Point reduction or insurance premium reduction: which North Dakota course do you need?

Two agencies, two lists

Search for a North Dakota defensive driving course and you will find providers describing two different things with the same words. That is because North Dakota approves courses for two separate purposes:

• NDDOT approves courses that reduce points on a driving record, under NDCC 39-06.1.
• The Highway Patrol approves motor vehicle crash prevention courses that earn an insurance premium reduction, under NDCC 26.1-25-04.1.

Each agency keeps its own list. A course on one is not on the other unless the provider applied to both. And the certificate from one does only its own job.

One question

What do you want to change: your record, or your bill?

Your record. You have points and want three of them gone, or you just got a ticket worth five points or fewer and want to elect a course at court so the points never post. That is NDDOT's program. You need an NDDOT-approved course, and you send the certificate to NDDOT. Once every twelve months; in-lieu elections need the certificate at NDDOT within 30 days.

Your bill. You want the premium reduction North Dakota law requires insurers to give. That is the Highway Patrol's program. You need a Highway Patrol-approved course, and you send the certificate to your insurer. At least two years; three if you are 55 or older.

Side by side

	Point reduction course	Insurance premium reduction course
Approved by	NDDOT	Highway Patrol
The law	NDCC 39-06.1-13 and -10.1	NDCC 26.1-25-04.1; NDAC 38-08
What it does	3 points off, or a ticket's points never post	A lower premium; the record is untouched
Certificate goes to	NDDOT (you send it)	Your insurer (you send it)
How often	Once every 12 months; 9 points max in 3 years	Lasts 2 years; 3 at 55+
Deadline	30 days for in-lieu elections	None

"But fewer points should lower my insurance too"

Maybe, and only at your insurer's discretion. The point reduction course earns nothing under NDCC 26.1-25-04.1, because that statute names courses the Highway Patrol approves. Insurers do look at records, and a suspension is worse than a ticket, so keeping points down has its own value. It is just not the reduction the law requires, and no provider can promise it on your behalf.

If you need both

Take both. They are separate courses with separate certificates, and finishing one does not shorten the other. If you elected a course at court, do the point reduction course first; the 30-day clock is already running. The insurance course can wait for a free evening.

Both of ours are four hours online. The point reduction course is $24.99; the insurance premium reduction course is $24.99. Certificate included with each. Not sure? Answer one question.