Making Orange County and Los Angeles County a better place - one safe driver at a time!

behind the wheel training in orange county

30 Hour Online Course

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Behind the Wheel

Multiple options available

The Safety 1st Difference

Our #1 Priority is you!

Multiple options available

CALL US TODAY! (949) 250-7001

WELCOME TO SAFETY 1ST DRIVING SCHOOL –
YOUR BEST CHOICE FOR DRIVER’S EDUCATION

Our experienced instructors are prepared to take each student by the hand, from their very first time behind the wheel till the time they get their license, and beyond. We genuinely care about our students’ safety and want everyone to have a pleasant and enjoyable experience learning to drive.
behind the wheel training in orange county
behind the wheel training in orange county
Driver's Ed in San Juan Capistrano - Safety 1st Driving School
  • All our cars are brand new and have very high Safety Ratings to ensure a safe and reliable training environment for our students. Learn more about our cars and their safety features.
  • We have a very high success rate for students passing their driving and written tests on their first try.
  • Safety 1st Driving School is fully bonded, insured & licensed to provide the maximum amount of security and safety to every student.
  • All our instructors are background checked by the DOJ and licensed by the California DMV, as well as Safety 1st’s own rigorous training requirements. We have very high expectations for our driving instructors!
Our programs are FUN (NOT boring!) and they work around YOUR schedule. Our instructors will pick you up and drop you off for Behind-the-Wheel instruction, and when you take the Online Course, it is completely up to you! You can access your Online Course wherever there is an internet connection using your phone, tablet, or computer. Our prices are affordable and our instructors are friendly, knowledgeable, and experienced!

TOP 4 REASONS STUDENTS (AND PARENTS) LOVE SAFETY 1ST:

1. WE REALLY ARE THERE FOR OUR STUDENTS.

Our students know they can call us anytime, and we will happily answer their call. We genuinely care about giving our students THE BEST driver’s education available. What you find with many other driving schools is that students sign up for Online Training and they are completely on their own. Not with Safety 1st! We are with you from your very first call to us, till you take your final DMV exam.

2. WE COMMUNICATE WITH PARENTS.

We at Safety 1st have a specific Grading System. Every behind-the-wheel driving lesson is graded, and after every lesson we discuss the grade with the parents and student. That way you will ALWAYS know your student’s strengths, as well as what to practice on your own time, and what we will focus on improving together. We will also gladly provide copies of each lesson’s grade report at your request.

3. WE ARE ON TIME AND PROFESSIONAL.

Safety 1st’s driving instructors are always on time. We show up to every behind-the-wheel lesson looking clean, presentable and professional. We take our jobs very seriously, and we want all our students and parents to know it.

4. WE DON’T SKIMP ON BEHIND-THE-WHEEL TRAINING!

Our number one priority is our students – not just that they pass their DMV test the first time around so our numbers look good. We are about taking the time to ensure they become safe, skilled drivers. That is why we drive over twice as much as our competition. Most driving schools log about 15 miles per session. Safety 1st logs 30-40 miles per session! Our concern is not on saving gas money and mileage – it is on our students! We spare no expense to make sure our students become safe, skilled drivers.

SPREAD THE WORD!

Safety 1st offers a number of options for Driver’s Education:

  • Our fun, interactive, and informative Online Course for only $49!
  • Behind-the-Wheel training – 6 hours (three 2-hour training sessions) & Single 2 hours
  • BOTH Online Driversed and in-car Behind-the-Wheel training are available!

Check out our Packages page for more details. Safety 1st Driving School is proud to be making Orange County and LA County a better place – one safe driver at a time! For more information about Safety 1st, visit our Why Us? page.

PROUDLY CREATING SAFE DRIVERS IN ORANGE COUNTY, ONE STUDENT AT A TIME!

Step 1. Complete our online driver’s education course

Register for our online driver education course. After you complete the required chapters and tests, we will then send you the DMV Certificate of Completion (DL387) that you can take to the DMV when you are ready to take the written test for your learner’s permit.

Our online driver ed course is available to all California residents. You can take our course at your own pace, in your own home in your own time.

Step 2. Study for the DMV written test

You will need to study for the DMV written permit test by reading through the DMV California Driver Handbook. It will benefit you if you take your time and study the handbook so you are comfortable with the information that will be on the test.

Take your time, you don’t want to have to go back to retake the test.

Step 3. Make an appointment at the DMV to take the written exam

It is important that you call ahead of time and schedule an appointment at the local DMV so you can go in and take the written test.

The lines at the DMV are usually very long so you don’t want to waste your time waiting in line. Make sure that you are well prepared for your appointment.

Most DMV’s are open Mondays through Fridays until 5 pm; Some are also open on Saturdays for a few hours so call ahead of time and see which date and times are best for you.

Step 4. Bring necessary documents to the DMV office

  • Complete the application form DL 44, remember the DMV always requires An original to be submitted. Copies will not be accepted in any form, so make sure you have exactly what you need. You can get this form from your local DMV.
  • Have your parents or guardians sign the application form DL 44.
  • Give your right thumbprint.
  • Have your picture taken.
  • Provide your social security #
  • Verify your birth date and legal residence
  • Submit the proper form(s) for Driver Education and/or Driver Training (see below for details)
  • Pay the $28.00 application fee (This fee entitles you to three exams of any type within the 12-month period and pays for both the instruction permit and the driver license. If all requirements are not met within the 12-month period, the application becomes void and all steps must be completed again.)
  • Pass a vision exam, if you need glasses, wear them.
  • Pass a written test, there are 46 questions on the test.
  • You need a passing score of at least 39 correct answers.
  • You have three chances to pass the test. If you fail, you must wait 7 days before taking it again.

 

Driver Education and Driver Training Form Requirements:

If you are 15  years of age, you will need to bring with you:

  • Form DL 356 or OL 237 (Completion of Driver Education) with form DL 391 (Driver Training Enrollment ) if your school has a contract with a driving school.

OR

  • Form DL 356 or forms OL 237 and OL 238 (Completion of both Driver Education and Driver Training)

OR

  • Submit form DL 391 or OL 239 (Simultaneous Enrollment in Driver Education and Driver Training)

 

If you are over 15 but under 18 years of age, you will need to submit:

  • Form DL 356 or OL 237 (Completion of Driver Education)

OR

  • Form DL 391 or OL 239 (Simultaneous Enrollment in Driver Education and Driver Training)

 

If you are over 17  but under 18 years of age, you may get your permit without the driver education and driver training certificates however, you will not be able to take the driving test until you turn 18.

Once you pass your written test, you will be issued a provisional permit. You can be issued a permit at age 15, but you cannot take the driving test or be issued a driver’s license until you are 16 years of age.

A parent, guardian, spouse, or adult 25 years of age or older, who has a valid California driver’s license, must be with you when you drive. They must sit in a position that allows them to take control of the vehicle, if necessary. It is illegal for you to drive alone at any time.

Before being eligible to take the driving test you must:

  • Be 16 years old
  • Have had your permit for a minimum of six months
  • Have completed driver education
  • Have completed 6 hours of professional driver training
  • Have completed 50 hours of practice with an adult 25 years or older. The adult must have a valid California driver’s license and certify to the 50 hours of practice. At least 10 of the 50 hours must have been done at night.

 

If driver education and driver training were taken in a state other than California, DMV will accept either a Secondary Schools Other Than California Schools form DL 33 completed by the out-of-state school or a letter on the out-of-state school’s stationery signed by a school official stating that the courses are equivalent to California’s requirements. Instructional permits issued by another state are not acceptable

Step 5. Complete behind the wheel training

When you pass the written exam:

  • You are required to take your first 2 hours of behind the wheel training with a professional driving instructor.
  •  You may start behind the wheel training with your parent/guardian or other licensed drivers who are 25 years of age or older.
  •  You must further complete four (4) more hours of driving school instruction.
  • Complete fifty (50) additional hours of behind the wheel training with a parent/guardian or any other adult who is 25 years old or older. The adult must have a valid California driver license and certify that you’ve had the 50 hours of practice. It is required that 10 of the 50 hours of training is done in the evening.

Step 6. Take the driving test at the DMV

To be eligible to take your driving test you must:

  • Be 16 years old
  • Have had your permit for a minimum of six months
  • Have completed a driver education course
  • Have completed 6 hours of professional driver training
  • Have completed 50 hours of practice with an adult who is 25 years or older. The adult must have a valid California driver license and certify to the 50 hours of practice. At least 10 of the 50 hours must have been done at night.
  • You will also need to show registration and proof of insurance for the vehicle you will be taking your drive test in.
  •  If you fail your drive test, you must wait two weeks before you can take the test again. You have three chances to pass.
    • Driving (behind-the-wheel) retest fee is $6.00.
    • Motorcycle driving (behind-the-wheel) retest fee $6.00.

 

After you pass your drive test you will be issued an interim license valid for 60 days until you receive your new photo license in the mail. Double-check your address before you leave DMV and tell the DMV representative if you have moved or if your address is incorrect.

If you have not received your license after 60 days, call (916) 657-7790 and they can check on the status for you. Have your interim license with you to provide information when requested.

Step 7. Receive provisional license upon passing the driving test

After you pass the Driving Test, you will be issued a provisional license. Your license will have the following restrictions for the next year: During the first 12 months, you are licensed to drive you must be accompanied by a driver 25 years of age or older if you drive between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. or if you have passengers under the age of 20 in the car at any time.

Persons under 18 may not be employed to drive a motor vehicle. When you become 18, the provisional part of your license ends. You may continue to drive as an adult using your photo license, which will expire on your 5th birthday after the date you applied.