As a former driving instructor, driving safety is my passion. Because of this, I’ve become very familiar with the different online drivers ed programs that have sprung up over the past 10 years. In fact, I’ve even helped with the creation of various online drivers education programs for commercial truck drivers and have embraced the move from classroom based training to online driver training.
In this post, I thought I’d create these Ohio online drivers ed reviews specifically for those of you between the ages of 15.5 and 18 years old. The state of Ohio now allows you to sign up for your “classroom” based drivers ed training online.
** NOTE: The below online drivers education courses are the ONLY online drivers ed programs certified for 15.5 to 18 year old student drivers in the state of Ohio.
For your convenience, I have listed these certified Ohio online drivers ed courses in order from my top recommendation to my least favorite.
DriversEd.com (Top Pick)
Website: DriversEd.com
Discount available? Click here!
Aceable Drivers Ed
Website: www.aceable.com/ohio/oh-drivers-ed
Discount available? Click here!
Costech Technologies Inc.
Website: www.ohiodrivereducation.com
Discount available? No
Virtual Drive of Ohio
Website: www.vdriveusa.com
Discount available? No
Top Driver
Website: www.topdriveronline.net/login/signup.php
Discount available? No.
All Star Driver Education, Inc.
www.allstardrivereducation.com/OhioOnlineDriverEducation
Discount available? No
American Safety Council, Inc.
Website: www.FirstTimeDriver.com/Ohio
Discount available? No
igottadrive.com
Website: www.igottadrive.com/ohio-drivers-ed
Discount available? No
Jordan Driving School, Inc.
Website: www.onlinedriveredohio.com/
Discount available? No
**Please note: students who choose to take the 24 hours of education online are still required to go to a traditional driving school to complete the 8 hours of behind-the-wheel training.
While this list is kept as current as possible, you can also verify the current list of Ohio state approved online drivers ed courses here. You can also check out the Ohio requirements for certification of any online drivers ed course here.
Which Ohio Online Drivers Ed Course Is The Best?
Everyone will obviously have their own idea about which online drivers ed course is the best, but I can say without a doubt that the Aceable drivers ed course is by far the best without question.
As an industry insider, I have personally gone through each of the above online drivers ed courses. Not only that, but I know the companies behind each of the above schools, their reputation, the type of funding behind them, and all the shady things that go on in the background.
Now, I’m not here to shove any one course down your throat, so if for whatever reason you don’t like Aceable, my second choice would be DriversEd.com.
Truth be told, ANY of the courses listed above will work, and to make things easier, I listed the courses above from my highest to least recommended.
The list of certified Ohio online drivers ed courses above are the only online drivers ed courses that are certified in the state as of this posting.
Why I Recommend Aceable Over The Others – So obviously I’m a big fan of Aceable, but why? Of all of the online drivers ed courses listed above, Aceable is the ‘new kid on the block’ with only 2 years experience of experience as of this writing. With that said, Aceable has a TON of funding from investors behind it.
This translates into the highest quality online drivers ed course EVER developed (and I’ve been in this industry for a while).
Quite simply, nothing else even comes close to the quality Aceable has created from course quality to customer service. If you visit the websites for all of the approved Ohio online driver education courses I posted above, I think the quality difference between Aceable and the others will become pretty obvious.
Is Taking Online Drivers Ed In Ohio Better Than A Classroom?
The real answer to this question is, “it depends.” When the state of Ohio passed the law to allow online drivers ed courses to be taken, it was received with mixed reactions. Many people think online drivers ed courses are a terrible idea because students can’t ask questions to instructors, converse with other students about the same coursework, or get the face-to-face attention that many students need.
On the other hand, teens are more than familiar with using their computers, iPhones, tablets, and other electronic devices for learning. With an online drivers ed course, students are forced to participate by answering questions, solving problems, watching videos, viewing animations, and passing quizzes / exams to ensure they are learning all of the material.
So, as a driving instructor, which do I prefer? While I believe every student learns in their own individual way, for most teens, I strongly recommend ONLINE drivers ed. Time and time again, online drivers ed courses have shown to improve test scores, increase retention rates, and even reduce accidents later on in life as compared to classroom based courses.
Remember, taking an Ohio online drivers ed course only prepares a student to pass the written exam in Ohio. Students will still be required to take behind-the-wheel training, so it’s not as if they are actually learning to drive through an online course. Instead, they are simply learning the rules of the road in Ohio.
In my opinion, the best way to learn about rules, regulations, statistics, and other boring topics such as road signs and right-of-way laws is through a well design and interactive online course where students can progress at their own pace and on their own time.
Is Taking Online Drivers Ed Better Than a Classroom?
The answer to this question is a bit tricky because we all have different learning styles. One form of instruction may work best for you, but it may not be the ideal way to learn for me. So I guess the perfect answer here is, “it depends.”
If you can recall, there were mixed reactions from Ohio drivers when the state passed the law to allow online driver’s ed courses to be taken instead of in-person driver’s education. This is because some people think that taking the course online will not benefit the students.
They are concerned about how students can clarify their doubts about the lesson if instructors are not available to answer their questions in real-time. They are also concerned about losing that social interaction that teens need to develop into whole functioning members of society.
These concerns may not be as valid nowadays because of the availability of different channels and platforms to reach out to people without face-to-face interaction – teens turn to social media for peer support. They’d rather chat online than meet up personally.
Meanwhile, although facilitators are not available to answer questions, students from online classes have access to 24/7 support services if they need any help. Besides, online classes are also available in live stream format with actual instructors and classmates.
At the end of the day, I think what matters most is that the student is comfortable with the way they learn – that they are not forced to keep up with the lesson because they are slow learners. Or, they get bored to death because they are quick learners but have to wait for the rest of the class to pick up what the topic is all about. Online driver’s education makes it possible for them to study at their own pace, making them more productive.
Ohio Online Drivers Ed FAQ
Before signing up for an online drivers ed course in Ohio you need to understand how the process works. I’ve tried to answer most of the frequently asked questions about taking drivers ed online here.
How Much Is This Going To Cost Me?
You should expect to spend at least $75 for an online course (possibly more in a classroom setting) and there are some optional upgrades that are usually available for the online courses such as additional training, access to more practice tests, etc. With all upgrades, the course could cost $200 or more, but most students end up paying somewhere around $100.
How Long Does Drivers Ed Take?
Whether you decide to take your drivers ed course in a classroom or online, you will need to go through a minimum of 24 hours of training.
What Subjects Will Be Covered During The Course?
All drivers education courses must cover the same main topics. Those topics include safe driving habits, rules of the road, signage, defensive driving strategies, distracted driving, drunk driving, drugged driving, right-of-way laws, and all the prep-work needed to pass the Ohio written driving exam.
Can I Fail An Online Drivers Ed Course?
Many online drivers ed courses will guarantee that you pass or you will get your money back. However, it is indeed possible to fail the “final exam” of your drivers ed course. You will need to pass a minimum of 30 questions throughout the course as well as a final exam which will test you on all the material learned during the course.
When Do I Get My Driving Permit?
A current Temporary Instruction Permit Identification Card (TIPIC) is required before you are allowed to receive behind-the-wheel instruction in Ohio. Once a drivers ed course has been completed, you will need to go to a local Ohio Driver Examination Station and pass a written exam as well as a vision test. Upon passing the exams, you will then receive your permit and can begin behind-the-wheel training.
What Is The Written Driving Test Like At The Ohio Driver Facility?
The written exam is taken on-site at a local driver services facility. In most locations, the exam can be completed either on a computer or on paper.
You must pass a 20 question multiple choice exam covering motor vehicle regulations. In order to pass this section of the exam, you will need to obtain a minimum of a 75% score to pass, which means you need to get 15 out of the 20 questions correct.
The questions will cover motor vehicle laws; rules of the road pertaining to safety; and regulations of the BMV as prescribed by the director of public safety. You will also need to take a 20 question multiple choice exam on traffic signs and you must also obtain a 75% passing score on this section of the exam.
Question on this part of the exam will cover highway warnings, traffic signs, signaling devices, and directions given in the English language.
How Does Behind-The-Wheel Driver Training Work In Ohio?
The state of Ohio requires all student drivers to receive training from a certified driving instructor as well as supervised driving practice before you are able to obtain your full driver’s license.
Those under 18 years of age will need to complete a minimum of 50 hours of supervised driving practice before they are allowed to take the driving exam. To find an approved driving instructor in your area, please click here.
What Is The Driving Exam Like?
You must furnish your own vehicle to take the driving exam. You will also need to show the instructor that your vehicle is in safe operating condition by doing an inspection before your begin.
The road test has two separate parts that include a driving test as well as a maneuverability test. The driving test will require you to perform tasks such as stopping and starting, turning around and backing up, making proper left and right turns, giving hand signals or using mechanical turn signals, driving in the proper lane, maintaining a safe following distance, and properly wearing your seatbelt.
The maneuverability test will test your parallel parking abilities, precision cornering, and confined maneuvers.