Does Missouri's Driver Improvement Program lower your insurance?

Will my insurance company see the ticket if I take the course?

Yes. The Missouri Safety Center says the program "will not remove the ticket from the drivers record, only the points from the license." Your record still shows the conviction. The Department of Revenue says a ticket conviction may be removed three years after the conviction date.

Some course websites say insurers won't see the ticket. The state's own documents say the conviction stays.

Does Missouri make insurers lower rates for taking the course?

No. The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance says it "does not set insurance rates." Nothing in the Driver Improvement Program law mentions insurance.

What do insurers base rates on?

The Department of Commerce and Insurance lists what companies usually use: the coverage and deductible you choose, where the car is kept, how it's used, the car itself, the driver's age and sex, credit history, and "driving and claims record."

Each company decides how much a ticket counts. Some look at convictions. Some look at points. The only way to know is to ask yours.

What should I ask my insurance company?

• Do you raise rates for a conviction that has no points assessed?
• How many years back do you look at my driving record?
• Do you lower my rate if I finish a defensive driving course on my own?

Get the answers before your court date. They're part of deciding whether to use the program now or save it.

How does the course help with insurance at all?

It helps you stay below a suspension. Eight points in 18 months suspends your license, and to get it back you file an SR-22 form and keep it on file for two years. An SR-22 is a filing your insurer makes to prove you carry liability coverage.

If you have 5 points and a 3-point ticket, the program is what keeps you at 5.

So is the course worth $24.99?

For your license, yes, if the court approves it and you have points or drive enough to pick up more. For your insurance bill, we can't promise anything, and neither can anyone else selling a course.

How the program works covers who qualifies.