California is a massive state. Not only is it big in terms of square miles, but the state also includes a majority of America’s West Coast (not counting Alaska), and while the East Coast has a dozen states to spread out the coastline from Maine down to Florida, the west has California, Oregon, Washington, and that’s it. It’s no wonder then that California has around 12 million more residents than Texas, which itself has 7 million more souls than New York.
Because California is so big by every measurement, the state has embraced the idea of online traffic schools and driving schools like no other. For many West Coast teens, this means that their driver’s ed experience is going to be an online California Driving School.
Why Go Online?
The internet has changed just about every industry and every form of media that relies on communication. Books, music, movies, games, news, and so much more have gone online, and thanks to advances in Wi-Fi and mobile technology, you can look up just about anything just about anywhere.
Our education system is no different. Classrooms are using computers and mobile devices to create more interactive lesson plans, and colleges are offering everything from online courses to completely online universities. You can argue whether online education loses something in the transition, but you can’t debate that it’s happening.
It’s also true that some courses benefit more from going online than others. Driver’s ed involves memorizing a lot of simple rules and learning about basic traffic safety, and so it doesn’t demand a lot of study or creative input from the students. This means that each student’s experience is essentially the same, and so the personal touch of a real teacher or professor doesn’t change much. Between that and the fact that an online California driving school can scale much better with a larger population, it’s no wonder that the Golden State is going digital
The Downside Of Online Schooling
Unfortunately, there are a few issues that come with online schooling, issues that go beyond the pros and cons of a new format. For one thing, California’s love of online traffic schools and driver’s ed programs has resulted in a lot of schools of questionable quality, which means it’s all too easy to find yourself taking a course that amounts to nothing more than a hyperlinked pdf file with a multiple-choice quiz at the end. The standards are stricter for driver education than for traffic school, but it’s still true enough that the state only sets a minimum standard.
However, you don’t have to worry about finding the best from among the rest, because you’ve found the Traffic School Critics. We’ve dedicated our website to rating and reviewing online traffic schools and driving schools so that people just like you can find out which school to choose without having to do any of the dirty work. Whether you’re looking for a California driving school or a traffic school available nationwide, we’re here to help.
The Criteria We Use
When it comes to any California driving school you can think of, online or in-person, the curriculum itself is always identical. After all, lawmakers designed traffic laws to be straightforward and easy to understand, and they want everyone to know what they are before climbing into the driver’s seat.
On the other hand, the presentation offers a lot of potential wiggle room. An online course that makes good use of its medium can provide up-to-date videos and interactive information with a slick interface and fun animations. A good online driving school can also provide things like 24/7 customer service, tools and tips for parents who are going to be teaching their kids to drive soon, and mobile compatibility for teens who want to learn how to drive using their smartphones.
At Traffic School Critics, we consider all of the above points and more, and we then give each site we review between one and five stars. If the site manages to meet our highest standards of customer service, we also award it our TSC certification, a sure sign that a traffic or driving school is one of the best online.
California is a big state and it has a lot of options when it comes to driving schools, but that doesn’t mean that picking one should have to be a big decision. Instead, you can let the Traffic School Critics review each California driving school for you, and with our input, you’ll be sure to make the right choice.
Top Online Driving Schools in California
Now that you’re aware of everything you need to know about driving schools, let’s start with our recommendations for the most reliable online driving schools in California.
Aceable
This school covers all the requirements you need to complete all of your lessons. Once you complete the course, you get 1 month of free roadside services from Allstate. You’ll get free flat tire service, battery service, towing, fuel delivery, lockout service, and full family coverage.
What’s more, Aceable is the most modern online driving school, providing you with a course that’s full of videos, text, graphics, animations. You won’t get bored studying with Aceable.
And, if you want to study it on the go, you can download their comprehensive mobile app from the Apple Store or Google Play Store.
Drivers Ed
Recommended for student drivers aged 14-17, this school also has its own dedicated app to study on. You have unlimited chances to pass the practice tests to make sure that you understand all the lessons. You’ll also be qualified for an insurance discount.
Driver Ed To Go
If you’re a student getting ready to graduate from high school, then taking up this course will help you get closer to your goal! This school offers high school credit once you complete the lessons and pass the exam.
You get that in addition to the required driver’s ed course.
My Improv
This school takes a step further by creating a unique driver’s ed program unlike any other. Written by road experts and comedians, their courses are hilarious, creative, engaging, but effective. Once you complete the course, the certificate of completion is already available for you to download!
iDriveSafely
Who says learning is boring? This school is prepared to completely change your mind by including fun graphics and cool animations into its lessons. You’re also eligible for a free month’s service of Allstate roadside services when you pass.