Driver Training... quickest path to get my son a license (Raleigh: home, transfer) - The Triangle Area - City-Data Forum

convergent · 09-03-2008, 07:52 AM

We just moved from NY and my 16 year old son is totally bummed by the driving situation. NY doesn't require driver's ed, and he'd had a learners permit for about 6 months and was going to be getting his license soon. Now we are in NC and he can't drive at all. I'm told that he will have to take driver's ed FIRST, and then have a learner's permit for a year. He turns 17 in March and at this rate he'll be out of high school before he can drive. For a teenage boy, this is a hoorible turn of events. So what is the quickest path to get him a license?

Can anyone recommend a driver's ed program? We go to a small private school that doesn't offer driver's ed.

NC's transfer of out of state drivers is very bizarre. My oldest daughter is turning 19 next month and is a college sophmore here. If she went to DMV now to get her NC license, I'm told that they'd take her NY license (which she's had and driven with for 3 years) and make her take driver's ed and then get a learner's permit for a year, and then take the test to get a license. This is ridiculous. She is just going to wait until she's 19 and then they will let her transfer with just taking the test.

If you go the other way... move to NY... you give them your fee, fill out the form, and the give you a license. No retaking of tests.

sneezecake · 09-03-2008, 08:41 AM

That's because everyone down here knows that yankees can't drive!

KIDDING

Seriously, I think back to when I got my license (as a 16 year old in CA) and how devastated I was that I didn't pass my test on the first try (26mph in a 25mph zone!!)

The two weeks I had to wait for a re-take were absolute hell on teenager-earth. I can't imagine having to go through what your son is presented with.

Sorry I can't help, though.

saturnfan · 09-03-2008, 08:46 AM

A private driving school can substitute for a school course.

Might be good for him to get a few lessons so he will develop good habits. Really helped our son drive safely.

Now, get ready to fork over your life when he gets licensed and you must add him to your policy.

mia78 · 09-03-2008, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saturnfan

A private driving school can substitute for a school course.

Might be good for him to get a few lessons so he will develop good habits. Really helped our son drive safely.

Now, get ready to fork over your life when he gets licensed and you must add him to your policy.

I know some policies differ, but I think some require you to add the teen over a certain age even if they don't have a license. Residence in your home is enough of a liability in my understanding.

yttrium · 09-03-2008, 12:21 PM

Try a driving school like at Sear's at Crabtree Mall. Your son can get his license in less than 2 or 3 weeks.

Sears Authorized Driving School
Crabtree Valley Mall
Raleigh, North Carolina 27601
Phone: 919-881-2087

convergent · 09-03-2008, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yttrium

Try a driving school like at Sear's at Crabtree Mall. Your son can get his license in less than 2 or 3 weeks.

Sears Authorized Driving School
Crabtree Valley Mall
Raleigh, North Carolina 27601
Phone: 919-881-2087

Seriously? I thought that you had to have your learners permit for 12 months after you completed driver training? Maybe I have been given the wrong info. So he can go to this school and then get his license right away?

Priorityonecb · 09-03-2008, 12:32 PM

We moved here when our oldest just turned 16 too. She had to take drivers ed and then we've been waiting that year. It hasn't been fun for her at all. Our year is "up" in a couple weeks though...she will be over 17 1/2 before she can drive on her own.

convergent · 09-03-2008, 12:41 PM

Yeh, on top of being "the new kid", he has the stigma of being the only kid his age that can't drive. He'll be a senior and still not have a license.

yttrium · 09-03-2008, 01:10 PM

Not sure about the 12 month permit thing but you can always call them and ask.

lamishra · 09-03-2008, 01:50 PM

I could be wrong about this, but I'm pretty sure the new graduated licensing requirements for teens ages 15-18 require a permit for 12 months. You HAVE to take driver's ed if you're under 18, either through the school system or a private driving school, and have documentation proving it.
Have you guys been to your local DMV to ask about it? If I were you, I'd go down to the DMV with his NY permit and see if perhaps he could get his NC permit time down from a year to 6 months since he's already been driving for 6 months with a permit. I have no idea if they can do this or not, but it's worth a try.