how much does driver's ed cost at your public school?

[DVCLiz]

It's not part of the regular diploma-bound courses, so schools aren't required to pay for it. Personally, I think schools SHOULDN'T pay for it because that means more money is left for academics. School can't be everything to everyone, and if they could get out of the be-all-end-all business, they could do a better job of educating kids!

Of course, the other side of that coin is that some families wouldn't pay for driver's ed classes elsewhere, and that'd mean kids would be on the road (at 18 instead of 16 -- in my state, anyway, you can't get a license at 16 unless you've had driver's ed) without having had proper instruction. That is not an attractive proposition.

But back to the question: It is free in my area. I think it varies.

Just for the record, my state requires 30 hours of classroom instruction, then 6 hours of behind-the-wheel time. Once that's done, they get a certificate, which they can take to the DMV. At the DMV they must pass a written test, and then they're allowed to drive with a parent during daylight hours. They must have the permit for a full year, then they can go get their provisional license; that allows them to drive during daylight hours. After 6 months, it automatically "becomes" an all-day license, and they can drive at night. Until they are 18, this license, however, is provisional. It can be lost more easily than an adult's license (i.e., fewer speeding tickets = loss of license).

Just a reminder though, Mrs. Pete and other NC folks, that you do have to go back to the DMV and specifically request a new license that has this restriction removed. "Getting your nine o'clock off" is a rite of passage every bit as much anticipated as getting your permit and, later, your full license.

DD20 has now graduated to her "full" license but even she will go back at her next birthday and get her "Over 21" license - which she should then be able to keep for several years. She is looking very much forward to that day!!

DD15 just got her permit a month ago and so we are starting over again at my house...

 

[powellrj]

Ours schools stopped offering drivers-ed many years ago. You can take it from a private company for $425.

 

[DebMcDonald]

We're a little over $700 and that included class room time for the student, two hours of class time for the parents (mass law) and their driving hours including the school car. This is via our public school system.

 

[An_Island_Girl]

Wow! I wish drivers education was offered at our schools... our middle DS cost $750 (it did include on the road instuction as well).

 

[tripletots]

Drivers Ed is taught in conjunction with Health/PE and it lasts 9 weeks. My DD15 just finished. Behind the wheel is $100. She has yet to get her learners permit. No big hurry here! She will probably take behind the wheel over the summer.

 

[sk!mom]

It's not offered here at any price. Last I heard the cost at the local Driving Academy was around $400.

 

[Anne34]

Our school has it for about $300....we did it privately over the summer since it was only a 2 1/2 week course for around $375. Here you can get your permit any time after your 15th birthday and you must have it a minimum of 9 months prior to getting your regular license.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Geez, I thought our $50.00 fee was high. I guess we got a good deal. Why is it so high everywhere? DD's class was a 9 week class.

 

[westjones]

Well we are just starting to look at this too (my twins are 15 1/2). The cost around here is $350 per student (so we are looking at $700!).

It was free in the 70s when I was a teen, but I guess that changed somewhere along the way.

DJ

 

[allison443]

Geez, I thought our $50.00 fee was high. I guess we got a good deal. Why is it so high everywhere? DD's class was a 9 week class.

Does that $50 include driving lessons on the road in the specially equipped car with the instructor? If so that is cheap!
The classroom lecture part is usually free or cheap-the driving lessons are what is costly! Cars, insurance, etc. In our state the driving lessons are required in order to get a license at 17. Cost about $350.

 

[kath1210]

It is not offered at the schools here - it's all provided by private companies. My husband is a driving instructor for one of those companies, and the cost is $330 for a 2-week class and 6 hours of on-the-road training. My DD15 will be free, though!

 

[pixie921]

We're in Michigan. Our son's high school doesn't offer driver's ed anymore. We went through our insurance company (AAA) for the segment one course and it was $350. The next segment is $50 (IIRC), and then we'll also have to pay for the driving test (which is not administered by the state or by AAA). I think that's $75. Our son has to log 50 hours behind the wheel (and six months) before he can take the next segment.

 

[sherry7]

It isn't even offered in our school district.

DS did it a couple of years ago, from a local business. I can't remember, but I think it was $300 or so. Keep in mind that most insurance companies will give you a hefty discount for having driver's ed training, until the child is 21 or 25. We've already recouped our money from it, in the form of discounts.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Does that $50 include driving lessons on the road in the specially equipped car with the instructor? If so that is cheap!
The classroom lecture part is usually free or cheap-the driving lessons are what is costly! Cars, insurance, etc. In our state the driving lessons are required in order to get a license at 17. Cost about $350.

Yes, it included all of that. They drove around in a gold Ford Taurus with Student Driver across the back of it. It had the "oh crap" break for the teacher, which was used when my DD was driving once. So yea, I was real lucky, looking back on it. Like I said too, it was a 9 week class, not a two week like some people have said that they were offered.

I am not sure that it is required here, but I was told that it helps with the cost of car ins. I am not sure how much though, 10% I think.

 

[allison443]

It had the "oh crap" break for the teacher, which was used when my DD was driving once.

That's the perfect name for it!

 

[akayek31]

My son is taking it this semester at school for free! I thought I was gonna have to pay $400 for it privately. Luckily DS is willing to wait an extra 3 months for hs DL.

 

[Tink415]

Driver ed isn't offered at school here, it cost about $750 for 30 hours classroom and 6 hours road training. Supposedly the insurance discount w/ driver training is big, but I couldn't get a quote with drivers training and without, so I'm not too sure about that. I think the discount listed on our policy now is between $100-$200 6 month period, I'd have to dig it out to be sure. I felt better my daughter took the training, but it sure was expensive.

 

[IndayMichelle]

I taught driver's ed for awhile and left a little over a year ago. It was not affiliated with any of the school districts and was independently owned. It was a self paced course, meaning you didn't show up at scheduled times, but worked independently under teacher supervision. You were required to accrue a certain amount of classroom hours. The only things you scheduled were drives. You were required to spend at LEAST five hours behind the wheel and five hours observing one of your peers, so ten one-hour drives.

This course was $420 when I left. It is now $600. Count your blessings.

 

[karliebug]

We only have the "book" part of driver's ed here. It is free and is required. You have to teach them to drive yourself or hire an outside company for the driving part.

 

[Tink-aholic]

$595.00 here. Required to take in order to obtain a license.