Delaware is one of the few states where the insurance discount is mandated by regulation rather than left to individual insurers. Under 18 DE Reg 607, insurance companies are required to offer it.
Completing the 6-hour Basic course earns a 10 percent discount on your liability insurance for three years, plus a 3-point credit on your driving record. Completing the 3-hour Refresher afterward raises that to 15 percent for another three years, with a further 3-point credit.
The catch is that the Refresher has a window, and missing it costs you the higher rate and sends you back to the six-hour course.
The Refresher Window
This is where most of the money is won or lost.
|
When you take the Refresher |
What happens |
|
Within 180 days before the 3-year expiration |
15% discount takes effect at your next renewal |
|
After expiration, but within 2 years of it |
You lose the discount on the expiration date, then get 15% from the completion date |
|
More than 5 years after the initial course |
You must start over with the 6-hour Basic course |
The Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles also sets a floor: the Refresher can be completed no less than two years and six months after the initial course, and no more than five years after it.
So the target window is narrow. Too early and it does not count, too late and you either lose coverage in between or start from scratch.
Mark the date. A three-hour course taken on time is worth considerably more than the same course taken late.
The Discount Applies to Liability, and Everyone Has to Take It
Two details that change what the discount is actually worth.
The reduction applies to the liability portion of your premium, not the whole bill. It covers automobiles, motor homes, and motorcycles insured under your policy.
And to receive the full discount, all operators named as insured on the policy must complete the course. A household where only one driver takes it does not get the full benefit. For a two-driver household, that means two courses, and the math still usually favors doing it.
The 3-Point Credit Works Differently Than You Expect
The insurance discount is mandated. The point credit is not.
The Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles may consider course completion as a 3-point credit when determining driver penalties. It is applied at the Division's discretion and can vary case by case.
There is also a threshold worth knowing. At least one approved provider states that the Division removes the 3 points if you have at least 8 points on your record. Below that, the credit may sit available rather than reducing anything immediately.
Expect the credit to be applied to your record within roughly 14 days of completing the course.
For context on why it matters: points in Delaware remain at full value for 12 months after a violation before beginning to age.
Which Course Do You Need?
The rule is straightforward once you know it.
Take the 6-hour Basic if you have never taken a Delaware defensive driving course, or if it has been more than five years since you last completed one.
Take the 3-hour Refresher if you completed a Delaware course within the last five years and are inside the timing window described above.
Enrolling in the wrong one wastes both the fee and the benefit, so check your last completion date before you register.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Delaware insurance discount?
Ten percent on your liability premium for three years after the 6-hour Basic course, rising to 15 percent for three years after the 3-hour Refresher. The discount is mandated by Delaware regulation.
When should I take the Refresher course?
Within 180 days before your three-year expiration date, and no earlier than two years and six months after your initial course. Taking it more than five years after the Basic means starting over.
Does everyone on my policy need to take it?
For the full discount, yes. All operators named as insured on the policy must complete the course.
Is the 3-point credit guaranteed?
No. The insurance discount is mandated by regulation, but the point credit is applied at the discretion of the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles and may vary case by case.
How long does the point credit take to appear?
Generally around 14 days after you complete the course.
The Bottom Line
Take the 6-hour Basic if you are new to it or it has been over five years. Then calendar your three-year expiration date and take the 3-hour Refresher inside the 180 days before it, because that is what moves you from 10 percent to 15 percent without a gap. Everyone named on the policy needs to complete a course for the full discount, and the point credit is a discretionary bonus rather than a guarantee.
GoToTrafficSchool offers Delaware DMV approved defensive driving courses online, self-paced, with your certificate provided for submission to your insurance company. Check your last completion date before enrolling so you register for the correct course.