Teen Drivers Ed Classes

We ARE In-Person for classes and we have resumed Observation Hours with our program.  Please plan to attend all classes in-person, as zooming in to a live class will not be allowed at this time.

Age Requirements: The student MUST be at least 15 years and 9 months by the first day of the class they are registered in. We do NOT currently offer this course for students older than 21.

Classes include:

• 30 hours of classroom instruction
• 10 hours of driving with a Certified Driver Ed Instructor.
• Minimum 6 hours of observation.

Attendance Requirements: By state law, students are NOT allowed to miss classroom instruction except for good cause as determined by the instructor (may include a death in the family or an injury), and there must be documentation to support this.  No more than 4 hours (or 2 classes) of classroom instruction may be missed. Sports are NOT valid absences, and the 1^st class is MANDATORY attendance and may not be used as an absence. *Class dates and times are subject to change based on local school calendars and instructor's schedules.  (see FAQ's for additional info). Please plan accordingly.

Tuition: Classes will be $1100. A non-refundable registration deposit of $300 is due at the time of registration (must be paid within 15 days) to secure a spot in the class. The tuition balance is due by on the first day of class. If you need to cancel your registration, please give a minimum two-week notice. The amount, less the deposit, will be refunded or applied to a future session. Our rates are subject to change due to inflation and surcharches may be applied based on current gas prices.

Parent Orientation: ONE parent or guardian is required to attend a Parent Orientation, but the students will NOT be required to attend.  The specific Parent Orientation dates and times are listed in the description of the class you register for. The Parent Orientation will typically be the 1st Monday of the month prior, but this can vary some depending on our schedule. We are in the process of reworking our Parent Orientation, so this format is subject to change.

Vision Requirements: Students must pass an eye chart examination (20/40 both eyes, or 20/30 if blind in one eye) on the first day of class. If you are unsure of vision, please schedule an eye appointment prior to taking driver's ed. The NH DMV will not let you take the written or driving test if you do not first pass their vision exam.

Driving Requirements: 1st Gear requires that students come in to driver ed with at least 10 hours or practice driving at home. During class, the driving commitment for the students is two to four hours per week of driving/observing with an instructor in order to complete the 10 hours of driving and at least 6 hours of observation with us.

In order to get a license students under the age of 18 are required by state law to have atleast 40 hours of driving time with a parent or guardian, 10 of which have to be night hours, prior to taking their driver's test at the DMV. This driving can be completed with an adult 25 or older who is license. Use this form to start documenting your hours. Click here to download/print the Out-of-Class Log Sheet.

NH Driver's Manual: The NH Driver's Manual is required reading in order to prepare for the state written test. You may go to the DMV and request a manual, print it out yourself or download it.  Click here to download the manual.

Waitlist:  If you do not see the classes available to register, or if we are full, please email me your teen's name and DOB (through the Contact Us link in the upper right corner).  We will add them to our email list and notify you if we get cancellations or as we add new classes to the schedule. The waitlist does NOT guarantee a spot in a class.  Please do NOT call for this, as we are busy driving.  Email is always the best way to reach us, and I can check those between driving hours.