Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about Driver Education, course requirements, payments, scheduling, and registration at Grumpas Driving School.
Course Information
How much does the Driver Education course cost?
The Driver Education course is $600.
A $200 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve a student's seat. The remaining $400 balance is due 7 days before Orientation Day.
What is included in the course fee?
The course fee includes:
- Student/Parent Orientation
- Two live Zoom classroom sessions
- AAA online coursework
- Review & Permit Test session
- 10 hours of behind-the-wheel driving
- Permit test preparation
Is the AAA online course included?
Yes. The AAA online course is included in the Driver Education course fee.
Students are responsible for completing the coursework, and it must be 100% completed at least 4 days before the Review & Permit Test date.
How old does a student need to be?
Students must be 15 years old by Orientation Day in order to take the class.
How many students are in each class?
Class size is limited to 20 students unless otherwise noted for a specific class.
What happens at Student/Parent Orientation?
Student/Parent Orientation is held in person. During Orientation, we review course expectations, attendance requirements, paperwork, payment information, AAA online coursework, scheduling, and what students and parents should expect throughout the course.
Are classes in person or on Zoom?
Student/Parent Orientation and the Review & Permit Test are held in person.
The two classroom sessions are held live through Zoom.
Can students start driving right away?
No. Students must complete Student/Parent Orientation and both Zoom classroom sessions before beginning behind-the-wheel driving.
Students must also show progress with their AAA online coursework before drive time can be scheduled. Scheduling is subject to instructor availability.
How much driving time is required?
Students are required to complete 10 hours of behind-the-wheel driving.
This is scheduled as five 2-hour driving appointments.
Is drive time included in the posted class schedule?
No. Drive time is scheduled separately from the classroom schedule.
Driving appointments are based on instructor availability and are scheduled after the required classroom sessions have been completed.
Where does drive time start and end?
Drive time starts and ends at Mattanawcook Academy in Lincoln unless other arrangements have been approved ahead of time.
Are dates and times guaranteed?
Dates and times are subject to change when necessary. If a change is needed, families will be notified as soon as possible.
Attendance & Course Requirements
Is attendance required?
Yes. Grumpas Driving School has a strict attendance policy.
Student/Parent Orientation, both Zoom classes, and the Review & Permit Test are mandatory.
What if we cannot attend one of the required class dates?
Before registering, please make sure the student and family can commit to the listed Orientation, classroom, and permit-test dates.
If you already know there is a conflict, please contact Grumpas Driving School before registering.
When does the AAA online course need to be completed?
The AAA online coursework must be 100% completed at least 4 days before the Review & Permit Test date.
Can drive time be scheduled if the AAA course is not being worked on?
Students are required to show progress with their AAA online coursework before drive time can be scheduled.
Payments
What payment methods are accepted?
Grumpas Driving School accepts:
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- PayPal
- Checks
- Cash by prior arrangement
Can I pay in full?
Yes. Families may choose to pay the full $600 course fee at the time of registration.
What happens if I register without paying?
If registration is submitted without payment, an invoice will be sent.
At least the $200 non-refundable deposit must be paid when the invoice is received in order to reserve the student's seat.
When is the remaining balance due?
The remaining $400 balance is due 7 days before Orientation Day.
Is there a late fee?
Yes. A $25 late fee will be added if the remaining course balance is not paid by the required due date.
Where can checks be mailed?
Grumpas Driving School
PO Box 124
Lincoln, ME 04457
Please make checks payable to Grumpas Driving School.
Can I pay with cash?
Cash payments are accepted by prior arrangement only. Please contact Grumpas Driving School ahead of time if you need to pay with cash.
When is a student's seat reserved?
A student's seat is not reserved until at least the $200 non-refundable deposit has been received.
The remaining course balance must then be paid according to the required payment deadline.
What if I cannot pay the balance by the due date?
If the balance is not paid in full by the required due date, a $25 late fee will be added and the student's seat is not guaranteed.
If the seat is released, the student may need to move to the next available class.
Scheduling
When will drive time be scheduled?
Drive time is scheduled after students complete the required classroom sessions and show progress with their AAA online coursework.
Drive time is scheduled separately from classroom dates and is based on instructor availability.
How many driving appointments can be scheduled each week?
Students may schedule a maximum of two driving appointments per week.
Students may only complete one driving appointment per day.
Can students schedule all drive times at once?
Drive-time availability depends on class size, instructor scheduling, student availability, and student progress.
Available appointments are released and scheduled according to the current driving schedule.
How long does it take to finish the course?
The classroom portion has set dates. Behind-the-wheel completion depends on instructor availability, student availability, and completion of the AAA online coursework.
What if a student cannot attend a scheduled drive time?
If a student cannot attend a scheduled drive time, please contact Grumpas Driving School as soon as possible.
Late cancellations and missed driving appointments may result in applicable cancellation or no-show fees and may delay course completion.
Registration
How do I register?
Complete the online registration form for the class you would like to attend.
After registration is submitted, the required payment must be received to reserve the student's seat.
Are seats limited?
Yes. Seats are limited and classes may fill.
A student's seat is reserved once the required registration payment has been received.
What should I do if I have questions before registering?
Please contact Grumpas Driving School before registering if you have questions about the schedule, payment, attendance policy, or course requirements.
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