Frequently asked questions

Students should obtain their permit and contact their instructor within 30 days of the reserved session start date. Lessons must be completed within one year.

Teens under 17½ must hold their permit for at least 6 months and complete required supervised driving practice before taking the road test.

AAA uses planned routes that support consistent instruction, lesson objectives, and efficient use of behind-the-wheel time.

Yes. Students and parents can log in to view schedules, appointments, payments, and lesson details.

The AAA Driving School is a member benefit, so an active AAA membership is required to enroll. Non-members can join AAA at the time of enrollment. Members receive preferred pricing, and students who complete the full program (online education plus behind-the-wheel training) may receive a free 12-month dependent associate membership upon graduation.

Yes — a valid learner’s permit is required before any behind-the-wheel lessons can begin. Students must bring their original permit to every lesson; photocopies are not accepted. If a student arrives without their permit, the lesson will be canceled and a late cancellation fee will apply. Note that the permit is not considered active until it is signed by a AAA instructor during the very first behind-the-wheel lesson, so students should not drive before that point.

Lessons can be rescheduled or canceled through your online account. Changes must be made with sufficient advance notice to avoid a late cancellation fee — check your state’s specific terms at enrollment, as fees and notice windows vary by location. No-shows and last-minute cancellations are generally subject to a fee, which must be paid before the next lesson can be scheduled. No refunds are issued after one year from the enrollment date.

Yes. All AAA driving instructors are AAA-trained and hold the state-required license or certification for the state in which they teach. Each state — California, Ohio, Maine, New Hampshire, and Texas — has its own licensing requirements for driving instructors, and AAA instructors meet or exceed those standards.

Possibly. Graduates of the full AAA Driving School program (online course plus behind-the-wheel training) may qualify for an auto insurance discount. Discounts vary by insurer, policy, and state, so we recommend checking with your insurance provider after your teen completes the program. AAA Insurance members may have access to additional savings for teen drivers.

Lessons are generally spaced a minimum of two to three weeks apart. This is intentional — practice between lessons makes a real difference. Students who get regular supervised driving time with a parent or guardian between AAA lessons tend to build skills more effectively than those who rush through back-to-back sessions. Because teens under 17½ are required to hold their permit for at least six months anyway, we encourage spreading lessons across that period.

The online driver education component is available 24/7 on any Wi-Fi-enabled computer, tablet, or phone, so students can work through it at their own pace. The course is designed to focus on quality of learning rather than speed of completion. Course length and access windows vary by state — for example, Ohio’s online course is 24 hours and expires 180 days from enrollment, while California and Texas use a 30-hour course. Check your state’s program page for the specific details that apply to you.

The core AAA curriculum and teaching approach are consistent, but state requirements do vary. Each state sets its own minimum age for a learner’s permit, required hours of supervised driving, and rules around when a teen can apply for a full license. For example, California and Texas require state-approved online coursework before a permit can be issued, while Maine and New Hampshire have their own licensing and curriculum approval processes. Use the state selector on our home page to find the specific requirements and program options for your state.

Yes. While driver licensing is governed at the state level, several federal rules and widely adopted standards apply across all five states we serve. All drivers must comply with federal seatbelt laws, and anyone under 21 is subject to a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol under federal guidelines adopted by every state. Additionally, all five states participate in the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system, which restricts new teen drivers in areas such as nighttime driving and the number of passengers allowed during the learner and provisional license stages. Distracted driving laws — including bans on handheld device use while driving — are also in effect in all five states.