The school season is coming to an end, which could mean a lot of stress if you have a teenager approaching the driving age. Summer is one of the major times for kids to get in practice on the wide open road, or, at least for you to start planning how they’re going to start driving in the upcoming school year. If you’ve already started considering your options, then you may find that it just might be leading you down a pretty expensive road. Don’t fret just yet though! There’s actually quite a few ways to cut the price of your child’s milestone, so you can worry less about how you’re going to afford the new responsibility and worry more about your child getting behind the wheel.
1. School Programs
One of the best ways to cut the cost of lessons for your student is to go through their school. Most public schools host programs to help the students go through driver’s education with the rest of their classmates. Usually, signing up your student for classes through the school may be free or cost a small fee. Sometimes, the school will even teach the course each semester, so you won’t have to worry about the extra expenditure. If you’re not sure, make sure to call your school district to find out how they can help you. Some schools will even offer driver’s ed during their summer school which will allow your child to stay busy over the school break and it won’t impede on their course load at school the following year. Of course, you may have to wait to enroll your student in these courses as many schools only offer it to students whose birthdays fall in a certain time frame. All the same, the school course usually helps with the written and driver’s exam, so you should be able to kick back and relax when it comes to finances.
2. Take the Test When Ready
A lot of new drivers are champing at the bit to get in the driver’s seat and to have the license in their hand. However, this excitement can cost a whole lot of money. For instance, a lot of students will take the written exam on the first date they’re eligible so that they can get started on the exciting process of their milestone. The only problem with this is they may not always be ready, which means you’ll have to continuously pay for the exams until you get the passing score. Luckily, there’s lots of ways to help your student study, so you’ll know when the right time to take the exam is. There’s even online tests that mimic the real tests, which is sure to show you when the time is right. The same can be said for the driving portion of the exam. Many students fail this at least once, but with a little self-control, your student should be able to go into the exam when they’re ready and receive a passing score.
3. Practice in a Small Town
If you’re living in a city, then you may want to kiss more money goodbye as you teach your child to drive. Logging practice hours may end up causing you to fuel up a lot more often because city roads are notorious for a lot of stop and go traffic, not to mention traffic jams. One way to remedy this problem is to find a small town to practice in. These towns tend to have roads that aren’t as busy, which will help your student feel a bit more at ease when they start out. The lack of stress could help your child gain confidence a lot faster and will ease the stress of them hitting the brake at an inopportune time. Apart from the easy flow of traffic in a small town that will use up less gas, gas prices are generally a lot better there too. Accidents are also less common, especially if you can find a backroad that is pretty much isolated. As your student grows more confident, then they can take the trip home on the freeway, or tackle the less predictable traffic in the city.
4. Choose Longer Lessons
If you’re planning on signing your student up for training courses, then try to find an agency that offers longer hours. This isn’t necessarily meant to make your student get through the courses faster, rather it is a great way to help them get more out of each lesson. For instance, if your driver instructor is working with your student for around an hour then it is barely enough time for the student to get comfortable on the road, let alone gain much from the practice. A two-hour lesson can help the student get past the initial discomfort of driving, so they can utilize the skills they’ve been working on and gain more adequate criticism from the instructor. With longer hours on the student’s side, it shouldn’t take as long for them to be road worthy, which will allow you to get more for your money.
5. Meet the Instructors
Another thing to consider when signing your child up for driving courses is to take the time out to meet the instructors. Most agencies shouldn’t have a problem doing this and if they do then simply walk away. As a parent, you will want to meet with the instructor to make sure you feel comfortable with the person taking your child out on the road. You will also want to make sure your student feels comfortable with them too. If you or your student feel awkward with the instructor, then it won’t make the lessons any easier to get through. In fact, it may even set the student back a bit. You may want to insist on a trial lesson too, to see if your student will work well with the instructor. Some students need specific cues in driving, which some instructors may not be able to provide correctly. By sitting down and talking with an instructor, you’ll be able to find out their policies while finding what’s right for you too.
6. Shop Around
When it comes to paying for lessons, you should always shop around before you hand over your money to any company. Most places have at least a couple of driving schools to choose from, so find the place that will offer you the best value for your money. You shouldn’t just settle for regular price either. Before you make a commitment, ask if you qualify for a discount. Sometimes, military families, AAA members and other club holders will qualify you for a small discount, which will come in handy as the classes carry on. You may also be able to find a coupon on social media sites like the LivingSocial or Groupon. The more discounts you find, the better off you will be, so don’t be afraid to ask friends, family, or other parents for leads on good deals!
7. Take Extra Courses
Although it may sound like spending extra money, you should always consider taking extra courses when it comes to your driving. Sure, driver’s education is a great start, but there’s a lot more to learn that can make you a more efficient driver. It may even help you get through a few tough situations. Of course, there’s one other great thing that can come from taking a few extra courses. For instance, if you end up taking a defensive driver’s course, you could end up taking 10% off your insurance for up to 3 years. This can really ease the burden that adding a new driver brings to the table. With the whole family brushing up on some pretty awesome driving skills you’ll notice few problems with their driving and so will your insurance company. Plus, it’s nice to know your child is well equipped on the road!
8. Ask a Loved One
Whether you’re a student driver or you’re an adult finally getting your license, you may want to use family and friends to help you out. Driving schools are right for some people, but others learn best with people they can trust. You may want to give your inner circle a head’s up that you or your student is pursuing a license. This will allow those who can volunteer to come forward and offer a lesson or two. You may only need them to sit in the car with you while you log some hours behind the wheel. Either way, most loved ones will be able to help you without charging you a fortune. Some may even do it without even asking you to fill up their gas tank. So, don’t overlook those close to you when you make plans to drive and are looking for cheap ways to practice. Plus, with a variety of people helping you out, you’ll get more tips that can help keep you safer on the road.
9. Study Hard
Burying your nose in the books can actually make driving a lot less expensive than you think. Of course, you’ll want to study hard for the written portion of the driving test so you don’t have to keep paying for the exam. However, there is one unexpected area in which you can study that will help save some money. Students that have at least a B average actually get a discount on their insurance. This can come in handy for parents who have multiple teenagers driving. The best thing is, if your child stays on your insurance plan throughout college, their grade will count from there too. So, whether you’re a student learning or a frugal parent, make sure each semester is filled with great grades even if the student is just starting the driving process.
10. Relax
Although it is important to be alert when you’re on the road, you should come at driving with a relaxed state of mind. A lot of people tense up when they’re driving, which can cause problems even for the most competent drivers. You should always look for ways to help you relax when you plan to get on the road. Yoga is a great thing to look into if you’re about to do a stressful commute or even take your driver’s exam. You may also consider breathing exercise or taking a hot bath before your big exam. Even as you grow as driver, you will need to find ways to help make you feel comfortable when you’re operating a moving vehicle. As your skills improve the radio will most likely become your go-to method, but there’s plenty of other things to consider when it comes to avoiding stress and road rage. By channeling your relaxed side, you’ll have a greater chance of passing the exam and keeping your accident record clean.
Allowing your student to drive, or picking up driving yourself can be pretty stressful. You shouldn’t have to add the financial burden to the mix too! With these helpful tips, you should be able to get the driving lessons and testing needed to become a good driver or to let your student become one. So, grab your keys and let the learning process begin!
