Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do I need to take Driver's Education to get my Driver's License?
A. If you are under the age of 18,
Q. What does Driver’s Education consist of?
A. Students must attend 30 hours of classroom instruction (paid directly to choice of high school attended), 12 hours of behind the wheel instruction, 6 hours of observation, and a 2 hour mandatory parent/guardian class.
Q. How old do I have to be to attend Driver's Education?
A. The minimum age required: You must be at least 15 years and 9 months by the start of the class.
Q. When can I get my Learner's Permit?
A. The minimum age to get your Learner's Permit is 16 years old.
Q. When can I get my license?
A. You must have your permit for 6 months (183 days) of incident-free driving and complete all the driver’s education requirements in order to schedule your road test. Incident-free means that you have no violations or ‘at-fault’ crashes. If so, the 6 month starts all over from the date of the incident.
Q. How do I register for the 30 hour classroom instruction?
A. You can click on the ‘classroom schedule’ link and select the high school where you would like to take classes. You can then click on an application form to send directly to the high school of choice to register. We are contracted by many high schools and each school sets their own price for the 30-hour course.
Q. Do I have to attend that specific school or live in that town in order to take driver's education there?
A. No. We welcome any and all surrounding area students to attend at whatever high school they prefer.Q. Do I need to have my Learner's Permit to attend Driver's Education Classes?
A. No. As a matter of fact, the Driver's Education Classes will prepare you to take the Learner's Permit Test.
Q. What is a Parent Class and how much does it cost?
A. The parent class is required to teach parents about the new junior operator laws as well as the required 40 hours instruction that the parent will have to sign off on that they completed with their teen. The TDA does NOT CHARGE for this class and is included in the 30-hour classroom portion fee.
Q. Who is required to attend the Parent Class?
A. The TDA requires that both the teen AND a parent/legal guardian attend the 2 hour parent class portion. The law states that we can combine this class for parent and teen. We want you both there together to go over the many changes that went into effect. This class counts as the first two (2) hours of the teens' required thirty hour (30) program.
Q. What if my parent already took the Parent Class with another driving school?
A. The parent will NOT have to attend, however, the teen will have to attend a parent class. This is also referred to as module #1 and is required for the teen as it is the first two (2) hours of the required thirty hour (30) program. We WILL need you to get us a copy of the parent completion letter you received at the other school for our records and the RMV.
Q. What if I took my 30 hour class with another driving school; can I do my driving lessons with TDA?
A. Absolutely. We welcome you to TDA. However, we will need a copy of the 30 hour official classroom completion letter. We don't need it before you start, however, we recommend you make sure there is no 'hidden' up-charge for you to get that letter. We don't want you to have to pay a ton of money to another school just to get the letter. We WILL need you to get us a copy of the classroom completion letter you received at the other school for our records and the RMV. You can email or fax it to us..Our info is on the 'contact us' page.
Q. What if I signed up for a specific session and I can't attend that first parent class session? Can I attend another parent class session at another location?
A. Absolutely. If you can't attend the scheduled parent session you signed up for, just attend any of the other parent classes at any location. No need to preregister or call ahead. Just show up, sign in, and attend the class.
Q. Do I have to attend Parent Class for every child?
A. No, the parent class is good for 5 years from the date it’s taken. So, if you have younger teens within that range, you will not have to attend again. (Remember, the teen will have to attend.)
Q. What will I need to get a permit?
A. You will need a birth certificate with a “raised” seal and a U.S. Social Security card. You will also need parental consent on the application form. Please make sure you have all the required paperwork or you will be denied at the RMV.
Q. Do I need an appointment at the RMV for my permit?
A. No, you do NOT need an appointment at the RMV to take your permit test.
Q. What is the fee for a permit test?
A. The fee is $30 to take your permit test. You must successfully get 18 out of 25 questions correct to pass your test. If you fail, you are allowed to go pay another $30 and retake the permit test again. We HIGHLY RECOMMEND you pay the additional $50 for your drivers’ license and $20 road test appointment scheduling fee AT THE TIME YOU PAY FOR YOUR PERMIT. Tell the clerk you want to pay these fees as well as for the permit. The total will cost you $100 ($30 permit, $50 license, and $20 road test appt. fee). This will get credited to your permit number and you will not have to wait hours on the phone later when you are going for your road test. You are going to pay them the fee in 6 months, so you are just giving them the money now and saving hours of frustration at a later date.
Q. How do I get a Driver's Education Certificate?
A. Upon Completion of all requirements at an approved Driver's
Q. What if I miss a class?
A. The Massachusetts RMV requires you to attend 30 hours of Classroom preparation in order to obtain your Driver's Education Certificate. The RMV has broken down the 30 hours into fifteen 2 hour modules. If you miss a specific module, you must make up the EXACT module you missed at a later date. You can check our class schedules to see what modules are running at various locations and dates.
Q. If I miss a class, can I make it up at another location?
A. Yes. You can make up classes at any of the other locations as long as you are attending the module(s) you missed. You do not need to register for this. You can just attend and make sure you sign-in and list ‘makeup’ next to your name.
Q. When can I start taking my On-Road Lessons?
A. You can start taking road lessons as soon as you have obtained your permit.
Q. How do I schedule my road lessons?
A. The TDA respectfully requests that if you must cancel a driving lesson, you provide 24 hours notice to us.
Q. Why do I have to give 24 hours notice?
A. Your teachers have set aside their schedules for you. If you don’t show for your lesson, the teacher still has to be paid. We understand emergencies arise and take this on a case by case basis. By giving 24 hours notice, we can open that spot up for other teens who want to drive that day.
Q. What if I didn’t give 24 hours notice? Will I be charged?
A. Aside from emergencies that arise, you will be charged for the lesson if you don’t provide the required notice or we can’t get another student to fill your lesson. The LAST thing we want to do is charge you for a missed lesson. Your parents won’t be happy and we want to make your driving experience with the TDA a positive one.
Q. How do I cancel my driving lesson?
A. It’s very easy. Click on the ‘cancel my driving lesson’ link and fill out the fields in their entirety. This assures that you did your part and we’ll take care of the rest. You can also send an email to cancel@teachersdrivingacademy.com
PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE HIGH SCHOOL TO CANCEL LESSONS. THE HIGH SCHOOL ONLY TAKES CARE OF REGISTERING YOU FOR THE 30-HOUR CLASSROOM PORTION.
Q. How much does 30-hour classroom portion cost?
A. Each of the high schools we teach offer different pricing for the classroom portion. The prices range between $59-$99, depending on location.
Q. How much is parent class?
A. Parent class at the TDA is FREE. There is no additional charge for attending a parent class.
Q. How much are driving lessons?
A. Driving lessons are $50 per hour (behind the wheel driving). There is no charge for observation. The total for 12 hours of driving and 6 hours observation is $600. This is paid directly to the TDA.
Q. What is the payment policy?
A. We’re not the type of school to drive away if you don’t have a check with you the day of your lesson. That doesn’t do either of us any good. All we ask is that we can please adhere to the following payment policy. You can always pay earlier and in full, but this is the minimum requirements.
Lesson #1-(payment of $150 for lessons 1-3)
Lesson #4-(payment of $150 for lessons 4-6)
Lesson #7-(payment of $150 for lessons 7-9)
Lesson #10-(payment of $150 & $15 for lessons 10-12 and your state driver’s education certificate)
Q. What’s the $15 Driver’s Education certificate fee?
A. This is the $15 we pay the RMV to process your drivers education certificate. There is NO MARK-UP whatsoever. This is the exact fee the RMV charges. Some schools make the teens show up on the last day with a check for $15 made out to the RMV. If we did this, we are sure some would forget and delay the RMV processing your certificate and ultimately delay you obtaining your license.
Upon Completion of all requirements at an approved Driver's
Q. How much does Saturday road test sponsorship cost?
A. The fee for Saturday road testing is $99. This includes the sponsorship, the use of TDA vehicle, and warm-up lesson before testing. This TDA fee is SEPERATE FROM THE FEE THE RMV CHARGES FOR YOUR LICENSE AND ROAD TEST APPOINTMENT SCHEDULING FEE. Mansfield/Foxboro area students will meet at designated location in
*Non-TDA or NON-driver's education students are welcome to take the road test but they must take at least ONE (1) road lesson and pre-pay prior to the lesson and booking the test. The fee for the one hour driving lesson, Saturday Road Test, and prep-lesson on day of test is $225. This is for NON-driver's education or NON-TDA students. This must be prepaid online prior to booking.
Q. Can I pay online as well as by check/cash?
A. Yes. You can choose to pay online using a credit card if desired. We use PayPal as it is safe and secure and we do not want to have your credit card information. You do not have to have a PayPal account to pay online. We have never had a problem and consider this the safest way to pay online.
You can also give a check or cash to your teacher when you have driving lessons.
Q. So what’s my total cost going to be?
A. Ø Classroom Instruction: $59-99 depending on location (payable to high schools)
Ø 12 Driving hours instruction/6 hours observation: $600
Ø Driver’s Education Certificate: $15 (RMV fee but we pay it for you so we don’t hold up your license.)
Ø Parent class: FREE
Ø Optional Saturday Road test: $99
Q. When does the TDA offer road testing sponsorship?
A. The TDA can offers a road test every Saturday (except holidays) as we pay examiners from the RMV to come to our site and conduct road testing.
Q. Can I book my own road test with the RMV?
A. Yes you can. However, you will have to go during normal business hours of Monday through Friday with a sponsor that has a middle emergency brake for the examiner to grab in event of an emergency.
Q. Why would I want to take my test with the TDA on Saturdays?
A. Since we pay the RMV to come in on Saturdays, we can get you appointments and retakes (hopefully that’s not necessary) usually at a much quicker pace than if you go on your own during the week. You will arrive about 1 ½ hrs before your scheduled test time so we can have other teachers giving you a warm-up lesson. This will familiarize you with the vehicle again and actually take a practice test and observe other students practicing their road test. Also, on Saturdays, there is much less traffic in the area which helps bring down the level of anxiety each teen has on test day.
Q. Where does the TDA offer Saturday testing?
A. Currently, the RMV comes to one of our licensed locations to conduct testing. At this time, we are conducting testing in
Q. How long in advance to I have to book my Saturday road test?
A. You must have completed ALL your driver’s education requirements and be paid in full 21 (twenty-one) days prior to your requested Saturday test. YOU MUST ALSO BOOK YOUR ROAD TEST WITH THE TDA AT LEAST 21 DAYS PRIOR TO THE REQUESTED SATURDAY USING OUR WEBSITE. If you are not paid in full for your driving lessons and your drivers education certificate fee by lesson #10, your paperwork will be held up and will cause a delay in you obtaining your license. (Example: If your are eligible for your license on September 20, 2012, the earliest you could go with us for the test would be September 22, 2012. Remembering the 21 day rule now in effect by the RMV, you will want to have all your requirements completed by August 31, 2012.)
Q. Why did the RMV change the rules on having to be done earlier?
A. The RMV changed the process of how Saturday road testing is conducted. They also charge us, the driving school, a $20 convenience fee for each student that takes a test with us on Saturday. We pay the ‘convenience fee’, not you. The RMV needs to time to process your driver’s education certificate and schedule road test examiners. Without the certificate being processed by them, you cannot schedule a road test on your own or with the TDA. That’s the reason for having to complete your requirements 21 days prior.
Q. What is the fee for taking the Saturday road test with the TDA?
A. The fee for Saturday road testing is $90. This includes the sponsorship, the use of TDA vehicle, and warm-up lesson before testing. This TDA fee is SEPERATE FROM THE FEE THE RMV CHARGES FOR YOUR LICENSE AND ROAD TEST APPOINTMENT SCHEDULING FEE. Mansfield/Foxboro area students will meet at designated location in
The fee for re-takes in the event of a previous failure with TDA is $45. Most other schools charge $90 and take you during the week for your test. They don’t incur the $20 convenience fee per student nor do they offer the ‘refresher’ lesson. They also can’t get you the test on the preferred Saturdays.
Q. How do I sign up for my Saturday road test?
A. There is a link ‘schedule my road test’ on our website. Fill out the form in its’ entirety and correctly. Click ‘submit’ and this will put you on our schedule for the requested Saturday. We take care of notifying the RMV and putting you on the list. YOU MUST ALSO BOOK YOUR ROAD TEST WITH THE TDA AT LEAST 21 DAYS PRIOR TO THE REQUESTED SATURDAY USING OUR WEBSITE.
Q. I’ve scheduled by road test..Is there anything else I need to do?
A. Yes. If you haven’t PREPAID the RMV for your license and road test appointment fee, you must do this immediately. You must call 857-368-8000 and hit prompts#3 then #4..You can then pay by credit card utilizing the RMV automated system. The RMV will charge your $50 for your driver’s license and $20 for the appointment fee ($70 total). You will have to pay this fee whether you go with us on Saturday or go during the week on your own. The RMV is now REQUIRING all teens to be prepaid for Saturday testing or they will NOT ALLOW YOU TO TAKE THE TEST.
We HIGHLY RECOMMEND you pay the additional $50 for your drivers’ license and $20 road test appointment scheduling fee AT THE TIME YOU PAY FOR YOUR PERMIT. Tell the clerk you want to pay these fees as well as for the permit. The total will cost you $100 ($30 permit, $50 license, and $20 road test appt. fee). This will get credited to your permit number and you will not have to wait hours on the phone later when you are going for your road test. You are going to pay them the fee in 6 months, so you are just giving them the money now and saving hours of frustration at a later date.
Q. How do I know what time my test will be?
A. You will receive an email from the TDA (to the email you registered with for your test) WEDNESDAY EVENING before the exam date. This will have your scheduled test time and necessary arrival time or pick-up time (*Hopk/Ash area students & *Norwood area students).
Q. What do I need to bring to the test?
A. You will need your permit (Non-laminated and legible) and a properly and legibly completed application form in PEN that is signed by you and your parent/guardian who authorizes you to obtain your license. (link for ROAD TEST application: MASS RMV ROAD TEST APPLICATION) You will also have to bring a check for $90 on the day of the test if you haven’t paid online. We encourage you to pay online as it will secure your spot.
Q. How do I make payment for the test?
A. You can pay online for the road test fee. If you do this, you are guaranteed a spot on the requested Saturday. Normally, we will be able to accommodate all the requests for a specific date, but the RMV has changed the rules on how many teens can attend in one day per examiner. It is first come, first served with preference going to those who pay online. Again, we encourage online payment.
Q. Unfortunately, I failed my test. When can I go again?
A. If you happen to fail the test, you can go home and immediately rebook the test for the Saturday TWO WEEKS away. According to new RMV rules, if it’s done that day, we can add you to the roster for the Saturday that is TWO WEEKS away. THIS IS THE ONLY EXCEPTION TO THE 21 DAY RULE. Re-take fee is $50 to TDA. This is only if we have space limitations. We normally should, but there is no guarantee as the size of each test fluctuates weekly. In the event of a failure, do not wait to rebook or you will have to wait longer.***The RMV is going to charge you an additional $20 road test appointment fee again. First thing Monday morning, you need to call 857-368-8000 and pay them their fee so you can go again for your test****
Q. What should I wear for my test?
A. First impressions make a difference. Dress appropriately and show the examiner that you’re ready to have your license and responsible enough to be out on your own. DO NOT wear sandals or flip-flops during driving lessons and especially on test day.
