For many, getting a driver’s license is a rite of passage. For high school or university students, driver’s licenses can represent a transition into adulthood. For new Ontarians, securing an Ontario license is an important part of making their new province home.
An estimated 77% of Ontarians go through a Ministry-approved driving school course when getting their license. Here are the top 5 reasons students should go through an MTO-approved Beginner Driver Education (BDE) course when getting their license:
The top 5 reasons to go through driving school
1. Driving school lets you get your G2 in 8 months instead of 12.
The Ministry of Transportation views new drivers that have gone through a BDE course as less risky than drivers that haven’t. As a result, the Ministry of Transportation allows new drivers that have gone through a BDE course to get their G2 in 8 months instead of 12 if they have their G1 license. For a high school student, this can be the difference between having your license before you graduate and graduating without being able to use a car.
2. It can save you 10-20% on auto insurance.
Often, driving school can pay for itself, purely through the insurance discounts. Many auto insurers across Ontario offer discounts to students that have gone through a BDE course to recognize their safer driving behavior. Auto insurance for new drivers can cost between $4,000 – $6,000 per year if you have your own vehicle. At these rates, in your first 3 years of driving, the 10-20% auto insurance discount can represent savings of $1,200 to $1,800 overall, paying for driving school many times over. Savings can vary by insurance provider, though, so make sure to give your insurance company a call to check what your specific discount could be.
3. It can be the difference between passing and failing your road test.
Many driving instructors have been road test examiners in the past. This means that they know the ins and outs of what it takes to pass your road test — and where most students slip up. While there is no guarantee that driving school will result in you passing your road test, it can go a long way towards improving your chances. Follow this tlink for more tips and tricks on how to pass your road test.
4. It will improve your overall driving record.
The certificate you receive from completing an MTO-approved BDE course remains on your driving record for years. Aside from the direct recognition by insurance companies the certificate produces, going through driver’s ed will teach you how to drive more safely, thus improving your driving record. For new drivers, this is critically important, as their time on the road is limited and their driving records are still quite short.
5. You can learn advanced defensive driving techniques.
At the end of the day, learning how to drive safely is the heart and soul of driver’s ed. All of the other benefits — faster licensing time, insurance discounts, etc. — exist because driving schools like Kruzee produce safer drivers. The defensive driving techniques you learn when completing a driver’s ed course can save your life, and the lives of others. At Kruzee, driving instructors focus on instilling safe driving habits for life that will improve your reaction time in dangerous situations and help you assess risky driving situations critically.
