What to Expect from the Indiana Driver Safety Program Course
The Indiana Driver Safety Program is a minimum of four hours, and every approved provider teaches the same material. The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles sets the curriculum standards, so the course content does not vary from one school to another.
That has a practical consequence worth knowing before you shop: since the material is identical everywhere, providers compete on price, format, and convenience rather than on what you learn.
Four Hours, and You Cannot Shorten It
The four-hour minimum is set by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, not by individual providers. No approved course runs shorter, and a provider advertising a quicker version is not one whose completion the BMV will accept.
Online courses are self-paced within that four hours, so you can work through it in one sitting or break it across several evenings. Your progress saves as you go.
The Driver Safety Program is available in three formats: classroom, DVD, and online. Courses are offered in English and Spanish.
It Is Not a Driving Course
This surprises people who expect something resembling driver education. Driver Safety Program courses do not teach you how to drive. They are written for already-licensed drivers and focus on defensive driving technique, Indiana traffic law, and habits that reduce your risk of another violation.
There is no behind-the-wheel component, no instructor riding along, and no road test. It is entirely coursework.
How the Course Is Structured
The material is broken into modules, each covering a required topic area, with a short quiz at the end of each one before you move on. Passing marks are typically set around 70 percent per quiz, and providers generally allow you to retake a quiz you do not pass.
Because the course is designed for completion rather than elimination, failing out is uncommon. If you are concerned about it, check your provider's retake policy before enrolling, since that varies where the curriculum does not.
What Happens When You Finish
Your provider reports your completion directly to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. You do not have to submit anything yourself, unless a court ordered the course, in which case you are generally responsible for getting the certificate to the court.
Once reported, the BMV applies a 4-point credit to your Indiana Official Driver Record. Expect roughly 7 to 10 business days for that to appear, which matters if you are working against a 90-day BMV deadline.
What It Should Cost
Indiana caps the price. No BMV-approved Driver Safety Program course may charge more than $55. That is a legal ceiling rather than a going rate, and online providers commonly price well below it.
Since the curriculum is state-standardized, a more expensive course does not deliver more. What you are comparing is price, format, and whether completion reporting is included.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Indiana Driver Safety Program?
A minimum of four hours, set by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Online courses are self-paced within that requirement.
Do different providers teach different material?
No. All approved providers follow the same BMV curriculum standards, so the content is the same regardless of where you enroll.
Does the course teach me how to drive?
No. It is written for licensed drivers and covers defensive driving technique and Indiana traffic law. There is no behind-the-wheel component.
Can I fail the course?
It is uncommon. The course uses module quizzes rather than a single high-stakes exam, and providers generally allow retakes. Check your provider's retake policy before enrolling.
How much should it cost?
Indiana caps approved courses at $55. Online providers typically charge considerably less, and a higher price does not buy different content.
The Bottom Line
Four hours minimum, the same material everywhere, delivered in modules with short quizzes, and reported to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles for you when you finish. It is coursework rather than driving instruction, and the state caps what any approved provider can charge.
ABetterDriver offers the BMV-approved Indiana Driver Safety Program fully online for $28.95, self-paced, with completion reported directly to the BMV for your 4-point credit. If you are working against a 90-day deadline, build in time for the BMV to process it.