FAQ

General

How many Sessions should I register for?

If you have very little or no driving experience, register for 2.

If you feel you are almost ready to take the test, register for 1.

Please be considerate of other students. Registering for many sessions makes it difficult for others to register. If weeks become full, new sessions will be added about 3-4 days before to allow for additional sessions.

How do I register for a driving practice session?

Click Here: Sign up link

Fill in pickup location (ex. South Residence Hall)

I don't see any sessions this week.

This means we are booked to capacity. There is nothing we can do to help. We add new sessions when all are full up to our maximum normal capacity.

If there is some absolute matter of urgency (ex. you are leaving for summer in 2 weeks), you may contact us expressing your situation and based on our current load, we might be able to open evening or morning slots for practice. (such as using a Road Test slot for Driving Practice time) This will often result in a $5/hr increase in rate.

We will not add sessions for the purposes of accommodating passing before a heavier workload.

Can I request a custom time? Can I get a time that overlaps two available slots?

Usually, yes. If you would like to request a time 72 or more hours in advance, we can usually respond and let you know our capacity to accommodate.

Where do we meet/pickup?

I work in Tribble Hall at WFU Reynolda Campus. I bring the car to your place of choice, which you should fill in to the calendar appointment (Driving Practice Session).

Insurance

Do I really need insurance for my Road Test?

Yes, you must provide proof of insurance (DL-123, Insurance Card, or Policy Statement)

When should I buy my insurance?

2 days or more before your test. Many companies have changed their policies to not sell what you need ouside of agency business hours (as opposed to corporate hours), meaning Mon-Fri 9am - 5pm. Do not attempt to purchase the night before your test.

Why do I have to buy a 6-month policy?

Because that is the standard, all policies are 6 months. If you pay by month and cancel after a month, you only bought 1 month. 6 months is how long you get the policy at the agreed price.

How much does the required insurance cost?

Non-Owner's Liabiliy Insurance with the State minimum coverage usually costs about $150 - 170 per month.

Can I cancel my insurance after my road test?

It is illegal to operate a car without a liability policy in your name. This means if you don't have insurance (that you purchased, in your name) your license DOES NOT allow you to operate a vehicle. Driving any vehicle without liability insurance is a violation of the law and you can receive a citation for this. (just like speeding or driving while intoxicated)

Does ZipCar provide valid insurance for me to drive without my own personal policy?

We believe that you can operate a ZipCar without a policy in your name, check with ZipCar.

This does not help you for the test. You cannot acquire a license without a policy in your name.

What is an Application fee and how can I pay it?

Insurance has two types of payments you should be aware of:

Premium: a recurring payment that covers monthly coverage.

Application Fee: one-time payment that starts a policy.

Some offices do not charge application fees, that is at the discretion of the agent.

Why can't I pay them both at one time?

The premium goes directly to the insurance provider.

The application fee goes directly to the office that sets up your policy.

Why can't I buy insurance directly from the provider without an App Fee?

Even if you call the 800 number on a provider's website, you are going to get an internal department that fulfills the same function as local agents. They will charge you an application fee.

Why this is the case, we do not know. It is the same as not being able to buy a car from Ford, you must go to a ford Dealer.

Some offices do not charge application fees, that is at the discretion of the agent.

Documents and Requirements

What do I need for taking Driving Lessons?

Just your Learner's Permit.

What do I need for my Road Test?

PRINT ALL DOCUMENTS

I-94

I-20 (or other legal presence document)

Permit

DL-123

If applicable: SSN

Explanations

What do we do during a Driving Practice Session?

For those who have taken a session before, we immediately go to the test course and practice the test 2-3 times, then return to campus. Sometimes we will need to focus on particular turns or skills.

What if it is my first session?

On your first session, we assess your driving skill by taking a short drive around campus. Generally anyone with at least a couple hours of prior experience can get out of campus and on their way to the test course in a matter of minutes.

What if I have no driving experience?

On your first practice with no experience, we go to a private road system/parking lot and learn the basics of operation such as steering, merging, etc.

What do we do during a Road Test Session?

We will go to the DMV Driver's License office and I will administer a simulation (practice) test so that you have the test fresh in your mind. We will then line up and you'll take the test.

Why are Road Test Sessions usually so early in the morning?

If we are in line by 7:30 we are usually able to return to campus in 2 hours or less. After 8:00am the wait time usually increases to more than 1.5 hours before you can start taking the test.

Examiners are more lenient and happy in the morning.

Why not schedule an appointment?

We can schedule an appointment, but it must be done more than 2 weeks in advance. If you would like to schedule an appointment, call the DMV and schedule an appointment, try to schedule during a driving practice or road test block on our calendar. Reserve the block on our calendar and note that you have made an appointment.

How much do you charge?

$40 per hour for driving practice.

$25 per hour for driving tests.

How do you calculate the amount to charge per session?

Each session is logged to the minute. That length of time is rounded up to the nearest 10th of an hour. Each session is then charged individually.

Permit and Other Basics

Do you offer any help in obtaining a permit?

We are happy to provide rides to take the permit test in the morning, just like the road tests. Our rate is $25 per hour.

See our page on obtaining a permit: Learner's Permit