Is Online Drivers Ed Right For Me?

Posted by Michelle Riley

Seems like just about anything can be done on the internet these days - order a pizza, rent a movie, or even download an entire book instantly. And now the classroom-phobic and just plain busy can even take drivers ed classes online! Awesome, you may think: Why spend my weekends cooped up watching car slides in a moldy classroom? But before you sign up, you might want to make sure if virtual education really is the best option for you - we’ll give you the low-down on what it is and isn’t. Consider this lesson one!

The Pros:

If you live in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania or Texas: lucky you! Your state’s laws give you the option of taking an online drivers ed course - instead of a classroom one - to fulfill the 30 hours of required drivers education classes for teens. Internet classes can be a great alternative to an actual driving school, especially since they’re very interactive and let you work at your own pace and schedule. They are generally cheaper than classroom-taught driving courses, and your parents save gas, money, and time by not having to drive you back and forth from class.

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’d like to lower your car insurance payments, call your provider to see if they have a policy of rewarding drivers who take defensive or safe driving courses. It doesn’t matter where you live or whether you’ve already got your drivers license - completing one of these classes online can help you get up to 10% off your monthly rate.

What’s not-so-great:

Even if you can complete your state’s drivers ed class requirement on the internet, it’s important to know that online courses won’t fulfill the driving instruction portion of it. Driving instruction consists of several (usually around 6) hours of behind-the-wheel, supervised drivers training. You can either hire an instructor just for this from a driving school, or have your parents teach you. Laws vary state-by-state, so make sure to check your driving manual for details.

Since you set the pace for virtual drivers ed class, you’ll definitely need some self-discipline to make sure you set aside time for the material. Everyone learns a bit differently, so this may not be the best option if you need a little push to stay consistently focused on your work. Even just 20 minutes a day might be enough, but if you find yourself too distracted by instant messages, online games, and MySpace, you won’t get through the course. Ask yourself whether you might have an easier time learning in a more traditional classroom setting.

So, to wrap up: if you do decide that online drivers ed is for you, make sure to choose a company that’s solid and reputable, just like you would in non-virtual life. Search the web for other people’s reviews, and check their reputation with the Better Business Bureau at bbb.org. Ready to get started? Best of luck, and don’t be late to class!

Tags: Cars

Under Cars Tags: Cars