You can do almost everything online nowadays - order pizza, rent movies, even buy books you can read instantly on your computer. And did you know that you can also take drivers education classes on the internet? You might think: Wow, that definitely beats being holed up in a classroom all weekend watching car slides! But don't enroll just yet - we'll give you the info you need to decide if online drivers ed is right for you. Take this as your first lesson!
The Pros:
Virtual drivers ed can be a more self-paced and interactive alternative to regular drivers education class. It lets you work at your own speed, tailored to your personal schedule. It's usually cheaper than paying tuition at a regular driving school, and your parents save time and gas money since they don't have to drive you to and fro. But watch out: only in certain areas can you take classes online to meet the 30 hour drivers ed requirement for teens. You've lucked out here if you live in: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania or Texas.
As for those of you in the other 41 states: you're still required to do it the old fashioned way - find a driving school and sit through the required classroom time (don't worry, it's really not that bad!). But you can still sign up for an online course to qualify for an insurance discount or to purchase practice questions for the written test. There are even several companies that will refund your money if you don't get your permit on the first try!
If you're interested in lower car insurance rates (who isn't?), taking a drivers ed class online can get you up to 10% off of your auto insurance, regardless of where you live or whether you've already got your drivers license. This is because some insurance companies reward drivers who take drivers education or a defensive driving course -check with your provider first to see if they can give you a special "safe driver" discount.
It's not the best for:
Even if you can complete your state's drivers ed class requirement on the internet, it's important to know that online courses won't fulfill the driving instruction portion of it. Driving instruction consists of several (usually around 6) hours of behind-the-wheel, supervised drivers training. You can either hire an instructor just for this from a driving school, or have your parents teach you. Laws vary state-by-state, so make sure to check your driving manual for details.
Everyone has a different learning style, and taking an online drivers ed class requires you to keep on top of your work without much supervision, even if it's 20 minutes a day. If you tend to be easily distracted by fun stuff like IMs, flash games, or MySpace any time you're on the internet, then you might have a hard time getting through the course material on your own. In this case, you might really benefit more from a traditional classroom environment at a driving school - do your best to figure out which method will be better for you.
So, have you decided to join the classroom-less revolution? If so, some final words of advice: do a little research before settling on an online course, just like you would with a real driving school. Check the web for reviews people may have written about the company, and search the Better Business Bureau's website (bbb.org) for their record. Good to go? Now get going and ace that class!
About the Author:
Want to obtain your drivers license? We can help! Check out some time-tested tips and challenge a drivers ed game at http://www.driversed-game.com.
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