Colorado § 10-4-632 - Reduction in rates for drivers aged fifty-five years or older who complete driver's education course - legislative declaration.

§ 10-4-632. Reduction in rates for drivers aged fifty-five years or older who complete driver's education course - legislative declaration.

(1) (a) (I) The general assembly finds and determines that motor vehicle accidents cause a substantial economic impact in lost wages, medical bills, legal fees, rehabilitation costs, and higher insurance rates.

(II) The general assembly also finds that the motor vehicle accident rate creates an additional societal burden in the form of taxes for medicaid, for the medically indigent, and for other hospital-related costs.

(III) The general assembly further finds that the number of such accidents and injuries is positively affected when drivers fifty-five years of age or older take driver's education courses.

(b) Therefore, the general assembly declares that it is appropriate and beneficial to all the people of Colorado that drivers fifty-five years of age or older with recent training and good driving records pay experience-based insurance premiums.

(c) A financial incentive in the form of lower premiums will prompt drivers fifty-five years of age or older to take driver's education courses and will further the goal of the general assembly to reduce accident-related injuries and fatalities in Colorado.

(2) All rates, rating schedules, and rating manuals for liability and collision coverages of a motor vehicle insurance policy submitted to or filed with the commissioner under this part 6 shall provide for an appropriate reduction in premium charges based on justifiable data when the vehicle is a covered vehicle and when the principal operator is fifty-five years of age or older and has successfully completed a driver's education course taught by a driving school regulated pursuant to part 6 of article 2 of title 42 or by a nonprofit corporation subject to articles 121 to 137 of title 7, if such course has been preapproved by the department of revenue. Any discount used by an insurer shall be presumed appropriate unless credible data demonstrates otherwise. Insurers shall provide the commissioner with data reflecting the claims experience of drivers who have received reductions in premium charges compared with the claims experience of drivers who have not received such reductions.

(3) Each person who successfully completes a driver's education course taught by a commercial driving school regulated pursuant to part 6 of article 2 of title 42 shall be issued a certificate by the commercial driving school offering the course, which certificate shall be evidence of qualification for the premium discount required by this section.

(4) Each person who successfully completes a driver's education course taught by a nonprofit corporation subject to articles 121 to 137 of title 7, C.R.S., if such course has been preapproved by the department of revenue, shall be issued a certificate by the nonprofit corporation offering the course, which certificate shall be evidence of qualification for the premium discount required by this section.

(5) The premium reduction required by this section shall be effective for an insured for a three-year period after successful completion of the approved course. However, the insurer may require, as a condition of providing and maintaining such discount, that the insured, during the three-year period after course completion, not be involved in an accident for which the insured is held at fault.

(6) An insured may renew qualification for the discount provided by this section by:

(a) (I) Retaking a driver's education course taught by a commercial driving school regulated pursuant to part 6 of article 2 of title 42; or

(II) Retaking a driver's education course taught by a nonprofit corporation subject to articles 121 to 137 of title 7, C.R.S., if such course has been preapproved by the department of revenue; and

(b) Not being involved in an accident for which the insured is held at fault.

(7) This section shall not apply where an insured driver is taking a driver's education course as a result of an order of a court or other governmental entity resulting from a moving traffic violation.

Source: L. 2003: Entire section added, p. 1568, § 3, effective July 1. L. 2017: (2), (3), and (6)(a)(I) amended, (SB 17-224), ch. 179, p. 659, § 2, effective August 9.

Editor's note: This section was originally numbered as § 10-4-629 in House Bill 03-1188 but has been renumbered on revision for ease of location.