Virginia Driver Improvement Clinic — Frequently Asked Questions

Virginia’s driver improvement clinic is an 8-hour DMV-licensed education program designed for the rehabilitation of problem drivers and for drivers interested in improving their safety skills. The program is established under Va. Code § 46.2-490 and is overseen by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), which licenses all clinics, instructors, and computer-based providers.

Unlike programs in many other states that serve only one purpose (such as ticket dismissal), Virginia’s driver improvement clinic is uniquely versatile — it serves four distinct purposes: court-required attendance, DMV-required attendance, insurance premium reduction, and voluntary attendance for safe driving points. The reason you’re taking the clinic determines which benefits you receive.

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-490 (establishment of driver improvement clinic program); Va. Code § 46.2-490.3 (definitions of clinic, instructor, and computer-based clinic provider)

The Virginia driver improvement clinic covers a state-mandated curriculum developed under contract with the Commissioner of the DMV. By law, the instruction must address five core areas:

1. Alcohol and drug abuse — effects of impairment on driving
2. Aggressive driving — causes, consequences, and prevention
3. Distracted driving — including cell phone use and other distractions
4. Motorcycle awareness — sharing the road safely with motorcyclists
5. Work zone safety — driving safely through construction areas

The curriculum is uniform statewide — every DMV-licensed clinic teaches the same material regardless of whether the course is taken in person or online.

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-490 (Commissioner contracts for curriculum covering these five areas)

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) oversees the entire program. The DMV licenses all driver improvement clinics, additional clinic locations, and individual instructors. Clinic licenses are valid for two years. The license fee is $150 for a clinic, $40 for each additional location, and $75 for an instructor license.

For online courses, the DMV specifically licenses “computer-based clinic providers” — clinics authorized to conduct the program via Internet or other electronic means approved by the DMV.

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-490 (DMV licensing of clinics, 2-year validity, fee schedule); Va. Code § 46.2-490.3 (definition of “computer-based clinic provider”)

The course is 8 hours of instruction. This applies whether you take the course online or in person. The maximum fee a clinic may charge is $100, as set by Virginia law.

Source: Virginia DMV (8-hour course duration, $100 maximum fee)

Virginia’s program stands out for its four-purpose structure. In most states, a defensive driving or traffic school course serves a single purpose — usually ticket dismissal or an insurance discount. In Virginia, the same 8-hour driver improvement clinic serves four distinct functions, each with its own reason code:

• COU — Court-required attendance after a traffic conviction
• DMV — DMV-required attendance due to demerit point accumulation
• INS — Voluntary attendance for an insurance premium reduction
• VOL — Voluntary attendance to earn safe driving points

The reason you select at enrollment determines which benefits you receive. You must choose between safe driving points and an insurance discount — you cannot receive both from the same attendance.

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-498(D) (must choose at enrollment: safe driving points or insurance discount, not both)

There are exactly four reasons someone takes Virginia’s driver improvement clinic, each with its own enrollment code:

1. Court-Required (Code: COU)
A court orders you to complete the clinic after a traffic conviction. The court determines whether safe driving points are awarded — you must present court documentation to the clinic stating that points should be given. Without that documentation, no points are awarded.

2. DMV-Required (Code: DMV)
The DMV directs you to attend based on demerit point accumulation. For adults 18+, this triggers at 12 or more points in 12 months, or 18 or more points in 24 months. You must complete the clinic within 90 days or your license will be suspended. Safe driving points are awarded upon completion for drivers 18+.

3. Insurance Discount (Code: INS)
You voluntarily take the clinic to get an insurance premium reduction. For drivers 54 and younger, insurers may offer a discount. No safe driving points are awarded when attending for insurance purposes. This option is not available if you were court-ordered or DMV-required to attend.

4. Voluntary (Code: VOL)
Any Virginia license holder may attend voluntarily to earn up to 5 safe driving points. You can take the clinic once every 24 months for safe driving points on a space-available basis.

Defensive Drivers Institute offers Virginia’s 8-hour driver improvement clinic 100% online — DMV-licensed and accepted for all four reason codes.

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-498(A) (DMV-required triggers); Va. Code § 46.2-498(D) (voluntary attendance, must choose points or insurance); Va. Code § 38.2-2217(B) (insurance discount for 54 and under)

The DMV is required by law to direct you to attend a driver improvement clinic if you are 18 or older and accumulate:

• 12 or more demerit points within 12 months, OR
• 18 or more demerit points within 24 months

For drivers under 18, the thresholds are lower:

• 9 or more demerit points within 12 months, OR
• 12 or more demerit points within 24 months

When directed by the DMV, you must complete the clinic within 90 days. If you fail to complete it within that timeframe, your driver’s license will be suspended.

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-498(A) (adult thresholds — “The Commissioner shall direct any person eighteen years of age or older…”); Va. Code § 46.2-498(B) (under-18 thresholds and probation)

Your driver’s license will be suspended. Virginia law gives you 90 days from the date of the DMV’s directive to complete the clinic. There are limited exceptions — college students attending school outside Virginia or military personnel stationed outside the state may be eligible for an extension. If you think you might miss the deadline, contact the DMV immediately.

Source: Virginia DMV (90-day completion requirement; suspension for non-compliance; college/military extension availability)

Yes. Any person holding a valid Virginia driver’s license may attend a driver improvement clinic voluntarily. At enrollment, you must choose whether you want to receive safe driving points (Code: VOL) or an insurance discount (Code: INS) — you cannot receive both from the same attendance. Voluntary attendance for safe driving points is available once every 24 months on a space-available basis.

Start DDI’s Virginia Driver Improvement Clinic now — choose your reason code at enrollment and complete the course at your own pace.

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-498(D) (“Any person holding a valid Virginia driver’s license may attend a driver improvement clinic voluntarily.”)

The key differences are:

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-498(A) (DMV-directed attendance); Va. Code § 46.2-499 (probation after DMV-directed clinic); Virginia DMV (court-required documentation requirements)

Yes. Virginia law requires you to choose at enrollment whether you want safe driving points or an insurance discount — you cannot receive both from the same clinic attendance. If you receive one benefit, you must wait at least one year before you can attend again and receive the other benefit. You can only receive safe driving points from the clinic once every 24 months.

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-498(C) and (D) (once every 24 months for safe driving points or insurance discount; must choose at enrollment; can receive the other benefit 1 year after the first)

Virginia uses a uniform demerit point system where points are assigned based on the severity of the traffic offense:

If you’re convicted of multiple offenses on the same occasion, only the highest point value is counted. Demerit points remain on your record for 2 years from the date of the offense.

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-492 (uniform demerit point system — point values by violation type, 2-year validity, highest-value-only rule for same occasion)

Safe driving points are positive credits that offset demerit points on your Virginia driving record. There are two ways to earn them:

1. Clean driving — You automatically earn 1 safe driving point per calendar year for each year you hold a Virginia license with no demerit-point offenses. Points are awarded in early April for the previous calendar year.
2. Driver improvement clinic — Completing the clinic can award up to 5 safe driving points (once every 24 months).

The maximum balance of safe driving points you can hold at any time is 5 points. Safe driving points offset demerit points chronologically — the earliest demerit points are offset first.

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-494 (1 point per year, max 5, chronological offset); Va. Code § 46.2-498(C) (clinic awards up to 5 points, once every 24 months)

The clinic awards enough safe driving points to subtract up to 5 demerit points from your record. If you have fewer than 5 demerit points, the remaining credits are applied as safe driving points (up to the maximum balance of 5).

For example, if you have 3 demerit points on your record, completing the clinic would erase those 3 demerit points and give you 2 safe driving points (for a total balance of +2). If you have zero demerit points, you’d receive the full 5 safe driving points.

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-498(C) (completing clinic = 5 demerit points subtracted, or safe driving points if fewer than 5 demerits)

Safe driving points are NOT awarded in these situations:

• Insurance attendance (Code: INS) — If you attend the clinic for an insurance discount, you do not receive safe driving points. You must choose one benefit or the other at enrollment.
• Court-required without documentation (Code: COU) — If a court orders you to attend but does not provide documentation stating that points should be awarded, no points are given. The court determines whether points are awarded for court-required attendance.
• Too soon since last clinic — You can only receive safe driving points from the clinic once every 24 months.

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-498(C) (once every 24 months); Va. Code § 46.2-498(D) (must choose points or insurance); Virginia DMV (court documentation requirement for COU attendance)

You can receive safe driving points from the driver improvement clinic once every 24 months. This applies whether you attend voluntarily (VOL) or are directed by the DMV (DMV). The same 24-month restriction applies to the insurance discount — and you can receive the other benefit one year after receiving the first.

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-498(C) (only once every 24 months for safe driving points or insurance discount; can get the other benefit 1 year after the first)

Safe driving points offset demerit points in chronological order — the earliest (oldest) demerit points on your record are offset first. For example, if you have a 3-point violation from January and a 4-point violation from March, earning 5 safe driving points from the clinic would first erase the 3-point January violation, then offset 2 of the 4 points from the March violation.

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-494 (safe driving points offset demerit points chronologically — earliest first)

Yes, but the rules differ by age:

Drivers age 54 and younger: Insurers may provide an appropriate premium reduction for a 2-year period when you complete a driver improvement clinic. The discount is not mandatory — it’s at the insurer’s discretion. You must retake the clinic every 2 years to maintain the discount.

Drivers age 55 and older: A different program applies. Insurers shall (are required to) provide an appropriate premium reduction for a 3-year period when you complete a “mature driver motor vehicle crash prevention course.” This is a separate course from the standard driver improvement clinic, and it must be retaken every 3 years.

Important: You are not eligible for the insurance discount if you were court-ordered or DMV-required to attend the clinic. The insurance discount is only for voluntary attendees.

Source: Va. Code § 38.2-2217(B) (drivers 54 and under — insurers “may” provide reduction, 2-year period); Va. Code § 38.2-2217(A) (drivers 55+ — insurers “shall” provide reduction, 3-year period, mature driver course); Va. Code § 38.2-2217(F) (retake requirements)

This is a critical distinction:

Contact your insurance company before enrolling to confirm they offer a discount for driver improvement clinic completion.

Source: Va. Code § 38.2-2217(A) and (B) (age-based insurance discount rules); Va. Code § 38.2-2217(F) (retake intervals)

No. If you enroll with reason code INS (insurance discount), you do not receive safe driving points. Virginia law requires you to choose one benefit or the other at enrollment. You cannot receive both safe driving points and an insurance discount from the same clinic attendance.

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-498(D) (must choose at enrollment: safe driving points or insurance discount, not both)

No. The insurance discount under Va. Code § 38.2-2217(B) is only available to drivers who attend the clinic voluntarily. If your attendance was court-ordered (COU) or DMV-required (DMV), you are not eligible for the insurance premium reduction.

Source: Va. Code § 38.2-2217(B) (insurance discount not eligible if court-ordered or DMV-required)

Upon completing the clinic, the course sponsor issues a DMV-approved certificate of completion. This certificate serves as evidence of completion that you can present to your insurance company. Defensive Drivers Institute issues your certificate immediately upon completing the course.

Source: Va. Code § 38.2-2217(E) (course sponsor issues DMV-approved certificate as evidence of completion)

Yes. Virginia law authorizes “computer-based clinic providers” — clinics licensed by the DMV to conduct the driver improvement clinic via Internet or other electronic means approved by the DMV. Online clinics deliver the same state-mandated curriculum as in-person clinics and are accepted for all four reason codes (COU, DMV, INS, VOL). All ages are eligible for the online course.

Defensive Drivers Institute is a DMV-licensed online driver improvement clinic provider — complete the full 8-hour course from any device, at your own pace.

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-490.3 (definition of “computer-based clinic provider” — licensed by DMV to conduct clinics via Internet); Virginia DMV (all ages eligible for online)

The online course requires 8 hours of instruction — the same as the in-person clinic. Since the online version is self-paced, you can log in and out and work through the material across multiple sessions. You don’t need to complete all 8 hours in a single sitting.

Source: Virginia DMV (8-hour course requirement applies to online and in-person)

The online course works on desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. You can switch between devices and your progress is saved automatically. This means you could start the course on your computer at home and continue on your phone during a break.

Source: DDI course platform (multi-device compatibility with progress saving)

Yes. Virginia’s online driver improvement clinic includes a final exam. If you don’t pass on your first attempt, you can retake the exam. The final exam is administered online through the same provider — you take it once per business day. No paper testing is allowed for online courses. Identity verification is required throughout the course and during the exam.

Source: Virginia DMV (final exam required for online; can retake if needed; once per business day; no paper testing; identity verification required)

Virginia requires identity verification throughout the online course, not just at the beginning. This ensures that the person who enrolled is the person actually completing the coursework and final exam. The specific verification methods are determined by the DMV-licensed provider.

Source: Virginia DMV (identity verification required throughout online course)

Courts may or may not accept online completion for court-ordered attendance. It is the student’s responsibility to verify with their specific court whether online completion is acceptable before enrolling in an online clinic. Most courts do accept online completion, but you should confirm directly with your court to be safe.

For DMV-required, insurance, and voluntary attendance, online completion through a DMV-licensed provider is fully accepted.

Source: Virginia DMV (court acceptance of online is student’s responsibility to verify; DMV-licensed online providers accepted for all attendance types)

Your completion is reported electronically to the DMV within 24 hours. DMV-licensed online providers transmit completion records directly to the DMV — you don’t need to mail, fax, or deliver anything. The DMV then processes the completion and applies any applicable safe driving points to your record.

Source: Virginia DMV (electronic reporting within 24 hours by licensed providers)

Yes. You receive a certificate of completion after finishing the course. This certificate is important for several purposes: presenting to the court (if court-required), providing to your insurance company (if attending for an insurance discount), and keeping for your personal records. DDI issues your certificate immediately upon course completion.

Source: Va. Code § 38.2-2217(E) (DMV-approved certificate issued as evidence of completion)

If you’re attending because a court ordered you to (Code: COU), you should:

1. Present your certificate of completion to the court
2. If the court wants safe driving points awarded, ensure you have court documentation stating that points should be awarded — the clinic needs this documentation to report the points
3. Verify with your court whether they have specific documentation requirements or deadlines

Without court documentation authorizing safe driving points, the clinic will report completion but no points will be awarded.

Source: Virginia DMV (court determines if points awarded for COU attendance; court documentation required for points)

Your completion is reported electronically to the DMV within 24 hours. The DMV then processes the completion and applies the safe driving points. Processing times may vary, but the electronic reporting ensures the fastest possible turnaround. You can check your point balance through the DMV’s online services.

Source: Virginia DMV (electronic reporting within 24 hours; DMV processes and applies points)

After completing a DMV-directed driver improvement clinic, you enter a 6-month probation period. During this time, any conviction for a demerit-point offense will result in a license suspension:

After serving a suspension, you enter another 6-month probation period. This means staying violation-free during probation is critical.

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-499 (6-month probation; suspension periods by violation point value; re-probation after suspension)

After you successfully complete the 6-month probation period without any demerit-point convictions, you enter an 18-month control period. During the control period:

• If you’re convicted of a demerit offense, you go back to probation (another 6 months)
• If you make it through the entire 18 months without a demerit conviction, you exit the Driver Improvement Program entirely

In total, the Driver Improvement Program lasts a minimum of 24 months after clinic completion (6 months probation + 18 months control) — assuming no violations during that time.

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-500 (18-month control period follows probation; demerit offense during control = back to probation; successful completion = exit program)

Yes. If your license is suspended due to a demerit violation during probation, you may be eligible for restricted driving privileges. These allow you to drive for specific purposes, including:

• Travel to and from work
• Travel to and from school
• Medical appointments
• Religious worship
• Other essential purposes as determined by the court or DMV

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-499 (restricted driving privileges available during probation suspension — work, school, medical, religious, etc.)

No. The probation and control periods apply only to DMV-directed attendance. If you attend the clinic voluntarily (VOL) or for an insurance discount (INS), you do not enter probation or a control period after completion.

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-499 (probation follows DMV-directed clinic attendance, not voluntary attendance)

No. If you hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL), you must take a separate commercial driver improvement clinic. The standard driver improvement clinic is for holders of regular (non-commercial) Virginia driver’s licenses. Contact the DMV for information about commercial driver improvement clinic options.

Source: Virginia DMV (CDL holders must take separate commercial driver improvement clinic)

Yes. Drivers under 18 have lower thresholds for DMV-directed clinic attendance:

• 9 or more demerit points within 12 months (vs. 12 for adults)
• 12 or more demerit points within 24 months (vs. 18 for adults)

Additionally, when a driver under 18 is directed to attend, they are also placed on probation. All ages — including drivers under 18 — are eligible for the online driver improvement clinic.

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-498(B) (under-18 thresholds: 9 points in 12 months or 12 points in 24 months; directed to attend plus probation); Virginia DMV (all ages eligible for online)

Virginia’s driver improvement clinic is designed for Virginia license holders. The voluntary attendance option (VOL) is available to “any person holding a valid Virginia driver’s license.” If a court in Virginia orders an out-of-state driver to complete a driver improvement clinic as part of a conviction, the driver should follow the court’s specific instructions. For DMV-directed attendance, the DMV letter will specify the requirements.

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-498(D) (voluntary attendance for Virginia license holders)

Yes. College students attending school outside Virginia or military personnel stationed outside the state may be eligible for an extension of the 90-day completion deadline for DMV-required clinic attendance. Contact the Virginia DMV directly to request an extension and provide documentation of your out-of-state status.

Source: Virginia DMV (college/military extension availability for DMV-required attendance)

Under Virginia’s demerit point system, if you’re convicted of multiple offenses on the same occasion, only the highest point value is counted against your record. For example, if you receive both a 3-point and a 6-point violation from the same traffic stop, only 6 demerit points will be added to your record — not 9.

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-492 (multiple offenses same occasion — only highest point value counted)

Demerit points remain on your Virginia driving record for 2 years from the date of the offense. After 2 years, the points expire and are no longer counted toward the DMV’s point accumulation thresholds (12 in 12 months or 18 in 24 months for adults). However, the underlying conviction itself may remain visible on your record for longer.

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-492 (demerit points valid for 2 years from offense date)

Virginia law caps the fee at $100. This is the maximum amount any DMV-licensed clinic may charge for the 8-hour course. For current pricing, visit the DDI Virginia Driver Improvement Clinic course page.

Source: Virginia DMV (maximum clinic fee of $100)

Yes. Defensive Drivers Institute is a DMV-licensed computer-based clinic provider authorized to conduct Virginia’s 8-hour driver improvement clinic online. Our license means we meet all Virginia DMV requirements for curriculum, course delivery, identity verification, electronic reporting, and certification.

Visit the DDI Virginia Driver Improvement Clinic page to get started.

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-490.3 (definition of computer-based clinic provider — licensed by DMV to conduct clinics via Internet)

Here’s what to expect:

1. Register online — Choose your reason code (COU, DMV, INS, or VOL) during enrollment
2. Complete 8 hours of instruction — Work at your own pace on any device (computer, tablet, or phone). Your progress saves automatically.
3. Pass the final exam — Take the exam online. If you don’t pass, you can retake it.
4. Receive your certificate — Issued immediately upon completion
5. DMV reporting — Your completion is reported electronically to the DMV within 24 hours

Identity verification is required throughout the course to ensure compliance with Virginia DMV regulations.

Virginia law caps the driver improvement clinic fee at $100. For DDI’s current pricing, visit our Virginia Driver Improvement Clinic course page.

DDI reports your completion electronically to the Virginia DMV within 24 hours of course completion. You don’t need to mail, fax, or deliver anything — our system transmits the completion record directly. You’ll also receive a certificate of completion immediately for your own records (and for presenting to a court or insurance company if needed).

Here’s what sets DDI apart:

• 100% online — Complete the entire 8-hour course from any device. No classroom visits required.
• Self-paced — Log in and out as many times as you need. Your progress saves automatically.
• All four reason codes — Accepted for court-required (COU), DMV-required (DMV), insurance (INS), and voluntary (VOL) attendance.
• Electronic DMV reporting — Your completion is reported to the DMV within 24 hours. No paperwork for you to handle.
• Immediate certificate — Your completion certificate is available instantly after finishing the course.
• Identity verification — Built-in verification throughout the course ensures compliance with DMV requirements.
• Customer support — Available to help you through the process.

Get started with DDI’s Virginia Driver Improvement Clinic →

We offer support by phone, email, and live chat. Visit lms.defensivedriversinstitute.com/support for all contact options and current hours. Our support team can help with registration, course questions, technical issues, and completion verification.