Behind The Wheel Training

Driving Lessons

How much does your driving school charge for drivers ed and drivers training?

Drivers Ed Direct offers many courses and packages for all levels of drivers education and drivers training. We have different prices for different packages depending on the services or courses you need. For more information on the courses and cost in your area, select the state you live in from our online course or behind-the-wheel pages.



How much time should I wait between each driving lesson?

There is no single answer to this common question because each student learns driving at a different pace. With this in mind, we typically recommend that students spend about 2-4 weeks between each lesson so they have enough time to practice and truly learn the concepts taught in their previous driving lesson.

However, we also realize that many of our customers have a busy schedule and can't always find enough quality time to practice driving each week. For these customers, we recommend scheduling additional driving lessons so that Drivers Ed Direct can help your son or daughter get the much needed practice required to learn how to drive.



Do you take your students on the freeway?

As part of Drivers Ed Direct's 6-hour package, we give students a 'taste' of the freeway. However, students that sign up for our 10-hour package will get more extensive training on freeways and driving through canyons where available.



What if we need to cancel or change a driving lesson appointment?

You may call us toll free at (800) 728-1048 or send us an email at schedule@driverseddirect.com. Please remember that we have a 24-hour cancellation policy. If at any time you need to cancel or change an appointment, please contact us at least 24 hours in advance to let us know. All changes or cancellations within 24 hours will be subject to a $45.00 cancellation/change fee.



How can we reschedule a driving lesson?

You may reschedule by calling us toll free at (800) 728-1048 or by sending us an email at schedule@driverseddirect.com.



How do I enroll/make an appointment for my behind-the-wheel lessons?

You can select driving lessons through our website at www.driverseddirect.com or you may call us toll free at (800) 728-1048. All registered students can even request driving lesson dates and timeslots through our website.



Do I have to take my son/daughter to you or will you pick them up?

We'll pick you up! You always get front door service with Drivers Ed Direct as long as you reside within our behind the wheel training area. That means that you get picked up and dropped off at your front door for each lesson.



Does a parent or guardian have to be present when the instructor comes to pick up my student for their lesson?

It is not required for a parent or guardian to be present when the instructor comes to pick up the student for their lesson. However, all students are expected to have their permit with them and be available for pickup at the scheduled lesson start time, either at their home or another designated pickup location.
Additionally, upon the end of the lesson, the student needs to be able to get back into their home or be returned to a parent-approved designated drop-off location.



Can you pick me up at school or at work?

Drivers Ed Direct will pick up any student for their driving lesson appointment wherever you designate. We can pick you up or drop you off at school, work or home. Make sure to let us know where you would like to be picked up when you book your appointment.



What if I don't have my learner's permit when you pick me up for a driving lesson?

All driving school students must have their learners permit with them at all times when taking our course. This is mandatory. However, we do offer student licenses in the event that you forget your learner's permit. You will be allowed to continue with your scheduled lesson with a student license. There is a $10.00 fee for the issuance of any student license.



Can I drive in the vehicle during my child's lesson?

Yes, we can accommodate this request. However, we do not encourage you to ride in the vehicle during your child's lesson. Getting behind the wheel for the first time can be very stressful for teens. Drivers Ed Direct is very serious about the training it provides its students. We make every attempt to try and have the first time drivers experience be as non-stressful and pleasant as possible.



Are there other students in the car during the lessons?

No, your child will be the only student in the training car or SUV. Drivers Ed Direct does not 'piggy back' students like some other driving schools. Each 2-hour lesson is taught one-on-one and is dedicated to your student. In addition, friends or relatives are not allowed in the training vehicle during the lessons as it is too distracting for the student trying to learn how to drive. The only exception is a parent or guardian may accompany their child on the lesson.



Do you take breaks during lessons?

We want our driving school students to get the most out of every 2-hour lesson, so we do not take breaks during these lessons. However, we will make any necessary accommodations for each student.



Can you take my child to the Local DMV for their driver license test?

Yes, we have a DMV Drive Test Prep course available for that very purpose. We will help schedule the driving test appointment at a local CA DMV at a time convenient for you. Also, we will pick you up before your scheduled test time and practice before driving to the DMV for the actual driving road test, which you take in our fully insured driver's training vehicle.



Do you offer defensive driving lessons?

Yes, we have lessons that focus specifically on defensive driving techniques, including freeway lessons, canyon lessons, and teaching the I.P.D.E. defensive driving methodology. These more difficult driving environments and advanced defensive driving techniques are generally part of our premium 10hr driving packages and 20hr driving packages.



How long do I have to complete the Behind-the-Wheel course?

There is no time requirement to complete the course, however we strongly encourage you to begin your driving lessons with one of our expert driving instructors as soon as possible. In this way, from the beginning you will learn all of the proper driving habits and techniques required to pass the DMV Drive test and become the safest driver possible. Furthermore, you shouldn't space your driving lessons out much more than a couple of weeks. If you schedule your driving lessons close to one another, you can develop a more solid driving foundation which will prevent you from picking up any bad habits that can affect your ability to pass the DMV Drive Test.

Please note that your permit expires one year from the date you first apply for a provisional learners' permit. The date you apply for your permit may be different than the date your permit was issued if you do not pass the DMV written test on your first attempt.



Can we break the lessons into 1 hour instead of 2 hours?

Through research and experience, we have found that 2 hour lessons work better than any other time frame. Teens tend to really demonstrate proficiency during their second hour of instruction. Much of the first hour is often spent reviewing and warming up the teen driver. If it's a new student driver, they won't start grasping the concepts until the second hour. Furthermore, we find that 2 hour lessons make it easier on both the parent and teen when they get in the car and practice. There are always exceptions, so please contact our office if you have any special requests.

Driving Instructors

How long have your behind-the-wheel instructors been teaching?

To qualify to become a Drivers Ed Direct instructor we require all applicants to have experience working with teens and adults in some educational capacity. Whether it's working as a camp counselor, mentoring at a local youth organization or having credentialed teaching experience. Many of our instructors have been teaching teens and adults in these different areas for years. Each instructor has had a background in teaching a variety of skills, from swimming to acting to surfing. Many of our driving instructors have taught for years teaching hundreds of student's safe driving practices the Drivers Ed Direct way! Read our instructor profiles for more info on their experience and a little bit of personal information.



How many drivers training instructors are there?

Drivers Ed Direct has a highly trained staff of drivers ed and drivers training instructors to satisfy the needs of our students throughout Los Angeles County and Ventura County. We currently have over 20 male and female instructors ready to teach driving lessons every week and we will do everything possible to accommodate all requests in a timely manner.



Do you have male and female driving school instructors?

Yes, Drivers Ed Direct has both female and male instructors available for drivers ed and drivers training. Please feel free to email or call us with any preferences.



Can I request the same driving instructor for each lesson?

We will do our best to accommodate this request whenever possible. Sometimes an instructor may not be available due to the instructor's individual schedule and the high volume of requests each instructor gets. Rest assured that Drivers Ed Direct has an entire team of excellent, likable, and highly qualified instructors who can all provide the highest quality driver's education possible for your son or daughter.



How do your driving school instructors teach?

Through research, we've found that new drivers feel more comfortable and will ultimately learn and digest more information when taught by patient and relaxed instructors as opposed to the traditional method of drivers training with an iron fist. In addition, Drivers Ed Direct believes that a mentor style approach is a more effective style.



Are the drivers training instructors fun?

Drivers Ed Direct's instructors are hip, cool and a lot of fun. They have great personalities and they make learning fun, but responsible at the same time. Our entire driver training instructor staff exhibits the highest level of professionalism and has gone through extensive training to teach our students the fundamentals of driving. Find out more about all our instructors by reading their profiles here.

Training Vehicles

Do your driving school cars have dual controls?

All Drivers Ed Direct vehicles used for drivers training are equipped with instructor brake pedals and additional safety mirrors that will be used as needed. In addition, our training vehicles are also fully loaded with the following safety equipment: front and side curtain airbags, Anti-Lock Braking Systems (ABS), stability control systems for skids & roll-overs, and GPS monitoring for location and vehicle speed.



Are the driving school cars marked "student driver"?

Yes, besides being clearly marked with our Drivers Ed Direct company name and logo, each of our training vehicles is marked with a "student driver" decal on the back window. However, we don't want to embarrass our students with a big box on top of their training vehicle, so we've opted not to incorporate the "pizza-delivery" style driver's ed vehicle into our fleet.



What type of cars do you use for driving lessons?

All students train in vehicles with additional safety features included such as extra airbags (side and head curtains) and vehicle stability control systems. We have Toyota Prius cars and Hybrid SUVs. All vehicles in the Drivers Ed Direct fleet are hybrid vehicles.



Do hybrid vehicles drive differently than normal cars or SUV's?

No, there is truly no difference in the way a hybrid vehicle drives versus a gas only powered vehicle. The only difference is in the way the engine works. So no matter what type of vehicle you drive once you obtain your permit or license, you will have gained the skills necessary to drive every type of vehicle.



Does Drivers Ed Direct offer training in an SUV?

Drivers Ed Direct is one of the few licensed driving schools that offers specialized driving instruction in a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). Unlike normal passenger vehicles, SUV's drive differently, and our SUV training lessons focus on this fact. Our ground breaking SUV course thoroughly discusses the risk of rollovers; center of gravity and proper loading amongst other specific SUV related topics. Also, all our SUV's are gas-electric hybrids too!