Driver Education Requirements

The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles requires anyone between 16 and 18 years old to complete an approved commercial or school-based driver's education class. The teen driver must submit a certificate verifying that he or she completed:

• 40 hours of behind-the-wheel training.

• 30 hours of classroom instruction.

A teen may also receive home-based training under the following conditions:

• The trainer must be a parent, grandparent, guardian, or spouse.

• The trainer must certify that the driver completed at least 40 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction and at least 22 hours of home-based classroom training.

• The teen must complete an eight-hour course from an approved commercial or secondary school driver education program, with a minimum of four hours of drug and alcohol education.

Students certified as home-educated must wait 180 days after receiving a permit before a license exam will be approved. Students who graduate from an approved commercial or secondary school program only have to wait 120 days.

Teenagers 18 and older are exempt from the driver education requirement and may be trained by another licensed driver, as long as the trainer is older than 20 years old and has held a valid driver's license for at least four consecutive years. However, if you've never held a license you must attend an eight-hour safe driving course.

Insurance Discounts

There is no set discount for driver education graduates in Connecticut. It's up to the individual insurance company to set its own policy for discounts. However, most insurance companies offer a discount of at least 10 % to teen drivers who have successfully completed an approved driver education course. Check with your auto insurance company for more information.

Finding Driver Training

Finding a state-approved commercial driving school in Connecticut isn't hard. The Connecticut DMV keeps an online list of approved driver education schools. You can also look on the Internet, in the local phone directory, or ask around. One great way to seek out a solid driver education program is to poll friends with older children. Ask them which school they used with their kids and how they liked it.

Your teen will likely know if their school offers an approved driver education course. The Connecticut DMV also keeps an online list of secondary schools that have such programs.

Remember, even if you plan to do home education, the teen still needs to take an eight-hour commercial or secondary driving program to apply for a license.

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