Completing a court-approved or insurance-company-approved defensive driving course can help you clean up your driving record, get out of a ticket, and even help lower

Mississippi car insurance

costs. Plus, it’ll help make you a smarter, better driver!

Although Mississippi doesn’t use a points system like many other states, if you wrack up too many traffic violations, you could get your

license suspended

. To help get you back on the road sooner, you can elect to take a court-approved defensive driving course. The

benefits of a defensive driving course

don’t stop there: you can also score a sweet

car insurance discount

and feel more confident behind the wheel.

Below, we’ve outlined everything you need to know about taking a defensive driving course in Mississippi: all the perks of taking one, how to find one, and all the other nitty-gritty details.

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Taking a defensive driving course in Mississippi could…

…fulfill a court order

If you’re under the age of 21 and get a traffic violation, you may not get a say in whether or not you go to traffic school: a judge can specifically order you to complete a defensive driving course in order to keep your

Mississippi driver's license

. And while going to traffic school isn’t anybody’s ideal Saturday morning, after you complete it, you will have satisfied your court order and can put your traffic violations behind you.

…get you out of a ticket

Look, we know that you’re not a bad driver: we’ve all had a bit of a lead foot on the gas when we’re trying to hit the grocery store before it closes to avoid coming home to an empty refrigerator. But the cop who pulled you over may not know that and issued you a

speeding ticket

regardless.

Completing a defensive driving course, also nicknamed in Mississippi a ticket dismissal course, can get minor traffic violations (like speeding) off your driving record. However, finishing the course and printing out your certificate is not a get-out-of-jail-free card, so to speak. Ticket dismissal eligibility varies from county to county, and only the following drivers qualify:

First-time traffic violators who are under the age of 21

Drivers who haven’t received a ticket within the past three years

So, if you’re a younger driver who is fairly new to the roads, signing up for a defensive driving course can be hugely beneficial. Or, if you’re a seasoned driver with a

clean driving record

and it’s your first-ever traffic violation, you may also elect to take the course.

…earn you an insurance discount

Have you ever looked at your

car insurance

premium and thought “Holy heck, this seems high!”? Then signing up for a defensive driving course can help you lower your car insurance payments by about 10%! Here’s how to do it:

First, contact your car insurance provider to ensure that a) they offer the discount and b) that you’re eligible for it

Do some research and find a defensive driving course that’s approved by your insurance provider

Complete the driving course and send the certificate of completion to your insurance provider

There’s an important caveat to this one: you can only qualify for this discount if you voluntarily take the course. If you’re just following a court order or are doing so to get a speeding ticket off your record, that won’t count. But, if you’re a college student home for winter break with more time than you know what to do with, knocking out a defensive driving course could help you save throughout the year!

MORE:

Good driving record discounts, explained

…make you a better driver

There’s more to a defensive driving course than just “red means stop, green means go.” When you take the course, you’ll brush up not only on the basics of safe driving, but you’ll get on the ins and outs of Mississippi traffic laws (some of which we probably didn’t know before, but definitely should) and learn useful defensive driving strategies. Typically in every course, you’ll review:

Tips and tricks on how to avoid collisions

The leading causes of car accidents and how to avoid them

How to drive in dangerous road conditions like snow, ice, hail, and heavy rain

Techniques on how to avoid distracted driving and road rage

With this knowledge under your belt, you’ll be better able to avoid a car accident going forward.

MORE:

14 safe driving tips

How to find Mississippi driving courses

Thankfully, you’ve got options when it comes to which driving course you take in Mississippi. You can elect to take the course completely online or in person. Regardless of which one you take, you will need to ensure that it is approved by the Mississippi court system or by your insurance provider.

You can check

Mississippi Safety Services

, operated by the National Safety Council, for a list of approved in-person courses, all of which run about four hours. Plus, you can also use their website to check and see before you sign up if you’re even eligible to take the course online.

The National Safety Council also offers its own court-approved online course, but at $52, it's on the pricier side. However, when you sign up for their class, you know for a fact that it’s been approved by the Mississippi court system. There are other courses available online offered through national services like

iDriveSafely®

and

DriveSafe Online®

, but you’ll need to check and make sure with the court or your insurance provider that they will accept that certificate.

Or, if you’re looking for a way to make traffic school a little more engaging, try signing up for Improv Driving School! Developed by a team of Hollywood writers and the Improv Comedy Club, this driving course will leave you in stitches and with a certificate of completion. But again, double-check and make sure that it will be accepted by your local court and/or your insurance provider!

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