How to Start a Driving School Business

General Driving School Information

Every year, over a million new drivers receive their licenses in the United States alone. Those new drivers require instruction—good driver educations and driving schools—who can ensure that these new drivers hit the roads as safe and careful drivers.

People thinking about starting their own driving schools need to prepare themselves to do two things:  teach driving skills and how to run a small business. These two skill sets are governed by state laws and regulations, the rules of the road, and the best practices for running a business in your state. Each state or province will have its own rules.

The driving license requirementswill vary from State-to-State and Province-to-Province; knowing local requirements is important, but licensing is just one part of the whole plan.

Depending on your state or province, you will be preparing students for either the written or road tests—or both. Your curriculum will have to follow State/Provincial requirements. It will be broken down into modules, and each of these modules refers to a specific topic. Each module can be broken down further in to sub-modules to ensure your students learn efficiently.

Basics and Definitions

What Is A Driving School?

A driving school provides both education for its students and income for its owners. Its educational mission bears responsibility to society.

The Owner

The owner of a driving is school is the person who has put up the capital to get the business going, and who is known as the owner. The owner does NOT need to be a driving instructor (although most are), but the owner is ultimately responsible for the operation of the school and the training of safe drivers.

The Instructor

Each driving school will need at least one driving instructor, certified by the State/Province. The instructor provides the training and education to students in operation of motor vehicles. Driving school operator owners may of course be instructors in their own school, and they may hire others. All must be licensed to provide driver education by the State/Province.

Basic Goals of a Driving School:

The basics aim of a Driving School isproviding the learner with appropriate information, skills and approaches, to build up the learner’s essential driving proficiency and control.

We have all experienced the dangers of poor or irresponsible driving. Serious injuries and deaths result; major delays take place. Driver error is the major cause of accidence. Local driving schools play a major part ensuring that roads are safe for all.

Providing a clear, effective curriculum both in the classroom and behind the wheel ensures that a driving school will make a difference. Road safety is the goal for all.

Fundamentals of Starting a Driving School Business

A driving school is a business.

Because it’s a business, you should confer with your lawyer and/or accountant to determine the best way to establish your business. Nothing we say here is legal advice, but should provide you with items for your meetings with your legal and financial advisors.

Business Structure

Sole proprietorship is probably the easiest form of business to set up, but it leaves you open to full liability. You might want to consider shielding your personal assets by establishing your driving school as a limited liability company instead of a sole proprietorship. Based on your locality, this step comprises of tasks like registering your company name, getting a license—these allow you to start functioning your business and setting policies of incorporation. This guide should serve as a source of information and help in completing this task most proficiently.

Business Plan

Construct a business plan that includes all the initial startup expenses along with the locations, curriculum, equipment required, as well as the promotional techniques you intend to use. While writing your plan, be sure to refer to national, state or local requirements and ensure that you plan in accordance with the classroom, location, automobile and insurance policy requirements and necessities.

For instance, if you are based in the United States, your business plan should focus on locating your business in a commercially zoned area.State and provincial laws vary across, but the basic idea of legal requirements is that a driving school must:

• Have an office (and possibly classroom)—some States/Provinces will require certain minimum sizes.
• Maintain records for a certain period.
• Carry insurance at certain minimum levels.
• Have appropriate signage-your locality may have restrictions on signs, especially in downtown areas.
• Use the required forms as part of their business operations—check with your State/Province.
• Have vehicles meeting legal requirements, including dual controls and a rear-view mirror.

Market Your Business

Promote the advancement of your business using your website, along with print media, radio, TV commercials and internet advertising. You may be able to establish good contacts with local school systems, although some prohibit advertising on school property. Some States may allow you to provide the behind-the-wheel portion of driver education.

Make sure your cards all carry your school’s name, phone number, and website prominently displayed, along with the “STUDENT DRIVER” notification as required by your state.

Requirements to Open a Driving School

The legal requirements for driving schools vary between states and provinces. We include here a general checklist of requirements needed for you to start your driving school.

The first requirement is the premises itself. You need to have an approved office space to work. Most states will have some form of requirement for these items—either as a driving school or as a business in general:

• An office where the public can come in to book appointments and make payments.
• An adequately-sized space that can be used place for normal business.
• Decent and attractive signage.
• Appropriate authorization from your State’s DMV for your premises. For example, New York requires a site inspection from the DMV before you begin operations.
• A classroom space large enough for state requirements (if you will be offering classroom instruction).
• A driving school must have at least one certified driving instructor.

If you are providing classroom education as well as behind-the-wheel training, your classroom must be consistent with all State/Provincial requirements. You must provide adequate space, heat and light, and many places will require a minimum size. New York, for example, requires minimum classroom of 150 square feet (allowing 10 students), and adds a requirement of another 15 square feet per student up to a maximum of 36 students.

You will also need a vehicle or fleet of vehicles to provide the behind-the-wheel driver education required by your state and expected by your customers. Your state will probably require you to register each vehicle you use.

Each vehicle must carry at least one sign indicating that the driver is a “STUDENT DRIVER”; other drivers need to know that the driver is inexperienced and therefore to take appropriate steps to remain safe.Your State may dictate the size of the letters on the sign. All vehicles must have a dual-control brake and rear-view mirrors for the instructor on the passenger seat—the driving instructor must be able to take control of the car if needed.

You may have employees—both other driving instructors and people handling regular office work. Many states/provinces will require you to submit information on some or all of your staff, and you’ll need to comply with all laws regarding Worker’s Compensation insurance as well as other State/Provincial laws regarding employees.

Some states may require you to report the termination of employment of any Driving Instructor, or to turn in their license to the DMV pending their employment by another Driving School. Make sure you are aware of your state’s policies here.

Some states may require you to limit advertising in certain ways. You may not be able to post ads in schools, for example, or near DMV offices.

After obtaining approval to open your premises, make sure you know the record-keeping requirements, both as a driving school and as a small business. Each State/Province will have variations on this theme—and some DMV offices may have authority to inspect your records anytime.

Requirements for A Driving School Instructor

Making sure that you have a certified and experienced instructor is a key part of your business. The abilities of your instructors to provide excellent driver education as well as successful students is crucial to keeping your doors open.

Driving instructors—called driving safety educators in some places—cover both the formal learning and the practical experience for your students. The training includes driving theory, road safety rules, traffic rules, driving techniques, and vehicle maintenance.

Some instructors specialize in a specific vehicle—trucks, buses, or motorcycles.Making sure your instructors are certified in the right types of vehicles is a primary consideration.

The legal requirements for certification vary from state to state. Items you should be looking for include:

• Many states require employment at a driving school for an individual to be certified as a driving instructor.
• In most locations, driving instructors must be at least 21 years old.
• Instructors must have a valid driver’s license, and will have to have held that license for a period of time—2 years is a frequent requirement; the license must of the type the students seek.
• States may impose requirements on license suspensions and revocations for your instructors—frequently looking at least 2 years into the past.
• Traffic offenses—especially those carrying points—may affect the ability of an instructor to get a certificate.
• In most locations, a driving instructor will at least have to have the equivalent of a high school education; additional training or coursework may be qualified.

Most states/provinces will require testing for driving instructors. The tests include:

• A vision test
• A road sign test
• A written test
• A practical driving instruction test

Your state/province will clearly indicate the additional training/coursework required to become a driving instructor. Some states, like New York, require a 30-hour course available through many colleges in the state.

Make sure you conform to your state’s educational requirements before hiring driving instructors.

Requirements for a Driving School Business Owner

Owners of driving schools must meet their state’s requirements to start the school. Refer to your particular state, but most state/provinces will address many of these issues.

• In many places, you will need to be a certified driving instructor.
• Most states will require you to have held a driving license for a certain number of years and be a minimum age.
• Some places may require character witnesses who can testify to yourgood moral character.
• You may have to pass a drug test.
• Some states may require a copy of the lease for your school’s premises.
• You will need to keep good business records, as well as the records of all your students.
• You will have to remain current on any fees your State/Province charges to run a business and a driving school.
• You will have to maintain, and perhaps submit, a roster of all vehicles you use for the purposes of driver instruction.

Most driving schools are owned by a certified driving instructor. Remember that you have a dual status, and make sure you comply with all the rules and regulations applying to you both as a business owner and a driving school owner and instructor.

If you want to instruct people to become driving instructors, you may have to take additional coursework as well as have a minimum number of hours logged providing driving instruction.

Hiring Driving Instructors

Your school will stand or fall based on the quality of instruction you provide to your students. These students will expect to learn from quality instructors, and that they will emerge will the skills need both to pass the driving tests and become safe and successful drivers. Your successful students will provide you with the testimonials you need in your marketing plan.

As you begin the process of hiring instructors, make sure you follow state requirements as well as good hiring practices.

Your instructors should be certified or be eligible for certification when you interview them. Contact their references, and have them provide an audition—have them instruct you in one of your vehicles.

Some states may require background checks for driving instructors. Follow those regulations carefully.

Look for qualities of patience and understanding as well as effective, clear communication. If you are offering a classroom component to your education, make sure your instructors are comfortable teaching in front of students. This could be another opportunity for a potential instructor to audition their skills.

Driving School License Types

Different driving schools serve different customers depending on the type of license involved as well as the needs of the customer. Each type of license requires a different curriculum, as do programs which offer driver training for experienced drivers—perhaps to reduce their insurance premiums.

Driver’s License

The normal driver’s license can be used mainly for driving cars, although some states may include other vehicles under this license. Most States and Provinces have a graduated license program for drivers under 18.

Motorcycle License

This license is used for all kinds of motorcycles, all-terrain cycles and all-terrain motorcycles.

Commercial License

This commercial driving license is divided into 3 classes.

Class A- this class is for vehicles that have a gross weight of 26,000 pounds or more and towing vehicles weighing up to 10,000 pounds. This includes tractor-trailers, truck, double or triple trailers, tanker vehicles, livestock carriers and flatbeds.

This license does not limit you to only the mentioned vehicles. You may bepermitted to operate other vehicles if you carry the appropriate endorsements, including vehicles carrying hazardous materials and tank trucks.

Class B- this license allows the holder to operate vehicles with a combined gross weight of 26,0000 pounds or more and towing vehicles weighing up to 10,000 pounds. In addition to this, other vehicles that a class B license permits to operate include straight trucks, large buses (city, school or tourist buses), segmented buses, box trucks (delivery trucks etc.) and dump trucks with small trailers. School buses may require a separate endorsement.

Class C- if the type of vehicle you will operate does not meet the criteria of class A or B, then you will need a class C license. This license can also be used to drive vehicles carrying a limited number of passengers.

Licensing and Application Procedure

Remember that your driving school is also a business, regulated by the state. You will need to make sure that you meet the requirements to operate a business and a driving school. Note that many states will have inspection requirements, and you may have to open your books at any time to the state.

You should work on your business structure at the same time you work on the driving school licensing. You have many business structures available to you, and you should confer with your attorney and accountant for the structure which works best—sole proprietorship, limited liability company, or corporation.

Each state/province has specific rules for filing your business status. Most states require sole proprietorships to file their paperwork at the county clerk’s office. Limited liability companies and corporations usually file with the state government. Many states/provinces have a detailed website describing the process for filing.

If your LLC or corporation operates under a fictitious name, you may have to file a form declaring that name in each county you expect to do business in.

You will need to obtain an Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service. The EIN will be needed even if you don’t intend to hire anyone—your bank will require it from you.

Make sure you have a Certificate of Occupancy for the premises your school uses, whether it’s a simple office or an office and classroom.

Make sure you comply with all state requirements for insurance. Some states/provinces will require minimum levels of liability insurance for your vehicles and premises. Regardless of state requirements, make sure that you have enough insurance to cover yourself—especially if you are a sole proprietor. Your insurance covers any personal injury or death of any person on your premises due to negligence of the student, instructor or any other employee. Keep your insurance current always.

Complete all forms in accordance with the rules your state/province sets forth. You may be able to submit forms online, although other states will require mail submission.

Contents of the Curriculum

You may need to submit your curriculum to the state. The curriculum will largely be determined by your state or province—most will, at least, indicate what topics need to be covered both in any classroom instruction as well as the behind-the-wheel portion.

Many states/provinces will require you to submit a detailed curriculum as part of your application for a Driving School License. Even if you are not required to submit a curriculum, you should have one—and be willing to change it as you gain experience—you will find what works for you and your students.

Your curriculum should include:

• Schedule of class sessions
• Duration of each class
• Any books or other reading material your course uses
• The sequence of topics to be covered by class and date, as well as the time allotted to each topic
• Originals of any handouts or other material distributed to students.
• Any audio-visual materials you plan to use; make sure that you have watched every video you plan to show ahead of time—especially if you’re going to be teaching minors.

Some states require a certain amount of time for drug/alcohol education during driver education.

Other items for the application

Depending on your state/province, you may need to submit a variety of forms/documents for approval of your Driving School license. These forms/documents may include:

• Application for a license
• Permission for background check
• Personal histories of all driving instructors and employees.
• Certificate of insurance
• Roster of vehicles.
• Premises description and copy of the lease.

Background Check

Some states/provinces may require a background check for driving school owners or instructors. These checks are especially important for schools who will be teaching minors, and the state will have a specific form to use to apply for the background check, which will include any criminal record or conviction. Providing accurate information is crucial, as any missing or false information could pose a serious risk to getting approval for the license.

Driving school instructors can also expect their licenses to be reviewed. They can’t be revoked or suspended, and a history of violations may also prevent someone from receiving a driving instructor’s certificate. Refer to the laws and regulations of your State or Province to make sure you are in compliance.

Forms

Obtaining a driving school license is not an easy task. There are a number of forms that have to be filled in order to get through the lengthy process of applying and being issued a driving school license. Here is a list of all the forms that come in the process.

Depending on the applicable State or Provisional requirements, some of the forms that are related to driving school owner’s license application include:

• Application for Occupational License
• Personal History Questionnaire
• Driving School Insurance Certificate
• Surety Board of Driving School Owner
• All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Training Organization
• Safety Inspection Report, Vehicle Used for Instruction
• Driver Education Classroom Inspection Report
• Application for Authorization to Issue Student License
• Live Scan fingerprint receipt
• Certificate of Corporate Officers and Directors In lieu of Corporate Minutes
• Certificate of Compliance
• Certificate of Appointment

Driving school owner, instructor and operator are all separate people. And so is their paperwork. A driving school operator may have to fill out some or all of the following forms:

• Application for a Driving School Operator License
• Personal History Questionnaire
• Live Scan fingerprint receipt
• 1000-hour Certification

As mentioned above, the survival of the driving school depends solely on the driving instructor. The paperwork of an instructor is just as extensive. Some of the forms an instructor will have to fill out including the documents in order to obtain a driving instructor’s license are:

• Application for an Occupational License
• Medical Exam
• Live Scan fingerprint receipt
• Driving School Instructor Written Test
• Driving Test
• Certificate of Course Completion that accounts for 60 hours
• Proof of High School Graduation or equivalent diploma

Choosing A Location and Name For Your Driving School

Location

Your location is one of your keys to success. You want people to be able to find you—and to get to you—easily. Your best location will depend on the services you offer. If you offer behind-the-wheel training only, you will not need a lot of space—make sure, however, that you have the minimum space required. For example, New York requires an office space of at least 50 square feet, and in a city of 250,000 or more, it can’t be in a residence.

Part of your process for selecting a location is knowing your area. Find out where the other driving schools are, as well as the services they offer. Knowing your competition is an important part of establishing and conducting a business. Find out how busy the competing driving schools are, and map out their locations. Remember that people will opt for the long-standing business over the newcomer, all other things being equal—at the very least, the long-standing business will have testimonials for their success.

Some states restrict driving school locations. In New York, for example, you may not be within 1,500 feet of either a DMV office which issues driver’s licenses or a DMV road test site. Local zoning laws will also limit potential locations.

Rent will be a factor in your decision about location. Rent will be greater if you need classroom space as well as an office—although that classroom will allow you to have more students. A location near high schools and residential areas will draw clientele from the potential new drivers at those schools. Certainly you should find out what the school systems offer by-way of driver’s education, and tailor your curriculum around the school.

Business Name

Your business will need to have a name. That name needs to be unique. Not only is a unique name good for business, it’s also a legal requirement. No matter your business structure, your business name should not cause confusion in potential customers.

Each state has a method for helping businesses have unique names. In some states, if you incorporate, the proposed business name can be searched in the state database, and you may be able to search that database regardless of your business structure. Follow your state’s guidelines—in New York, you must submit possible names before you even file your application to start a driving school.

Many states will have restrictions on business names. For example, you may not suggest that you are part of the state government in your name. “New Jersey State Driving School” would probably not be allowed, for example. Each state will have its own list of prohibited words.

Your business name must not cause confusion in the minds of customers. That is, your name can’t be so similar to another business’ name—even if it’s not a driving school—that someone might think you’re part of the same company. Calling your driving school the “Disney Driving School of East Small town” is probably not going to be allowed.

You generally can use your name (although you might not be able to, if another business has the same name). If your name is on the school, it will be your reputation that helps drive the business.

Naming the business is part of the conversation you should have with your attorney as you set things up; don’t understand our discussion here as legal advice—we’re trying to give you some ideas for that conversation.

Pricing Your Services

Pricing determines your income. Your price needs to bring in enough income to meet your needs, but it can’t be so high as to drive off too many customers.

Determining your costs is a key component of this process. Fortunately, most of your costs will be relatively determinable for the entire year. Even the variable costs, such as gas for your vehicles, will not vary greatly.

Cost

Costs include:

• Rent
• Utilities on your office and classroom
• Leases on the vehicles
• Gas and maintenance for the vehicles
• Wages and payroll taxes for employees
• Office supplies, including any official certificates you need to purchase

Calculating these costs—many of which will be constant month-to-month—will show you want you need to take in.

One nice aspect of driving school operations is that you don’t need to maintain an inventory (or, if you sell t-shirts and other memorabilia, you don’t need to maintain a large inventory).

Scheduling

You will also need to determine the instructional times you have available, bearing in mind when your students can come to learn from you. If you offer classroom instruction, for example, offering classes on school days needs to be limited to after school hours or weekends. Be aware of school breaks in the nearby school districts—you may be able to get a lot of business during those times.

Your curriculum should determine your classroom scheduling. If your state requires a 24-hour course, for example, you may divide the hours up in several ways. Four days—two weekends—of 6 hours each is possible. Over two weeks, you can offer 8 sessions Monday-Thursday from 3:30 pm to 7 pm, allowing for breaks—bring pizza for the last session.

The size of your classroom also influences your income—if you can only seat 10, you can only take 10 students at a time.

If you are offering adult driving instruction—either for new drivers or veteran drivers working on court-ordered driver training or insurance reduction—you will be able to offer some daytime classes—but make sure that you have a schedule which is worth your while. Teaching one student may not be worth it (but only you can make that decision).

Since most of your students will be teen-drivers (unless you are offering CDL training), you should plan on being busy on breaks and especially over the summer. You should be able to teach at least one classroom course per week—and perhaps two depending on how you work your schedule.

Remember that many of your teen students also have summer jobs, and work your schedule so they don’t miss many days of work. Offering a variety of schedules can also help. Many of them will work for employers who will understand, but make sure your scheduling offers enough variety that the students can learn to drive and make money.

School breaks are times when you are likely to need to hire additional instructors, but make sure the traffic warrants that added expense. Your first summer of operation, set the schedule based on what you (if you’re the lead instructor).

In addition, you will have to build in time for behind the wheel instruction. You will have to decide if you will offer pick-up and drop-off services, or require your students to come to your premises to begin and end their lessons.

Allow for schedule delays. If your normal lesson is, for example, 90 minutes, don’t schedule them back-to-back. Allow fifteen minutes between lessons—and longer if you are doing pick-up/drop-off.

You will have to consider these time lags in your pricing.

Pricing

You want your schedule to maximize your income—obviously. But you also need to set prices which will bring customers in. Balancing those two factors is key to your business.

Your pricing will depend on the services you offer, and you should always consider packaging your prices around those services.

For example, if all you offer is behind-the-wheel instruction, you can offer single lessons, or sequences of 6, 10, 12, 15, and 20 (or any other number you want to offer). Students who select multiple lessons should receive a lower per-lesson rate. Thus, you could charge $75 for one hour, $300 for five, and $500 for 10—just as an example.

If you offer a state’s full classroom curriculum, on the other hand, you will probably want to link taking the class with some number of lessons, including a practice road test—which would count as supervised driving time for those states which require such time. If your classroom course is normally $250 for a 24-hour course, for example, you could package the course and 10 hours of behind-the-wheel instructor for $650, including a practice road test.

If you offer practice road tests, make sure your state doesn’t have a bar to conducting them on the actual road test course.

One thing to ensure is making sure you don’t bite off more than you can chew, especially as you are developing your business. You will need to spend time managing the business (although some of that can be done from home in the evenings).

Part of your market research will be to find out what other driving schools in your area charge. You may use their prices and packages as a guide to your own prices and the packages you offer.

Driving School Lesson Plan and Course Specification

A lot rides on the skills and attitude of new drivers, because the only way they can get experience driving is to drive. The best way for new drivers to gain that experience is to have strong knowledge, effective training, and an excellent attitude. Your driving school can help instill all three into new drivers.

You instill those skills and habits through both your classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction, and both forms of teaching should be thoroughly planned out—make your system a true system.

Classroom Instruction

Each state, of course, has different specific time and topic requirements for classroom driver’s education—if private driving schools are permitted to offer it. Your primary guide should be your state’s regulations and driver’s manual.

That said, most states require similar curricula for their classroom driver’s instruction. What we outline here covers most expectations and topics states will cover.

Some states will require special emphasis on drug and alcohol education. Make sure your curriculum follows the state requirements for these.

Needless to say, you should prepare before each class session. Even when you’ve taught the course 10 or 20 times, don’t rely on memories. Focus your attention on today’s students. After each lesson, take notes on which activities worked, and which could be improved.

Most states will require active instruction for much of the teaching time. You should not just be lecturing or showing videos the entire time. Students should discuss and engage with the material, as well as have activities for them to work with to explore the topics you cover. Many states provide sample activities for each topic.

Learned occurs best when a variety of activities are possible. Short lectures, worksheets, group discussion, active questioning, and short videos all provide that variety. Generally speaking, the lectures and videos should be no more than about 10 minutes in length.

Basing your instructor on your state’s driver’s manual is probably a good idea. You can also expect students to have read that manual before each session. If your course is intended to prepare students to take the written exam to get their permit/license, take advantage of any sample exams your state provides.

In some states, you will have to provide a full curriculum for your driver’s education classroom course. Others will require outlines, and some may not require anything in advance. Make sure you follow the requirements of your state/province as you apply for your license.

Regardless, you should not open your driving school until your curriculum is set—including all classroom activities you will provide your students.

Sequencing

Your sequencing will depend on the time you are required to spend in providing classroom instruction. Some topics may be combined for discussion, while others clearly will need to be covered separately. Generally, each topic should have around 45 minutes coverage—but that’s just a rough guide to length.

Even if you don’t offer classroom instruction, you should be aware of what your state requires, so you can reinforce lessons while providing behind-the-wheel instruction.

Provide your students with a course outline at the beginning of your course, and each lesson should have clearly stated objectives—written on the board.

The Curriculum

In many states, you will be able to organize your course as you see fit—as long as the required topics are covered for the correct amount of time. As we noted, the topics may vary state-by-state, but most will require coverage of the following items.

• Responsibility
• Vehicle mechanical/control features
• Vehicle ownership and the following responsibilities
• Environmental dynamics
• Pre-driving skills/ maneuvers
• City driving
• Highway driving
• Hazards of farm animals and machinery
• Hazards of railroad crossings
• Psychophysical aspects such as the consumption of alcohol, mood swings and ill health and the impact on your driving skills
• Organ and tissue donation
• Traffic citizenship and highway safety progress
• Awareness of motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians
• Move over law

Each of these topics can be broken down into several subtopics. For example, city driving will include turn signals, parking, one-way streets, and other driving experiences found in cities. Highway driving will cover on- and off-ramps, maintaining spacing, handling hazards at high speeding, and coming to a stop with a blown-out tire.

Many states expect the course to be around 24-30 hours long. Some may impose a limit on the number of hours per day, or without a break. Even if the state does not limit your daily classroom time, providing more than around 6-7 hours per day (not including breaks/meals) is probably pushing it.

If you are required to teach a 24-hour course, for example, you might decide to offer it over two consecutive weekends on both Saturday and Sunday. Each day could go from 8:30 am to 4 pm, allowing one hour for lunch, as well as two fifteen minute breaks. Your schedule therefore would be:

• 8:30 am – 10:15 am Session 1
• 10:30 am – 11:45 am Session 2
• 11:45 am – 12:45 pm Lunch
• 12:45 pm – 2:30 pm Session 3
• 2:45 pm – 4 pm Session 4

How you handle lunch is up to you. If you are near several fast-food places, you can simply allow students to go there. You can invite them to bring their own. You can have lunch delivered by Subway or the local sandwich shop, and include that lunch in your fees—have students complete a lunch request form when they enroll.

If you offer instruction after school, you will probably want to make sure it takes place over four or five weeks. Make sure the

Breaks do not count towards the hours of instruction, but breaks are essential for everyone—including you!

Set a clear absence policy for your students. Your state/province may indicate that students must be present for a certain number of hours—follow that. If not, we recommended that each student attend at least 80% of the hours available for the course. If you record your lessons, you may be able to make those recordings available to students who miss sessions.

Another option is to allow a student to attend the same session but in a different course, if you offer several at the same time.

You certainly may have a no-refund policy for missed lessons.

How a student makes up a class is up to you, but you should not be adding work to yourself because a student misses a class. If you offer online sessions as well as in-person, you might be able to give the student access to the on-line version of the session missed.

Behind-the-wheel training

Most states require a certain number of hours of behind-the-wheel experience before new drivers, especially teens, receive their license. Driving schools can provide some or all of those hours.

Some states, such as New Hampshire, require the student to log every hour, whether driven with a parent, other proper supervising driver, or driving instructor. Others require driving instructor hours only to be logged.

Your records must match all student logs submitted—be careful with your records.

Your course

If you create a formal behind-the-wheel course (in addition to individual lessons), make sure you include both the behind-the-wheel and observation components required by your state. Observation hours allow you to have two students in the vehicle with you, in most places, and you can switch half-way through the session, allowing each student gets the same number of hours on both sides of the requirement.

Most states will expect this “laboratory” education—the combination of behind-the-wheel and observation—to cover the following driving skills:

• Left and right turns and turn signals
• Backing and Y-turns
• Traffic control signals and officers
• Intersections and turns
• Parallel parking and parking regulations
• City driving
• Hazards of railroad crossings
• Traffic signals and road signs
• Speed limit
• Expressway driving, night driving, driving in rain, fog or snow
• Avoiding collisions
• Driving in emergency
• Sharing the road with pedestrians, motorcyclists, bicycles, and trucks of all sizes
• Traffic crash
• Highway driving- this includes getting driving experience in multiple lanes and freeways
• Hazards of farm animals and machinery

Depending upon your state/province, you may not be able to give a student behind-the-wheel instruction until they’ve completed classroom instruction. If their classroom instruction was at their school (or from another driving school), the student should be bringing you a certificate of completion.

Most states will have a limit on the number of hours per day for observation and behind-the-wheel. The formal “driver education course” will not include all the hours the student is required to log before taking the road test.

How you handle the additional hours is up to you. While all hours behind-the-wheel during the course count towards the required total, you may want to be able to offer additional hours. The fee you charge can be a separate charge or package deal.

If you have a simulator, students may be able to count some simulator hours as behind-the wheel hours. Your state’s regulations will let you know if this is permitted.

Many states will limit the number of hours of driver’s education in a day. Follow those rules. If you are running courses during the school year, be respectful especially of each student’s needs to complete their school responsibilities in the organization of your course.

Classroom Refresher Course

The term “refresher” course covers several driver education possibilities. Some people may just want to brush up on their skills. Others may be looking to get an insurance reduction or remove points from their license. Courts may order driver’s education as part of the resolution of a traffic ticket or other driving offense. Finally, older drivers may want to have some instruction on adjustments they might need to make to continue driving while aging.

Your refresher courses should meet the needs of each of these types of clients. The state may have certain guidelines for courses which will lower insurance premiums, remove points, or address the requirements of the court. People brushing up on their skills or older drivers may just need a few hours behind the wheel.

If you are in an area with a significant older population, you might want to develop a special course just for them. Designed with respect and care, the course can help people keep their independence and be safe on the roads.

In most states, these courses will be around 10 hours long, but see your own DMV to make sure you offer one consistent with the law.

Drivers taking one of these courses will already have their licenses. Your state may require that you verify their license status before enrolling in the course.

Driving Instructor Course

In many states, driving schools can teach potential driving instructors to become certified. In other states, the training for driving instructors is the purview of community colleges. It is possible that either route is possible in your state.

In order to train potential driving instructors, you will probably need to meet certain state criteria. You may have to have a certain number of years as a driving instructor, or a set number of hours of instruction logged. Check your state’s requirements to make sure you meet them.

Most states will require people who want to train driving instructors to take a combination of classroom training and practice teaching. The classroom course will cover teaching methods as well as instruction in the rules of the road. The course may be a mix of lecturer, video, and other activities, and some states may allow it to be taught online.

Your state/province will provide the details of what your Instructor course should contain. Your course should be as well-organized as your regular driving instruction course. Each lesson must have a clear objective and activities.

The topics this course covers include:

• Qualifications of a professional driving instructor
• First aid relating to vehicle accidents
• Teaching techniques for training drivers
• The driving privilege; licensing and controls
• Rules of the road and civil liability
• Motor vehicle equipment and maintenance
• Physical and mental capabilities of drivers
• Physical laws affecting the operations of vehicles
• Student orientation to vehicle features and controls
• Driving skills
• Defensive driving

The course should be designed to prepare potential driving instructors to pass any required tests set by the state/province. In most locations, the candidate will be allowed only two or three attempts before seeking training again.

Potential driving instructors must also have a clean driving record, and some states may require a medical test.

Prospective driving instructors must also be able to teach new drivers how to drive—and the teaching must be clear and effective. The instructor-to-be must be patient as well as knowledgeable on all aspects of safe motor vehicle operation.

The driving instructor needs to understand all the things which can arise while driving, including accidents and first aid. The course for new driving instructors must cover topics in this area, also:

• Heart stoppage
• Head injuries
• Shock
• Burns
• Bleeding
• Fractures
• Heat stroke and exposure to cold

All drivers need to be aware of the effects of drugs and alcohol and how they impact your driving skills and abilities. Alcohol and drugs are depressants, and they affect the entire nervous system. It numbs the senses and makes judgment hazy and makes you less aware of your surroundings. Drivers who are intoxicated are more likely to get in car collisions than a driver who is not.

Driving requires engaging in multiple tasks at the same time, such as turning, accelerating, and watching at the same time. Intoxicated drivers often are too slow to perform two tasks at the same time. Intoxicated drivers often go way over the speed limit and are unable to remain in their proper lane. Their reaction time is slower—which limits their ability to dodge accidents.Their judgement is impaired, and they may not recognize a dangerous situation until it’s too late.

Prescription drugs can have a similar effect on drivers. Drugs like codeine, Demerol and other painkillers cause drowsiness, which can impair awareness while driving.

Depressants such as sleeping pills, tranquilizers and barbiturates also have a negative impact on your driving skills. These drugs cause drowsiness and this can lead to collisions. Sometimes drugs can also cause the driver to become impatient and aggressive, and those emotions can create risk both for the driver and other people.

Marijuana can affect a driver’s awareness, also. It can numb the senses and distort the sense of time and space. That distortion may increase reaction time and slows the eye’s response to light, which makes the driver a threat to be on the road.

Your course should stress the importance of avoiding driving after drinking or using any other drugs so that they can educate their own students they train.

Teaching Atmosphere

Learning takes place best in an upbeat, comfortable environment—your students and their parents will feel much better about your school. Your classroom should have adequate space for the number of people you expect to teach. New York, for example, requires essentially 15 square feet per person, with a minimum of 150 square feet (for a class of 10). The room should have adequate lighting, air conditioning, heating, and décor.

Make sure that your student desks or tables are comfortable for 1.5 – 2 hour sessions; we recommend desks and chairs be separate, or that you use conference tables. You will also need a chalk board, white board, and audio/video screen on the wall. You can project via a projector or your laptop.

Your instruction should be interactive—some states even require interactive instruction or active learning. Use lecture and video sparingly, and include plenty of open-ended discussions—these invite all students into the discussion, and they can voice their ideas freely.

When you teach future driving instructors, model the behavior you want in the classroom. Make sure you establish a good rapport with them, and demonstrate active learning for them all.

Required Hours of Instruction

Each state will require a certain number of hours of classroom and laboratory instruction for every type of driving instruction. These hours are necessary for the student to obtain your license and you may have to certify for each student that the instruction has lasted as required.

Classroom

Classroom time will vary from state-to-state and province-to-province. The range generally is 24-30 hours, as noted above. A variety of topics will probably be required by the state government, but in most places how you structure your time will be up to you. You may be able to offer a course in 4 summer days for teens on school break, or on 6-8 afternoons spread over 4-6 weeks.

The hours the state requires does NOT include breaks—although you should include breaks. This if you have class for 50 minutes followed by a 10-minute break, students have had 5/6 of an hour. We recommend that each session be at least 60 minutes long before taking a break—75 and 90-minute sessions are also effective, as can a 2-hour session—although that’s probably pushing it.

Laboratory instruction

Laboratory instruction refers to driver education which takes place in a car (some states allow the use of simulators for some of this instruction). Generally, laboratory instruction comes in two types.

• Observation—the student observes another student drive under the guidance of a driving instructor.
• Behind-the-wheel—the student drives under the guidance of a driving instructor, perhaps with an observer in the car.

In most places, laboratory instruction may not begin until the student has successfully completed the classroom course. Some states/provinces may allow observation time to begin before it’s completed. Different states have different required times for laboratory driving instruction.

Each state as a set number of hours of laboratory time. Most will require a certain number of each type, and then allow the remaining hours to be divided as the instructor sees fit. For example, New York requires 24 total laboratory hours, of which 6 must be observation and 6 behind-the-wheel. The remaining 12 hours can be divided as the school decides.

Most states will limit the number of hours in a day a student may receive instruction which counts towards the required total. A common rule is that no more than one hour of observation and one hour of behind-the-wheel instruction may take place in a day—frequently on the same outing with the instructor and another student.

Some states may allow students to swap behind-the-wheel time for observation time, frequently at a 2 for 1 rate. Thus 1 hour of additional driving may count as 2 hours of observation. Not all jurisdictions allow this, however, and you will need to follow your own state’s rules. A similar arrangement can be made with simulation time. Check your own state’s regulations for what you can and can’t do.

It is going to be your responsibility to make sure that a student does not exceed the permitted number of hours per day in any of the forms of instruction, classroom, behind-the-wheel, and observation. Your state/province will clearly spell out the rules. Your program should account for these times.

Driving School Vehicle Requirement

Other than your building—if you own it—your largest single asset your driving school will have is the vehicle or fleet of vehicles you use to provide driving instruction. Instruction vehicles need to be specially equipped and registered. Obviously, each state/province will do this differently, but there are enough common items we can discuss them here.

You will need to submit a list of your vehicles when you start your driving school, as well as when you add new vehicles or take older ones out of service. The make, model, year, mileage, and VIN will all probably be required by the state. You may have to submit a statement of the vehicle’s condition. You will probably also have to supply the state with the insurance information on the vehicles.

Each state may have specific inspection requirement regarding driver training vehicles. The vehicles must be safe and mechanically sound. Each state will require inspection soon after you place the vehicle in service—see the applicable regulations. Your state may also engage in random inspections of your premises and vehicles. Maintain your vehicles properly.

Some states may require that instructional vehicles have no more than a certain number of miles on them. Other requirements for your vehicles may include:

• Proper registration and certification with the DMV or other authority.
• Current inspection at a licensed state inspection station.
• Inspection by DMV staff at set times as well as randomly. Inspection information should be kept on file.
• Vehicles which fail inspection or are not registered properly may not be used for instruction.
• All instructional vehicles need to have dual controls—steering, brakes, and clutch (for manual transmissions) are available to both the driver and the front seat passenger. These controls allow the instructor to take control and bring the vehicle to a safe stop during a lesson. The passenger-side mirror must also be positioned to allow both the instructor and the student to see behind the vehicle.
• Instructional vehicles must also carry appropriate signage indicating that the driver of the vehicle is driven by a student driver. States will require “STUDENT DRIVER” or similar wording to be visible on the vehicle, usually on the sides, front, and rear of the car. You will probably also be permitted to post signs bearing the name, number, and website of your driving school on the car. Follow your state’s rules carefully in this area. Some states may permit the signs to be removed when you are driving it, as when you are traveling to pick up a student and their home.
• New vehicles—whether leased or purchased—need to be registered with the state in short order after you take possession. The process for adding a vehicle is in most places like the one you followed to register your vehicles when you started your Driving School. Your state’s rules will let you know how long it will take for your new vehicle to be used for instruction.
• You will also need to let the DMV—or other appropriate authority—know when you remove a vehicle from your fleet. The state’s rules will spell the procedure your, but it will probably require no more than completing and filing a form.

In some jurisdictions, you may be inspected randomly at any time. Those inspections will be described in state law/regulations. Your vehicles must be inspected annually (in most places) and in some can be inspected anytime. DMV inspectors may be able to observe lessons in your classroom, as well as observe behind-the-wheel instruction.

The best advice we can offer is to run a clean ship. Make sure that you know and follow your state’s regulations, and you will have no problem with your driving school. Many of the regulations are either one-time-only items, or things you have to do once per year—and most will make sense in the running of a safe, effective driving school.

Purchasing Cars for The Driving School Fleet

Driving schools need cars. You will need to have a car—or fleet of cars—to provide the customer service you need. You will not be able to make it on classroom education alone—even assuming the state allows you to provide that education. Customers will expect laboratory instruction—at least the amount required by the state for driver’s education. Your cars will become your biggest, and most important, investment.

Choices

Choosing cars for your driving school fleet can be a tricky process—it might even be overwhelming. You need to select a make and model, owning or leased, new or used car. You will need to make sure that the vehicles can fitted with dual controls. And you will have to manage the age of your fleet—determining when to replace vehicles is a key decision.

As you select a vehicle, remember that they are at a higher risk of getting involved in car collisions—they are being driven by inexperienced drivers. You will need to make sure that your vehicles conform to any state/provincial requirements for your vehicles, and you want to make sure that your students will feel safe and comfortable in them.

You will be putting a fair amount of mileage on each vehicle during the year—and more if you offer pick-up/drop-off service for your students. You will also need to plan for maintenance—both regular servicing as well as allowing for other times the vehicle might be out of service. Picking a car with a reputation for low maintenance might be a good idea.

Another good idea is to enter into a partnership with a service state which sells gasoline. Gas will be a large item in the expense list for a year, and if you guarantee getting your service from them as well as all your gas, you may be able to negotiate a reduced price on both in exchange for placement of advertising for that station on your website and in your business.

Factors

The following items are all important to your selection of your vehicles:

• Cost of the car
• Cost of routine maintenance
• Reputation for reliability and breakdowns
• Gas mileage
• Safety ratings
• Longevity of the car as a driving school vehicle—condition, maintenance, durability
• Cost to install and remove dual controls
• New or used car

Used cars are perfectly acceptable for driving school use—assuming the state does not require new cars. They should be relatively low mileage. Making sure they are covered by dealer’s and/or extended warranty might be a good idea. Working with a local dealership to obtain a recently returned leased car might provide you with some cost advantages. You want to keep your initial investment as low as possible.

Leasing a new or used vehicle might also be a route to take. A local dealership might be willing to lease a recently returned vehicle for a lower lease cost. Leasing might also be the best way to get you into a new car for your school.

If you are buying a used car, going with a dealer for that type of car is probably the best route for ensuring reliability. Make sure you check your car out on Carfax.com before purchasing (or leasing) it.

Spending time to make the best deal you can, especially if you will be starting with more than one vehicle, will pay off down the road. When you are starting out—think small. Don’t try to expand too fast is the best advice in all areas, especially in your fleet investment. Look down the road for additional vehicles.

Determine the likelihood that you will need multiple vehicles on the road at the same time. If you don’t see that happening based on your schedule when you open, then don’t invest in a second vehicle.

Instead, work with local dealers to be ready to move on a second vehicle when business demands. You will know based on inquiries and students you have turned away, as well as planning to add additional classes, when to make the move for the next vehicle.

Visit every local dealership who sells a vehicle or several models which will meet your demand. Test drive them all, and explore cost/benefit options. You can offer advertising on your website, in your premises, and in your car in exchange for cost reductions and other ways to make the deal the best for you and the dealer.

The dealer will also be able to tell you about the maintenance history of a returned leased vehicle, and will be able to provide the service arrangements and discounts.

You have a variety of ways to make the car deal more affordable. Include the dealer’s information on your website, including a link to the dealer. Using only one make/model car will make it easier for everyone.

One way of reducing the cost of the insurance on your vehicles is to join the Driving School Association of America. Discounted insurance will help you make the first years, especially, more affordable.

The DSAA also offers other discounts as well as help on the costs of merchant services through a bankcard affiliation.

Longevity

At some point you will have to let a vehicle go from your fleet. If you’ve maintained them well, and avoided student accidents, you should be able to keep the vehicle in service for a few years. That said, make sure your vehicles are not so old that the age itself will put customers off. In many ways you will know when a vehicle needs to be replaced—and the key reason is that the car is no longer safe to use as an instructional vehicle.

If the annual inspection begins to demonstrate a few negative points, it’s time for the vehicle to go. If it has been in significant accidents, get rid of it as soon as possible. Have your mechanic do a diagnostic check every time you bring the car in for an oil change or routine maintenance.

Pay attention to the appearance of the car, also. Your students—and their parents—will not be happy if the exterior needs work or the interior is stained or torn. Cars will over 100,000 miles on them general will look a bit worn—and bear that in mind.

If you have been able to work with a dealer to lease a new or returned-lease car, you may be able to establish a good cycle of exchanges. If you have a fleet of three vehicles, replace one each year over a three-year cycle.

Regardless of mileage, appearance, or condition—or ownership—the car must be able to pass the state inspection for driving school vehicles. That is the key mark of when you need to replace the vehicle.

Maintenance

Whether your cars are new or used, maintain the vehicle rigorously. While you may schedule maintenance sessions for slower business days, you need to make sure that everything is up to date. On the way back to your office, take the car to the car wash—a shiny appearance will help you impress customers. Vacuum the interior frequently. Well-maintained cars always make a positive impression.

Make sure to replace tires as needed; you may be able to use the tire age as a marker for vehicle replacement also. At a certain point, if maintenance is costing more than a monthly payment, it’s time to replace the vehicle.

Your Car is Marketing

Because your driving school vehicles are going to be on the road for many hours per week, use them for advertising and marketing. Your state may regulate signage, but within those regulations, you should be able to have your driving school name, phone number, and website placed at least on both front doors, if not your trunk.

If you are permitted to remove “STUDENT DRIVER” signs when a student driver is not in the car, do so. Then drive perfectly—that shows off your driving skills, which may help bring you customers.

Failure to include your school name and contact information on the car is a lost opportunity for your business. Use your logo and the name to draw attention to your school. Use as big a font as you’re allowed within any state restrictions (some jurisdictions will require that “STUDENT DRIVER” be the largest font on the car).

Be careful not to get too loud—you want to be noticed, but not be an eyesore. Bright colors are more than acceptable, and make sure your name, logo, and contact information is clear—people will only be able to read it properly when everyone is stopped.

Making sure your cars display your school name and contact information will be the most effective marketing dollars you spend. Many clients and driving school owners indicate the effectiveness of these mobile ads. Don’t be afraid to drive around on days off “waving the flag”—people will see you (keep the “STUDENT DRIVER” signs off when you do this).

Insurance- Liability and Vehicle

You will probably be required to carry liability insurance when you open your driving school. Even if a state does not require a minimum level of insurance, however, you would be unwise—at best—not to carry substantial coverage. You want to protect yourself, your home, and your family, in the even anything goes wrong during the operation of your school.

Regardless of general liability, you will be required to insure your vehicles per state law. Your state will have specific insurance coverage requirements, including liability for personal injury and property damage which might occur while the vehicle is being used.

You should also have insurance for your premises. If you are renting, you will only need to insure your own property, unless the landlord requires more. If you own your premises, then you should ensure for fire and other loss.

You have several choices on your insurance structure. You can have the state minimum on your operation and vehicles, as well as the basic business coverage, and then have an umbrella policy for liability above that. You might also want to have higher levels of coverage on all your policies. Regardless, you should have an umbrella policy.

The insurance certificate should clearly list the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the document and repeat for all the vehicles being covered by the insurance policy.

Insurance coverage is one of your first big decisions to make. You need to account for several risks, including the following:

• Personal injuries on your premises
• Personal injury caused by a student while driving your vehicle
• Property damage caused by a student while driving your vehicle
• Injury to your students while they are in your vehicle, probably even if the student is the cause of the accident and injury

Insurance will cover your lawyer’s fees to cover claims against you.

If you have employees, you will also need to have worker’s compensation insurance to cover them in the event they are injured while at work.

Medical Requirements for Driving School Operators

Drivers and driving instructors may be required to meet certain health standards. Possessors of commercial driver’s licenses must provide medical information as part of the process to obtain their CDL.

Here is an Outline of the standard requirements that need to fulfill to initiate a Driver Training school:

Vision Standards:

The most common health related qualification is the vision standards. Drivers must be able to see to drive safely. While the specific requirements may vary, the general expectations for visual acuity are

• Color perception must not prevent safe operation of a vehicle
• 20/40 both eyes open and tested together for a licensed requiring corrective lenses
• 20/60 with correction means the driver is restricted to daytime driving only
• 120° range of vision along the horizontal meridian
• 40°range of vision vertically

Hearing Standards

Most states do not require a formal hearing test in order to obtain a driver’s license or run a driving school.

Safe drivers will have good hearing, or wear hearing aids, which allow them to gain sensory information and drive safely. Some people might want to consider investing in a large rear-view mirror.

Advise your students to keep the volume on the stereo down while driving. You might want to illustrate the effect of loud music by having someone blow the horn on another car while the music is loud.

Medical Details

Some states, such as California, require the submission of a physician’s report by all driving school instructors. You should make sure that this report is submitting in a timely manner. California requires submission every two years.

Other states do not have medical requirements for driving instructors, but safe operation of your school requires you to be in good health.

Americans with Disability Act

People with disabilities are welcome to participate as fully as possible in all areas of life, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 expects businesses to make reasonable accommodation for a wide range of disabilities in their operations.

Driving a motor vehicle is no exception—and therefore driving schools are not excepted either.You are expected to provide reasonable accommodation, convenience and opportunity to people with disabilities.

Vehicles can be modified to allow people with a wide range of disabilities to be safe drivers. You may be able to provide some of these minor accommodations in your vehicles.

If you are offering classroom instruction, you must make sure that your premises are accessible. Locate your classroom either on the ground floor, or be in a building with an elevator. Think through the size of the room and any hallways, and make sure the bathrooms are also handicapped accessible.

Depending on the disability, you may or may not need to adapt your vehicles to cover them. The law requires reasonable accommodation which is not burdensome—and vehicle modification may be burdensome.

Referral to a Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist may be appropriate for many people with physical disabilities.

Learning Disabilities

Students with learning disabilities, however, should fit within your program. Success, especially with teens with learning disabilities, requires you to work as a partner with the parents and the teens. Ask your clients if the student has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) in their school—focusing on the accommodations to instruction.

Some students require class notes in advance, or need to be seated in a particular place in the classroom. Others may need to have either added time to take tests or their tests read to them—some may need the answers written for them. Some may require the opportunity to go over each answer on a multiple-choice test after the student has gone through all the questions once.

Most State DMVs are aware of the need to provide proper testing environments for students, and you should know what accommodations your nearby DMVs do provide. In some states, you will be allowed to administer the official DMV test—make sure you provide each student the accommodations they are entitled to.

Even if you are not able to administer the official test, you will want to provide practice tests which mimic the testing environment they will take the test in.

You are required to keep any information from the IEP confidential.

ADHD and Driving

You need to be particularly aware of issues with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and young drivers, because the distractibility which comes with ADHD affects many of the processes required in driving—staying on task, planning ahead, and following through.

Ideally, parents will have worked with their teen to begin the process of driver education and good driving habits—and working around the ADHD to ensure the teen becomes a safe driver.

You might want to develop a model program to support your student and their parents/guardians as they work through your course. These are ideas which both you and the parents can use when the teen driver is behind the wheel.

• Parents can provide incentives at home for practice driving time—the more controlled the behavior, the more practice they get.
• Parents should start early with driver training, even when the teen is a passenger. Have the teen narrate what the driver is doing, and why.
• Make sure each practice outing is at least 20 minutes or longer.
• Have the teen verbalize distractions and process that experience so they understand their own challenges.
• Use the learner’s permit as an additional incentive.
• Encourage the development of a graduated privilege to drive, even within the rules of your state/province.
• Openly discuss after all driving experiences the distractions and coping mechanisms used during the drive.

There is no shame in any learning disability, and all students can become great drivers. They just need to be self-aware, ensuring their safety and the safety of others on the road.

Highway Safety

Safe drivers are drivers who comply with a set of key tips as they drive and gain experience on the road. These items are covered by the following tests or characteristics:

• Hearing- While most states do not require a hearing test to get a driver’s license, all drivers should be able to hear ordinary sounds on a highway clearly. Drivers with hearing limitations, therefore, will need to take steps to ensure that they are safe on the road, including wearing hearing aids.
• Vision- Each new driver must past a vision test in order to obtain a driver’s license. IN most states, vision must be at 20/40 or 20/50 with corrective lenses. Usually, color blindness is not a special condition in the licensing process.
• Knowledge exam- All states/provinces require passing a written exam consisting of a number of multiple choice questions—usually between 20 and 50. In some jurisdictions the written test is taken before receiving the learner’s permit. The exam will cover the rules of the road and traffic signs in most places. Classroom instruction provides the best preparation for this test.
• Driving test- at some point before receiving a full driver’s license, each new driver will have to take a road test through the state’s DMV. The state will indicate what is a legal vehicle, and the examiner will be an employee of the DMV. Each road test will ask the new driver to demonstrate the normal skills drivers are expected to have, as well as comply with all the state laws and road signs found on the testing route.
  

Maintaining Student Records

Prudence and, in many states/provinces, the law require you to maintain student records. These records will allow you to manage your business better, and will also provide support for you in the event your state’s DMV inquiries about a student—both for completion of instruction and the number of hours of behind-the-wheel instruction your provided.

Your records will include your curriculum, your student rosters, your logs of behind-the-wheel training. If you make any adaptations under the Americans with Disabilities
Act, those should be noted also. Attendance records should be part of your filing system.

Student Records

Student records at a minimum should reflect the following information:

• Their name
• Their contact information (address, phone number, email)
• If the student is a minor, contact information for their parent/guardian
• List of all services provided for that student, organized by date, including the instructor providing the services
• Listing of all receipts for payments made by or on behalf of the student
• Listing of any disbursements

Generally, you may file these records as you see fit, subject to state laws. New York, for example, requires that your student records be maintained alphabetically, although you may keep separate files for active and inactive students. New York does allow electronic record keeping.

Office Records

You will also need to maintain office records—although these records will overlap with the student records. Subject to your state’s record keeping rules, you should be able to track your income and disbursements, as well as your class rosters and behind-the-wheel instruction as you see fit.

Some states require a specific process. New York (again) requires receipts to be numbered sequentially—and preprinted. New York provides a form of receipt you may use, and all records of receipts and disbursements must be kept for three years.

You will also want to keep track of your utility bills, rent and car lease payments, and other office expenses. Keeping accurate records will help you for tax purposes.

Other Records

Especially if you are teaching minors, you will want to have an attendance sheet at the start of each session. Since students are preregistered, you can produce the list and have the student sign next to their name. If you have multiple sessions during the day, you might want to have separate sign-ins for each session—although that might annoy your students. Your sheet can also have separate columns for you to mark attendance at later sessions that day.

The sign-in sheet should also have a place for the instructor to sign, providing you with documentation for the provider of instruction that day. The information can easily be input into your system after the class—we recommend recording information immediately after the class is over.

You may be required by your state to file very specific forms. For example, New York provides a specific form for the roster of students taking your 5-hour Pre-licensing Course. You will need to submit the original of all rosters at certain times. Keep copies of everything.

Your state may indicate how long you are required to keep your student records. If your state has no set time, seven years—like the time recommended for tax records—should be more than sufficient. Make sure your premises have space for all your records (if you can keep them in electronic form, do so). Make sure also, that if you keep electronic records, you can back them up—and then back them up regularly. You may also want to print out the records and store them, just in case.

If records are damaged or destroyed by fire, weather, or other incident, you will probably need to report that loss to the DMV or another designated state agency. You may have to provide specific information, and the submission should be made by the driving school owner.

In-Car Instruction Sign-in Sheet

You might want to consider a sign-in sheet for laboratory instruction. You will need to support claims that a student had sufficient hours of both behind-the-wheel and observation.

The sign in sheet should have the student names already printed, as well as the times each will drive or observe. Have the students sign, as well as the instructor, and transfer the information to your master records as soon as possible. The sign-in sheets should also be kept, organized by student—photocopy it for joint behind-the-wheel/observation sessions.

Running Your Driving School

Successful businesses in the 21^st century providecustomer service. Social media, the internet, and the increase in many consumer options has driven a revolution in the field of customer service. This revolution is not limited to driving schools—it’s universal throughout the service economy.

Customer Service

Your customers therefore need to come first in your business. You need to provide quality (and successful) service as a driving school owner, especially since a few on-line negative reviews can harm your business. Consumers demand the best service, and greatly appreciate when business owners go out of their way to satisfy the customer.

Your success will be based on a combination of your customers and your cost-management. One advantage for driving schools is that most of your costs are fixed throughout the year. You can determine the level of income you need to meet those costs, accounting for the slow seasons. Therefore, the best driver of your business will be the satisfaction of your customers.

Most people seek driver training once in their lifetime; families with children will go through the process once per child. Your ability to teach them and get them through their driving tests successfully will earn you loyalty and recognition—and ideally referrals from your satisfied clients.

Remember that when you teach teen drivers you need to keep both the teens and the parents happy, and the two will not be expecting the same thing (except for passing the written and road tests). The teens will expect that classes will have some fun—even in the drudgery—and they won’t feel like they’re wasting their time either in class or the vehicle—which means you need to make observation time meaningful. Parents will expect you to make your students feel safe, and that they will become more confident drivers after their time with you.

New drivers usually need confidence and support to get on the road and stay there. They do not want to feel overwhelmed. You must be a reliable, strong, and confident figure for them. Work on avoiding making them feel pressured, or awkward about mistakes—although of course you should point out the mistakes and turn them into teachable moments. No one will mind if you’re tough, as long as you’re fair and not mean.

If you are providing quality instruction in car and classroom, you will be building a strong business—based on your reputation. While you can’t guarantee a 100% pass rate on the written and road tests, your work should aim at that goal. Students who come to you after failing the road test should also have reasons for that failure, and you should

• Teach them those skills in follow sessions.
• Look to see if there’s a pattern in the failures, so that you can adjust your teaching.

Website

You should have a quality website for your driving school. The website should include information on your classes and pricing, as well as testimonials from former students (and their parents). Pictures of students and your vehicles are excellent additions to the site.

Providing a blog with articles of interest to drivers—of all levels—will help drive traffic to your site as people look for driver education in your area. Your site should include mentions of your location as well as the areas you serve, as well as the fact that you’re a driving school.

Using these key words is called “search engine optimization” (SEO). Google and other search engines constantly scan the net, including your website, and it looks for keywords, especially when they are used naturally in your writing.

So, if your name is Planet Neptune Driving School, and you offer both classroom and laboratory instruction in Nicetown, Smallcity, and Neptune County in the State of XYZ, your keywords might be:

• Nicetown XYZ driving school
• Smallcity XYZ driving instruction
• Neptune county driving school
• Behind the wheel instruction small city
• Drivers education classroom smallcity xyz
• Neptune driving school

And so on.

Social Media

Social media is also part of your marketing, and can be linked closely with your website to drive traffic to the site. The combination will be more effective than billboards, newspapers, or radio.

You should, therefore, be active on Facebook, at the very least. Facebook provides the ability to link to your site and to track the traffic you create. Facebook allows you to post images and videos—which can be serious or light-hearted. Clients can post reviews, and you will be able to engage with people there.

If you are on Facebook, make sure all your material includes the Facebook logo, as well as your website’s URL, or address.

Respond to reviews—it shows you take them seriously. Be grateful for positive reviews, and handle negative ones nicely. Provide them with a number to call to address the concern, and do not scold the reviewer on line.

Sometimes reviewers make mistakes. One driving school had a review of 1-star, with no explanation. The driving school very smartly responded, “We’re sorry to hear that, <name of reviewer>. What could we have done better?” To which the reviewer replied, “Oops! I mean 5-stars, but I don’t know how to change this post!”. Don’t assume the customer is either wrong or stupid (even if they are).

If you set up an automated system to track the traffic driven from Facebook to your site, you will be able to examine when you are busiest.

Word of Mouth, Reputation, and Value

People will pay for quality service, especially if they perceive that the service also produces success—as with a driving school. While you should not guarantee passing the written and road tests, people should feel that your instruction was high quality. Most people know that passing can’t be guaranteed—and some may still hold the suspicion that DMV examiners have to fail a certain number of people.

Your customers are your best advertisers. If you provide quality service, you will have few complaints. Quality customer care will ensure that your driving school will have a positive reputation and good image. Be responsive to your customer’s needs, and seek their feedback and the end of your courses—both in the classroom and in vehicles.

The more you include in your packages, the more customers you will have. People will feel like they are getting more value for their money and time—and for teen drivers, that time involves both the parent and the student. If you simply offer hourly lessons at a flat rate, you are likely to lose business to a driving school which offers packages.

You are in a business in which you will probably not get many repeat students—you want to get your teen student’s younger siblings. But you also need to remember that each student and their family have friends—if they say good things about you, that word of the mouth will go a long way.

On average, attracting a new customer costs about five times more than retaining an existing customer. One happy customer is more likely to bring you more business than heavy advertising and marketing. Customer care is, therefore, a much less expensive way to increase your business. Also, this kind of advertising is something money can’t buy. You can always pay people to advertise your brand. You can only get great word of mouth by providing great service.

When your clientele—students and parents—are happy with your services (even if they didn’t pass the test)—your business or brand will have a positive image.

You will know your methods are working when you no longer have time in your schedule to add students you teach yourself. At that point, you will need to consider adding teaching instructors and support staff—having an office manager even four hours per day can help make your job easier. Having someone available to greet clients also maintains your positive image.

Treating your staff well will help with your positive image. People notice how employees are treated, even if no one says anything—and you can expect that people will talk. If you are being talked about, you will gain customers.

Customer Care

The way you treat your students says a great deal about your values—and you as a person. A harsh demeaning tone towards your students will drag their confidence down—they will feel attacked. They are less likely to return to your classes, as well as are more likely to say negative things about your driving school.

Most driving schools are personal businesses—the owner’s personality and identity is one of the assets (or liabilities) of the business. Be positive and kind, and your business will grow.

How you handle mistakes is more important than the mistakes you make. If a customer has a complaint, or you make a mistake, make sure that it is corrected effectively and positively—make sure the customer feels that their concerns were treated with respect.

The long and short of it is—the better you treat your customers, students, and staff, the more successful your business will probably be. While we can’t guarantee success—just as you can’t guarantee passing the driving test—we know that people who feel good about their experience with a business will both tell you and others about that positive experience.

Conclusion

Driving school owners have a lot of things to do and decisions to make—before opening your doors and as your business grows.

You must comply with all state regulations. You need to obtain your premises and vehicles, settle insurance, get the office and classroom equipment, and design your curriculum. You need to create an advertising and marketing program as well. If you really want your business to work out, making smart decisions which either save money or boost income are key.

In the beginning, you will want to begin with a maximum of cost efficiency, but with plans for growth. Aggressive marketing will bring you customers, and those customers and additional marketing will bring you more. Once your business is up and running, you will be out of your trial phase and be on the way to a stable business.

Starting your own driving school requires following many rules, completing many forms, and ensuring compliance with a variety of safe driving practices to success. Before you spend a dime, conduct your market research to make sure your area is a big enough market for your services—including the demographics, the competition, and the apparent demand for driver education.

Thoroughly understand the regulations you will have to live under. Some states have a very detailed regulatory regime—New York is one. Others have a very light regulatory tough. You are also bound by the normal requirements of tort law—don’t be negligent in your driver training.

Your insurance companies will also be regulating you, as will your landlord, and the leasing dealer if you lease your vehicles. You must furnish your offices, and maintain them. You will need to set up a relationship with a bank, and make sure all fees and expenses are paid.

You will be putting yourself into this business, including a significant amount of your personal financial capital. Protect it, but you can do that as still build a successful, strong business.

Many of these steps can be taken as you work for another driving school—some states require experience providing instruction before you can become and instructor. Take advantage of that time to explore your options, do your research, and build up your resources.

Your employer may even be willing to help, especially if you’re not going to become a direct competitor.

We hope this guide has helped frame your thinking as you look towards starting your own driving school.

Sources:

https://stoloff-law.com/blog/is-driving-a-major-life-activity-under-the-ada/

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/wcm/connect/3a4e8b46-be02-4ea1-9d66-986097d6fc68/ol235.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&amp;CONVERT_TO=url&amp;CACHEID=3a4e8b46-be02-4ea1-9d66-986097d6fc68

https://expresslane.dps.louisiana.gov/CDLForms/HOW%20TO%20APPLY%20TO%20BECOME%20A%20LICENSED%20DRIVING%20SCHOOL.pdf

https://driversed.com/driving-information/the-driving-privilege/general-information.aspx

https://driversed.com/driving-information/

https://smallbusiness.chron.com/start-driving-school-13968.html

https://www.drivingschool.marketing/how-to-start-a-successful-driving-school-business/

https://smallbusiness.chron.com/open-driving-school-business-12498.html

https://dmv.ny.gov/driver-training/requirements-and-forms-driving-schools-and-instructors

https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/types-licences/Pages/Licence-classes-and-types.aspx