Driver's education is not required in every state, but most states offer it as an option that can lower your insurance costs and, in some cases, reduce your waiting period to take the driving test.
Whether you need a formal driver's education course depends on your age and which state you live in. Most states require driver's education only for teenagers under 18; adults typically do not. Even when it is not legally required, taking a course can shorten the time you wait before testing and may may have access to you for an insurance discount that lasts several years.
The rules vary significantly by state. Some states let you skip driver's education entirely if you are willing to wait longer before you can test. Others require it for anyone under a certain age — commonly 16, 17, or 18. A few states have no driver's education requirement at all. Your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or equivalent agency publishes these rules on its website, and that is the only source you need to check.
Key Takeaways
- Driver's education is required by law in most states only for applicants under 18, though the exact age cutoff varies by state.
- Completing a driver's education course often reduces your waiting period before you can take the driving test, sometimes by several months.
- Insurance companies in most states offer discounts to drivers who completed an approved driver's education course, typically saving 5 to 15 percent on premiums.
- If driver's education is not required in your state, you can usually take the written test and road test without it, but you may have to wait longer.
- Your state's DMV website lists which courses are approved and whether any count toward the waiting period or insurance discounts.
When your state requires driver's education
Most states require driver's education for anyone under 18 who wants to obtain a learner's permit or license. A few states set the requirement at 16 or 17. The requirement typically applies whether you are getting your first license or renewing one as a teenager.
Driver's education courses come in two forms: classroom instruction (usually 30 hours) and behind-the-wheel training (usually 6 to 8 hours with an instructor). Some states require both; others allow you to choose one or the other. A few states let you complete the classroom portion online but require the driving portion to happen in person with a certified instructor.
If your state requires driver's education and you do not complete it, you cannot obtain a learner's permit or license until you do. There is no way around this requirement — you cannot test without it.
When driver's education is optional but still worth doing
In states where driver's education is not required, you can usually take the written test and road test without completing a course. However, doing so means you may have to wait longer before you are allowed to test. Some states impose a mandatory waiting period — sometimes 30 days, sometimes longer — between when you get your learner's permit and when you can take the road test. Completing driver's education can shorten or eliminate this waiting period.
The insurance discount is often the bigger reason to take a course even when it is not required. Most insurance companies offer a discount — typically 5 to 15 percent off your premium — if you completed an approved driver's education course within the past three years. For a young driver, this discount can save hundreds of dollars over several years and often pays for the course itself.
Check your state's DMV website to see which courses are approved for the discount. Not every course qualifies; the course must be state-approved and you usually need a certificate of completion to show your insurance company.
How to find an approved driver's education course
Your state's DMV website lists approved driver's education providers. You can search by location or provider name. Courses vary in cost — typically between $300 and $800 — and in format. Some are offered in-person at a school or driving school; others are online for the classroom portion with in-person driving lessons scheduled separately.
When you choose a course, confirm that it is on your state's approved list. If it is not, it will not count toward any waiting period reduction or insurance discount, even if the provider claims it will. The DMV list is the only source that matters.
After you complete the course, you will receive a certificate of completion. Keep this document. You will need it to get your learner's permit (if required in your state) and to show your insurance company for the discount.
What happens if you skip driver's education
If your state does not require driver's education, you can skip it and go straight to the DMV to get your learner's permit and take the written test. You will then have to wait out any mandatory waiting period before you can take the road test. This waiting period is typically 30 days to 6 months, depending on your state and age.
You will also miss out on the insurance discount. For a young driver, this means paying full price for car insurance for the first few years, which can add up to thousands of dollars. If you plan to drive regularly, the cost of a driver's education course is usually much less than the insurance savings.
The other trade-off is preparation. Driver's education courses teach you the rules of the road and safe driving habits before you take the road test. If you skip the course, you are responsible for learning this material on your own, usually by studying the DMV handbook and practicing with a licensed adult driver.
Online versus in-person driver's education
Many states now allow the classroom portion of driver's education to be completed online. This is usually cheaper and more flexible than in-person classes. However, the behind-the-wheel portion almost always must happen in person with a certified instructor — no state allows you to do this part online.
If you choose an online course, make sure it is on your state's approved list. Some online courses are not approved in all states, even if they are approved in others. Check before you enroll.
Online courses typically take 4 to 6 weeks to complete, depending on how quickly you work through the material. In-person classroom courses are usually offered in the evenings or on weekends and take 2 to 4 weeks. The behind-the-wheel portion, whether you take an online or in-person classroom course, is usually scheduled in 1 to 2-hour blocks and takes 1 to 3 weeks to complete.
How driver's education affects your timeline to getting a license
If your state requires driver's education, you must complete it before you can get your learner's permit. The timeline looks like this: complete driver's education (2 to 6 weeks), get your learner's permit (same day at the DMV), wait any mandatory waiting period (0 to 6 months, depending on your state), take the road test (can usually be scheduled within 1 to 4 weeks of becoming may be able to access).
If driver's education is optional and you choose to do it, you can often skip or shorten the waiting period. For example, a state might normally require 6 months between getting your learner's permit and taking the road test, but allow you to test after 30 days if you completed driver's education.
If you skip driver's education entirely, you wait out the full mandatory waiting period. This can add 1 to 6 months to the time it takes to get your license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take driver's education online in my state?
Most states allow the classroom portion online, but the behind-the-wheel driving lessons must be in person with a certified instructor in every state. Check your state's DMV website to see which online courses are approved and what the requirements are for the driving portion.
Will driver's education help me pass the road test?
Driver's education teaches you the rules of the road and gives you supervised practice with an instructor, which can help you feel more confident on the road test. However, passing the test depends on your ability to follow traffic laws and demonstrate safe driving. The instructor will not be in the car with you during the official test.
How much does driver's education cost?
Costs vary by state and provider, typically ranging from $300 to $800. Online classroom courses are usually cheaper than in-person classes. Check your state's DMV website for a list of approved providers and their costs.
If I am over 18, do I still need driver's education?
Most states do not require driver's education for adults over 18. You can usually get your learner's permit and take the written and road tests without completing a course. However, you may still want to take one for the insurance discount or to build confidence before testing.
What if I completed driver's education in another state?
Whether another state's driver's education course counts in your new state depends on that state's rules. Some states accept out-of-state courses; others do not. Contact your new state's DMV to find out whether your course will count toward any waiting period reduction or insurance discount.