The first step to obtaining a driver’s license is completing 30 hours of driver’s education.
Since this will be your introduction to driving laws and techniques, it’s important to make sure you’re getting the best quality education.
Not sure which driving schools offer quality education in Minnesota?
Well, we’ve got a list of the best driving schools in Minneapolis, MN for you. This way, you won’t have to do the research yourself.
So shall we begin the review?
Best Online Driving Schools in Minneapolis, MN
If you’re homeschooled, then good news!
You can take your driver’s ed course online!
So here are the best online driving schools in Minnesota that you should check out:
Let’s explore each of them a bit further.
DriverEdToGo
DriverEdToGo offers one of the more interactive driver’s ed courses in Minnesota. They also have competitive pricing — aspiring drivers in Minneapolis can purchase their program for around $40.
With this combination, they’ve become one of the most popular online driving schools in the market.
The best part is that they offer 2 course selections.
You can go for the MN Driver’s Ed, which is for supplementary learning to ace the written exam. Or, you can go for the MN Driver’s Ed – E-Workbook, which is approved to satisfy state requirements for homeschoolers.
As for learning style, DriverEdToGo’s course has something that will appeal to you.
If you appreciate amazing visuals, you’ll find graphics incorporated in their materials. Kinesthetic learners can enjoy the games that help check how much they’ve learned.
Speaking of games, DriverEdToGo offers students a wide selection of gaming activities. They even have a game corner where you can play and learn at the same time.
More than that, you can get additional upgrades before you finalize your purchase. For example, you can get unlimited practice tests. These help you in 2 ways — you get a knowledge review and familiarize yourself with the testing environment.
National Driver Training
National Driver Training (NTD) has almost 25 years of driving education experience under its belt.
Plus, it is another online driving school that offers approved driver’s ed for homeschoolers in Minnesota.
More than this, their staff has been tapped for different engagements within the driving community. They’ve spoken at motor vehicle safety conferences, written articles for national publications, and provided data for studies on traffic safety.
All this tells you that you can expect nothing less than excellence from NDT.
Not only do they have stellar material, but they also deliver it engagingly. The 30-hour driver’s ed course has 7 levels, each one focusing on a single subject.
What separates NDT from other online schools is that they go beyond the theories and concepts involved in driving. They make students do practical activities, too.
Some of these hands-on exercises involve rotating your car’s tires or changing its oil. You may even have a project focusing on current events.
DMVEdu
One thing you should know is that this course isn’t approved for high schoolers. Instead, if you want it to satisfy state requirements, you need to ask permission from your high school if they will accept its certificate of completion.
With that out of the way, let’s begin the review.
DMVEdu is one of the online driving schools that has been in business for a while, so you know that they’ve done something right.
If you’re the type who wants to make sure that the course works for you before purchasing it, you’ll love DMVEdu’s demo feature.
When you go to their site, you’ll have a chance to go through the actual course for 5 minutes. This FREE demo allows you to see if it’s the school for you.
To give you an idea, they’ve broken the content into smaller chunks. There’s a lot to cover in driver’s ed, so dealing with bite-sized lessons helps you absorb and retain information better.
And although DMVEdu doesn’t offer as many interactive features as other schools, it doesn’t mean you’ll be reading everything from beginning to end. Their materials include scattered videos and other visuals to help explain some real estate concepts.
By the end of each segment, there are short quizzes. These help you gauge how much you know.
Don’t worry — you can take it as many times as you need so you can move to the next section.
SafeMotorist
Like DMVEdu, this online school isn’t approved for homeschoolers. If you want it to satisfy state requirements, ask your high school if they will accept it.
If so, then you’ll be glad to know that Safe Motorist has figured out a tried and tested formula for their driver’s education program. It consists of 3 parts:
- On Topic Training
- Reinforcement Activities
- Comprehensive Reviews
Their course provides an interactive experience while covering topics essential to new drivers.
If you choose to take SafeMotorist’s driver’s ed program, you’ll go through 9 units. These cover subjects such as personal factors that affect driving performance and operating a car while in adverse conditions.
As you go through the various units, some exercises help you apply the concepts in real life. These serve as short knowledge checks.
Once you reach the end of a unit, you’ll take a test that helps you gauge how well you understood it. That’s the last part — undergoing comprehensive reviews.
SafeMotorist’s platform saves your progress automatically, so you can log off in the middle of a unit and pick up where you left off when you return.
Best In-Person Driving Schools in Minneapolis, MN
So let’s say you aren’t homeschooled.
Or, your high school didn’t accept online driver’s ed.
Well, in that case, it’s a good idea to go for the best in-person driving schools in Minneapolis.
Safari Driving School
(4.9 Rating from 107 Google Reviews)
Address: 1200 10th Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN
Phone: (612) 310 3009
Safari Driving School is licensed with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety to teach driver’s education — both the classroom portion and the behind-the-wheel instruction.
They have been in business for almost 10 years and have received more-than-satisfied reviews from their students.
They’ve helped hundreds of students through the process of getting their learners’ permits and driver’s licenses through their comprehensive driver’s education program.
Alamo Driving School
(4.5 Rating from 122 Google Reviews)
Address: 2109 Nicollet Ave #106, Minneapolis, MN
Phone: (612) 874 0677
Alamo Driving School understands there’s a lot of pressure that comes with attending driver’s ed. So, they’ve created an environment where their students can feel comfortable. They have an easy-to-use online platform that allows parents to easily manage their teen’s classroom and behind-the-wheel schedules.
Wal-Mara Driving School
Address: 4000 S 28th Ave., Minneapolis, MN
Phone: (612) 454 8986
Wal-Mara Driving School is rooted in Ethiopian Culture — its name means roundabout. That said, their course fulfills the driving education requirements in Minneapolis. They’re also members of the Minneapolis Driving Teachers Association.
Typical with most driving schools, you’ll go through classroom training first. Once you’ve completed it, you can take the behind-the-wheel instruction.
Frequently Asked Questions About Driving Schools in Minneapolis, MN
How do I get my driver’s license in Minneapolis?
Getting your driver’s license in Minneapolis requires 4 steps:
Step 1: Getting a Permit. You’ll need to complete the required driver’s ed course for Minnesota and enroll in behind-the-wheel instruction. Once finished, you’ll have to pass the written knowledge exam.
Once you’ve passed, you can apply for your permit at a driver’s license office. Bring a filled-out application signed by your parents and proof that you’ve passed the knowledge exam.
Step 2: Get Behind the Wheel. Now that you have your permit, you can begin to practice driving. After all, reading all the concepts and being behind the wheel can be two vastly different experiences.
Remember that you need to log at least 50 hours of driving practice (15 must be at night). A parent (or any adult with a license) must be with you every time you do this.
Step 3: Take the Road Test. 6 months after you’ve had your permit, you can take your road skills test. You must complete your practice hours before attempting this. Once you pass, you’ll get your provisional license.
Step 4: Drive Responsibly. The only thing left is to make sure you follow traffic laws and don’t get any violations. You’ll receive your unrestricted Minnesota driver’s license after a year if you keep your record clean.
Can I take driver’s education online in Minneapolis?
Yes, you can take driver’s education online IF you’re homeschooled. It’s best to make sure you fit its definition so you won’t run into problems later.
This means you’ll have to check with the DMV and ask for special permission. It’s the best way to determine whether it fulfills the state requirements on driver’s ed or not.
Why would I bother taking driver’s ed online if it’s only for homeschooled students?
If you don’t fall under the definition of being homeschooled, and your high school (or DMV) doesn’t grant you special permission, you’ll have to attend driver’s education through an in-person class. So why would you even consider going through an online course?
Because an online driver’s ed course gives you flexibility and conveniences that an in-person program can’t.
Being part of a class usually puts pressure on you to learn at the same pace as everyone else. But what if some topics are more difficult for you?
Online courses allow you to study at your own pace — it means you can spend as much or as little time on a subject as you need.
You can also use it to supplement what you’ve learned during your in-person class. You’ll still be able to catch up with the lessons when you get home if you’re feeling a bit behind.
You can also find an online school that includes practice tests. This way, you’re not just studying the content — you’re also preparing for the actual test experience.
Final Words
Driver’s education prepares you to get behind the wheel. But it’s not just about gaining freedom and going places. It’s making sure you remain responsible while you’re on the road.
You’ll need to spend time, money, and effort as you’re going through 30 hours’ worth of coursework, so finding the right school is crucial.
You want it to be a good investment — a school that fits your needs and preferences gives the highest chance of a positive outcome.
All the schools on our list are solid choices. Just make sure that you know if it will satisfy state requirements or not.
Good luck!