The Best Online Defensive Driving Courses in Georgia (2026)

Georgia drivers can request that the Department of Driver Services (DDS) reduce up to 7 points from their license once every 5 years under O.C.G.A §40-5-86 by completing a DDS-certified Driver Improvement (defensive driving) course. Important caveat: for the 7-point reduction, the course must be 6 hours of classroom instruction. DDS does not accept online courses for points reduction (online courses can still be used for ticket dismissal at a court's discretion or for an insurance discount). The state-regulated price for a court-purposes or points-reduction course is $95. Georgia's point system runs from 2 to 6 points per violation, with a 15-point/24-month threshold triggering a license suspension for adults 21 and older, and stricter thresholds for drivers under 18.

The True Cost of a Ticket in Georgia

Georgia drivers face an $84 fine and about $2,481 in three-year insurance surcharges for a 10-mph-over ticket, roughly $2,565 all-in. The fine is only about 3% of the total. Georgia offers a defensive-driving program that provides both point reduction and a mandated insurance discount (OCGA § 33-9-42). The discount applies to all age groups, unlike some states that limit it to seniors or teens, and is available once every five years. Course tuition typically runs $30 to $95. The discount varies by carrier but averages 10%, applied to base premium. On a Georgia base rate of about $2,503, that's roughly $250 per year in savings, or $750 over three years. Combined with point reduction, the course is a defensible move for most Georgia drivers who receive a ticket.