When you’re looking at online driving schools, the details can be a little confusing on what’s the best course for you to take. Do you want to enroll in traffic school, or should you be in a defensive driving class? Is driver’s ed right for you, and is it something you’re required to take, or is it merely a suggestion? Some online driving schools even offer all three of these types of classes, making it even more overwhelming when trying to decide.
It’s important to know what you’re putting your money towards because these three classes all serve incredibly different purposes. If you work with a reputable school, they’ll happily refund you the money if you make a mistake and sign up for the wrong one, but that won’t save you from the time and effort you’ve put into a class. So before you click the purchase button, make sure you understand the course that’s right for you.
Online Driver’s Ed
Yes, it is now possible to take driver’s education online in some states, and more and more states are allowing this every year. While many people are wary of online education—especially with something as important as learning how to drive—it’s got a lot of benefits, including:
- Allowing you to work on your own time. For busy students or adults juggling lots of work, this can be a relief on the schedule. Traditional driver’s ed requires attendees to show up to weekly classes (often incorporated into school for teenagers). This can be exhausting on top of everything else in someone’s schedule—including regular classes, jobs, and extracurricular activities. For those needing to take adult driver’s ed, there might be even more responsibilities to add to that list, such as taking care of kids. With an online course, you can log on and work on lessons when it suits your schedule.
- 24/7/365 support. Okay, not all online driver’s ed courses offer this, but the good ones do. People sometimes worry about online education because they won’t have a teacher to direct questions to. Still, today’s best online driving courses have responded by offering assistance any time of the day since you’re able to work on the class whenever. It only makes sense that you should be able to reach out and get help when it’s needed.
- It shows initiative. Whereas a traditional class allows attendance to count for something, it’s really about knowing the content and sitting down to do the work with an online course. What happens if you don’t set aside the time to do the lessons and take the quizzes and tests? You’ll fail. Sometimes teens feel like they can “just get by” in a classroom setting, but when it’s an online course, they actually have to work for the prize.
- Lower Cost. Generally, online driver’s ed is less expensive than attending in-person classes. Running a traditional driving school entails many operational and overhead expenses that are factored into the students’ enrollment fees. Student safety and vehicle insurance costs also come into play. Plus, the payment for instructors that have to be physically present to conduct the class with individual students. Most of these costs are not part of an online program. You’ll only pay for the learning materials, which can ultimately help you save money.
Check Out Our Top Rated Online Driver’s Ed Course Here!
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving is an optional driving class that can also be taken online. It’s not required, but some people like to take it to lower their insurance costs every month. These classes:
- Are usually much less time-intensive than a driver’s ed class. While some driver’s ed courses involve 40+ hours of instruction, a defensive driving course will entail much less.
- Will focus on the basics of defensive driving or skills that can help you predict problems on the road to keep you and your vehicle safe. It’s an excellent course for people who still feel a little nervous behind the wheel and want to drive with ease.
- Are also great follow-ups after people have been driving for a year or more. After taking driver’s ed and getting a driver’s license, the last thing someone will want to do is take another class about driving. Wait a few months until you’ve developed your general driving habits so you can assess how you are behind the wheel and how you can improve.
- Provides you with an opportunity to become a better and safer driver. Taking an online defensive driving class not only helps you learn critical and accident-free driving techniques but will also refresh your driving law knowledge and enhance your driving IQ. It doesn’t matter whether you are a beginner or an experienced driver, you can always continually improve and gain confidence in your driving ability.
Check Out Our Highest Rated Online Defensive Driving Courses Here
Traffic School
People enroll in traffic school as a last resort to prevent points from getting on their license. Although it’s not a particularly enjoyable experience, it’s usually something that can get knocked out in a few hours. An online traffic school course:
- Is not necessarily valid in every state or for every violation. Check with your local DMV to see if this is an option for you to prevent anything going on your permanent record, thus putting you at risk of losing your license.
- Can’t be taken if you plead not guilty in court. This means you must show up in court and plead guilty to the ticket you’ve been issued. By pleading not guilty, you will remove your chances to take the class later for that particular violation.
- Is not a walk in the park. Traffic schools are designed to give you an unpleasant experience to keep you from violating the law. Good thing there are online traffic schools that allow taking the course anywhere and anytime, with interactive materials to keep you engaged. Be sure to complete the course and follow up on your certificate issuance since some courts will only process offense dismissal once they receive proof that you have completed traffic school.
- It is not an excuse to drive terribly. Just because you can prevent a few points from getting on your license by taking the class doesn’t mean you can do it for every single ticket you get. Most states put a limit on how often you take traffic school (usually it’s around 12 months). It’s not a solution for every ticket; instead, it’s a preventative measure and a way to remind yourself to drive safely.
Check Out Our Highest Rated Online Traffic School Course Here
Important Things To Remember:
- Always check with your state’s DMV before enrolling in an online driving course. Not all states approve this method, and not all classes are approved by your state’s DMV, meaning you could take a bogus class that won’t count towards a traffic ticket or your driver’s license test.
- Find the best learning environment and course materials that work for you. Whether you choose online or classroom instruction, you must sign up for a reputable school with instructors you can trust. If you are considering an online driving school, you should know the programs they offer and how long they have been in the business. See how you can access their courses and check if they have a live customer support team you can talk to if you need help.
- Look for a money-back guarantee. Some classes will allow you to take the first few lessons free of charge to see if it works for you (or your teen). A warranty on the course is proof that the creators trust their class wholeheartedly and know it will benefit the students who enroll.