Find The Best Driving School In Four Easy Steps

Filed Under driver's ed 4 Comments

Illustration of a student driver being trailed by several angry driversFor you under-18ers: Before you even think of eyeing that shiny new roadster, you’re going to have to take drivers ed classes. (If you’re past 18, you aren’t required by law to take one, but it’s still a good idea.) With fewer and fewer high schools offering drivers education courses as part of their curriculum, you may be among the many road-hopeful teenagers who now have to look elsewhere.

Finding a driving school that’s reasonably priced and close to home is important – after all, who wants to shell out mucho bucks on top of round-trip gas fare? – but remember that you’re also making a big investment towards your future and safety. With most states requiring 24-30 hours of classroom education, plus around 6 for supervised behind-the-wheel training, you’ll want the most for your time and money. So here’s a simple four-step guide we’ve put together to help you – and/or your parents – find the best drivers ed classes in your area:

Step One: Scout Your Options
First, find out what schools are nearby. Look through the yellow pages, search online, and ask friends for their recommendations. As soon as you’ve got a couple of places to check out, it’s time to start narrowing down the list.

Step Two: Weed Out the Duds
Before anything, call the schools you’re interested in and make sure they’re accredited by your state’s DMV. Check out their websites or call to ask about pricing and lesson packages – you’ll get a sense of what type of place they are from their customer service. If everything’s cool, schedule a visit. Since you’ll be spending more than a few hours there, it’s worth doing a little research to make sure that you’re going to a place you actually like and are comfortable in.

Step Three: Size ‘Em Up
Once there, survey the school – do you feel at ease there? Do they seem organized, helpful? The best school will have decent sized classes, up-to-date classrooms & student cars, and driving simulators for realistic, safe practice. The instructors should be knowledgeable and give each student plenty of one-on-one time. Ask about the class curriculum; it should teach useful driving skills like defensive driving and car maintenance, not just basics out of the DMV manual. If a school doesn’t measure up, keep it moving until you’ve found a winner.

Step Four: Negotiate the Financials
In case you’ve found the perfect school but the tuition is a bit more than you were hoping to pay, try this. Many driving schools are happy to offer a special discount or a reasonable installment plan to break up costs, so don’t be shy about asking. A good school shouldn’t be afraid to bend a little to keep a customer happy!

Simple, right? Yeah, flipping through the phone book and picking the first place your finger lands on is so much faster and easier, but it’s worth finding the right one. Driving school is a great opportunity to learn the skills that will benefit you for years to come, and what you learn there might even save your life someday. Anyway, drivers ed classes can be killer in the wrong school; wouldn’t you rather be somewhere that makes the experience more fun, interesting, and useful?

(Until then, play the drivers ed game for some pixellated road practice!)

Comments

4 Responses to “Find The Best Driving School In Four Easy Steps”

  1. Is Online Drivers Ed Right For You? | Drivers Ed Game Online on July 22nd, 2008

    [...] for those of you in the other 41 states: you’re still required to do it the old fashioned way – find a driving school and sit through the required classroom time (don’t worry, it’s really not that bad!). But you [...]

  2. AlexM on August 18th, 2008

    Your blog is interesting!

    Keep up the good work!

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