4. Check if the school is digitally enabled
With a digitally enabled driving school, you can schedule lessons through a website or an app, and you can do your classes online, often at your own pace. In most provinces, it’s no longer a requirement to sit in a physical classroom for the theory portion of driver’s ed.
Most students spend 10 to 20 hours in the car under the supervision of their driving instructor. Online lesson scheduling has made it much easier for students to book and reschedule lessons, or simply check when their next lesson is. My company, driver’s ed startup Kruzee, takes it a step further—on our platform, students can find local instructors, check out reviews and book lessons. (Kruzee is currently available in Ontario, and we plan to expand to other provinces.)
5. Get to know the driving instructor before signing up
Finally, you’ll want to learn a bit about who your (or your child’s) driving instructor will be before the first lesson. You’ll be spending 10 to 20 hours together, so you’ll want to find someone who’s a good fit.
Typically, driving school students are randomly assigned an instructor. It’s hard to find reviews of specific instructors online—on Google, for example, reviews are typically about driving schools. On Kruzee, you can read instructor reviews from past students. If there isn’t a solution like Kruzee in your area, ask your driving school to tell you a bit about the instructor.
Not just anybody can teach driving. Typically, instructors must complete a college course, undergo a background check and vehicle safety check, and pass a variety of road tests. Confirm that your driving instructor has an up-to-date driving instructor license, driving instructor insurance and a vehicle outfitted with a second set of brakes, which is critical for your safety.
Look at safety first, before picking a driving school
Choosing the right driving school is an important decision that can have long-lasting effects on your safety, finances and driving skills. With insurance discounts, accelerated licensing times and other benefits, driving school can be a net-positive investment, rather than just an expense.
Remember to always prioritize safety and choose a driving school that focuses on instilling life-saving driving habits and advanced defensive driving techniques.
Mikael Castaldo is the co-CEO of Kruzee, a startup bringing driver’s education into the 21st century. Mikael’s expertise in driver’s education and financial literacy has been featured in the Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, Financial Post and others.