Which class is best for my teen?

It is important to understand the difference between In-person, Remote Learning, and Online Driver's Education Courses. Students may learn better attending one type of class over the others. You need to consider which learning environment is best for your teen to help them become safe drivers.

Please carefully consider your teen's learning style when selecting which option is best for them.

• In-person Instruction is instructor led and held at a physical location. This style of learning is more personal and includes hands on learning activities that help students stay alert and involved in class.
  
  Students who benefit most from an in-person class are teens that need social cues that provide a "human aspect" to education. 
  
  
• Remote Learning is instructor led and is held remotely via a live video feed, the instructor and each student are in separate locations. We use the Zoom platform for all remote learning classes.
  
  Students who benefit the most from a remote learning class are well disciplined, and self starters. Students who do not have fast, reliable internet connections should not attend classes remotely.
  
  
• Online learning is self-paced, without the benefit of an instructor. Students log into an online program that is computer led. Each lesson is timed, and students must remain engaged to complete each level. 
  
  Students who are well disciplined, self motivated and are able to focus on the task at hand are the best candidate for this type of instruction. Students who require personal attention to successfully learn would likely benefit from an in-person class option.

All of our courses are approved by the Department of Public Safety and present the same material. The difference really comes down to what learning experience will help your teen prepare for the responsibilities of driving, and become a safe driver.

You must complete the full 30 hours of classroom education. If you miss any days, you must make them up before we can issue your blue card.

At the end of the course, we will send out an email reminding you of which days you missed.

Follow this link to schedule a make up day.

https://www.todaysdrivingschool.com/missed_days.phtml

No. Classroom instruction hours are non-transferable. You may register with us to do classroom education, but you will need to start over and attend all 30 hours with us.

How to Apply:

1. Schedule your exam on the Department of Public Safety website. You must schedule your exam in advance, no walk-ins are accepted. You may only schedule 30 days in advance.
   
   
2. At the exam station
   • Show proof of identification (2 documents)
   • Show your driver's education certificate of enrollment  (Blue Card)
   • Take your written test
     
     
3. At the licensing office
   
   • Show them your written test results given to you by the examiner.
   • Complete your permit application.
   • Pay the permit application fee.
   • Pass the vision screening.
   • Get your picture taken.
   • Get your temporary paper copy of your permit from the person at the counter.
   • You will receive the hard copy of your permit in the mail within a few weeks.
     
     If you have not received your hard copy by the expiration date on your temporary paper copy, you will need to return to the DMV office and have the expiration date extended.

The white card is the certificate of completion for behind-the-wheel instruction. It proves that you have completed both the 30 hours of classroom instruction and six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction required to get your Minnesota Driver's License. You must present this card to the examiner in order to take the road test.

The blue card is the certificate of completion for the classroom portion of the driver's education. The blue card proves that you have completed the required 30 hours of classroom education and are registered with a licensed driver's education program for behind-the-wheel instruction. This card must be presented to the examiner in order to take the written knowledge test. The examiner will take possession of the blue card and not return it.

Your student may not practice driving before they pass the written test and receive their instruction permit.

For scheduling a test to get a Farm Work Driver's License, you must call (651) 284-1234. The current online registration system does not accommodate registration requests for the Restricted Farm Work Driver's License. 

Please note that you must download the Farm Work License Affidavit. and present that to the examiner on the day of the road test. Your must also present valid forms of identification, a copy of the tax statement listing the land as agricultural, and a copy of the lease if the farmland is rented.

You may find more information in the Minnesota Driver's Manual (p. 11 for the restricted farm work driver's license.)

Sorry, no. There are liability issues and then there is the fact that we need them to provide behind-the-wheel education for other students.

Yes, there is. We have received positive feedback on the Road Ready App. This app meets all requirements for the printed log-sheet that you must present when taking the road test.

Download the RoadReady App for your phone and track your supervised driving hours electronically. Enter "todays" as the school code when setting up the app and you are ready to go.

Features

• Allows multiple drivers.
• Easy to use, just press start on your dashboard page.
• You can add notes and change information for the duration, Weather, road type, time of day, and more before saving the drive.
• You can log previous drives.
• View your driving log anytime.
• Export your driving log as PDF for printing the log.

Yes, there is no better time for a new driver to learn how to handle a vehicle in adverse driving conditions.

They will have an experienced driver riding shotgun that will be able to help them learn. This is much safer than letting them figure it out later, when they are alone.

The first time they drive on snow or ice, take them to an empty parking lot and let them slide around to get the feel of the car before taking them out on the road.

Tips for Driving in the Snow

• Drive slowly. Always adjust your speed down to account for lower traction when driving on snow or ice.
• Accelerate and brake slowly. Apply the gas slowly to regain traction and avoid skids. Don't try to get moving in a hurry and take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
• Increase your following distance to five to six seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
• Know your brakes. Whether you have anti-lock brakes or not, keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.

Yes, You can complete your behind-the-wheel instruction with Today's Driving School, even if you live outside of our service area.

You will need to bring your student to a drop-off/pick-up location within one of the regions we offer instruction.

To register go to our website and find a region that is near you. Once you have registered an email will be sent with important information, please make sure to read it. Reply to this email and include a note indicating that you wish to arrange a location for pick-up and drop-off.

https://www.todaysdrivingschool.com/

We require that you drive with your parents or guardian for at least 10 hours before your first scheduled behind-the-wheel session. You do not need to complete your 50 hours of supervised driving with your parents before doing behind-the-wheel instruction.

We suggest the following schedule

• Drive Session #1: No more than 3 months after completing classroom instruction.
  
  
• Drive Session #2: No more than 3 months after the first drive session.
  
  
• Drive Session #3: No more than 4 months after the second drive session.

Login to your account on our website
https://todaysdrivingschool.com and navigate to "Schedule BTW Teen 6 hrs".

Here are some tips on how to use the scheduling system effectively.

• You may only schedule two drives at a time. After completing the first drive, you can schedule the third.
  
  
• Openings can appear at any time on the calendar. For this reason, it is best to login daily looking for openings.
  
  
• Use the wait list feature for sessions currently registered by other students.
  
  
• Be flexible with your schedule, this will open more opportunities for you.
  
  
• Do not wait to the last minute to complete your BTW sessions. You may be disappointed to find you cannot find openings before your contract expires.

NOTE: It is best to complete all requirements before scheduling your road test. You must complete all 6 hours of BW instruction, log 50 hours of supervised drive time, and be 16 years of age before you are eligible to take the road test.

The DPS Online Scheduling System will not allow you to view the testing schedule, or select a date for your test more than 30 days in advance. https://onlineservices.dps.mn.gov/EServices/_/

Teens testing for the Restricted Farm Work Driver's License at age 15, must call for assistance in scheduling a test date. (651) 284-1234. 

No. We require that you drive with your parents for at least 10 hours before your first session. You may start your behind-the-wheel lessons anytime after this. Having some driving experience before starting your behind-the-wheel lessons helps you to get the most out of your time with a licensed instructor.

Yes. You will need to provide us with a copy of the 30-hour letter of completion issued by the driver's education program that provided your classroom education. We are required to maintain a copy of the letter of completion in our records.

Yes. The hours of behind-the-wheel instruction provided by another company are transferable. We will need a letter from them stating how many hours you have completed with them and a copy of the 30-letter of completion indicating that you completed the classroom portion of driver's education.

No. As a state-approved driving school, our instructional vehicles are required to have an instructor brake and instructor rear-view mirror.  The vehicles must also meet the state's strict safety standards. There is also a liability issue with insurance.

The parent class is an optional class designed to help you get the most out of your child's driver's education.

The class is an hour and a half long. We will review the process of getting your teen driver licensed and give you plenty of tips to help make your driver's education experience good.

The Department of Public Safety gives you a little reward as incentive to attend. Parents who attend the class will only need to log 40 hours of supervised driving instead of the standard 50 hours.

If you have multiple children attending classroom education at the same time, you will only need to attend the class once. However, they attend different class room education sessions, you will need to take the course once for each child.

The Restricted Farm Work License

The restricted farm work license allows individuals who are employed on a farm to help with farm work, regardless of whether their parent or guardian owns the farm. You may qualify for this special license at age 15.

There are restrictions that apply.

• You may only drive during daylight hours.
• You may only drive within 40 miles of the farm house.
• You must be driving for farm related business.

The farmer, your parent, or guardian must . . . 

The day of the road test you must present . . .

• Your certificate of completion from a licensed driver's education program proving that you completed both classroom and BTW instruction. (White Card)
• Your printed supervised driving log.
• Your permit.
• Proof of insurance for the vehicle you are driving for the test.
• The Farm Work License Affidavit.
• Property tax statement.
• Lease agreement for farm land, if applicable.

The farm work restriction can be removed after you have held your Restricted Farm Work License for 6 months and have turned 16 years of age. The restrictions will remain in effect until you apply to have them removed.

You may attend classroom education at 14 years of age, but cannot take the written knowledge test to obtain your learner's permit until you are 15 years old. We do not offer driver's education for adults, 19 years of age or older.

We strongly encourage you to attend classroom education as close to your 15th birthday as is possible. Students who attend classroom education too early tend to retain less of what they have learned and struggle to pass the written knowledge test.

If you register for our bundle that includes both the classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction, attending class when you are 14 reduces the amount of time to complete your BTW instruction during the contract period. For this reason, if you plan to attend class when you are 14 years old, you may wish to consider registering for each separatley and not registering using the bundle.

No! You may only practice driving after you have received your instructional permit. The blue card is not your permit.

The blue card is a certificate of completion that indicates to the examiner that you have completed the required 30 hours of classroom education and are enrolled for behind-the-wheel instruction. You must present the blue card to the examiner when taking the written knowledge test.

You must pass the written knowledge test and vision screening, complete an application form, have your photo taken, and pay the appropriate fees before they will issue your permit.

Yes, we provide behind-the-wheel instruction for adults.

We do not currently offer classroom instruction for adults. However, we will be offering it soon. Expected time frame is by the end of 2023.

All of our driving school instructors are licensed by the Department of Public Safety to provide driver's education in the state of Minnesota.

To represent Today's Driving School, our instructors must be fully licensed. We help our new hires through this process to assure they receive the highest level of training possible.

Becoming a Licensed Instructor

• Each instructor must pass a written licensing exam and driving skills road test administered by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
• They must pass an in-depth evaluation of both behind-the-wheel and classroom instruction skills conducted by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

After being licensed we finish their training with our own detailed in-house training for both the behind-the-wheel and classroom environment. Our instructors are not allowed to work with students alone until they are fully trained and ready to go.

• Each instructor will job shadow with our training coordinator in the classroom for a minimum of 30 hours.
• They will student-teach while being supervised by our training coordinator for a minimum of 30 hours.
• Each instructor will job shadow with our training coordinator during behind-the-wheel instruction for a minimum of 6 hours.
• They will student-teach with our training coordinator during behind-the-wheel instruction for a minimum of 6 hours. 

Our driving school instructors are friendly and patient. They enjoy working with young people and genuinely care that all teen drivers are properly instructed in the safe use of an automobile.

Yes, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety does have an audio book available for your use.

It is not the current version of the Minnesota Driver's Manual, however, the Department of Public safety has stated that there are no questions on the written knowledge exam that are not in the the audio book. (As of 12/31/22)

You can access the audio book by following this link. https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/forms-documents/Pages/default.aspx

No we are not.

We do work with teens and adults with minor special learning needs, however we are not equiped or are trained to work with people that have significant specialty training needs.

We provide general driver's education instruction and training and do not provide assessments of a person's worthiness to drive. For people who require specialized education and attention it is best for you to attend a Medical Based Driving Program.

What is a Medical Based Driving Program?

The Medical Based Driving Program has instructors who are licensed specialists who work with people with special needs.

• Use knowlege of medical conditions and assessments.
• Identify at risk drivers.
• Determine fitness to drive.
• Provide driving rehabilitation and training. 

These programs work with people who require special equipment and specialized needs due to physical or developmental conditions.

• Physical Disabilities
• ADHD
• Dyslexia
• Cerebral Palsy
• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Non-Verbal Learning Disability

To find a Medical Bssed Driving Program follow this link.  http://aded.net/page/725

All sales are final. No refunds will be issued for any reason, including but not limited to the following list.

• Failure for any reason to schedule behind-the-wheel sessions within the contract period.
• Failure for any reason to attend class within the contract period.
• Failure for any reason  to make up missed days of class within the contract period
• Illness of any kind including pandemics.
• You have made a decision to go to another provider for the purpose of completing your driver's education for any reason during the contract period.
• You allowed the contract to expire, for any reason, without completing classroom or behind-the-wheel instruction.
• In the event of expulsion.

Our Payment Policy

Payments may be made by Credit/Debit Card, Check, or cash. All prices shown on our website are the cash discounted prices. Prices shown are increased by 3% when paying by Credit/Debit Card.

A down payment is required at the time of registration. A one week grace period is provided for checks sent via mail. DO NOT MAIL CASH

A locked drop box is provided at our Hutchinson office, and is located at the garage door entrance for check or cash payments.

If you wish to provide payment in person, you will need to call and make an appointment so we can make sure someone is available to meet with you. (844) 374-8315

Receipts

You may access payment receipts in your student portal.

• Receipts for payments made by credit/debit cards are generated automatically by the system when your payment is processed.
  
  
• Payments made by check or cash are manually entered into the system. Receipts are accessible in your student center once the payment has been recorded.
  
  If paying by check, your cancelled check is proof of your payment until your receipt is accessible in your student center.
  
  If you are paying by cash, a hand written receipt will be provided as proof of payment until it has been entered into your student center.

Your account will be assessed a $50.00 returned check fee for all checks returned by your bank for insufficient funds.

The classroom certificate of completion (blue card) will not be issued until the required down payment has been received. The BTW certificate of completion will not be issued until your account is paid in full.

Payment Requirements:

• Classroom Instruction Only: The full amount is due at the time of registration.
  
  
• Classroom bundled with BTW Instruction: A down payment equal to the price of classroom instruction must be paid at the time of registration. The balance is due at least one week prior to your first BTW session. 
  
  
• BTW Instruction Only: A down payment equal to one third of the cost of of the "6 hour BTW instruction only" package is due at the time of registration. The balance must be paid in full at least one week prior to the first BTW session.
  
  
• Adult Instruction: All fees are due in full at the time of registration. 

Payment Plan

We do our best to work with individuals that need to create a payment plan in order to pay for their driver's education. Please contact our office for more details on payment plans. (844) 374-8315