More and more states are requiring the completion of a driver's education course in order to obtain a learner's permit or driver's license. The good news is you have plenty of options to choose from to fulfill these requirements.

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Three of the most popular types of driver's education courses are:

• Classroom instruction.
• Online driver education courses.
• Parent-taught courses.

To help you make a decision on which type of driver's education course best suits your needs, below are the pros and cons of each of your options. For state-specific details about regulations and requirements, please visit our Driver's Education section and choose your state.

Classroom Instruction Course

The most traditional of the options, classroom instruction requires students to attend classes in person for a specified number of hours (requirements vary according to your state). In-car instruction is usually included as part of the curriculum.

Pros

Despite the move to traditional alternative options, classroom instruction provides some benefits other models don't offer. These include:

• One-on-one face time with professional driving instructors.
• Curriculum that's often more interactive.
  • Asking questions and participating in discussions plays an important role in classroom instruction.
• Personal interaction with instructors and peers.
• Taking the course through your local high school.
  • Some school districts offer driver's education classes as part of high school curriculum. These classes may also be offered during summer school.

Cons

A few of the negatives associated with classroom instruction include:

• Rigid time schedules.
  • You will often be required to show up at scheduled class times.
  • Missing classes may result in having to retake the entire course.
• Not offered everywhere.
  • This can be a problem for students living in rural areas.
• Costs for classes may be more expensive.
  • This is especially true for private classes not offered through high schools.
• Less flexible learning format and pacing.
  • For students who need more time to study, or have busy schedules, an online option may be better for its self-pacing feature.

Online Course

The convenience of technology has made online driver's education courses a popular option in recent years. With this option, students will read through the material and complete the course activities and tests on a personal computer, tablet, or even smartphone.

Features differ depending on which online course you choose. Below are some general qualities of typical online Driver's Ed courses.

Pros

A few of the benefits of online courses are:

• Learning at your own pace.
  • Not all students learn the same way. Instead of learning at the pace of your instructor, online classes generally let you move from topic to topic at your own pace and go back to sections that you might not understand.
• Convenience.
  • You can study at home whenever you have the time.
  • Busy school schedules can make other options harder to manage.
• Less distractions.
  • For some students, classroom settings are distracting. An online course allows for full concentration.

Cons

Online courses aren't for everyone. A few of the common disadvantages associated with online driver's education courses include:

• Procrastination.
  • Since you complete the course at your own pace, a few weeks of instruction can sometimes turn into months because of procrastination.
• Self discipline is required.
  • With online schooling, the onus will be on you to learn the material. Skipping through the sections without reading will make passing the written test more difficult and make you less safe out on the road.
    • Some courses include timed sections, designed to keep you from moving through the material too quickly and alleviating this issue.
• Driving instruction may not be included.
  • With some online classes, in-car instruction may not be part of the curriculum. This means you will need to schedule separate in-car driving lessons if your state requires them.
• Lack of interaction with an instructor is sometimes more difficult.
  • Not being able to raise your hand when you have a question is a drawback of online courses.

Parent-Taught Courses

Behind The Wheel Driving Lessons

In a select few states, students can opt for parent-taught driver's education courses. In this format, students take an online course in conjunction with the parent-taught in-car lessons. Check with your state's DMV to see if these courses fulfill the driver's education requirements in your area.

Pros

Being taught a portion of the driver's education course by a parent offers a few advantages over other options, such as:

• Convenience.
  • You'll be able to work out your schedule with your parents.
  • The course is usually self-paced.
• Familiarity.
  • Parents are often more familiar with their child's learning habits and stress levels.
• Comfort.
  • Asking a parent a question or for further instruction can sometimes be easier than dealing with a stranger.
  • You'll also complete the behind-the-wheel instruction in a familiar vehicle, which can help you feel more comfortable on the road.

Cons

The disadvantages of being taught a driver's education course by a parent are:

• Learning depends on the driving knowledge of your parent.
  • Just because your parent may have had a driver's license for many years doesn't necessarily mean he or she has a complete knowledge of the changing rules of the road, or is even an exemplary driver (sorry, Mom and Dad!).
• A parent's schedule may be inflexible.
  • Depending on how busy your parent's daily schedule is, it may be difficult to find the time needed for proper teaching.
• Picking up your parent's bad habits.
  • Often adult drivers pick up bad habits from their years behind the wheel.
  • When being instructed by a parent, the student may learn some of these bad habits unknowingly.
• Being too familiar.
  • On the flip side of being comfortable learning from your parent, sometimes it's easy to take frustrations out on someone you're close to, or simply not listen to them. Some students find it better to learn from a stranger, with whom the boundaries are more rigid.

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Online Driver's Ed for

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A driver's education course teaches the principles of road awareness and safety for prospective first-time drivers.

In Minnesota, if you're under 18 years old, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) requires you to complete Driver's Ed as part of the graduated driver's licensing (GDL) law.

On this page, you'll find information on what your Driver's Ed course consists of, where to complete your course, and the next steps you need to take to get your MN driver's license.

MN Driver's Ed Eligibility Requirements

Before you can apply for your MN learner's permit, you must:

• You must be15 years old
• Have completed theclassroom component of a MN Driver's Ed course.
• Be enrolled in the behind-the-wheelinstruction component.

You must be enrolled in your behind-the-wheel driving component of the course before you can apply for your instruction permit; however, you cannot begin this segment until you obtain your permit.

About Your Minnesota Driver's Ed Course

Your Minnesota driver's education course will cover topics including:

Drivers Education Classes For Teens Oahu

• Minnesota road signs and what they mean.
• How to be a safe and responsible driver.
• How to safely operate a motor vehicle.
• MN traffic laws.
• Driving in emergency situations, through constructions zones, and over railroad crossings.

Classroom and Behind-the-Wheel Hours

A Minnesota Driver's Ed course consists of:

• 30 hours of classroom instruction.
• 6 hours of behind-the-wheel driving training.

The classroom instruction must be completed before you get your MN learner's permit. The behind-the-wheel training cannot be taken until you obtain your learner's permit.

Types of Driver's Ed Courses

In Minnesota, you can take driver's education at:

• A public or private school.
• A licensed driver training school.
• At home, if you're home-schooled.

NOTE: The MN DPS currently does not accept online Driver's Ed.

Home School Driver's Ed

If you are home-schooled, the Minnesota DPS allows your parent to teach you the classroom segment of teen driver's education. You must use classroom materials approved by the MN DPS.

Once you complete your 30 hours of home school driver's education, your parent must submit a completed Home School Driver's Education Affidavit (Form PS33135) to the Office of Driver Education by fax to (651) 296-5316 or by mail to:

Driver and Vehicle Services
445 Minnesota St, Suite 176
St Paul, MN 55101

Once the office receives your affidavit, you'll be sent a Certificate of Completion, or “blue card', which you'll need to show the MN DPS when you apply for your instruction permit and take your written test.

An ideal compliment to your Driver's Ed course is to prepare for the written exam with a Minnesota online practice test. Don't waste time standing in long lines at the DPS. Study with a Minnesota online practice test and pass your written exam on your first try.

MN Parent Awareness Class

Driver's education providers also offer a parent awareness class. If your parent or guardian takes this class then your practice driving hours are reduced from 50 hours to 40 hours. The class is 90 minutes long.

After Driver's Ed – What's Next?

After completing the classroom component of your MN driver's education course, you can apply for your instruction permit. You must:

• Be at least 15 years old.
• Be enrolled in the behind-the-wheel component of a Driver's Ed course.
• Pass a vision test.
• Pass a written knowledge test.

For more information on how to apply for your Minnesota learner's permit, including required documents and fees, visit our Drivers Permits in Minnesota page.

Once you've obtained your instruction permit, you can begin your behind-the-wheel component of your Driver's Ed.

You can apply for your MN provisional driver's license once you:

• Complete the behind-the-wheel training of your Minnesota Driver's Ed course.
• Turn 16 years old.
• Have held your learner's permit for at least 6 months (conviction-free).
• Pass your road test.

To learn how to apply for your MN driver's license, see our Applying for a New License (Teen Drivers) in Minnesota page.

Forms

This form is provided by your state's agency/department.

Please select one of the below to continue:

Related Tasks & Topics

- Appointments

- Change of Address

- Lost License

- New License

- REAL ID

- Renew License

- Take a Practice Test

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