If you want to take driver’s ed at home, you’re in luck. Now that we live in the awesome age of the internet, finding an online-based driver’s ed course is simple. While not all states allow you to fulfill your classroom or bookwork online, it is certainly a growing trend. To see if your state allows you to take driver’s ed online, go to this page and choose your state.
As a certified driving instructor, I have been writing online driver’s ed reviews for several years now. I’m even the co-creator of a popular and free online CDL training program for truck drivers. So assessing ways of taking driver’s ed at home is nothing new for me.
Options For Taking Drivers Ed At Home
Back before the internet, there were some home-based driver’s ed courses that you could take using VHS tapes (remember those?) and workbooks. Everything was done by mail. These days, it’s getting much more difficult to find courses that still use workbooks. Most of the driver’s ed courses you can take from home are online-based. This is actually a good thing. The online driver’s ed courses are interactive, engaging, and really do help keep a students’ interests much better than in a classroom. There’s a growing number of evidence to suggest students are much more likely to pass their driving permit exams on the first try by going through an online course as opposed to a traditional classroom.
Things to Consider Before Enrolling in an Online Drivers Ed Course
Before anything else, there are three things you need to determine.
First, find out if your state requires you to complete a Drivers Ed course. Surprising, I know, but only 32 states require you to go through it before taking the written and driving exam with your local DMV.
That said, even if it’s not required, having more knowledge is always an advantage. If you can find a course that won’t take up too much of your time and money, it might be a wise investment.
Second, find out whether your state allows Drivers Ed Courses to be taken online. There are currently 22 states that do not, so if you happen to live in one of these, an online course will benefit you in terms of giving you knowledge, but it won’t fulfill the requirements you need to get your permit.
It also means you’ll have to take the course traditionally — spending Saturdays attending in-person classes. The best way for you to find out what your options are is to call or visit your local department of motor vehicles.
Third, if your state allows online Drivers Ed, make sure you choose a school that’s certified in your state. Some online schools offer courses that aren’t recognized by your state’s DMV.
The last thing you want is to pay for a course, spend hours going through the material, only to find out you won’t get credited for it.
Although it’ll provide you with information you’re sure to find beneficial, you’ll still end up having to go through an in-person class. And you’ll be taught the same things, too.
To avoid all of these, do your research or reach out to your local DMV to make sure you have a clear understanding of your state’s requirements and regulations.
What About Behind The Wheel Training?
Yes, eventually you’ll have to leave the house in order to complete your behind-the-wheel training. Fortunately, there are many online driver’s ed courses that also operate their own driver’s ed cars. This online drivers ed program will come to pick you up and drop you off at your house before and after each lesson – not bad! If they don’t operate any training vehicles in your area, they will help you locate a good local driver training company to work with.
Is Taking Drivers Ed At Home Safer?
Many parents worry that taking driver’s ed at home is not going to provide their kids with adequate training. Fortunately, this is a misconception. While there are some students who will do better in a classroom, online driver’s ed courses are designed with teens in mind. They are fun, interactive, and usually feature a cast of animated characters, including videos, animations, games, diagrams, interactive quizzes, and checkpoints along the way to make sure they are retaining enough information. And for parents, any reputable online driver’s ed course will provide a full and complete guide.
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