Driving School: Are You Being Ripped Off?

Many people waste time and money learning nothing at a driving school. They grumble later and forget about a driver’s license altogether! You must have heard from friends starting off with great enthusiasm at a driving school only to give you hopeless reviews a week later. My neighbor quit in only three lessons. She was completely put off by the ramshackle car the driving school sent her out in to practice and could not feel comfortable with her instructor. She said her instructor chatted more on the cell phone than really bother about teaching her. Don’t get tricked at a driving school.

How you benefit from a driving school depends a lot on you as an individual too. Are you a fast learner and are you mechanically more naturally adept than other people? Many factors impact the benefits you derive from lessons at a driving school. But no matter what, there is nothing in a driving test that you cannot eventually clear. A driving school can prepare you in three weeks’ time for a $400 fee to take any driving test. This course will include both practical and theoretical lessons.

The best way to decide what duration of lessons and course will suit you is to have a detailed discussion with the instructor before you begin. If possible, also discuss with your instructor what each session will focus on and what vehicle the school is going to assign to you for practice.

All discussions about lessons should include clear facts about the time to be spent in the classroom and that to be spent in the car. Do not underrate the theory classes as not only will these give you more confidence about handling the vehicle but you cannot go for a practical test for your license without clearing the theory test first. A theory evaluation lasts about an hour and includes multiple-choice questions about rules, road signs etc.

Supplement your driving school work with some of the many good guidebooks available in the market on traffic rules, signs, safety measures etc. These must be studied to enhance the benefit of your theory lessons at the driving school. During your course, you can also request your driving school to help you obtain small booklets with brief tips which can be kept as reference material in your car.

Supplementing your theoretical knowledge is important because it improves your chances of being safe on the roads. Accidents are as likely to take place because of lack of understanding a road sign as because of practical mishandling of a vehicle. Theoretical lessons begun before you start practical training is always a good idea because they give you confidence and help you train on the road better. Many schools suggest taking theoretical lessons after practical ones which is not very beneficial for learners.

Some driving schools focus on teaching groups on a residential basis. If several members of your family wish to enroll together for lessons, you can consider this option at your local club or community organization. For individuals, practical driving lessons can be in the basic or intensive category. Intensive category is for those very short on time or who have earlier taken the basic lessons. As a complete beginner, the basic category of lessons is ideal for you. Most driving school instructors suggest enrolling for practical lessons by adding 60 minutes for every year of your age. In a three-week course, you can cover about ten practical driving hours.

Learning to drive whether for individual or professional needs is always a good idea but landing up with the wrong driving school or getting put off mid-way during a course can be as much your fault as the instructor’s. Many people enjoy driving as a hobby and having learnt it at a good school enhances the experience. Many youngsters even take up driving professionally as an interim earning option before beginning a full-time career. Choose the right school, persevere and no driving school can drive you nuts. What you will finally do obtain is your driver’s license!