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How to Find a Good Driving School in Orange County

When it comes to driver’s ed instructors and driving schools in Orange County, you need to find the right one. One you can trust to teach your kid to become a safe, skilled driver.

And trust us when we say that not all driving schools are created equal.

A 2011 article by AOL Autos highlighted studies that have shown driver’s ed companies do not make student drivers any safer or skilled than if they had no formal instruction from a driving school. Sadly, as we all know, teenagers are the most risky and dangerous demographic behind the wheel. We are committed to reversing that statistic.

You can read the article here.

We do believe in the value of driver’s education for teenagers, but we are also aware that not all driving schools in Orange County are doing their students justice.

Here’s how to find a good driving school in Orange County:

Pass/Fail Rate

While your initial reaction might be to sign your kid up for the driver’s ed program with the highest DMV pass rate, just hold yer horses for a second. This could be a red flag.

Obviously you don’t want to send your kid to a driving school that has a very low DMV pass rate; however, a school that boasts too much about their high pass rate may be “teaching for the exam.” Some of these schools spend an unreasonable amount of time teaching parallel parking, or driving the same route that the DMV instructor uses, rather than giving the student a diverse, realistic experience of what driving in Orange County is like.

If your driver’s ed instructor isn’t afraid to hold a student back if they’re not ready to take the DMV test, chances are they are genuinely concerned about the student’s safety and skill level.

What do you know?

You’re the parent. You know your child better than we do. Hopefully you’re involved in your kid’s driver education experience. We offer Packages of 6, 10, and 50 hours of behind the wheel training, but we also encourage you to take an active role in helping your student driver learn to navigate the Orange County roads and freeways cautiously, safely, and skillfully.

In any event, we go above and beyond to keep parents in the know. First off, we welcome parent ride-alongs. And second, on every behind-the-wheel lesson, we take an iPad with our unique Advanced Grading System. During each behind-the-wheel lesson, the instructor takes detailed notes of both strengths and weaknesses. A grade is given, and then discussed in detail with the parent. The instructor will make recommendations on what the student should be working on for the next lesson.

Use the Time Wisely

Here are just a few of the complaints we’ve heard that give Orange County driving schools a bad rap:

  • “The instructor looked like he just rolled out of bed.”
  • “The instructor had my kid drive him around on his personal errands.”
  • “There were other students in the car and it was a distraction.”

You should know that at Safety 1st, we take our jobs very seriously. Our instructors are DMV certified; however, we go above and beyond with our own – more rigorous – instructor training requirements. The instructor WILL show up on time, and he or she WILL look professional and be ready to teach.

Your student’s driving time is their time. We will NOT allow any personal business to take place during your student’s behind-the-wheel training. And we don’t allow piggybacking, either. That means only one student in the car at a time. We are focused solely on your kid.

These are just a few of the ways Safety 1st strives to be Orange County’s premier driving school. We invite you to give us a call. We will be happy to meet with you, get to know you, and even provide references of past students.

No matter what, please make sure you find a driving school that you trust, that you are confident won’t just teach your child to pass the DMV test but will also train them to become a safe and skilled driver.

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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.