Questions To Ask A Driving School

The greatest protection you have, for protecting your teen that wants to learn to drive, is to ask questions…a lot of them! Any self-respecting school with even a semblance of professionalism will be happy to answer them. It gives you a reason to choose them over another school, and it enables them to “brag” a bit about themselves.

ASK: What are your qualifications to teach Driver Training, and can you prove it?
 ANSWER: (COMMERCIAL DRIVING SCHOOL)

All commercial driving school instructors MUST undergo 40 hours of classroom and 20 hours of behind-the-wheel training. A school or organization authorized by the DMV to conduct such training must do this training. The instructor will have a “Certificate of Completion” from such a course. They will also have a cardboard license, issued by the DMV, with their name, home address, and driving school on it, along with the expiration date. Ask to see it. Some, such as Statewide Driving School and others, may also have a photo ID for your satisfaction.
ANSWER: (PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL)
 Unfortunately, regulations and enforcement are lax at the public high school level. In theory, only a Board Certified teacher, who holds at least a K-12 Teaching License, with a Driver Education Endorsement, may teach high school driver education classes. In California, the numbers vary, but as many as 20% of the “teachers” may NOT be Board Certified, and may be on “waiver” status. This means that they INTEND to get Board Certified, but are not yet.
 ANSWER: (INTERNET/HOME STUDY/PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOLS)
 Currently, there is NO REGULATORY AGENCY to oversee these courses, or the “schools” running them. Anyone can start a “private high school”, even if they themselves have no high school diploma! A construction real estate licensee runs one local “private high school” in the Sacramento area, with a termite control company!

 ASK: How do I know what is being taught?
 ANSWER: Commercial driving schools are required, by law, to have a textual copy of the approved curriculum in each classroom. Ask to see it. There are no such requirements for other schools.

ASK: How “safe” is the instructor?
 ANSWER: ALL commercial driving school instructors must be fingerprinted, and a 15-year background check is done by the Department of Justice. Only when such a check is completed, does the DMV issue the license. HOWEVER, you should be aware that TEMPORARY permits to instruct are given, to allow the prospective instructor to begin active employment, while awaiting the results of the background check. If you are uncomfortable, ask ONLY for a fully licensed instructor, and request to see the license.
There are no licenses, background checks, or any form of regulatory requirements for Internet or Home Study programs.

ASK: What if I am not happy with the course or the instructor?
 ANSWER: If you are going to a public high school, or private high school with Internet / Home Study courses, you are out of luck. Commercial Driving Schools are required, under the Business and Professions Code, to post their refund policy in public view. In addition, a commercial driving school will be able to work with you in obtaining another instructor, or re-scheduling to fit YOUR needs, not theirs.

ASK: If my child has a learning disability, or is having problems with the course, can I talk to an instructor?
 ANSWER: If it's a public high school, or a commercial driving school, yes. Internet and Home Study courses, in order to stay cheap, have no such instructor available.

ASK ANY QUESTION THAT COMES TO MIND. YOUR TEENAGERS' SAFETY, AND A LIFETIME OF SKILLS, ARE HANGING IN THE BALANCE. IF A SCHOOL WILL NOT, OR CANNOT, ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, RUN. WHILE YOU ARE RUNNING, TAKE THE TIME TO FILE A COMPLAINT FORM WITH THE DMV ABOUT THE DRIVING SCHOOL, OR CONTACT THE CALIFORNIA DRIVER EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.