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

Costa Mesa Driving School - Safety 1st

Costa Mesa Driving SchoolSafety 1st Driving School provides the best behind-the-wheel training in Orange County. We are committed to educating and supporting young drivers and their families with the goal of reversing the statistics and making Orange County a better place – one safe driver at a time.

Our methods are informative, fun, gentle, and supportive. We go above and beyond to ensure each student’s behind-the-wheel training is tailored each session to his or her specific needs. We communicate thoroughly with the parents so they can assist and encourage their student driver as they work on areas that need improvement.

Here are some more reasons why you should call Safety 1st Driving School for your teen’s driver’s ed:

1. Fun and Informative Online Course

Our online driver’s ed course is only $30! Work on your own time, at your own pace and speed, and save your progress as you go. And if you run into any questions or technical issues, our instructors promise to answer the phone whenever possible and our tech support is local so any problems will be fixed right away.

Register for our Online Course here.

2. A Number of Behind-the-Wheel Packages

Check out our Packages page to see all we have to offer for behind-the-wheel training. We offer 6 hours, 10 hours, or 50 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction. When your student drives with Safety 1st, he or she is well cared for. We provide phone support, and the following:

  • Pick up and drop off from home or school for driving lessons. Our instructors are on time, every time – clean, professional, and ready to teach!
  • Use our cars for your lessons, as well as your DMV driving test. (Our cars are top safety rated, too.)
  • No piggybacking allowed! Only one student per car per session. Focus is solely on your student and his or her needs.
  • Driving time belongs only to the student. In other words, your instructor won’t be running his personal errands during the student’s driving time.
  • WAY more driving time! Most driving schools log about 15 miles per session, but Safety 1st logs 30-40 miles per session.
  • Communication with parents and focus on improvement each week. We have a specialized grading system whereby each student is graded on specifics at every lesson and the grade is thoroughly discussed with the student and parents so they know precisely what to be working on.

3. The Best Instructors

Our instructors treat each student driver like one of their very own kids. They are professional, accessible, patient and kind, taking their time to teach not only to pass the DMV exam, but to create in each student a respect for the road and other drivers, and a knowledge and skill set for operating a motor vehicle that will keep them safe and responsible, both as a passenger and behind-the-wheel.

We are licensed, bonded, and insured. All of Safety 1st’s instructors are licensed by the California DMV and have also passed our own rigorous training requirements.

Safety 1st wants to be your family’s go-to driver’s ed company. We are confident in our abilities and have a proven track record of success. Not only do our students overwhelmingly pass the DMV written and driving exams the first time, they also become responsible, skilled, safe drivers who have enough respect for the law, the road, other drivers, and themselves to make wise decisions behind the wheel.

Contact Safety 1st today to get started on your driver’s education. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Costa Mesa Driving School

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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.