiums in full and closed my account. Throughout the year, I've been a happy StateFarm customer. Several weeks ago, Geico unilaterally opened my policy forcing me to pay premiums for the following 6 months. Understanding that it could b...
From my personal experience, GEICO is the best place if you want to be fooled. Once you open the door, you can't get rid of them. About a year ago I canceled my policy ceasing any dealings with Geico. I paid the premiums in full and closed my account. Throughout the year, I've been a happy StateFarm customer. Several weeks ago, Geico unilaterally opened my policy forcing me to pay premiums for the following 6 months. Understanding that it could be a mistake, I contacted them 3 times. I talked to 6 different people. All of them promised to help me. I wrote 2 emails attaching copies of my StateFarm Id's for the entire period (after Geico policy cancellation). It didn't cure the problem. Moreover, Geico retroactively and unilaterally (without my desire, knowledge, and consent) reopened the policy. Now, they force me to pay for the previous months (last year). Geico supervisor [REDACTED NAME] claims that he obtains sufficient evidence that I hadn't been insured after I officially broke with Geico in April-May 2020 = the company is right demanding me to pay for nothing. From my non-legal understanding, it's a fraud, He knowingly (I sent them StateFarm Id's for the entire period) mispresents the facts unlawfully demanding payment.
1
February 10, 2021

vscore16

BAIT AND SWITCH

They waited 60 days and then doubled my rate. they never notified me. When I looked it up they said it was due to the agent putting it in as a sports bus, and since I am using it for sales my rate is double. yes on their letter they sent me it shows right on it that the old use is class "C" and the new use is class "C". The reviews on geicos website are fake. real reviews are much more negative. They lie in their commercials about saving money s...
They waited 60 days and then doubled my rate. they never notified me. When I looked it up they said it was due to the agent putting it in as a sports bus, and since I am using it for sales my rate is double. yes on their letter they sent me it shows right on it that the old use is class "C" and the new use is class "C". The reviews on geicos website are fake. real reviews are much more negative. They lie in their commercials about saving money so why would I not expect them to lie about the rate they are giving me. I am no risk adjuster but any halfway intelligent person knows their is a lot more risk for a bus full of athletes that ways 20,000 pounds than a minivan with one person in it. Yet according to geico insuring a moving tank is cheaper than insuring a minivan. Would you believe that? I am not that gullible. Bait and switch all the way.
5
February 3, 2021

Trinidad2_

geico is the best

great company with fantastic customer service they lowered my cost due to covid with no issues and they are always a phoen call away fo r help wiht my policy, i wholeheartedly reccomend them
2
February 3, 2021

Jotwox

Not recommend

They were alright not the best. If they put in more effort into the customers they could’ve kept me.
5
February 2, 2021

Waycross43_

Helpful

Geico has been great during the pandemic. They have worked with me changing billing dates based on what I need. They have helped me save 212 dollars a month on insurance.
5
February 1, 2021

Babanana

Geico is amazing

My experience receiving auto insurance from Geico has been extremely positive. The insurance process was perfectly smooth and I have all my insurance information neatly organized at the tip of my fingers on my mobile phone. The coverage and premiums are much better than I received from my previous provider.
2
February 1, 2021

Justin_Kim

Filing a claim at geico

They were very nice and had good customer service. Once I even filed a claim and they got back to me within seventy-four hours.
5
January 28, 2021

Dingo

Insurance You Can Understand

The representative borke down all information in an easy-to-understand manner and then made very easy the process of initiating the policies. I am also very happy with the ease of managing online and on the app.
5
January 22, 2021

wheezer

Very reasonable

This is the best insurance company I think there is. Rates are very reasonable and they do not overcharge. I am able to pay my insurance every 6 months and when I received my renewal, there was no rate increase. I will be a loyal Geico customer for sure!
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