A Friendly PSA on Teen Drivers: The Real Test Isn’t Theirs—It’s Yours (And Your Wallet’s)

When I was a teenager growing up in Spokane, WA, Driver’s Ed was part of school curriculum. It was a legit class—just like any other elective. We’d head out to the portables, sit through lessons, and eventually get behind the wheel. The school handled the process, and as far as I remember, my parents did little more than sign a few papers and toss me the car keys.

Fast forward to today? A completely different story. If you haven’t yet reached this milestone with your kids, buckle up (pun intended), because here’s what I learned the hard way—and what I wish I’d known ahead of time.

Lesson #1: The Infamous VOE (Verification of Enrollment) Form

Not as simple as it sounds.

At least in Texas, where my kids went to school, the only thing the school does in the entire licensing process is provide one single form that proves your child is enrolled in school. Sounds easy, right? Technically, yes. But in reality? It requires way more planning than I expected.

When you're knee-deep in paperwork—certificates, IDs, proof of residency—you’ll see proof of enrollment and think, Finally! Something simple! Because obviously, there are a million ways to prove a child is enrolled in school.

And while that’s true, the all-knowing and benevolent masters of the DMV have decreed that one form—and only one form—will be accepted. And if you forget it at home, sitting next to a half-eaten bowl of cereal because you were running late? HA. Too specific not to be true.

🚩 Showing them your login to the school portal? Nope.
🚩 Pulling up your kid’s class schedule? Try again.
🚩 Accessing their current grades online? Not a chance.

Without that specific form? You’re stuck. So, if your kid is close to getting their license, I suggest you request that form now (if your state requires it).

Lesson #2: Driving Schools Are a Thing… And I Regret Not Using One

Private driving schools exist, and they handle a huge chunk of this process for you. Did I take advantage of this? No. Do I wish I had? Absolutely.

At the time, my kids were still used to online school post-COVID. They pushed for the self-paced, online driver’s ed version, and as a single parent juggling work, a household, and everything else, I conceded. It was less expensive than in-person driving schools, and with the naivety of a divorced, single parent who had never been through the process, it seemed like it would save me time too… win-win, right?

🚗 Was online driver’s ed terrible? No. There were actually a lot of great things about it.
🚗 Was it convenient? Yes—almost too convenient. It was easy to lose momentum and forget about it.
🚗 Would I use it again? No, at least not if private driving lessons were available and within my budget.

Why?

Private driving schools don’t just teach the curriculum; they actually teach them how to drive. It’s basically how I learned—except it’s no longer part of the school system. The private schools in my area provided cars for kids to practice in, required some parent involvement (which I was fine with), and best of all—they could schedule and administer the driving test.

I swear I don’t own a private driving school, nor am I affiliated with one. This is not a paid advertisement. 😂 But looking back, I wish someone had told me how much easier they could make the process.

I’m the oldest in my friend group, so my kids were the first to reach driving age. There was no one sharing their DMV horror stories or giving me tips to make things easier. That’s why I’m sharing this with you—just in case it helps your own DMV adventure go a little smoother.

Lesson #3: The Appointment Backlog Is INSANE

When my kids finished online driver’s ed, I figured we’d schedule their driving test within a few weeks. Cute, right?

The reality? A six-month wait.

I had no idea people book these appointments months in advance. Meanwhile, private driving schools (as I mentioned before) can complete both the written and driving test independently of the DMV. You’ll still need an appointment to turn in your paperwork and get your kid’s license, but it drastically cuts down the stress.

Pro Tips:

1️⃣ Start searching for appointments early—even in different counties. We cut the wait time in half by booking an appointment an hour away instead of waiting six months locally.
2️⃣ Call private driving schools—even if your child didn’t do their driver’s ed there, they might still let them take the test. My son went from a six-month wait to three months by booking in a different county, and then I got the crazy idea to call a local private school… Poof! We had an appointment in two days.

The irony? I learned about private schools on the very last day I needed them. 😂

Lesson #4: When You Decide to Take the Test, “Weather” or Not

By the time my son (the last of my kids to get licensed) took his test, the weather was insane. It was pouring rain, but his instructor was calm, he powered through, and he passed.

That moment of relief and pride? Huge.

Teaching both of my kids to drive was a milestone I’ll never forget—mostly because I think I’m still suffering from PTTDD—Post-Traumatic Teen Driving Disorder.

But in all seriousness, seeing them succeed after all the stress? Completely worth it.

Would it have been less stressful if I had gone the private route? Probably. But hindsight is 20/20, and at the very least, I wish I had known more about my options.

Lesson #5: The Real Prize for Teaching Your Kids to Drive? A Car Insurance Bill That Looks Like a Typo

If you’ve never added a teenager to your car insurance before, let me give you a moment to prepare yourself.

…

Ready?

The day my son got his license, my insurance doubled overnight. It was now more than both of my car payments combined.

I had two normal, average cars—nothing fancy—and two teenage drivers. My daughter was 18, my son was 16, and I knew it would go up… but the actual amount? I was flabbergasted.

What should have been a time to celebrate quickly turned into a financial reality check.

As the host of the Divorce Goals podcast, I talk a lot about planning ahead for expenses, and I really wish I had thought about this when finalizing my divorce decree. My kids were so young at the time that things like cell phones, braces, cars, and car insurance weren’t even on my radar.

If you’re in the process of divorcing (or thinking about it), I suggest at least asking your lawyer about factoring in these types of future expenses. Some parents naturally step up, no matter what. Others? If it’s not in the divorce decree, it’s not their problem. Hint, hint.

But you know what? Even though kids (and their expenses) only get bigger, it’s all worth it.

I was the one who taught them to ride their bikes. They barely remember that. But teaching them to drive? That’s something they’ll never forget. The good, the bad, the stressful—and yes, the laughter.

And would I do it all over again?

Absolutely.

(Though next time, I’d probably just go with the private driving school—let them play bad cop while I played good… or heck, I’d be happy to play bad cop, and they play good cop! It was playing all the cops, paying all the fees, covering all the insurance, and finding all the time that had me wondering how I’d get through it. But I did. And I would do it all over again.)

Final Thoughts: What I Wish I Knew Before Starting This Process

🚦 Get the school enrollment form early. Don’t wait until the last minute.
🚦 Consider a private driving school. It might be worth the investment.
🚦 Book the driving test early. The backlog is ridiculous.
🚦 Brace yourself for the insurance increase. Maybe start a GoFundMe now.

Teaching your kids to drive is a test of patience, nerves, and your ability to laugh through the absurdity. But it’s also one of the biggest milestones you’ll go through as a parent and they'll go through in their childhood.

I just wanted to share the inside scoop I wish I had—so consider this your friendly heads-up! Don’t say I didn’t warn you. 😉

Have You Taught Your Kids to Drive?

What was the hardest (or funniest) part of the process for you? Drop your stories in the comments—I know I’m not the only one who barely survived this! 🚗💨