Frequently Asked Questions

GENERAL QUESTIONS

  • Five Reasons to Choose Assist Driver Training...

        1    Safety. Safety is our number one concern and so we have installed video cameras in all of our vehicles to keep our students and staff safe.

        2    Online classes.  We offer both in person and self paced options for the state required classroom training.

        3    Online Booking System. We offer the convenience of booking and changing your lessons in your own student account. 

        4    Adult Lessons. We assist both teens and adults. Some schools restrict their lessons to only teenagers, but we know there are a growing number of adults who still need help obtaining their license.

        5    We Care. We started this business to serve God and our community. We understand how stressful and often confusing the whole process of learning to drive can be, so we try to be sensitive to the needs of each student, not just a "cookie-cutter" approach. We teach with patience and clear instruction, with lots of feedback, to insure the student understands not only "what" they should do in different situations, but also why it's done that way. Sometimes having the WHY behind the rule can make all the difference.

  • Our office is located at 339 W. Butler St. Suite B. Lexington SC, 29072

    Office hours are by appointment only. Please contact us if you need to meet with us in person.

  • Students must be at least 15 years of age by the beginning of class.

  • No, as long as you give at least 24 hours' notice. You may cancel or reschedule your lessons by logging into your student account on our website in advance. However, your account will be charged $50 if you cancel with less than 24 hours' notice or simply do not show up for your drive. This fee must be paid before you can reschedule your missed appointment.

  • Yes! We welcome adults of any age! Behind-the-wheel lessons are given in 2-hour blocks, scheduled at least a week apart, to give you time to practice what you've learned before your next lesson. After each lesson, we'll give you an honest assessment and tell you if you are ready to take the road test or if you might need more practice, either on your own or with us.

  • View our Rules and Resources page for state requirements.

  • If you are 17, you are eligible to take one of our adult courses, which consist of either two, four or six hours of behind-the-wheel lessons, along with our SCDMV-certified road test. As a legal minor, you will still need a parent or guardian's written permission to enroll. You are also still eligible to take our 8-hour in-person or online driver education class for a more in-depth study of safe driving practices.

  • We offer a FULL refund within 48 hours of any purchase unless the class you select is scheduled to begin within 48 hours of registration. In that case, tuition is non-refundable.

    NO refunds will be issued after 48 hours of purchase.

    NO refunds will be issued once any class or driving session has begun.

  • For teens ages 15-16, South Carolina requires 8 hours of classroom and 6 hours of Behind-the-Wheel training. Our AAA course is the only Online curriculum that is approved by SCDMV to meet the 8 hour Classroom requirement for Driver Education.

    For 17 and up, driver education isn't required by law. However, studies have shown that people who receive professional driver training are much less likely to be involved in traffic accidents, and much more likely to become safe confident drivers.

SERVICE AREA

  • We offer home pick within the Red Bank/White Knoll Area, the Lexington High School Area, and East Lexington (East of Main St.)

    If you live in one of these areas, we can pick you up at your home, school or business.

    If you are outside our Home Pickup Area, we can meet you at one of our convenient Meeting Spots. Please refer to our Coverage Map at the bottom of this page for more information.

SAFETY FIRST!

  • We take the safety of our students and instructors very seriously and we know how important this is to parents.

    The first way we keep your child safe is by having a PASSENGER-SIDE BRAKE PEDAL in every driver training car. This lets us prevent nervous or inexperienced drivers from accidentally pulling into the path of an oncoming vehicle. Also, our instructors are on high alert and will to take control of the wheel when necessary.

    Secondly, each vehicle is equipped with VIDEO CAMERAS that record each lesson. The recordings include what's happening ahead of the vehicle, behind the vehicle, as well as inside the cabin, including audio. This helps keep everyone safe and accountable.

ONLINE or IN-PERSON ?

  • In-Person Classes

    We offer In-Person Classes once a month. They are held on two consecutive Saturdays (from 9am to 1pm). Classes are small and interactive.

    Online Classes

    If you prefer to start right way and work at your own pace, choose our state approved online course. 

    Click HERE to see the packages we offer and pick the one that’s right for you!

VEHICLES

  • 2024 Nissan Kicks

OFFICE HOURS and LOCATION

  • We are available to talk with you between the hours of 10:00AM and 6:00PM, Monday thru Friday. Hours of Operation vary on Saturdays. We are closed on Sundays.

    We are available during business hours via Telephone, Text Message and Email. We do our best to respond to every message or call within 2 hours.

    You may reach us by Voice or Text at:

    803-881-8686 (please leave a message if we miss your call)

    Email us at:

    info@assistdrivertraining.com

  • Our Classroom is located at 339 W. Butler St., Lexington, SC 29072.

    We are there BY APPOINTMENT only.

    If you'd like to meet with us in person, please call or text us at: 803-881-8686.

    You may also email us to make arrangements for a face-to-face meeting at: 

    info@assistdrivertraining.com

DRIVER’S ED CLASSES

  • No, however we do recommend that you have a permit prior to starting our course. You can take lessons with us, even without a permit, but you will not be able to practice on your own between lessons with us. Your 6 hours with us is just enough time to teach you what to do and how to do it… getting those lessons "locked-in" to your brain takes hours and hours of personal practice.

  • Not necessarily. Depending on your age and level of experience, we can allow flexible scheduling. However, before we can issue a Certificate of Completion, you’ll need to complete 8hrs of Classroom and 6hrs of Behind-the-Wheel Training. 

FEAR and ANXIETY

  • Our Instructors are very comfortable and experienced in working with teens who are apprehensive about driving. After all, it can be scary!

    But having a good grasp on some basic safety practices and precautions can minimize the danger and give the student a level of confidence that will enable them to drive safely in any situation.

  • Before issuing a Driver's License, the State of South Carolina requires that the Parents of all 15 and 16 year old students confirm in writing that their child has spent a minimum of 40 hours driving (10 of those at night) with an adult licensed driver. 

    Some states actually require 30 to 40 hours of professional training through a Certified Driving School, but South Carolina allows parents to provide that extended experience.

    Parents may either practice personally with their teens or allow another trusted adult to do so.

    At Assist Driver Training, our vehicles are equipped with a passenger-side brake pedal that allows our instructors to help the student avoid most hazardous situations and errors in judgement common with inexperienced drivers.

    Unfortunately, regular cars don't come equipped with passenger-side brakes. So it's understandable that some parents are apprehensive about getting behind the wheel with their teens.

    One of the greatest benefits of allowing Assist Driver Training to work with your teen is that we can safely assess their skill level and practice with them in a safe environment until they reach a level of proficiency that we can feel good about recommending the parent continue helping the student practice.

    Our standard courses provide only the minimum practice time to meet the State Requirements for Driving Schools. Becoming a skilled and confident driver takes much more than the 6 hours required by the State. If your child hasn't reached a point where you feel comfortable about them practicing with you, we are available to help them beyond the standard 6 hours, beginning at $90 per 2 hour lesson.

    We are also happy to allow parents to go along on a lesson to see for themselves how their student is doing. This also helps the parent understand how we are teaching the skills and maneuvers, which helps insure consistency between lessons and practice time.

PRICING and PAYMENT OPTIONS

  • The complete Price List for all of our Services and Service Packages is HERE.

  • We offer two ways to pay:

    Option 1.) Pay in full at Registration. This option let’s you schedule all of your BTW lessons from your dashboard once you finish any classroom training.

    -or-

    Option 2.) Get started with $100 Deposit.

    Teens- Your $100 deposit at Registration will allow you to get started right away with your online class or schedule your in-person Class. Once you finish your Classroom Training, if you pay the balance on your account, we can open the online calendar for you to schedule all of your lessons. Or you can choose to break up your balance between 3 or 4 lessons (depending on the plan you chose). A payment would need to be made before scheduling each lesson.

    Adults- If you are purchasing a multi-lesson package, you can get started with $100 deposit and schedule your first lesson. If you pay the balance on your account, we can open the online calendar for you to schedule all of your lessons. Or you can choose to break up your balance and make a payment prior to each lesson.

BEHIND-THE-WHEEL LESSONS

  • We try to add BTW Dates to the Calendar at least 6 weeks in advance. For example:

    September Dates are added by 7/15

    October Dates are added by 8/15

    November Dates are added by 9/15

    Check back occasionally as more sessions may be added throughout the month.

    *Remember, you can also "wait-list" for sessions that are already booked and you'll be notified if there's a cancelation.

    And finally, you can contact us if you have a specific situation and we’ll try to work something out.

  • Yes, if you are 17 or older, you are not required to take the 8 hour class.

    However, you are still eligible to take the class if you would like to benefit from the valuable knowledge and important safety information the class provides.

    Taking the full "teen" package may also give you an insurance discount. 

    Even if you are under 17, you can still take lessons without the 8hr class, you just won’t receive a “Certificate of Completion” nor the PDLA Form required by the DMV when you apply for your Full Driver’s License.

  • You cannot bring food, but you may bring a drink. Your drink must be in a cup with a secure lid (not one that pops off easily) and a straw. You may not have the drink in your hand while the car is moving.

  • Scheduling, re-scheduling and canceling lessons are all done via our convenient Mobile App. You (or your Parent) can set up Reminders, Monitor your Progress and even provide Feedback about your lessons and Instructors, all through the App. **If you cancel or reschedule a Lesson, you MUST do so at least 24 hours in advance to avoid a $50 late cancellation fee.

  • No, you are covered under our commercial insurance during all behind-the-wheel training.

  • No, our vehicles have safety features (passenger brake, passenger mirror, student driver signs, etc.) that don't come in standard cars.

  • Teens Program - BTW lessons can be scheduled after you have completed the AAA Online Course and have a valid Learner's Permit.

    Adults - You can schedule your BTW lessons after you have purchased your package.

    Availability - Lessons are currently being scheduled 2-3 weeks out. We often add open periods so check back often and you can also "waitlist" yourself for any booked period. 

  • Log in to your student account on our website. Choose an available date and time (“green” dates on the calendar) and your preferred instructor.

  • There will be no more than one student in the car at any time. We need the student's full attention and cannot risk the distraction of other students in the car. *However, we do offer parents the option to ride along with their student if everyone is comfortable with it.

  • We offer home pickup in 3 Zones. (Please check our map.)

    If you don’t live in one of our Home Pickup areas, we offer several convenient meeting spots for each zone. Again, please check the map to pick a meeting spot.

    Click HERE to see the map.

  • All of our instructors can teach BTW lessons for teens.

    As an Adult Student, when scheduling your Behind-The-Wheel sessions, you can choose your instructor based on your needs. If you want a specific instructor, let us know and we can make adjustments to your account. That'll make it easier for you to find sessions that your preferred instructor is scheduled to teach.

    David - Choose David if you have a good bit of driving experience and want to get your lessons completed fairly quickly.

    Marc - Choose Marc if English is not your first language. (All road tests must be conducted in English, but lessons are more flexible.) Or, if you need more lessons because of limited opportunities for personal practice, Marc can help. Marc usually books up 2 or 3 weeks in advance.

    Dana - Choose Dana if you need even more time with your lessons and would benefit from having one-hour lessons instead of two. Contact us if you want to convert your package to one hour lessons. To maximize the use of our time, all one-hour lessons must begin and end at White Knoll High School (you must meet us there).

ROAD TESTING

  • If you are at least 17 years old, you do not need to complete a BTW session. However, we do not suggest you choose this option unless you have had between 40 and 60 hours of practice on the road and you also know how to perform all 4 slow-moving maneuvers. 

    The cost of the Road Test is $80.

    Assist Driver Training is a 3rd Party Tester. We can administer the Road Skills Test on behalf of the DMV . Contact us for availability.

    We do not guarantee that you will pass your Road Skills Test. We follow all DMV state requirements for testing. If you do not pass on the first try, we offer a $50 Re-take Fee. 

    If you pass your test, you have 30 days to exchange your permit for a license at the DMV. With all 3rd Party Testing, the DMV can randomly pull your name for an audit and make you retake the test. 

    We offer Road Tests Monday - Friday (and sometimes Saturday) if you do not see an available period within 3 days of purchase, call us to schedule.

  • No, we do not guarantee that you will pass your Road Test. We will abide by all of the Rules, Regulations and Testing Standards of the South Carolina DMV. Our goal is to help you become a safe, confident and efficient driver. We can teach you what you need to know in order to pass the test, and we can help you practice the skills you need, but passing the test depends on how much time and work you are willing to invest in your learning process. Experts have determined that learning to drive takes anywhere between 45 and 65 hours in the driver's seat, actively practicing in challenging situations, not simply driving around a quiet neighborhood or isolated country roads. Busy intersections with multiple lanes, and lane changes in heavy traffic are the best ways to practice.

  • No, but do we offer a discounted price of $50 for a re-test. 

    If you want to purchase a re-test, reach out to us for the discount. It is not available for purchase on our website.