Students are encouraged to have their instruction permit prior to taking the Behind the Wheel instruction portion of Driver’s Ed, but one is not required. This is recommended so that the student may practice with another adult. (Adult must have had their license for 3 years to be able to drive with permit holder.) It is illegal to drive without a permit. Not having a permit during driver’s education classes is a huge disadvantage for your new driver because they will not be able to put into practice what they have learned in class. Getting a permit before driver’s education also enables you to go to the DMV with the certificate exactly 6 months from the time they got their learner’s permit, not 6 months from finishing the class.

My teen is 13 and their birthday is coming up, can they still do Driver’s ed?

The answer is definitely “Yes”. As a certified drivers education instructor, I can legally drive with anyone who does not have a learner’s permit.

what if I can’t attend every single class?

All 30 hours of in-classroom instruction is needed to pass. I may be able to make exceptions for 1 missed class. You will just need to make it to the class you missed at the following session. If it is the last session scheduled for the year, you will need to book a private lesson for $60/hour.

can driver’s ed give me a discount on my insurance?

Most insurance companies offer discounts for good grades and driver’s education classes. You would have to call your insurance company and ask them directly. After completion of my driver’s education class you will receive a certification of completion that can be shown to your insurance company.

when will behind the wheel driving be scheduled?

After the classroom instruction is finished I will have a sign up sheet for driving sessions. I will not schedule driving Sundays vacation times. I will have a sign up sheet for parents. There will be 3 two-hour sessions without a partner or if you choose to have 6 hours of observation and 6 hours of BTW, I will schedule 4 – 3 hour sessions. My driving times will be mornings 8:30-11:30 am and 1:00-4:00 pm and 6:00 – 8:00. With a classroom of 18 students, it will take at least 4 weeks to get everyone’s driving time in.

Can you help with passing the written exam?

Yes, I can definitely help! When you successfully pass the 30 hours in-classroom instruction with an 80% rate of accuracy, I issue a certificate of completion. This certificate can be brought to the DMV to secure your instruction permit, bypassing the written exam at the DMV. You may take the remainder of the class which includes 12 hours of Behind the Wheel (BTW) instruction and be able to practice driving with another adult right away. If you choose not to do BTW instruction, you still need to log in 50 hours of driving time, wait 9 months, and take the driving exam at the DMV. If you are an adult, you will secure your learner’s permit and can return at any time you feel comfortable to pass the driving exam.