Is Driver's Ed Worth The Cost?

[eliza61]

personally I would have paid just about anything NOT to have taught my youngest how to drive.
My dh took him out one time, when he came back, he didn't say a word just immediately made himself a shot of whiskey.

enough said.

We thought it was well worth the price

 

[disfanforlife]

Lucky for is, we live in a school district that still offers drivers ed for free. It really helped my 2 daughters. We still took them out to practice a lot, but knowing what I know now I would pay for it if I had to. Our son is only 14, hopefully he will be able to take it when he turns 16. It didn't save a lot on our insurance. I think about $150 per girl per year.

 

[texasroni75]

If you can handle the stress and keep calm in the car, then teach your child yourself. BUT, if you are like ME....the driving school would be worth every cent.

I knew ahead of time that I would be nervous and jumpy teaching DD to drive. I'm a worrier by nature. I tried to stay calm, but I found myself pressing my own (imaginary) brakes, panicking, etc. It made DD nervous, and I really feel it hindered her ability to learn effectively. I tried to get DH to take her out to teach her, but his work hours basically keep him away from the house for nearly all daylight hours. I wish we had just spent the $$ on driving school. It would have saved us a lot of stress!

 

[Aryn]

We have it in school for $100 and we get a discount on Insurance. Georgia. My daughter is putting it off until Jr year she will be 16/17. She has her learners, I wont take her out, she makes me nervous. My husband does the teaching for now, but they both come back worn out. I think it will be better if someone else teaches her

 

[Zim]

If you can muster up the drive time to make a road trip to Manheim PA - I HIGHLY recommend this course:

B.R.A.K.E.S.

Priceless.... but it only costs $99, and that is returned to you at the end of the day unless you want to leave it as a donation. The one day course taught my DD more in four hours than she learned in her entire $400+ drivers ed class.

They expect you to already have 30 hours of driving time with parents, etc under your belt. Then they put you on a closed course and make you experience real road hazards: distracted driving, ABS braking, hydroplaning. It really gave the kids firsthand knowledge of the fact that the driver controls the car and not the other way around.

Sadly as a non-profit, they only have sessions when they can coordinate with local parents and communities, hence the sporadic courses all over the place in the link. And right now there is no schedule for Manheim, but they pop up. Check often, they fill up fast. I wish every 16 year old could do it. If you have a chance, read the story on how this program came about, but have tissues at hand....

I'm also one of the Marylanders who had to have the regular course. It was pathetic. The other kids were obnoxious, the teacher was burnt out. In fact, my DD was so disappointed in the class and knowing how much it cost, she wrote the owner of the driver school a scathing letter about the learning environment. Oddly enough, it worked. The next class the teacher was much more attentive and at some point said something to the effect of "I hope everyone got what they needed out of the class today, and if you had any issues please let me know!".

 

[JanaDee]

In our state, if you want to get your license, you take Drivers Ed. It is mandatory, as well as so many hours behind the wheel with an instructor and a lot of hours behind the wheel with a licensed driver, typically a parent. The kids take the classroom portion at school and the driving hours with an instructor are also scheduled through school.

There is no insurance discount for taking it, since it is mandatory.

 

[danygirl]

If you can muster up the drive time to make a road trip to Manheim PA - I HIGHLY recommend this course: B.R.A.K.E.S. Priceless.... but it only costs $99, and that is returned to you at the end of the day unless you want to leave it as a donation. The one day course taught my DD more in four hours than she learned in her entire $400+ drivers ed class. They expect you to already have 30 hours of driving time with parents, etc under your belt. Then they put you on a closed course and make you experience real road hazards: distracted driving, ABS braking, hydroplaning. It really gave the kids firsthand knowledge of the fact that the driver controls the car and not the other way around. Sadly as a non-profit, they only have sessions when they can coordinate with local parents and communities, hence the sporadic courses all over the place in the link. And right now there is no schedule for Manheim, but they pop up. Check often, they fill up fast. I wish every 16 year old could do it. If you have a chance, read the story on how this program came about, but have tissues at hand.... I'm also one of the Marylanders who had to have the regular course. It was pathetic. The other kids were obnoxious, the teacher was burnt out. In fact, my DD was so disappointed in the class and knowing how much it cost, she wrote the owner of the driver school a scathing letter about the learning environment. Oddly enough, it worked. The next class the teacher was much more attentive and at some point said something to the effect of "I hope everyone got what they needed out of the class today, and if you had any issues please let me know!".

thats why we did I drive smart. One of the instructors (all cops) told me that people who had pulled dead or injured teens from cars take teaching young drivers very seriously!

 

[powellrj]

It depends on what you consider worth it. I had 2 of my 3 kids take drivers-ed and while it was expensive, I feel they did get more out of it than my one son who didn't take it.

I was the one who taught our kids to drive when home. Dh was too excited and made them nervous so I was the lucky one!

 

[Mickeyluver37]

We live in the State of Maryland and it is required of those seeking a driver's license.

Same here. I think we paid $375 for the class. OP, we just got our insurance renewal and for 6 months, the driver training discount is $18.23 on DD's car. So if you are looking at cost benefit only, no it's not worth it.

 

[JanaDee]

If you can handle the stress and keep calm in the car, then teach your child yourself. BUT, if you are like ME....the driving school would be worth every cent.

I knew ahead of time that I would be nervous and jumpy teaching DD to drive. I'm a worrier by nature. I tried to stay calm, but I found myself pressing my own (imaginary) brakes, panicking, etc. It made DD nervous, and I really feel it hindered her ability to learn effectively. I tried to get DH to take her out to teach her, but his work hours basically keep him away from the house for nearly all daylight hours. I wish we had just spent the $$ on driving school. It would have saved us a lot of stress!

Kids need to learn how to drive in the dark, as well as all types of driving conditions (rain, fog, snow, etc).

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

A big thank you to the OP (and everyone who has posted) for starting this thread. DD is 15 and this is the kind of info I need!

 

[runwad]

I am in Pittsburgh and just signed my DD up with a fantastic company that is 615.00 for FOUR 90 lessons! Yes super expensive BUT it is defensive driving that honestly I wish I had NOW for me! Takes you into the city, highway merging, online instruction too. I know it is a lot but honestly I don't have it in me to even attempt this with her. So my DH can get the 8 hours of basic in before they can offer her 8 hours!

This is the kind of class our kids would need to take to get a discount on our insurance, but I'm pretty sure our defensive driving classes are closer to $1,000 bucks. We paid around $300 for the 24 hours of class time and 8 hours of in car. No insurance discount for that but it is a requirement to be able to get a license before 18. I would want my kids to take the class, I'm sure they learned some things they wouldn't of learned with me teaching them.

Good Luck paying those insurance premiums, it's a real eye opener. The first one was like wow ok but then when we added the 2nd kid, OMG! I told the
3rd who is a boy, he's going to wait till 18 because I won't be able to afford his rates. Or he can get a job to pay for them!

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

This is the kind of class our kids would need to take to get a discount on our insurance, but I'm pretty sure our defensive driving classes are closer to $1,000 bucks. We paid around $300 for the 24 hours of class time and 8 hours of in car. No insurance discount for that but it is a requirement to be able to get a license before 18. I would want my kids to take the class, I'm sure they learned some things they wouldn't of learned with me teaching them.

Good Luck paying those insurance premiums, it's a real eye opener. The first one was like wow ok but then when we added the 2nd kid, OMG! I told the
3rd who is a boy, he's going to wait till 18 because I won't be able to afford his rates. Or he can get a job to pay for them!

I didn't realize it at the time but my parents paid my insurance premiums (when I was a teen and through college) but made my 2 younger brothers pay their own! Boy did I luck out.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I'm thinking about it for DD. We're still a few months from her getting her permit, but she just seems too clueless about driving for my comfort. And she doesn't take coaching well from me, but she's a great student. So, I think a more structured training might be the way to go.

 

[willowsnn3]

I work for a driving school and I do recommend the driver's ed class (not online) and behind the wheel instruction from a licensed driver's ed instructor.
A lot of parents insist that they can teach their child to drive but they also teach them a lot of bad habits. A driving instructor is more patient and UP TO DATE on traffic laws.
We also teach defensive driving for insurance reduction or for people who have tickets and license suspension. You would be surprised how many people get tickets simply because they don't know simple traffic laws. And then they get mad cause they get a ticket and fine. That kind of parent doesn't need to be teaching their child how to drive.

 

[Monykalyn]

In a word, "YES"! Have you ever taught a child to drive. I am a teacher, but can't teach my own child. They just don't listen to you like they will an instructor. My friends DD had to go through drivers ed after they self taught her, because she was scared to death. She was scared from the parents screaming at her while trying to teach her. LOL! So, in my opinion it is well worth the money. They will still require you to practice with her to complete the course. Good luck!!!

THIS! It was worth it just to get basics out of the way-my oldest is a good student as well so that helped more with insurance (and female lol). in MO she still needed supervised hours, but she was able to take the drivers course through the school system (low fee-dont recall exact amount). The course teaches from a different perspective (more defensive driving) which is valuable-than what most parents will teach (at least here in MO-have to be the least considerate and clueless drivers anywhere-and I've lived in Orlando, Dallas and St Louis...).
Yes - Good Luck-and have your appointments with your hairstylist set up if you are like me (needed to cover grays pretty frequently during learning process)

 

[Pigeon]

Drivers ed for dd was some of the best money I've ever spent. We do get a small discount, but it's my understanding that you get it for several years.