Well, it might not feel like it, some congratulations are in order! You and your teen are taking a big step in getting them ready for adulthood by signing them up for a driver’s ed class. Not only that, you’ve checked your state’s DMV and found out that it’s possible to do the course entirely online.
Although some people might be wary of this option, know that it’s a great choice for more and more people. An online class is more respectful of a student’s time, allowing them to do the coursework when they can fit it into their schedule, and they can then work at their own pace.
Although the information covered will be the same and might be a bit dry, an online class will often incorporate videos, images, audio, and other elements to keep things interesting. Additionally, an online class requires your teen to truly set aside the time to complete it, showing their dedication and maturity.
The next big question, then, is which class should your teen enroll in? Well, that’s going to be different for everyone, but we can offer a few handy guidelines when choosing an online driver’s ed course in states like California, Texas, or other areas.
Want The Fast Answer? THIS Is The Best Online Driver’s Ed Course To Sign Up For
What to Look for in an Online Driver Education Course
1. It is Approved in Your State
A quick glance at the website and you should find somewhere on there that it’s been approved by your state. This means that the coursework has been given the a-okay by state officials and can most certainly be used towards a new driver getting his or her license. If you don’t see this, then you can inquire directly with the online school.
If a course is not approved in your state, then it’s a big red flag—meaning it will simply be a waste of your money and your teen’s time. Save yourself the frustration and check on this requirement before going any further in your search.
2. It Offers a Money-Back Guarantee
More and more online driving schools are doing this. Usually, they’ll have some kind of terms and conditions regarding their guarantee—perhaps you need to file a claim within 30 days of purchase—so read those carefully.
Let your teen know that if they completely despise the class after a few lessons, there are other options out there. But if they get past a certain point or stay in the class for a certain amount of time, the money-back guarantee may be void.
Additionally, some classes will allow you to take the first lesson or two without even officially signing up and putting down a credit card. Let your child try the course out and get their feedback before you hit the purchase button.
3. It’s Interesting (To Your Teen, At Least)
Driver’s ed is an exciting course to take because of what it means for the student—finally gaining independence and getting to drive a car. That said, it still needs to cover certain state-mandated minimums, rules, and regulations. The content itself can be kind of dry and hard to endure.
Online courses are structured in many different ways, but the best online driver’s ed classes will incorporate a variety of media to keep things interesting.
Remember, your teen isn’t sitting down in a classroom and learning from a teacher; instead, they’re leading their own education. A class that incorporates video lessons, games, quizzes, images, and audio clips will be far more interesting than a web page with text only.
4. 24/7/365 Support
This is another feature that more and more schools are offering, so there’s no reason to sign up for one that doesn’t have it.
Although your teen won’t have a teacher to turn to, they may still have some questions that pop up. An online class that offers support any time of the day will ensure that they’ll get quick answers and can continue coursework without any confusion.
What are Some of the Best Online Driver Education Courses?
iDriveSafely
iDriveSafely is one of the best courses you can sign up for, hands down. They offer online traffic school, ticket dismissal, and insurance reduction courses in addition to their driver’s ed course, and they’re consistently ranked well. This is a company that’s done well for itself, so you can expect high-quality work going into the lessons.
Approved in the Following States: CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, NY (coming soon), NV, OK, TX, VA
DriversEd
DriversEd is one of the oldest online driver’s ed programs out there and a consistently popular choice. In 2015, it merged with iDriveSafely to form eDriving and thus becoming one of the largest providers of online driver training in the United States.
Because they’ve got lots of experience, they know the value in regular revisions; in fact, they recently updated their animations and graphics to take on more of a modern and 3D appearance. Signup is easy and you’re able to take a significant portion of the course for free, allowing your teen to try it before you buy it.
Approved in the Following States: AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, ID, IN, MN, NC, NE, NV, OH, OK, PA, TX, UT, VA, WI
Also Available in: AL, AK, AR, CT, DE, HI, IL, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MS, MO, MT, NH, NJ, NM, NY, ND, OR, RI, SC, SD, TN, VT, WA, DC, WV, WY
*(If your state authorizes online driver’s ed, check with your local DMV if it can satisfy license requirements)
Aceable
Honestly, this one is our top pick. It’s a newer course, so that means no outdated graphics or old information. This course works flawlessly on any device making it easy to complete even from a tablet, has the most advanced video and animated training, includes interactive features to increase retention rates, and their customer support is amazing. The caveat is that they’re currently only available in a handful of states.
Approved in the Following States: CA, FL, GA, IL, NV, OH, OK, PA, TX
DriverEdToGo
If you’re looking for a school that offers the lowest price, DriverEdToGo promises to beat the cheapest price offer you’ll find in your State. They’ve been around for more than a decade, and they’re one of the pioneers in providing online driver’s education.
Their program is available in textbook and DVD formats in case you prefer doing it that way instead of online. However, their graphics, animations, and the user interface itself may be slightly outdated, so be sure to take note of that as well.
Despite that, they still have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau so you can rest assured that their relationship with their customers is exemplary, and you’ll get the quality of education that your teen deserves to get.
Approved in the Following States: CA, CO, GA, IN, OH, VA
Also Available in CT, DE, FL, HI, ID, IL, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY
*(If your state authorizes online driver’s ed, check with your local DMV if it can satisfy license requirements)
MyImprov Driving School
MyImprov Driving School is co-founded by the Improv Comedy Club and with the help of professional stand-up comedians, they have created an online driver’s ed course material that veers away from your usual boring lectures, teachers, or textbooks.
Using their “edutainment” style of teaching, they made their course a lot more engaging and interesting by incorporating hilarious jokes and comedy skits, funny pictures, and witty animations. So if you’re looking towards an enjoyable learning experience for your teen, this school is definitely one to consider.
MyImprov’s course is also mobile-friendly so it’ll work well on any smartphone or tablet. Your teen then can study at his/her own pace, not the pace of a classroom, as long as they have a reliable internet connection. And in case they encounter any technical issues, customer support services will be available to assist them 24/7.
Approved in the Following States: CA, FL, GA, IN, KY, NV, NY, TX