NYS DMV POINT & INSURANCE REDUCTION PROGRAM



The Point & Insurance Reduction Program (PIRP), approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles, is available through private companies or corporations, called "course sponsors," throughout New York State. Each qualifying course must meet strict standards for the safe driving information presented and program effectiveness. If you complete an approved PIRP course:

1. It will help refresh your driving knowledge with a review of time-tested safe driving tips and an overview of today's vehicle and traffic laws.
   
   
   
2. You may be eligible to reduce as many as four (4) points on your driving record. The DMV computer will automatically note your eligibility to receive the reduction.
   
   
   
3. If you are the principal operator of a motor vehicle, you will receive a minimum 10% reduction in the base rate of your automobile and motorcycle liability and collision insurance premiums each year for three years.
   

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT...

The Course

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

A: 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 & 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: www.dmv.ny.gov.

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: www.nysdmv.com.

Point Reduction

Q: After I complete the PIRP course, how do I receive the point reduction?

A: 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.

Q: How do I know my driving record shows my PIRP course completion?

A: 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 on-line, 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.

Q: What effect does point reduction have on my license and driving record?

A: 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.

Insurance Reduction

Q: After completing the PIRP course, how do I receive the insurance reduction?

A: 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.

Q: Will the PIRP course prevent my insurance company from raising my premiums?

A: 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.

Q: What if more than one person named on a policy completes the PIRP course?

A: 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.

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

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

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

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

DMV Point System Summary

The following table shows the point values assigned to moving traffic violations. The "points" are assessed against your driving record based on the date you committed the violation, not the date you were convicted in court. If you accumulate 11 or more points in 18 months, you will be called to a DMV hearing, after which your license may be suspended or revoked. You will be offered the option of waiving the hearing or accepting a definite period of suspension.

Some license revocations and suspensions are mandatory and do not depend on points. These include three speeding violations within 18 months, and convictions involving alcohol or drugs.

For more information about license suspensions and revocations, please refer to the publication "Suppose Your License Were Taken Away" (C-12), available at any motor vehicle office.



INTERNET/ALTERNATE DELIVERY METHOD POINT AND INSURANCE REDUCTION PROGRAM

How to Reduce Your Points and Your Insurance Premiums

If you take a DMV-approved accident prevention course, you can

• reduce your driver violation point total by a maximum of four points, and

• save 10 percent on your automobile liability and collision insurance premiums.

An accident prevention course cannot prevent a mandatory suspension or revocation.

An accident prevention course and point reduction do not affect a driver responsibility assessment.

You cannot use the course as a credit against future driver violation points.

The DMV computer system automatically applies the point reduction when your course completion is added to your record. Your record shows your convictions and the points they carry, and has a notation that you completed the course and that a reduction of up to 4 points has been applied. Your driver record does not show any summary or total that includes the subtraction of the points. The reduction is automatically applied within the DMV computer system.

For more information, read the DMV brochure, The Point and Insurance Reduction Program available at:

http://www.nysdmv.com/broch/c32a.htm

Approved Courses

The NYSDMV has approved the sponsoring agencies listed below to provide accident prevention courses that reduce points and insurance premiums. The courses include traditional classroom courses and courses delivered through the Internet or another alternate delivery method. Contact any of these course providers to get information about a course in your area and to determine the course fee.

Classroom Course Providers

(Note that not all Classroom Course Providers are approved to offer Internet Courses. For providers who are approved to offer Internet courses, see Internet Course and Other Alternative Delivery Method Course Providers.)

The following organizations provide approved courses for their employees/members only. If you are an employee or member, contact the organization directly.

Nassau County Police Department • NYC Fire Department EVOC Unit, Bureau of EMS • NYC Police Department, Driver Education & Training Unit • NYS Education Department c/o Eastern Suffolk BOCES • NYS Department of Transportation • New York State Police Academy • Suffolk County Police Department


Internet Course and Other Alternative Delivery Method Course Providers

FAQS about Internet Courses and Other Alternative Delivery Method Courses (I-PIRP)

Q: What is I-PIRP?

A: I-PIRP is an acronym for the Internet/Alternate Delivery Method Point and Insurance Reduction Program. Both a traditional PIRP classroom course and an I-PIRP course must be approved by the NYS DMV. The Internet is the most common delivery method for an I-PIRP course, but the DMV can approve other alternate delivery methods or ADMs. Examples of other ADMs include CD, DVD, video and cable TV.

Q: Who offers the I-PIRP courses?

A: The DMV web site has a list of DMV approved sponsors for both PIRP and I-PIRP courses. Make sure any course you take for point and insurance reduction in NYS is a course approved by the NYS DMV.

Q: Do I receive point and insurance reduction if I take an I-PIRP course?

A: Yes. When you complete an I-PIRP course, you receive the same benefits as when you complete a classroom PIRP course. You can reduce your driver violation point total by a maximum of four points, and you can save ten percent on your auto liability and collision insurance premiums.

Q: How long does it take to complete an I-PIRP course?

A: The I-PIRP course requires a minimum of 320 minutes of instruction time. The instruction time does not include the time required to register, validate your identity and your participation, or to download and take any tests. The course site has controls to ensure you meet all the requirements and you have at least 320 minutes of instruction.

Q: How does the I-PIRP course compare to the classroom course?

A: Both the classroom PIRP course and the I-PIRP course have very similar content and information, and both courses include 320 minutes of instruction. The classroom course is given in one daytime session or two evening sessions. You can take the I-PIRP course from home, at a convenient time for you. You must complete the I-PIRP course within 30 days of the date you register for the course. You can take the I-PIRP course at your own speed within the 30-day period.

Q: Can I log off and continue an I-PIRP course at a later time or use different computers for separate course sessions?

A: Yes. You can complete the course in as many sessions as necessary, but you must complete the course within 30 calendar days of registration.

Your data will be stored on-line for each course session. Most sponsors assign you a user ID and a password when you register for the course. You can use your ID and password to log in on any computer that can access the Internet with an acceptable connection.

Q: Are there tests or a final exam for an I-PIRP course?

A: Test requirements will be explained before you register for the course, normally in the course Term and Conditions. An I-PIRP course can have on-line quizzes, random tests and/or a final exam to verify your participation and determine if you understand the course content. Some sponsors require you to take a final exam in person.

In addition to knowledge tests about course content, there will be questions to help verify your identity and participation in the course.

Q: What if I fail the quizzes, tests or final exam?

A: The test and exam process and the effect of results can vary from one sponsor to another. Carefully read the information about tests before you register for the course.

The course normally requires you to answer 70% of course content questions correctly. You normally will have two tries to get the correct answer to a question.

Tests are timed, and you will have limited time during a test to look for an answer that you do not know. It is best if you take the time to concentrate on review and understand the course content before you take the tests.

Q: What if I fail the course? Can I receive a course fee refund?

A: If you do not meet all the requirements to complete the course or meet the minimum test score requirements, you cannot receive credit for course completion and you cannot receive point and insurance reduction for the course.

A sponsor can offer for you to take the same course again at no additional costs. The sponsor is not required to offer this.

Q: What is the cost of an I-PIRP course?

A: The cost is set by the course sponsor and the fee varies from one course to another course. Your cost is stated clearly before you register for the course. It is to your advantage to compare courses and their fees.

Q: How do I pay for an I-PIRP course?

A: The sponsor will normally require you to pay with a credit card, but this is determined by each sponsor. Check with the sponsor for complete information about payment.

Q: What is the procedure for course cancellation and/or refunds?

A: If the sponsor cannot conduct the course or any part of the course, they must give you the option to receive a full refund of all course fees. The sponsor can also offer you the option to reschedule the course, if and when the course is available.

Q: What type of equipment and technology do I need to take an I-PIRP course?

A: The answer depends on the alternate delivery method (ADM) of the course. For example, if the course is an Internet course, you must have a computer and an acceptable connection to the Internet. For a DVD ADM course, you must have a television and a DVD player. The sponsors must provide any additional technology required to deliver the course. The sponsor must inform you of your requirements when you register for the course.

Q: How and when do I receive my course completion certificate?

A: The course sponsor mails the course completion certificate to you by regular mail. An email copy of the certificate is not valid and will not be accepted by your insurance company.

The course sponsor must issue the course completion certificates within 14 business days of course completion. Some sponsors offer express mail delivery options at an additional fee.

Q: Does the DMV send my completion certificate directly to my automobile insurance company?

A: No. You must contact the insurance company and supply your certificate to them for insurance reduction benefits.

Q: Are the I-PIRP websites secured?

A: Yes. The DMV requires that the sponsors and their delivery agents provide secure websites that protect the personal information of those who take the courses.

Q: What personal information is required to take the course?

A: The sponsors collect personal information to verify your identity and your participation. This can include identity information like the Client ID number from your NYS driver license and your name and date of birth. Identity and participation information can also include biometric data like keystrokes, facial recognition or voice recognition. The sponsor will also collect credit card information for the course fee. Under the I-PIRP requirements, your personal information must be protected.

Q: Is my personal information kept after I finish the course?

A: Read the privacy and security information at the web site of the I-PIRP sponsors. The sponsors are required to store your personal information on a secure server for a time period specified by DMV. The DMV verifies the security of the servers that host the course.

Q: What is done to ensure that the person who registers for the course is the person who takes the course?

A: Each course sponsor has different methods to validate that the person who registered for the course is the same person who takes the course. Any person who attempts to defraud the system or who accepts a course completion certificate and its associated benefits without having personally completed the entire course has committed a crime and may be subject to prosecution, fines and imprisonment.