I have two kids - both now driving. Oldest went with a local driving "school". Man was fine but was not thrilled with the teaching to drive part. Again, it was fine but definitely lacking. Still oldest child got her license so okay there.

With second child spent a little more money to go with I Drive Smart and was so impressed with the program overall and especially with the individual driving instructors. Night and day difference and I feel like my second child really was taught how to drive.

Highly recommend I Drive Smart

Anonymous wrote:I guess you don’t have to do a driving test in Virginia? DD did the I drive smart program, and then did her test. We’re in Maryland. The instructors were all over the place - one really good, one not so great, one so so.

They administer the driving test at 7th I Drive Smart class in VA. It’s your last is you pass. If you don’t, you schedule more.

I guess you don’t have to do a driving test in Virginia? DD did the I drive smart program, and then did her test. We’re in Maryland. The instructors were all over the place - one really good, one not so great, one so so.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What state? That matters

Virginia

17:50 back and we were in Fairfax county. His license was mailed within a month of the last driving test. His hours were one and we had completed the 90 min parent session. You need to go online and certify these are completed, I think. It’s been a while but the instructors were really helpful and checked in with us after every lesson.

Call them and ask. That’s what I had to do because I am so clueless and it was my first kid. The woman at the office was very friendly and walked me through the next steps. I needed to certify online that I had taken the parent presentation and that my kid had done the requisite hours driving with me. Then idrivesmart certifies with dmv and then they will mail you the permit.

Just call them.

Finished in July in VA. Still waiting for license or court notice or something in the mail.

You wish you had 3 more in-car lessons, which they will sell you for hundreds and hundreds of dollars.

Anonymous wrote:What state? That matters

Virginia

Anonymous wrote:After the last online class? Or do you mean after the class + driving hours with them? And what state?

After last driving class. I’m in VA.

PP’s are correct that the in-car classes are a moving target but we were able to book conveniently enough by checking back and thought the in-car instructors were competent and good enough to work with, and that they had a good eye for the difference between “able to pass” and “ready to solo.”

What state? That matters

After the last online class? Or do you mean after the class + driving hours with them? And what state?

Adding to my post and I’ll be more specific. My son took forever to complete the class portion so it had been about 8 months already and he had well over the recommended driving time by the time he logged on to look and book his first session. The first available near our house was over two months away. There was plenty of mid day mid week appointments far away from us that we refused to take him to. By constantly checking, he was able to book 7 appointments that were within a 30 min drive and us not having to miss work or school within the next 2-3 months.

What specifically do you want to know? We had a good experience. DS took virtual PE and did both the classroom and car lessons. If you want convenient times at specific locations you will need to book in advance. They go quick. If you wait until last minute, you will get whatever spots are available and have to go all over to get a time or constantly refresh and hope for new sessions (like my son did). They recommend spreading the lessons out.

After the last lesson, if your kid has completed everything else, the license comes in the mail if you don’t live in a county where you have to go to court.

Considering this program. Please tell me your experience.