In several states, the law makes car insurers lower the premium for older drivers who finish a state-approved driving safety course.,, That mature driver course insurance discount comes from state law, though, and each state decides who qualifies, which part of the premium drops, how long the discount lasts and whether there's a minimum amount, so the details below are state examples rather than a rule that applies everywhere.

In This Guide

How a Mature Driver Course Insurance Discount Works

If you're hoping for a gentler conversation than "it's time to give up the keys," this is a good one to have. A refresher course keeps your parent's skills current, and in the states below it can also take something off the insurance bill.

The laws we checked share a basic shape. A driver reaches a set age (usually 55), takes a course the state has approved, gets a certificate, and hands it to the insurer. The discount then runs for a fixed period, and the course has to be repeated to keep it going. California's law, for example, applies to principal operators 55 or older who produce proof of completing a DMV-approved mature driver improvement course; the reduction lasts three years, and the course must be retaken every three years to stay eligible.

Where the states split is in the details that decide whether your parent actually saves money:

So the course is worth taking, but it's worth asking the insurer what it'll actually knock off before your parent signs up.

Mature Driver Discount Rules in Six States

These six states are examples we verified against each state's own statute and agency page. They aren't a full list, and if your parent's state isn't here, that only means we haven't verified it yet, not that the state has no discount.

State Who qualifies Coverage the discount applies to How long it lasts Does the law set an amount?
California Principal operators 55 or older who complete a DMV-approved mature driver course Motor vehicle liability 3 years; retake every 3 years No, "appropriate" reduction
Pennsylvania Policies where all named insureds are 55 or older and completed a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)-approved course All coverages 3 years; course every 3 years Yes, at least 5% per vehicle
Florida Principal operator 55 or older who completes a Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV)-approved course Liability, personal injury protection and collision 3 years No, left to each insurer
New York Any insured, at any age, who completes an approved course Liability and collision 3 years No; the DMV says 10 percent
Washington Insureds 55 and older who complete an 8-hour approved course Liability and physical damage, not underinsured motorist 2 years No, "appropriate" reduction
Illinois Insureds over age 55 (statute) who complete an approved course Automobile liability 3 years No, as determined by the insurer

A few of those rows have a twist worth knowing before your parent enrolls.

Pennsylvania sets a floor of at least 5%, but only on a policy where all the named insureds are 55 or older. If your parent shares a policy with a younger spouse or an adult child who's a named insured, the statute's condition isn't met. In Pennsylvania, an insurer can also skip the state discount if regulators accept that it duplicates the insurer's own driver improvement course discount.

Florida's law doesn't apply when the course was ordered by a court or other government entity as punishment for a moving violation. In Florida, the insurer may require that the driver not have an at-fault accident and not be convicted of a moving violation to keep the discount. FLHSMV says the amount is at the discretion of each insurance company.

New York's law is the outlier on age: it covers any insured for three years after an approved defensive driving course. The New York DMV says its Point and Insurance Reduction Program course will save 10 percent on liability and collision premiums. New York's statute also says there's no reduction for a self-instruction course or one without actual classroom instruction, except as another section of state law provides, so check that an online course is on the DMV's approved list before paying for it.

Washington's discount lasts two years, not three, and doesn't apply to underinsured motorist coverage. Washington's law lets an eight-hour course be offered online. The Washington State Department of Licensing tells drivers to contact the insurer to find out what the reduction will be.

Illinois's statute says "over age 55," while the Illinois Secretary of State describes its program as open to residents age 55 or older. If your parent is exactly 55, ask the insurer which reading it applies. Illinois's law doesn't cover a car whose principal driver had a license suspended or revoked by the Illinois Secretary of State within the previous 36 months.

How to Get the Discount, Step by Step

None of this happens automatically. The insurer has to see proof, and in California and Illinois the discount period is counted from the date the course is completed.,

  1. Find your state's approved course list. In each of the six states above, a state agency approves or sets the standards for the courses: the DMV in California and New York, PennDOT in Pennsylvania, FLHSMV in Florida, the Department of Licensing in Washington and the Secretary of State in Illinois.,,,,,
  2. Call the insurer first. Ask whether your parent qualifies, which coverages the discount applies to and roughly what it's worth. In Washington, the Department of Licensing points drivers to the insurer for exactly that answer.
  3. Take the course and keep the certificate. Florida, Washington and Illinois agency pages all describe a completion certificate that the driver sends to the insurance company.,,
  4. Check the next bill. Make sure the discount shows up on the policy.
  5. Put the retake date on the calendar. In California and Pennsylvania the course has to be repeated every three years to keep the discount.,

Can an Insurer Drop Your Parent Because of Their Age?

Some states limit it. But the wording is narrow, so read it closely before assuming your parent is protected.

Two limits matter here. Minnesota's and Ohio's rules address renewal only. And each law is written around age alone: Maine's says "the sole reason," and Minnesota's says "solely because of the age of the insured," so the insurer's stated reason is what matters. If your parent gets a nonrenewal notice, ask the insurer in writing for the reason, then contact your state's insurance department if the answer points to age.

When the Real Question Is Safety, Not Cost

A course discount is a good fit for a driver who's still safe and wants to stay sharp. It's not a fix for real warning signs. If you're seeing near-misses, new dents or getting lost on familiar routes, start with our guide on when to stop driving. Some states also have age-based license renewal rules, which you can check in our guide to older driver license renewal rules by state. And if the conversation isn't working and the risk is real, here's how to report an unsafe older driver to the DMV.

When your parent does stop driving, the insurance question changes to cancelling coverage in the right order. Our guide to giving up a driver's license covers the plates, registration and insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do seniors get a discount on car insurance for taking a driving course?

In California, Pennsylvania, Florida, Washington and Illinois, the law requires one for qualifying older drivers, and New York's law requires one for drivers of any age. The discount isn't automatic, though: the driver has to finish a state-approved course first, and in California, Florida, Washington and Illinois the driver then gives proof of completion to the insurer. If your parent's state isn't one of these six, ask the state's insurance department and the insurer directly.,,,,,

Does everyone on the policy need to take the course?

It depends on the state. In Pennsylvania, the required discount applies only on a policy where all named insureds are 55 or older and have completed an approved course. California's and Florida's laws tie the discount to a principal operator 55 or older who completed the course.,,

Can my parent take the course online?

It depends on the state. Washington's law lets an eight-hour course be offered online, and Illinois's law includes eLearning courses., New York's law limits reductions for courses without classroom instruction, so confirm the course is on the state's approved list before enrolling.

Does a court-ordered traffic course count toward the discount?

Not under Florida's or New York's discount law. Florida's law doesn't apply to a course taken as punishment ordered by a court or other government entity for a moving traffic violation, and New York's doesn't apply to attending a program under article 21 of the state's Vehicle and Traffic Law because of a traffic infraction.,

Learn More

CaregiverWhen Should an Older Adult Stop Driving? How to Know and What to DoThere's no set age to stop driving. The warning signs it may be time, how to have the conversation, dementia and driving, and how to stay mobile after. CaregiverOlder Driver License Renewal Rules by StateLicense renewal rules for older drivers by state: when renewal moves in person, adds a vision test or shortens the license, each row cited to its source. CaregiverGiving Up a Driver's License: How to Surrender It and Keep a Photo IDHow to surrender a driver's license and keep a photo ID (free in some states), plus what to do with the car's plates and the disability parking placard. CaregiverHow to Report an Unsafe Older Driver to the DMVIn almost every state you can report an unsafe elderly driver to the DMV in writing. What to include, what happens next, and whether your parent will know.

Find personalized help keeping an older parent driving safely and affordably at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

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Brevy Care Team

Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.