Frequently Asked Questions

Are you licensed by the California Department of Motor Vehicles?

Yes. Our Driving School Is licensed,insured and bonded with the CA DMV. DSN#2279

What vehicles do you use for the behind the wheel lessons?

All our vehicles are four door vehicles. They are mid-size sedans to allow comfort and easy maneuverability. Each vehicle is equipped with a passenger side master brake. Our vehicles are inspected and approved by DMV approved mechanics as well as regularly maintained for your comfort.

How are your instructors chosen and what are their qualifications?

We pride ourselves on having the best instructors in Orange County. We have very strict qualifications that a potential instructor must meet before even being considered for the position. Each instructor must go through a Federal background check using Live-scan Fingerprinting. They must also complete a personal background check completed by I Passed Driving School. Every instructor must also pass a health check and drug test. If they meet all the previous requirements, they then go through a rigorous 60-hour training course and must pass a DMV licensing exam.

Are there any additional or hidden fees?

No, there are no hidden fees. The only potential fees you will ever incur would be:

Late Cancellation/ No Show Fee: We require 24 hours’ notice of a lesson cancellation. If we do not receive notification of cancellation with 24+ hours’ notice you will incur a $49 fee.

Replacement Certificate: If you lose or damage your Certificate of Completion there is a $25 fee to reissue another one to you.

What’s the Refund Policy?

Please note there are NO REFUNDS once driving lessons and/or Online Driver’s ED have begun.

Reversal Fee: Any refunds processed before the lessons and/or Online Driver’s Ed begins, will incur a $34 bank reversal fee.

Do lesson packages expire?

The Behind-The-Wheel lesson packages will EXPIRE 6 months from the date of purchase.

Lesson packages can be RENEWED after the 6 months expiration date for 50% (renewal fee) of the lesson package purchase price.

There is a 7 Day extension/grace period to complete all remaining/additional lessons. Once the extension/grace period ends you have the option to Renew the lesson package purchased stated above. If we do not hear from the purchaser and/or the student and the remaining lessons are not scheduled or used within the 6 months or the lesson package is not renewed after 6 months but within the 7 day extension/grace period (1 week after the package expiration date) all remaining lessons will be Forfeited. Additional lessons can be purchased individually. We never want to charge this fee but this ensures that all of our students enrolled with I Passed Driving School graduate in a timely manner.

Purchase with confidence.

How do I sign up for your driving school?

Signing up can be done online or over the phone. Click here to view all our lesson packages. Note that all scheduling is done over the phone so please call us once you place your order. We will need your permit or license information so please have that with you when you call.

Can anyone take driving lessons?

Yes! No matter your experience or driving background you are more than welcome to complete behind-the-wheel lessons. All that is required is a valid California Learner’s Permit or Driver’s License.

How far in advance do I need to call to schedule a lesson?

In general, we try to get all our students in within 1 to 2 weeks of signing up. It really depends on how your schedule matches up with ours. Please free to call us before signing up and we would be happy to provide you with the soonest available dates and times. Note that the any time teens are out of school: afternoons, weekends, holidays, and breaks are extremely busy. The summer is the busiest time of year and it is highly recommended that scheduling is done in advance.

Is anyone else allowed in the vehicle during the lesson?

No. Our lessons are private one on one lessons with just the instructor and the student driver.

Can I take the lessons in my car that I’m taking my driver’s license test in?

No. All the lessons must be completed in I Passed Driving School vehicles that come equipped with a passenger brake and are safety inspected by a licensed DMV inspector.

How often will my lessons be?

Each lesson is two hours long. The regularity of the lessons depends on the student’s specific goals and schedule. For teens that are required to hold their permit for six months, we recommend spread thing the lessons out over the full 6-month time frame (two as soon as possible and one right before the DMV license test). We have seen a large success rate with this scheduling method as it allows the student’s driving lessons to be combined with the practice at home with a parent.

For adult students or even teens that have already had their permit for some time we are able to decrease the space between the lessons. We want to assess your specific goals so that we can help you accomplish them.

Are there any breaks during the lesson?

Yes. Very often the instructor will offer a short break halfway through the lesson to allow both the instructor and the student to stretch their legs, use the restroom, or send a message to a parent letting them know how the lesson is going.

What am I going to learn on my driving lesson?

Every lesson is catered to the student’s specific needs and are not limited as far as what we can cover. We can guarantee that our students will understand the basic functions of all of the vehicle instruments, steering techniques, smooth breaking techniques, lane changing, right and left turns, stop signs, checking mirrors, parking, and pedestrian right-of-way. Additionally, we can go over freeway driving, night time driving, curb parking, 3 point turns, curb parking, etc as long as time allows and the student shows the appropriate level of driving ability – based on the instructors discretion.

Can I purchase additional lessons?

Yes. Driving is a life skill and the process of learning to drive shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you would like to add on additional lessons to make sure you are ready for real-world driving even after obtaining your license, we are happy to provide that to you. Our lessons are catered to each student’s specific needs. Our goal is to create drivers that are safe and confident for life.

What do I need to take with me for my test?

For ADULTS:

Written Permit Test:

• Complete a Driver License Application (Form DL44)
• Present an acceptable identity document (Birth Certificate, Passport, Permanent Resident Card, or Unexpired Foreign Passport with a valid US Visa and approved I-94 form.
• Present Proof of Residency documents (click here for a full list of residency documents)
• Provide your Social Security Number
• Provide your Full Legal Name
• Pay the application fee
• Pass the knowledge test

Behind the Wheel License Test:

• Current proof of registration of the vehicle
• Current proof of insurance of the vehicle
• Permit that was issued to you
• A driver licensed or permit previously issued to you by any state or country (if applicable)

For MINORS:

Written Permit Test:

• Complete a Driver License Application (Form DL44)
• Present an acceptable identity document (Birth Certificate, Passport, Permanent Resident Card, or Unexpired Foreign Passport with a valid US Visa and approved I-94 form.
• Present proof of Driver Education Completion (Completion Certificate Form DL440C)
• Present Proof of Residency documents (click here for a full list of residency documents)
• Provide your Social Security Number
• Provide your Full Legal Name
• Pay the application fee
• Pass the knowledge test

Behind the Wheel License Test:

• Proof of Driver Education Completion (Completion Certificate Form DL400D)
• Have held your permit for 6 months
• Parent signature on your permit indicating that you’ve completed 50 hours of supervised driving (10 at night).
• Note that you must have an appointment for a behind the wheel driving test, you cannot walk in.

You can find more information on DMV tests here.

Can I take one of I Passed Driving School’s vehicles to the DMV for my behind the wheel test?

Yes! We offer a DMV package which would include assistance scheduling your appointment, pick up one hour prior to test, use of our vehicle and insurance for the test, and drop off afterwards. Click here for more information.