Questions to Ask Before You Pay a Driving School

Paying for driving lessons is a real expense, and schools often ask for some or all of it up front. Once the money is gone, it is much harder to fix a problem: a school that is not licensed, a package that leaves out what you needed, or a certificate your state or insurer will not accept.

A few questions before you pay can prevent all of that. Most good schools are happy to answer them, and a school that will not is telling you something too.

1. Is the school licensed or certified by the state?

This is the question that matters most, because your training may not count without it. Georgia's Department of Driver Services says it only accepts certificates of completion from certified schools. Training from an uncertified program may not count toward driver education or driver improvement requirements, which can delay a license.

Ask: "What is your state license or certification number?" Then check it yourself on the state's list. New York, for example, has a driving school locator you can search by city or ZIP code and course type. Our guide How to Find a Licensed Driving School in Your State links official lookups for more states.

Also ask: "Is the license current?" Some licenses run on a yearly cycle. In New Jersey, every driving school license expires annually in December.

2. Are all the instructors certified?

The school's license is one check. The instructor in the car is another. Georgia DDS suggests asking two questions: whether the company is certified, and whether all of its instructors are. DDS says certification is how it makes sure instructors are qualified.

Ask: "Who will teach my lessons, and are they certified by the state?" If several instructors share the work, ask about each one.

3. What will the car be like?

Some states set rules for driving school training cars. New Jersey, for instance, requires school training vehicles to have dual controls of the foot brake (and clutch, if there is one), seat belts for student and instructor, and a "Student Driver" sign visible from the front and back.

Ask: "Does the car have a dual brake? Is it the same kind of car I will take the road test in?" If you plan to use the school's car for the road test, ask whether that is included.

4. What exactly is included?

Packages vary. One school's "complete course" may be another school's classroom-only option.

Course format matters more than people expect. New York's online pre-licensing course does not come with a paper certificate; the provider reports completion to the DMV electronically. And not every online course is accepted for every purpose: Georgia DDS does not recognize online Driver Improvement courses for driver's license issues. If you are taking a course for a specific reason (a license, points, a court, an insurer), tell the school and ask whether its course is accepted for that reason. More on formats in Online vs In-Person Driver's Ed: How to Choose.

5. What does it cost in total, and what is the refund policy?

The price you see first is not always the price you pay. Ask about the full total, including any fees for the road test, rescheduling or missed lessons.

Some states require schools to put this on paper. In New Jersey, all driving schools must give students a statement describing services, fees and the service agreement, and service agreements must include everything in the state's sample agreement.

Ask: "Can I see the contract before I pay? What happens if I need to cancel, or if I miss a lesson?" Read the cancellation and refund terms before signing.

6. What certificate will I receive, and can it be verified?

The certificate is the proof that the training happened. You may need it for the license office, a road test, an insurer or a court.

Ask: "What certificate do you issue? Is it a state form or your own? Can an insurer check that it is real?" A certificate with a unique code or QR code that can be checked online is easy for an insurer or agency to confirm. See Why Your Driving School Certificate Matters (and How Insurers Verify It).

A quick checklist to bring

Print or screenshot this and work through it on the phone or at the front desk:

1. License or certification number, checked on the state list
2. Instructors certified by the state
3. Dual-control training car
4. Classroom and driving hours, in writing
5. Total price, contract and refund policy, in writing
6. The certificate you will get, and how it can be verified

FAQ

What is the most important question to ask a driving school?

Ask for the school's state license or certification number, then check it on your state's official list. In some states, such as Georgia, certificates from uncertified schools are not accepted.

Should a driving school give me a contract?

You should always ask for one. New Jersey requires driving schools to give students a statement of services and fees, and service agreements must include everything in the state's sample agreement.

Do driving school cars need dual brakes?

Some states require them. New Jersey requires training vehicles to have dual controls of the foot brake and clutch (if applicable), plus a Student Driver sign.

Is an online course always accepted?

No. Georgia DDS does not accept online Driver Improvement certificates for driver's license purposes. Ask the school whether its course is accepted for your exact reason before you pay.

Check before you pay

The simplest first step is to confirm the school is real and licensed. You can look up driving schools in our directory to see each school's license details and where the record came from, and check a certificate issued through RoadVerified when your course is done.