Submitted by SSSS_car_go t3_z4ksvt in washingtondc
A good friend has his learner’s permit but hasn’t had much chance to practice (so many people are carfree in DC). Any experiences, good or bad?
Comments
SSSS_car_go OP t1_ixrpdka wrote
Thank you! That’s very helpful.
cowcubrub t1_ixsunjk wrote
Hey, I’m in a similar boat. I signed up for classes with Ethiostar, starting in December. Don’t know how good they are but the price was right.
SSSS_car_go OP t1_ixt60fc wrote
Thanks! I’ll tell him. The lessons are sure expensive, for sure.
Misaniovent t1_ixxcyx6 wrote
I used Ethiostar and had a good experience.
ilovearthistory t1_ixthes1 wrote
i booked a few lessons with ethio star (there’s very few companies operating in this city based on my research) and it was awful - i cancelled my other lessons after one. instructor had me drive on extremely busy roads even though i said i was brand new, and was openly hostile to me about not breaking right etc and being anxious. his idea of teaching was to berate me. these lessons are IMO designed for people who just need a bit of road time and to take their tests - they’re not going to be you practicing in a parking lot, so beware
Itfollowsu t1_ixtus3i wrote
I'm so sorry you went through that. I literally had the same experience with Ethio Star a couple months ago. The first thing I was told to do was back out of a spot by that Starbucks in Dupont Circle (this was after I'd told the instructor I'd only ever spent about 30 minutes driving before). I politely told him driving on some of the VERY busy roads he was taking me on was making me anxious and he actually had me pull over to tell me off. Ended up canceling all my prebooked lessons. Fortunately, the owner was nice about it and did refund me.
Started driving with CAS instead. I highly recommend Ms. Butler.
ilovearthistory t1_ixujvjj wrote
sounds like we had the same guy lol!
TheZenCowSaysMu t1_ixvaq8d wrote
Just drive in Maryland. Pretty sure no one there has ever taken a driving lesson
No-Outcomes t1_ixrmlql wrote
I just got my license this summer as a new adult driver (had done a little driving on my permit here and there) and took classes with two of the schools in DC - DC Star and CAS and passed on my first try. I only split between the two because I was in a rush to test before my permit expired and there wasn’t much appointment availability.
Took 2 one-hour lessons with CAS. The instructor was much more about building my confidence and making sure I was comfortable driving than technical instruction. Very naturally/gradually tested my abilities as we drove and increased the “difficulty” as we went along. For example, driving through neighborhood streets, to busier two-lane streets, to highway.
Took one one-hour lesson and was booked for a pre-test hour before my DMV test with DC Star. Instructor was more focused on some of the technical aspects like tips on how far back to check for blind spots, etc. Due to a scheduling mistake, they cancelled my one-hour pre-test lesson without telling me which was pretty stressful right before the test, so that wasn’t great.
I also did a lot of parallel parking practice independently (out in the suburbs where the DMVs set up barrels for you) which helped. For specific test tips, I’d recommend booking a lesson in the area around the DMV (I think all the DC Star lessons and a specific type you can book with CAS) since that’s pretty much the exact route you test on.