How to Find Defensive Driving Courses in Arkansas
Taking an Arkansas defensive driving course may dismiss your old violation points or earn you a car insurance discount.
Written by Macy Fouse
Reviewed by Hillary Kobayashi
Completing a defensive driving course in Arkansas may get one of your old tickets dismissed or earn you a
car insurance
discount, but you’ll need to make sure the course is approved before you enroll. Driving violations in the Natural State can add up quickly, and too many points could lead to a
license suspension
. Thankfully, many Arkansas counties allow drivers to take an approved defensive driving course to reduce their points—and that’s not the only benefit of enrolling in traffic school.Keep scrolling to find out more about defensive driving classes in Arkansas.
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversTaking a defensive driving course in Arkansas could…
…satisfy your court requirements
Like most states, Arkansas uses a point system to tally infractions on your driving record. Minor violations, like speeding tickets, will cost three points, while serious offenses, like reckless driving, will add eight points.
Drivers who accumulate 10 points or more will be mandated to take an approved defensive driving course—and getting 14 points will lead to an automatic court hearing.
…dismiss a minor traffic ticket
You don’t have to have 10 points on your record to benefit from traffic school. Some Arkansas traffic courts may allow drivers to take an approved course to get past violations reduced or removed from their records.
To be eligible for this option, you can’t have earned a ticket for a moving violation within three years or already completed a defensive driving course within three years. You also can’t pursue this route if you’ve gotten any citations that required a mandatory court appearance in the past.
Arkansas does not have an official defensive driving class, so you’ll have to find an Arkansas court-approved defensive driving course, either in person or online. Before you enroll, make sure to check with your specific county to see if this is an option for you.
…earn you an insurance discount
The majority of car insurance companies provide discounts for drivers who complete safe driving classes. You could lower your premium costs and get reacquainted with
safe driving
practices by following these steps:- Get in touch with your insurance provider to check your eligibility for any safe driver discounts they may have.
- Look for a defensive driving course that’s approved by your insurer.
- Sign-up and complete the course.
- Send your certificate of completion to your insurance company.
Not all defensive driving courses in the state will earn you a discount.
GEICO
, for example, offers discounts for eligible Arkansans who take an online defensive driving course with the National Safety Council (NSC)
or Defensive Driving by IMPROV
—and at a discounted rate. However, there may be an age requirement for the discount, and the exact discount will differ from person to person. Before you go and sign-up for a random traffic course, contact your insurance company first!
MORE: How to get car insurance discounts
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…improve your driving skills
Defensive driving courses aren’t the same as typical driver’s ed classes—these specialized courses cover the essentials of safe driving, state traffic laws, and defensive driving techniques.
Depending on your learning style, you may soak up the information better online or in person. Online courses often include videos, animations, and checkpoint quizzes; in-person classes will usually include group discussions and more hands-on learning opportunities.
Whether you’ve been behind the wheel for three months or 30 years, a driver training course can go a long way in improving your driving skills and reducing your risk of accidents and traffic violations—saving you money along the way.
MORE: The benefits of taking a defensive driving course
How to find Arkansas defensive driving courses
Arkansas doesn’t have an official list of approved driving schools, so finding one that fits your specific situation might prove to be a chore. It doesn’t help that every Arkansas county has different requirements!
Nevertheless, here are some good places to start:
- Arkansas Defensive Drivingis a state-approved online defensive driving course. In total, the course takes four hours to complete, but you can go at your own pace and take breaks as needed. You’ll go through 14 different chapters—each followed by a short quiz—before taking the final 25-question test. Don’t worry, you can retake the test as many times as it takes to pass. This option costs $40.
- For Arkansas in NWA, theDriving Academy of Northwest Arkansasoffers both in-person and virtual options for their four-hour defensive driving course. This class will be $39.
- TheArkansas Aware Driver© by IMPROV Learningcourse is online. It utilizes interactive games and videos to teach defensive driving methods, including simple multiple-choice quizzes. IMPROV claims that their courses are proven to reduce collisions, and it’ll only set you back $28.
- If you’re in a hurry,Drive Safe Onlinehas the shortest online traffic school available. You can complete the course in your own time, and it’s already approved in many Arkansas courts. There’s a one-hour and six-hour option, depending on your requirements, and it’ll cost you a total of $25.
Some options may be approved for ticket dismissal but not for court-ordered requirements and vice versa, so make sure to double-check with your Arkansas traffic court or insurance company before you sign-up.
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How much is a defensive driving course in Arkansas?
Each Arkansas defensive driving course will cost a different amount, but you can expect to pay between $25 and $40.
How long is a defensive driving course in Arkansas?
A defensive driving class in Arkansas can last anywhere from one to six hours, but four hours is the average. In-person classes will usually take up more time, but online courses typically allow you to move at your own speed.
