My son will be 15 next month.. And will begin preparing for his drivers permit YIKES!! I need to know if all of the boxed driver ed programs are about the same or are there some that are better.. I was eyeballing Driver ed in a box.. Anyone use it? Any recommendations on a course? Thanks!
I'm in Ohio, so the laws here may be different from where you are. Rachael got her license this past spring; she was 17 last month. In Ohio, a teen can get their Temps at 15 1/2. You must be 16 for your full license. To get a license, you must have a certain number of hours driving time; I think they also specify how many must be in traffic and how many after dark. In addition, you MUST take a certified Driver's Ed program from a certified driving instruction place. You are required so many in-class hours, and so many in-car hours. You must pass a written test and receive a certificate that you take with you when you take the formal test from BMV. So even if Mom and Dad teach you how to drive, you still have to pay BIG BUCKS to take the class. The only way of getting out of the class is to wait until you're 18. So, at least here, spending money on a boxed curriculum would be a waste.
Look at what your state requires. Wisconsin doesn't acknowledge a box program. My oldest has her temps, passed the classroom time and now has to finish her behind the wheel. It is a good thing. Keeps you on your toes. Keeps you praying for safety and wisdom for the new driver to be.
I didn't think about the laws being different in other state. Should've known better. LOL.. In Texas Parents have the option of teaching their children Driver education at home. They can get their permit the day that they turn 15 as long as they have passed the written test.. Then they have to have 35 hours of driving time. And have their permit for 6 months before they get their license. We have no instruction classes in our area so I have to do the box program. There are certain programs that the state allows. I looked on texas homeschool coalition website and Driver ed in a box is endorsed by them so I think I'm going to use them.. It's expensive, but then again I don't know what an actual classroom course would cost. And I can use it with my other son who will be 15 next year. And my daughter in a few years as well. Oh my gosh!! WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE.. I can't believe my son will be driving.. Thanks for your responses. They are appreciated..
Rachael's class was $350, and it was one of the cheaper ones. It'd be great to be able to teach it ourself!
That's about what the box program that I want costs. I thought it was outrageous. I remember my parents paying $150 for my drivers ed class through the school and I was expecting it to still be that price.:roll: Never mind the fact that was over 20 years ago.. Boy am I feeling old now..
We are currently using course 101 from the Texas DPS list of approved parent taught DE courses for our 16 year old. It is found on www.tea.state.tx.us If you download and print yourself it is a free course. Otherwise it is $60. My 18 year old also used this course and it worked well, although we required that he drive a full year with his father and me before we allowed him to test for his d.l. HTH.
We also had to pay for DE - $250 was all it was. He has completed the course and now has to wait 6 months from the date of his temps (May 6). He can't even take the test until Nov. 6.
I'm sending Faythe up to you when it's time for her! That's $100 cheaper than the cheapest place in central Ohio!!!
I'm right there with ya.. If we had anything near us we would be doing a class instead. The closest class is 70 miles away. I wouldn't mind driving once a week that far but that class is everyday..
Oh, my!!! No, I don't think I'd be wanting to drive that distance! We're lucky that there were many classes within a reasonable distance from us. But then again, since classes are REQUIRED, there probably are more of them!
