Handing over the keys to a teenager with a newly minted license can be a harrowing experience. One way to help ease the nerves (for the driver and parent, respectively) is to prepare your teenager with appropriate driver education training.

In Minnesota, teenagers applying for their first license are required to complete classroom training prior to applying for a learners permit. Behind-the-wheel requirements include at least 6 hours of training with a certified driver’s education instructor and at least 50 hours of supervised practice with a licensed adult. Should a parent or guardian take a parent awareness class, the teenager’s driving requirement drops to 40 hours.  

Once the driver has turned 16 years old and has completed drivers ed training and subsequent supervised driving requirements, he or she is eligible to take the driving test and apply for a provisional license. A full driver’s license can be obtained after 10 additional hours of supervised driving practice with a parent or guardian.

While many public and private schools do provide driver education programs within their systems, there are other options to complete the training, such as a licensed driver training school.

Follow these tips to find a program that is best for you and your teen.

• Visit the facility and ask about the instructor’s credentials and the program’s accreditation status.

• Ask other parents and teens that have used different programs about their experience.

• Make sure the school covers all aspects of driving, including what to do in an emergency, driving in different conditions, and basic car maintenance.

• Choose a program with a low instructor-to-student ratio to ensure your teen will be getting focused one-on-one instruction, both behind the wheel and in the classroom.

• See if the program offers advanced training such as simulators, night sight meters, and brake reaction software.

• Check to see if the school is in good standing and doesn’t have any violations on their record.

• Look for a school that provides additional resources for parents as you will be providing the bulk of supervised driving training for your teen.

For a complete list of driver’s training schools, please visit the Minnesota Department of Public Safety website.

To help keep your teenager safe after they have received their driver’s license, consider preparing a new driver contract. It allows you to write out the rules, privileges, and consequences for your teen driver.

Image by Automotive Rhythms via flickr, licensed under CC by 2.0