What it’s great for:

Virtual drivers ed can be a more self-paced and interactive alternative to regular driving school. It lets you work at your own speed, tailored to your personal schedule. It’s usually cheaper than paying tuition at a regular driving school, and your parents save time and gas money since they don’t have to drive you to and from. But watch out: only in certain areas can you take classes online to meet the 30+ hour drivers ed requirement for teens. You’ve lucked out here if you live in: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania or Texas.

As 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 can still sign up for an online course to qualify for an insurance discount or to purchase practice questions for the written test. There are even several companies that will refund your money if you don’t get your permit on the first try!

If you’re interested in lower car insurance rates (pssh, who isn’t?), taking a drivers ed class online can get you up to 10% off of your auto insurance, regardless of where you live or whether you’ve already got your drivers license. This is because some insurance companies reward drivers who take drivers education or a defensive driving course -check with your provider first to see if they can give you a special “safe driver” discount.

What it’s not-so-great for:

Even if you live in a state that lets you take drivers ed online, keep in mind that an internet-based course won’t take care of all the driving requirements you need to fulfill before you get your permit – you will still more than likely have to take several hours of actual, on-the-road drivers training as well. Depending on where you live, you can either sign up for driving instruction at a school, or have your parents teach you. Check your state’s driving manual for specifics.

Take into consideration what type of learner you are: while online drivers ed may be a more convenient and flexible alternative to traditional class, don’t think you can cut corners and skip the material! You’ll need a bit of discipline to make sure you stay focused on the work, even for just 20 minutes a day. If you’re too easily distracted by all the other cool stuff online like games, IM, and MySpace, you’ll never finish the course. If you learn better in a structured classroom environment, then this option may not be for you.

And finally.. if you do decide to take an online drivers ed course, research the company you choose to make sure they’re reputable: do a web search or check their record with the Better Business Bureau. Our recommendation is DriversEd.com, since you can complete 20% of the course of your choice for free before you buy (and get 10% off with our referral!). Good luck and safe virtual driving!

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!)

You’ll need these to pass:

• Practice
• A working knowledge of your state’s traffic laws
• Confidence

All of these come with time; before anything else, make sure to get yourself enough driving experience so that things like parking, turns, and intersection procedures become second nature. Knowing when to yield and when to take the right-of-way is especially important. Once you feel calm behind the wheel, you’re halfway there.

In the days leading up to your test, check the signals and lights of the car you plan to drive to ensure everything’s in proper working order – so they’ll let you even take the examination. If it’s not the same vehicle you did most of your practice in, take it out for a few spins until you’re absolutely comfortable driving it, since each car maneuvers a little differently.

Whatever “unique” habits you may have picked up as a driver: lose them! We mean stuff like making lazy turns, driving one-handed, not coming to a complete stops at stop signs, etc. Road safety is always important – never more so than on your exam day. You’ll want to drive as cautiously as if you were the DMV manual itself, so follow these tips to a T:

• Drive slightly under the speed limit (gives you more time to react to instructions)
• Brake and accelerate gently
• Keep a lookout for and obey ALL signs
• Signal all turns & lane changes at the right time
• Use your mirrors frequently (much more than normal, even if you feel silly)
• Always turn to check your blind spot when changing lanes (important!)
• Follow at a safe distance
• Never answer your cell phone while driving!

These are the main things that your examiner will be watching for, so take your road test with the objective of showing him/her what a safe, vigilant driver you are. Even if you make a small mistake or two – which you probably will, and most everyone does – don’t let it faze you.

Here’s another trick: it might help to pretend that the examiner is a (strict, overly demanding.. middle-aged? balding?) friend who’s giving you directions to a party. Whatever works! If, despite everything, you find you’re second-guessing yourself on test day and wish you’d practiced more, just trust yourself and know that your skills will stand up against the nerves. Good luck – freedom awaits!
 

Want to try out your skills right now? Give Drivers Ed: The Game a whirl to get an idea of what your examiner might ask you to do! And stay tuned for more tips..

If you have any questions, send over an e-mail and we’ll be happy to answer it. And of course, keep checking back as we update with more info and cool driving-related stuff soon to come!