Learning to drive can be an exciting experience for a teenager. However, it’s also a scary one for you as the parent. Finding the best driving school in Rochester, Minnesota, can make all the difference. You want your teen to learn proper driving skills and good safety habits to help them pass their driver’s license test.
At Tom Kadlec Kia, we understand the importance of finding the right driver’s training school. We also understand how this year has made the process even more challenging as cases of COVID-19 are still on the rise. Here’s a look at three of the best drivers’ education options in Rochester and what these schools are doing to provide an excellent learning experience while taking precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Med Driving School
Med Driving School has been teaching Rochester-area students how to drive since 2006. Normally, classes are held in three public high schools, and they will pick your teenager up and drop them off for the behind-the-wheel instruction. The fees you pay cover 30 hours of classroom time and six hours of in-person driving instruction.
Currently, Med Driving School is offering teleconferencing instead of in-classroom training. All class instruction is done either through teleconference or other options that provide face-to-face distance learning in a live setting so that your teenager can have their questions addressed in real-time.
For behind-the-wheel instruction, instructors wear masks, and cars are thoroughly wiped down between student sessions. Your teenager must also wear a mask at all times. If they are feeling unwell or have any symptoms of COVID-19, they should stay at home and reschedule their driving session for a later date.
Driver’s Training 101
Drivers’ Training 101 is another Rochester option for driver’s education courses. Due to COVID-19, classwork is only available through online courses for the foreseeable future. The instruction your teenager will learn online is the same they would get in an in-person classroom setting. For behind-the-wheel sessions, cars are sanitized in between students. Instructors ask students to stay at home if they feel unwell.
Reviewers like Driver’s Training 101 for its fun and challenging approach to driving instruction. The program is also approved through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Your teenager will be driving in one of two vehicles — either a 2010 Chevy Impala or a 2011 Chevy Impala. Both vehicles are well-maintained and regularly inspected. Students also get a look at how to conduct a basic vehicle inspection, including checking the oil, air pressure, and radiator.
Classes are from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m on weekdays and last two weeks. Note, there is a Parent Awareness Class (PAC) that parents can take as well. This is a 90-minute session designed for a parent or guardian who will be the one driving with their teenager. Because Driver’s Training 101 has its own classroom, the PAC can be done in person, provided proper social distancing protocols are followed.
Enhanced Driving Institute (EDI)
Enhanced Driving Institute (EDI) has been around since 2009, and its Winter Driver Course won the Best of 2019 for Training Centers in Rochester. EDI offers different level packages, including the Winter Driver Course and a defensive driver course. EDI’s founder claims to raise the bar on driver’s education in Rochester by offering more engaging classroom education that will truly prepare teens for getting behind the wheel. Classes at Enhanced Driving Institute can be either in-class with social distancing or online.
Training vehicles are safe and well-maintained. They are reliable and comfortable, and your teenager will be with a highly trained driving instructor at all times. There are also cameras in the training cars, so you know your teenager is safe. Like other driving schools in Rochester, EDI wipes down training vehicles in between students. Your teenager will need to wear a mask at all times.
Choosing the Right Driving School in Rochester, MN
Narrowing down the best option is not easy. All of the driving schools we mentioned include the 30 classroom hours required by the state, but not all courses are created equally. The statewide shutdown earlier in the year also means some schools have a backlog of students, so it may take longer to secure an open spot.
For your teenager to get the most out of the driver’s training program, you must also be involved. Parents need to complete the PAC, which is usually part of the last classroom session. This session will show you how to be an effective parent instructor when you’re helping your teen learn how to drive. This is an important session because it covers what the state expects of you as the parent of a student driver. If you opt out of this course, your child will need to complete an extra 10 hours of classroom instruction.
Minnesota also now allows people to take their permit test online. The class D knowledge test can be scheduled through the Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services website and is available Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Students have 30 minutes to complete the test before the system times out.
Ultimately, which course you choose is up to you and your teen. Look for one that has classroom instruction hours that work around your schedule, and ask if you can inspect the instruction vehicles to make sure they’re well-maintained. You may also want to check out the reviews for each school you research to ensure most students have positive experiences.
Once your teenager successfully finishes their driver’s education program and passes their licensing test, you may want to buy a vehicle for them. If so, come see us at Tom Kadlec Kia. We know how important it is to find the right vehicle for a teenage driver, so let us help get your teen in the perfect car. Buying a car should be a pleasant experience, not a stressful one. We’d be honored to be a part of your vehicle shopping journey! Stop by our showroom today or contact us at 507-281-2222.
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