1. Do I need to have a permit to take driver education?
No, but you do have to be at least 15 years old.
 
2. Do I need to have a permit to drive with an instructor?
You do not need a permit to drive with Brown's. We are able to drive students starting at the age of 15.  However, you must have a permit to drive with someone at home.  We recommend everyone get a permit at 15 1/2.

3. Do I have to finish the class and all my drives to get my permit?
No, you only have to finish the 2 days of class. You have one year to finish all of your drives.

4. Do I need to practice driving on my own time in addition to my drive time with Brown's?
Yes, just like piano lessons, you must take lessons and practice on your own. If you do not practice, you will not learn the skills necessary to master the tasks. We recommend you practice as much as possible on your own time (with a permit) while you are taking lessons with us.
 
5. When do I do the 6 hours driving time?
After you complete the classroom time, the driving instruction is done 2 hours at a time. So on 3 different days you will drive 2 hours with one on one instruction. This is scheduled at your convenience.
 
6. How do I schedule my 3 driving times?
On the second day of class, you will be given a calendar with dates and drive times available for the next 30-60 days.  You can then sign up for your drive times.  Drive times are available 7 days a week!
 
7. When can I take the written test?
You may take the written test at the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to obtain a learner's permit at the age of 15 1/2 if you are attending a driver education course.

8. How quickly can I finish?
The finish time depends upon when your driving times and class times are completed. The class times are scheduled, but as students set up their own drive time, and as this varies with times of week, the weather, your time schedule, school schedule, and other factors, we cannot determine when you will be finished. But, we will work with you to help you make this happen as soon as possible.
 
9. How long do I have to get my program finished?
You have one year from the first day of class to complete your drive time and take your driving test.  If over one year, a re-instatement fee of $50 will be charged.
 
10. I understand I can do my actual driving test to get my license with Brown's Driving School. How does this work?
We do have an optional testing service available at the cost of $60 (paid at time of service). When you are eligible to take the road exam to get your license you may call us in advance to set up an appointment (please have your permit in hand & your Social Security # available).  We offer pre-set appointment times at DPS so there is no waiting in line. You will meet with one of our instructors before you test and practice in the same car in which you will test. After the test, we take you to the tag agency to get your license and then back to school or home.

Our testing services program has been very successful and presently we have over a 90% pass ratio on all testing done through the program since it was implemented.

11. What kind of cars do you use for the driving instruction and testing?
We use Honda Civics and Toyota Corollas that are 2009-2010 models. Our cars are equipped with automatic transmissions, dual brake systems, additional rear view mirrors on the instructor's side, and Student Driver signs to warn the public (just kidding...).

12. Do I get an insurance reduction for taking driver education?
Most companies do honor driver education programs if they are state certified. Please check with your insurance company for verification.

13. I am in school everyday so how can I take the course and do the drive times?
All of our classes and drive times are scheduled around public school hours. During the school year we have weekend and/or evening classroom sessions. During the summer and fall, winter, and spring breaks we will schedule daytime classes. This schedule goes for drive times as well.  We are open year-round!

14. Can I, as a parent, contact my son or daughter during their drive time or can they call me?
Yes, we have phones in all of our cars. You may call our office for the phone number or ask the instructor for their number time of pick-up.

15. If I am scheduled for a class or to drive, how do I know if my instruction has been cancelled due to inclement weather?
You might not get a call from our office, however we will leave a message on all of our business phone lines letting everyone know if there have been any cancellations or changes.

16. Are your instructors state certified?
Yes, we have over 25 instructors (5 female) with many years of combined experience. Most of our instructors are teachers, police officers, administrators, and retired military. All of our employees receive background checks as well as continued service training to keep up with the ever-changing world of driving.

17. Do you offer gift certificates for your programs?
Yes, we do. You will receive a colorful certificate with the student's name and program of choice. Call today!

18. Can I re-schedule or cancel my driving instruction appointment with my instructor?
No, you must call the office and speak with one of our office personnel to change your drive times.