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1. After completing the PIRP course, how do I receive the insurance reduction?

The course sponsor should mail you a completion certificate within 45 days after you complete the course. If you present your certificate to your insurance company or agent within 90 days after course completion, your liability and collision premium reduction will begin immediately, retroactive to the date you completed the course. If you present your certificate more than 90 days after course completion, the insurer may issue the premium discount effective from the date presented.

If you do not receive your certificate within eight weeks after completion, immediately contact the program sponsor. You may take the course once every 36 months to maintain insurance reduction benefits.

2. After I complete the PIRP course, how do I receive the point reduction?

The PIRP sponsor will notify the DMV within ten weeks after you complete the course. A notice will then be entered on your driving record, and the DMV computer will automatically reduce your active point total by up to four points. Important: Completion of a course under the "Point & Insurance Reduction Program" does not remove, delete, subtract, or erase any violation, conviction, or notice of original number of points from your driving record. Even after you complete the course, most violations, conviction and points assessed will continue to show on your driving record for up to four years. Violations and convictions involving drugs or alcohol will remain on your driving record for ten years. "Point reduction" means the DMV will not count up to four points on your driving record toward license revocation or suspension.

3. How do I know my driving record shows my PIRP course completion?

If you need to verify the course completion has been entered on your record, you may request a copy of your driving record from the DMV. To do so, you can order your driving record online, or complete a "Request for Driver and / or Vehicle Record Information" (form MV-15), available at any motor vehicle office.

If your course completion is not noted on your driving record more than ten weeks after you completed it, contact the course sponsor.

4. How much time does the PIRP course take, what is it like and what does it cost?

Beginning in 2009, you will have two options for completing the PIRP course. Your options will be the traditional classroom method or an Alternate Delivery Method (ADM), such as the Internet or other DMV approved method. Regardless of the delivery method, each course is at least six hours long. (Note: The motorcycle safety / accident prevention courses take substantially longer and are only available in a classroom setting.) Essential information about traffic safety issues such as driver attitude and behavior, defensive driving techniques, and the Vehicle and Traffic Law must be presented in each course. For both the classroom and ADM methods, additional content, approach, materials and fees vary from one sponsor to the next.

Information specific to the classroom course:

The course is presented in one or more classroom sessions and attendance is mandatory. No formal testing is required to complete the course. For information on where to attend a course, consult your local telephone book under "Driving Instruction" or equivalent sections. You may also contact one of the program sponsors presented in the DMV  publication, "List of Course Sponsors" (C-31), available at any state or county motor vehicle office and by request from DMV Call Center. The information is also available on the department website.

Information specific to the alternate delivery method:

The course will be a minimum 320 minutes. Once you register with a sponsor, you have up to 30 days to complete the course. During the course, you will be asked to identify yourself with information given at registration. To ensure that you are taking the course, you will also be asked questions regarding the content. It is possible that you will be asked to register in person and / or take an exam at the end to once again ensure you are the one who completed the course. Each sponsor's method is different, so you should contact the sponsor to determine which course best fits your needs. You can contact approved ADM course sponsors presented in the DMV publication, "List of Course Sponsors" (C-31), available at any state or county motor vehicle office and by request from the DMV Call Center. The most up-to-date information regarding who is approved to provide the alternate delivery method is available on the department website.

5. If a youthful operator is already receiving a driver education reduction, will the PIRP discount also be applied?

Check with your insurance company or agent to find out if both reductions will be given at the same time.

6. What effect does point reduction have on my license and driving record?

Point reduction applies only to points assessed for violations that occurred within the eighteen months immediately before course completion. It does not affect points for earlier violations, and cannot be used as "credit" against future violations or points.

Point reduction cannot reduce your point total lower than zero.

If your license has already been revoked or suspended, or if a violation hearing has already been scheduled, point reduction will not affect that action.

Point reduction does not prevent or cancel a mandatory revocation or suspension for violations such as DWI, DWAI, or three speeding violations within 18 months.

Points may be reduced only once in any 18-month period. The DMV point system and insurance company "point" systems are separate and not related. Point reduction on your driving record does not affect points assigned by your insurance company for violations and accidents.

Completion of a course under the "Point & Insurance Reduction Program" also cannot prevent or reduce the calculation of points affecting a "Driver Responsibility Assessment." The most recent  information about the "Driver Responsibility Assessment" program is available from the DMV Internet Office.

7. What if more than one person named on a policy completes the PIRP course?

The insurance premium reduction applies to all motor vehicles principally operated by the motorist who completes the course. The reduction can be applied to only one driver for each covered vehicle.

8. Will the PIRP course prevent my insurance company from raising my premiums?

No. Insurance reduction does not prevent general premium increases, or premium increases due to violations or accidents. It provides a 10% reduction for three years, from the base rate of your current liability, no-fault and collision premiums.

9. Will youthful operators and drivers participating in assigned risk pool receive the insurance premium discount?

Yes. Any insured driver who is the principal operator and completes a  Point & Insurance Reduction Program course will receive the reduction.