topic Re: Do you remember when it cost ZERO to go to Drivers Education?++ in Community Chat

Do you remember when it cost ZERO to go to Drivers Education?++

SahmIam — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:19:57 GMT

16 year old just earned his permit. That was $100. To take drivers ed at his high school is $140 in fees to the school and $595 to the drivers ed company that teaches it- it includes 2 days a week driving with the instructor.

I remember when this was part of high school... you attended after school, took a test and had your permit. Then, they mailed you your licence after.. a year?

He has to have a permit for a year (must have it before taking drivers ed), then takes the drivers test in 13 months (more fees). Oh, my insurance will jump by $1200 a year due to him.

GADS.

Edited title.

Re: Do you remember when it cost ZERO to get your drivers license?++

deepwaterdotter — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:12:04 GMT

No, I paid a small fee at the DMV when taking my written and driver's exam. It's been so long that I don't remember the amount.

Re: Do you remember when it cost ZERO to get your drivers license?++

ALRATIBA — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:16:28 GMT

When I grew up, minimum driving age in NYC was 18. Schools didn't teach driver's ed.

It's still 18 and according to google:

Licensing laws in New York prohibit 16 and 17 year-olds from driving in New York City.

Re: Do you remember when it cost ZERO to get your drivers license?++

Laura14 — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:18:38 GMT

17 in Jersey when I was there.

And the only driver's ed we got at school were those horrific movies I could never watch.

Re: Do you remember when it cost ZERO to get your drivers license?++

SahmIam — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:19:11 GMT

@deepwaterdotter I should have said to TAKE drivers ed. Yes, there's always a fee to get the permit/licence.

Re: Do you remember when it cost ZERO to get your drivers license?++

SahmIam — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:23:32 GMT

Amazing the age difference. 16.5 years to get a LICENCE but can get a permit at 15.9; sooner with proof from school and parents that you need one in my state.

Re: Do you remember when it cost ZERO to get your drivers license?++

bri20 — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:25:56 GMT

We paid around $450 for driver's Ed. You have to apply for your permit - the fee is $30. You have to hold your permit for 9 months and then get your license at 16. No fee for license.

Our insurance didn't go up. If they get a ticket or some kind of violation the first year they hold a license, it will though. We have State Farm.

Re: Do you remember when it cost ZERO to go to Drivers Education?++

Moonchilde — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:28:07 GMT

Well, Driver's Ed was free in HS, but you kinda get what you pay for. I sure didn't learn to drive during the class. I think I got about 10 min. driving time twice a week and would no way in heck have known what to do with a learner's permit at that point.

Too bad there isn't a happy *professional* medium - you'd pay for professional lessons but they would be about $300-$400. That is earnable by the kid, or half of it.

Like many/most my age, my stepdad taught me. After the first lesson, mom was not allowed to come with ;-(

Re: Do you remember when it cost ZERO to get your drivers license?++

gardenman — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:30:57 GMT

Drivers ed was free back in 77. We had simulators and two driver ed cars. I think it was a required course if I remember correctly. You had to pay for a permit that was good for a few months, then either renew the permit or take the driving test. Once you passed the test there were no restrictions. You would get an insurance discount for passing drivers ed.

Re: Do you remember when it cost ZERO to go to Drivers Education?++

ID2 — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:31:00 GMT

My kids and my dh and me all took drivers ed through the high school we attended for free. My kids are in their 30's so relatively speaking it wasn't that long ago that kids didn't have to pay.

Re: Do you remember when it cost ZERO to go to Drivers Education?++

chickenbutt — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:37:07 GMT

In CA we alway had a driver's ed class in high school. I started high school at age 13, but I was able to take the class (not a fee-based class) when I hit 15.

Re: Do you remember when it cost ZERO to get your drivers license?++

deepwaterdotter — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:37:10 GMT

@SahmIam wrote:
@deepwaterdotter I should have said to TAKE drivers ed. Yes, there's always a fee to get the permit/licence.

Oh, the driver's education class was considered just another class back in the 70's at my high school. No extra fee involved.

Re: Do you remember when it cost ZERO to go to Drivers Education?++

Nightowlz — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:39:01 GMT

Wow. It was free in school where I went.

Re: Do you remember when it cost ZERO to go to Drivers Education?++

Imadickens — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:44:49 GMT

I remember, but it was first come...and my school had few slots! You also could get your senior license at 17 instead of 18! FYI, my dh teaches a course that you take every three years (I think) and you get a reduction on your insurance premium! It's an eight hour course, but everyone who takes it from him, loves it! His course is sponsored by our local college . There are several places that sponsor these courses, all at different costs. His runs about $85 I think. It's worth looking into!

Re: Do you remember when it cost ZERO to go to Drivers Education?++

chickenbutt — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:47:42 GMT

Oh wow, I didn't realize how different license-qualificatin is in different states.

In CA you took the class at 15. Then you could get your driver's 'permit' at fifteen and a half (meaning you could only be driving with a licensed driver in the car with you and I think that person had to be of legal adult age).

Then, you could get your regular driver's license when you turned 16.

I just thought it was the same everywhere. How ignorant was I? hehe

Re: Do you remember when it cost ZERO to get your drivers license?++

SahmIam — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:48:23 GMT

@gardenman wrote:
Drivers ed was free back in 77. We had simulators and two driver ed cars. I think it was a required course if I remember correctly. You had to pay for a permit that was good for a few months, then either renew the permit or take the driving test. Once you passed the test there were no restrictions. You would get an insurance discount for passing drivers ed.

This is what I did. My parents were out $10.

Re: Do you remember when it cost ZERO to get your drivers license?++

Imadickens — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:54:54 GMT

@ALRATIBA wrote:
When I grew up, minimum driving age in NYC was 18. Schools didn't teach driver's ed.

It's still 18 and according to google:

Licensing laws in New York prohibit 16 and 17 year-olds from driving in New York City.

I think NYC has different laws from the state. I thought it was 21 in the city, not sure though. What year did you apply for your license? I turned 16 in November of 1971 and I got my license that December! I could drive alone before 9:00 p.m. or to and from work or school programs. If you had driver's Ed you got your senior license at 17, but without it you got it when you turned 18! Plus, we could drink at 18 but not vote until 21, but the fellas could be drafted into war at 18 even though they could not vote! Now, we vote at 18 and can't drink until 21! Thank God there's no draft, but people can enlist at 18 now, with high school diploma (It may be 17, not sure)!

Re: Do you remember when it cost ZERO to go to Drivers Education?++

scotnovel — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 22:42:02 GMT

I took it as a summer high school session in the late 60's. As I recall, even though it was being taught by one of the high school football coaches, my parents had to pay extra for me to take it - around $50 as I recall. Even though it was coordinated through the high school, I think the full fee was paid to the coach for his efforts.

Re: Do you remember when it cost ZERO to go to Drivers Education?++

Buck-i-Nana — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:58:13 GMT

Had to get the permit at the BMV when I was a teenager in NY. Drivers Ed after school, plus my Dad teaching me. Had to then schedule a road test through the BMV.

2 of my kids took drivers ed through their HS, but it wasn't free. It's a long time ago, but I think it was $50 or something like that. They dropped Drivers Ed through the school just before my youngest was old enough. I think it cost $150 for the course 15 years ago. I wasn't happy about the training they got, so I taught them all how to drive as well as their friends!

My granddaughter paid $550 2 years ago.

Of course, I remember when going to public school didn't cost anything either. Now the fees are unbelievable. School fees per child range from $50 - $125 for classroom PLUS the parents have a list of classroom supplies to send like kleenex, sanitizer wipes, dry erase markers, papers towels. Sports and music are additional fees.

Re: Do you remember when it cost ZERO to get your drivers license?++

Imadickens — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:59:58 GMT

@SahmIam wrote:
@gardenman wrote:
Drivers ed was free back in 77. We had simulators and two driver ed cars. I think it was a required course if I remember correctly. You had to pay for a permit that was good for a few months, then either renew the permit or take the driving test. Once you passed the test there were no restrictions. You would get an insurance discount for passing drivers ed.
This is what I did. My parents were out $10.

Simulators are great things! When my dh was the police liason to the school system he wanted to bring the simulators that showed driving under the influence at different levels to the high school around prom time. The superintendent who was here at the time refused it, but once my dh did get the ok to bring cars that had been in drunk driver crash!