Frequently Asked Questions.
Q: How old do I have to be to take driver education classes?
Q: Do I have to be enrolled in the school district where Test Drive offers driver education classes in order to attend class?
Q: How do I sign up and pay for class?
Q: What if I miss some classes?
Q: When will I do my driving and what if I miss some driving?
Q: How long after class is over do I have to wait before I get my certificate so I can get my license?
Q: What if I lose my certificate?
Q: Will my personal information be kept private?
Q: How do I get my instructional permit and where do I go to get it?
Q: What is a MINOR'S RESTRICTED LICENSE?
Q: My child did not receive a certificate of completion of drivers education, when will we receive this?
Q: Are we required to have an Iowa Permit to register?
Q: How long do I need to have a permit in order to take driver's education?
Q: How many hours of classroom instruction will there be?
Q: How will I be graded in class?
Q: What if I miss class?
Q: How many hours of behind the wheel (BTW) instruction will there be?
Q: Who will be my behind the wheel (BTW) instructor?
Q: When do I drive?
Q: How will I be graded in the car?
Q: How old do I have to be to take driver education classes?
- Iowa law says you must be at least 14 years of age to take driver education and you must have an instruction permit at the beginning of class. If you are 18 years of age, Iowa law does not require you to take driver education.
Q: Do I have to be enrolled in the school district where Test Drive offers driver education classes in order to attend class?
- No. Test Drive offers open enrollment and accepts all students on a first come first serve basis.
Q: How do I sign up and pay for class?
- If you are a Marshalltown student and have filled out the online fee waiver (if you qualify), make sure you are covered by checking with Pam Ferriss, Business Manager in the Principal’s office. At this time, only students attending Marshalltown, Grundy Center, and South Hardin can qualify for reduced fare. If you are not enrolled at Marshalltown, Grundy Center or South Hardin or don't qualify for reduced fare, you can bring cash or check made payable to Test Drive LLC on the first night of class.
- Payment plans are available.
Q: What if I miss some classes?
- Iowa law requires that you attend a 30 hour class room program and have a minimum of 6 hours of behind the wheel instruction. You must make up all classes missed. All missed tests and quizzes must be completed and passed. Generally our rule is you can miss 3 classes if you are in a 10 class section (3 hours per class) or 4 classes if you are in a 15 class section (2 hours per class). You still have to make up the time missed.
Q: When will I do my driving and what if I miss some driving?
- All driving will be scheduled at your first your convenience. We encourage all students to know their schedules and be flexible. All driving must be completed. Missed driving sessions (No Call/No Show/No Text) that have to be made up will cost you more money.
Q: How long after class is over do I have to wait before I get my certificate so I can get my license?
- All certificates are uploaded to the DOT. If your district requires a paper copy, Test Drive will be happy to provide one.
Q: What if I lose my certificate?
- No Chance of that happening! All certificates are ONLINE!
Q: Will my personal information be kept private?
- Test Drive understands the importance of protecting the privacy of personal and financial information. We will not sell or trade your information to anyone. By providing us with your personal information, you signify acceptance of this privacy policy.
Q: How do I get my instructional permit and where do I go to get it?
- For more information about driver licensing in Iowa contact the Iowa Department of Transportation at the following address: www.iowa.gov and click on department of transportation.
Q: What is a MINOR'S RESTRICTED LICENSE?
- Some driver's education companies may mislead you. The DOT does not offer a license for teens to travel to and from work (there is a farm exemption). However, (Restriction 6) a minor restricted license (valid only for travel to and from work, or to transport dependence to and from temporary care facilities if necessary to hold a job) may be issued to a person age 16-18 who has completed an Iowa approved driver education course and to whom any of the following apply:
- is not in attendance at school.
- has not completed the requirements for graduation in an accredited school; or
- has not obtained a high school equivalency diploma.
- The minors restricted license is not valid for driving during work or as an instruction permit. To get a minor's restricted license your school district superintendent or principal and your employer must complete a form available from any drivers license station. If you quit or lose your job for any reason, your employer is required to notify the DOT and your license will be canceled. You must also pass the vision screening and driving test. You may not have to take the knowledge test if you have a permit that is valid or has not been expired for more than 60 days.
- When you register for our course, it states the starting date and time of classes. A confirmation email is automatically sent with the questions and answers submitted.
- A reminder email will go out to the primary email address you put on the registration form the Friday before the course starts (or before). It will have the room location and what your child needs to bring. At most locations, the driver will call your child (at the number provided).
- The lessons will usually be 2-3 hours in length. If you have not heard from a driver within 2 weeks, please alert the classroom teacher.
Q: My child did not receive a certificate of completion of drivers education, when will we receive this?
- The department of Transportation requires all driving schools to go to an electronic system as of January 1, 2019. If your child has completed driver's education, Test Drive would have uploaded their information within 15 days of completion.
Q: Are we required to have an Iowa Permit to register?
- Yes, we require an Iowa Permit to register for any of our courses offered.
Q: How long do I need to have a permit in order to take driver's education?
- To take our classes, you only need to have a permit. We do recommend at least 10 hours behind the wheel to be successful.
Q: How many hours of classroom instruction will there be?
- Iowa law mandates that you receive 30 hours of classroom instruction.
Q: How will I be graded in class?
- In order to pass Driver’s Ed you MUST pass BOTH the mid-term and final exams.
- Most class sessions there will be a quiz that assesses your knowledge of the previous session’s assignment. These will be graded and scores will be recorded. Also, they will be taken into consideration if there is hesitation as to whether or not you are prepared to minimize risk and avoid conflict on the road while driving independently. In other words, if there is any question as to whether or not you have the skills and knowledge necessary to pass Driver’s Ed, these grades will be considered.
Q: What if I miss class?
- Don’t miss class. The classroom and drive time requirements are set by law and must be met.
- If something happens and you have no other choice than to miss class, you will attend a make up session after all regular class sessions have concluded. At that session you MUST complete the assignment you previously missed and pass that previously missed quiz. Remember, there are legal requirements that must be met. If you do not meet them you will not pass Driver’s Ed, no matter how well you do on the mid-term and final exams. Please text or email your instructor as far ahead of class as possible to let him know if something comes up and you need to miss class.
- You can only miss two classes. On your third, you MAY be dropped from the roster and finish your coursework in the next cycle of Driver’s Ed classes. For example, if you were originally enrolled in the March-April session, you will have to finish Driver’s Ed in the summer.
- Keep in mind that classroom instruction and BTW instruction go hand-in-hand. Missing classroom instruction is going to negatively impact your BTW experience. You cannot execute skills if you haven’t yet learned them.
Q: How many hours of behind the wheel (BTW) instruction will there be?
- Iowa law mandates that you receive 6 hours of BTW instruction.
Q: Who will be my behind the wheel (BTW) instructor?
- Test Drive divides up the classroom roster amongst a handful of BTW instructors. Whoever you are assigned to will be highly qualified, experienced, effective, and dedicated to ensuring your driving experience is a positive one.
Q: When do I drive?
- After being assigned to you, your BTW instructor will reach out directly to you with the cell phone number you provided upon signing up for Driver’s Ed. With that being said, answer your phone when it rings. Check your voicemail. Your BTW instructor will set up an initial time to drive with you, and from there, you two will work together to schedule the rest of your drives.
- Depending on your driving experience, skill level, and BTW instructor’s schedule, you’ll typically drive 1-2 times a week.
Q: How will I be graded in the car?
- Each of your 6 drives will follow a carefully designed route that gives you the opportunity to practice a certain set of driving skills. Your BTW instructor will provide you with feedback and suggestions for areas of improvement. Between your scheduled drives, you should make an effort to work on these areas while driving with your parents or another adult. Your driving will not improve if you do not practice.
- The 6th drive with your BTW instructor will be considered a driving test. This drive will include driving skills that you’ve learned along the way both in the classroom and behind the wheel. You MUST pass it in order to pass Driver’s Ed. You need these skills to be a safe, responsible, defensive driver.