New Yorkers who have received a ticket can reduce both the points for that ticket and their insurance rates by taking an approved Points and insurance Reduction (PIRP) driving safety course. New Yorkers have a couple of options when taking the course so, before registering, you may want to stop and think about what type of course is best for you and whether or not you are eligible to take the course.

Classroom or Virtual

A person who wants to attend a PIRP course should consider the following before choosing the type of course they want.

What is my learning style? – If you are a visual learner, one who learns more easily by seeing or by reading, you will probably want to consider taking the I-PIRP (Internet – Point and Insurance Reduction Course) online.

If you learn more easily by listening, you may want to consider taking the classroom course. Each style of course has its benefits and drawbacks based on your personal learning style.

Classroom – the classroom course provides advantages to those who like to learn by listening or who feel they don't learn as well simply by reading.

Advantages of the classroom course are:

• The opportunity to ask questions of the instructor and learn from his/her experience.


• Learning by hearing the experiences of other drivers in the classroom.


• Getting the class out of the way in one sitting.


• No final exam for course completion.

Under New York law, the PIRP course must be six hours long. If you choose to take the classroom course, you may want to consider whether or not to complete it in one day or over a two day period.

Internet – Those who learn best by seeing and reading, will probably want to consider taking the I-PIRP course from their home computer.

Advantages to the internet course include:

• The benefit of learning at your own pace.


• You can stop the course and pick it up again later as long as you complete the course within 30 days after registering.


• The ability to attend at a time most convenient to you either from home or at work.

There are assessments in the internet course to prove that you viewed and understood the course material.

Am I eligible?

To reduce points from your driving record, the course must be taken within 18 months after receiving the ticket. It cannot be used to reduce points on any future tickets and the course can only be taken once in an 18 month period.

Insurance reduction

Your current insurance rates can be reduced by 10 % over the next three years but only if the course is taken by the principal operator of the vehicle as listed on the insurance policy. A secondary driver on the policy who takes the course won’t realize an insurance cost reduction.

Learn more about the benefits of the NY I-PIRP Defensive Driving Course.

Labels: insurance reduction, ipirp course, new york defensive driving, ny pirp, point reduction course