Frequently Asked Questions

The student must be at least 15 years old by Orientation Day. Proof of age is required at Orientation.

Submitting the registration form places a temporary hold on an available seat while the registration is reviewed. It does not create a fully confirmed reservation by itself.

If the registration is approved, the family receives Registration & Payment instructions with a Seat Hold Deadline. The applicable required payment must be received by that deadline to fully reserve the seat.

The applicable required payment is normally due within 3 calendar days after approval. An earlier deadline may be stated when Orientation is approaching.

If a verified payment is actively processing, the seat will not be released solely because the payment takes additional time to finish processing.

Yes. Class capacity is limited. A submitted registration can temporarily hold an available seat during review, but the seat becomes fully reserved only after the applicable payment requirement is satisfied.

You may join the waiting list when one is available. Joining a waiting list does not hold or guarantee a seat. If space becomes available, Grumpas Driving School will provide instructions for registration.

Standard Driver Education tuition is $600, before any approved promotion, voucher, credit, or administrative adjustment.

• Student/Parent Orientation
• Two required live Zoom classroom sessions
• AAA online coursework
• 10 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction
• Review & Permit Test session
• Permit-test preparation as part of the course

The program is hybrid. Orientation and the Review & Permit Test are held in person at Mattanawcook Academy. The two classroom sessions are held live through Zoom. AAA coursework is completed independently online.

Mattanawcook Academy
33 Reed Drive
Lincoln, ME 04457

Yes. The required AAA online coursework is included with Driver Education tuition.

AAA must be 100% complete no later than 4 days before the Review & Permit Test, unless a specific exception has been approved.

Students must complete both live Zoom classes and show sufficient AAA progress before becoming eligible for behind-the-wheel scheduling. The current driving-eligibility threshold is generally AAA progress of at least 50%, along with the required classroom completion.

A $25 AAA administrative fee may apply. Driving appointments may be affected, and the Review & Permit Test may need to be moved if the coursework is not completed in time. If the student's missed AAA requirement forces a larger rescheduling action, the applicable rescheduling fee may replace the lower AAA administrative fee. No rescheduling fee applies when Grumpas Driving School initiates the schedule change.

No. Students must first complete Orientation and both required Zoom classroom sessions. They must also meet the AAA progress requirement before behind-the-wheel appointments can be scheduled.

Students complete 10 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction, normally scheduled as five 2-hour sessions.

No. Behind-the-wheel appointments are scheduled separately. Posted driving windows are estimates, not guarantees, and actual appointments depend on instructor availability, student availability, weather, holidays, and other scheduling factors.

The standard limit is no more than 2 driving appointments per week and no more than 1 appointment per day.

The standard start and end location is Mattanawcook Academy, 33 Reed Drive, Lincoln. Alternate pickup or drop-off arrangements must be approved in advance and should not be assumed when booking.

Please provide at least 24 hours' notice. A cancellation or reschedule with less than 24 hours' notice may result in a $50 fee. A no-call/no-show may result in a $100 fee.

Yes. Student/Parent Orientation, both live Zoom classes, and the Review & Permit Test are required parts of the program.

Please contact Grumpas Driving School before registering. Families should review all required dates before choosing a class. A missed required session can delay completion and may require a makeup, transfer, or rescheduling fee.

Required classroom dates are published for each cohort, but changes can occasionally be necessary. Behind-the-wheel dates are scheduled separately and are not guaranteed by the tentative driving window. Families will be notified when a necessary schedule change affects them.

• More than 7 days before Orientation: normally a $200 non-refundable deposit.
• Within 7 days of Orientation: normally the full remaining course balance.

The exact required amount and Seat Hold Deadline are provided in the approval/payment instructions.

When a $200 deposit is used, the remaining balance is due 7 days before Orientation. A $25 late fee may be applied if the remaining balance is not paid by the required due date.

Yes. Families may pay the full remaining tuition balance rather than making only the minimum required initial payment.

Payment arrangements may be available when approved by Grumpas Driving School. Contact the school as early as possible if you need to discuss an arrangement.

Electronic payment options are provided through the Grumpas payment system and may include card, PayPal, and available invoice-payment options. Checks are also accepted, and cash may be accepted by prior arrangement.

Checks may be mailed to:
Grumpas Driving School
PO Box 124
Lincoln, ME 04457

Students must satisfy all required course components, including Orientation, both live Zoom sessions, AAA online coursework, 10 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction, and the Review & Permit Test requirements.

If a student attends the scheduled Review & Permit Test and does not pass, a retake will be needed. There is no retake fee after the first failed attempt. If another retake is required after the student's second unsuccessful attempt, a $25 permit-test retake fee applies before the next attempt can be scheduled.

This retake fee is separate from the $100 alternate Review/Permit date fee that may apply when a student or family needs the Review & Permit Test moved outside the student's original cohort. No alternate-date/rescheduling fee applies when Grumpas Driving School initiates the schedule change.

Course completion documentation is issued after the student has completed all required course components and applicable administrative requirements.