Should You Take Drivers Ed Online?
August 6, 2008
You can do almost everything online nowadays - order pizza, rent movies, even buy books you can read instantly on your computer. And did you know that you can also take drivers education classes on the internet? You might think: Wow, that definitely beats being holed up in a classroom all weekend watching car slides! But don’t enroll just yet - we’ll give you the info you need to decide if online drivers ed is right for you. Take this as your first lesson!
What it’s great for:
If you like interactive learning and do best when you can absorb information at your own pace and schedule, you might just want to consider taking drivers ed online. The advantages are that the fees are usually cheaper than at a regular driving school, and you and your parents won’t have to deal with the hassle of driving to and from class. One very important note: it’s only if you live in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania or Texas that you can fulfill the 30 hour drivers ed requirement (for teens) online.
For everyone in the other 41 states, you still have to fulfill your required class time in a classroom, but online drivers ed still has something to offer you: you can take a course to qualify for a car insurance discount, or to practice for your written test. Many companies will even give you a refund if you don’t pass the first time!
If you are interested in lowering your auto insurance rates (and who isn’t..!?), completing an online drivers ed class can qualify you for a discount of up to 10% - and it doesn’t matter where you live or how long you’ve been driving. But first, check with your insurance company to make sure they have a policy of rewarding drivers who take “safe driving” courses.
The Cons:
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.
Everyone has a different learning style, and taking an online drivers ed class requires you to keep on top of your work without much supervision, even if it’s 20 minutes a day. If you tend to be easily distracted by fun stuff like IMs, flash games, or MySpace any time you’re on the internet, then you might have a hard time getting through the course material on your own. In this case, you might really benefit more from a traditional classroom environment at a driving school - do your best to figure out which method will be better for you.
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!
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