As the first marking period of high school comes to an end, many sophomores will be armed with a graded card from their Driver’s Ed class, indicating that they have passed the knowledge test and are eligible to apply for their learner’s permit. What next?
Behind The Wheel Instruction
If the child is 16, she must then complete six hours of behind the wheel driving instruction. In New Jersey, the “knowledge test” portion of Driver’s Ed is provided in high school (often during a marking period of Health in sophomore year) but in order to fulfill the behind-the-wheel portion, your child must study with a certified driving instructor. The six hours of instruction include basic handling of the car, rules of the road, parallel parking, k-turns (a.k.a. 3-point turns), and include both local and highway driving.
Does that seem like a lot to master in six hours? It is. Your child is not road-ready simply by completing this short course. He is merely six-hours-more-experienced than he was beforehand. This is why he must practice driving for a minimum of six months in order to be eligible to take his road test at 17.
Can we wait a while?
Some parents put off having their child get their permit at 16, believing that they’re too young to learn to drive. Others jump at the opportunity, hoping to give their child as much supervised behind-the-wheel experience as possible before they begin to drive independently.
If a child wants to get his provisionary license when she turns 17, she must get her learner’s permit by the time she’s 16-and-a-half. If she waits beyond that, the six-month practice period will extend past her birthday.
The cost and value of instruction
The behind-the-wheel course cost varies by driving school, but is usually marketed as a 16-Year-Old Package and can run anywhere from $200 to $400, with most between $250 and $320. This fee typically includes the driving instruction as well as all the administrative business at the Motor Vehicle facility – eye exam, filing paperwork, taking the knowledge test (if your child hasn’t already or if he didn’t pass it at school). Many of these companies offer deals and discounts – it’s worth asking when you call.
Some families feel they can’t afford the private driving instruction and instead wait until their child turns 17 to obtain a learner’s permit. Once he is 17, the child does not need the six-hour behind-the-wheel course, however he does still need six months of supervised driving before he takes his road test.
Most insurance companies offer a slight discount on your premium if the child has completed behind-the-wheel instruction, which can offset the price of instruction. The driving instructor will also schedule your child’s road test for him and this appointment will be written on the learner’s permit.
Practice, practice, practice
Once your child has his learner’s permit, he should practice driving. He must be accompanied (always) by a licensed driver (at least 21 years old, NJ license holder, who has been driving for at least three years). You also need a red sticker on your license plates (front and back), which are called Reflectorized Decals and can be purchased at the MVC for $4 per pair. The purpose of these stickers is to identify which drivers are operating within the provisions of their license – provisions that include what times the child can be on the road, how many passengers, etc. The line for these stickers are sometimes long; it’s worth asking the driving instructor if they can pick a pair or two up for you when they’re at the MVA getting the learner’s permit.
More info if you need it
Information about graduated driver’s licenses.
