Step by Step Guide to Drivers Ed

Be sure to find out when a school is willing to issue a CDE. Many schools will want to have you complete certain things before they will allow you to get the paperwork. If you are wanting to get your permit right away, you will want to make sure that the school you choose does not put additional restrictions on when you can get it.

The Indiana Permit test is gong to be 50 multiple choice questions. 16 of these questions will be signs, and 34 questions will be based on other sections of the manual. Did you catch that last part? Every single question on the test comes directly from the Indiana Driver’s Manual, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the manual before taking your test. Or, there is always the option of just winging it and taking the test so many times that you memorize all of the questions. Save yourself some time and effort. Read the manual.

When you are ready to take the permit test, you will just need to take all of your required documentation to the BMV and let them know you would like to take the test. You are not required to make an appointment for the test, but you do want to make sure that you do not arrive within the last hour that they are open, so for example, if they close at 5 you will want to be there before 4.

There is no cost to attempt the test, but if you do not pass, you will need to wait until the next day to try again. You can try as many times as necessary to pass the test.

40 of these hours will need to be during the day, with 10 of them at night. Any practice time you are able to get can count toward this requirement, whether you are driving to the store, going on a road trip, or attending your drive lessons with an instructor. Just make sure that you have the required supervision while you get your practice. You don’t want to start your time as a driver with a ticket for driving illegally!

The six hours with an instructor will need to be completed at some point after you have earned your permit, but you will not be completed with Driver Education until the lessons have been finished. Don’t feel like you have to get them all done in a hurry though. Remember that you have at least 6 months before you can get your license, and if you get your permit on your 15th birthday, you have 15 months! Usually, as a guideline it would be a good idea to schedule the lessons about three months before your eligibility date. That will give you a minimum of 3 months to practice before you get with the instructor, and allow them to spend time during your lesson focusing on actual driving techniques rather than the most basic of knowledge. This is a good way to get the most for your money when you are in the car with the instructor.

Another benefit of scheduling this way is that you will be able to complete one lesson a week as recommended, allowing for time to practice and master the skills you learn during each lesson. Then, once you have completed the 6 lessons, you will be ready to go straight into the road test.

When you are ready, you will have the option of testing either with the BMV, or with your driving school. Taking this test at the BMV is free, however you will need to supply your own vehicle. Generally, completing the test with a driving school will be a small additional fee, but you will have the vehicle provided for you, and in many cases you can take the test with the same instructor that completed your lessons. The test itself will be the exact same whether you test with a school or at the BMV. Which is the better option can depend entirely on your preferences.

If you take the test at the BMV, you will be able to receive your license immediately after passing the test. If you test with your school, they should issue you paperwork that you can take to the BMV to trade in for your license.