FAQ's + helpful information!
As a professional, Florida State certified provider of driver training courses in the Orlando areas, we consider it our solemn duty to keep students and parents updated on all current requirements! Links to sites below will help you to "ace" your Learner's Permit exam and the Florida Road Test, together with updating parents and students alike with useful industry news.
Also included are details of the recent law change named Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS), that requires all 'first-time under 18 year old's' to pass this 6-hour mandatory test, which can be taken in person or online. Your Pinnacle instructor will help you with this, so Contact US early to get booked for your driving lessons!
How to get a Driver's License in Florida?
https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/education-courses/driver-improvement-schools/driver-education-traffic-safety-dets/#:~:text=As%20of%20August,PRIVACY%20STATEMENT
7 things to practice before taking your Florida Road Test
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Practice passing your Florida Learner's Permit or Road Test
What do driving school opinion polls tell us all?
- Outdated System: Over half of Americans feel driver's education is outdated, and many think the driving test is too easy.
- Insufficient Practice: Many drivers have fewer than 20 hours behind the wheel before testing, with strong support (41%) for mandatory 50+ hours.
- Skill Gaps: While prepared for basic rules (56%), many feel unprepared for highway driving (30%) and hazard detection (22%).
- Parental Role: Parents are a major teaching influence, with many seeking extra measures to fill gaps left by formal education.
- Demand for Modernization: Nearly half of respondents think drivers should retake tests every five years, and 33% support mandatory classes every decade.
- Focus on Hazard Detection: Instructors and parents agree that situational awareness and hazard perception are crucial skills often missed in basic training.
- Integration with Schools: There's a push to bring driver's ed back into high school curricula to ensure access and prioritize safety.
- Teacher Stress: Many who taught family members found it stressful, suggesting professional instructors add significant value.
- Outdated Curriculum: As of late 2025, more than half of Americans (52%) believe that current driver education is outdated and does not reflect modern driving conditions.- Testing
- Standards: Roughly 60% of drivers agree that today’s driving tests are designed merely to be passed rather than to truly verify a student's skills.
- Preparedness Gaps: While 56% of students feel prepared for basic road rules, significant numbers report feeling unprepared for high-stakes situations, such as highway driving (30%) and avoiding accidents (22%).
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Re-inclusion in Public Schools: There is overwhelming public support (90%) for driver education to be a mandatory part of the public school curriculum, though only 10 states currently have dedicated programs.
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Increased Practice Hours: Approximately 41% of licensed drivers urge states to mandate at least 50 hours of behind-the-wheel practice before licensure.
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Senior Retesting: Surveys show a generational divide regarding retesting. About 84% of drivers under 30 believe seniors should be required to retake driving tests, a sentiment shared by only 48% of those over 60.
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Selection Criteria: Modern students prioritize digital feedback; online reviews and instructional videos (e.g., YouTube) are cited as the most important factors when choosing a driving school.
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Hiring Preferences: Recent informal polls show a preference for independent trainers over "big company" schools, often citing more personalized attention.
Florida Road Test Maneuvers Checklist
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) requires you to demonstrate the following skills during your Class E Skills Exam:
- Three-Point Turn: Turn your car around in a space of 20-40 feet.
- Straight-In Parking: Center your vehicle inside the parking space without any part extending into the traffic lane.
- Parking on a Grade: Demonstrate proper wheel positioning for uphill and downhill parking, both with and without a curb.
- Backing Up: Drive backward for 50 feet at a slow speed while looking out the rear window (do not rely solely on mirrors or cameras).
- Quick Stop: Make a sudden, but safe, stop when instructed by examiner.
- Intersections & Right-of- Way: Look in both directions when approaching crossings and yield to pedestrians and emergency vehicles.
- Signaling & Turning: Use your turn signal for at least the last 100 feet before a turn.
- Obeying Signs & Signals: Come to a complete STOP at stop lines or crosswalks and follow all traffic lights.
- Safe Following Distance: Maintain a distance of 3-4 seconds behind the vehicle in front of you.
- Posture & Lane Control: Keep both hands on the Wheel and stay within your lane markings.
Reasons for the ever increasing cost of driving for us all in Florida!
Physical Damage and Theft Coverage
Driving school vehicles are often driven extensively and by novice drivers, increasing the likelihood of damage. Physical damage coverage protects against repair costs from collisions, vandalism, or theft.
How Florida’s Unique Auto Insurance Landscape Affects Driving Schools
Florida’s auto insurance market is shaped by several factors that directly impact driving schools. High premiums, a large uninsured driver population, and insurance fraud all contribute to elevated risks and costs.
High Premiums and Economic Impact
Florida drivers pay some of the highest auto insurance premiums in the country. The 2022 average premium of $1,625 per vehicle reflects a market burdened by frequent claims and fraud. For driving schools, this means higher operating costs and the need to carefully manage insurance expenses.
Uninsured Drivers and Increased Risk
With over one in five drivers in Florida uninsured, driving schools face elevated risks during lessons. Collisions with uninsured motorists can leave schools responsible for damages and injuries without recourse to recover costs. This makes uninsured motorist coverage a critical component of any driving school insurance package.
Insurance Fraud and Its Ripple Effects
Fraudulent claims, including staged accidents and inflated auto glass claims, drive up costs for all insured drivers in Florida. For driving schools, this means higher premiums and more scrutiny from insurers.
Furthermore, the prevalence of fraud can lead to a culture of distrust among drivers and insurers alike, complicating the claims process for legitimate incidents.
Florida Driver's Handbook - covers all driving laws & signs
https://www.flhsmv.gov/pdf/handbooks/englishdriverhandbook.pdf
August, 2025 update to Florida driving laws
Exahttps://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/education-courses/driver-improvement-schools/driver-education-traffic-safety-dets/#:~:text=As%20of%20August,PRIVACY%20STATEMENTmple answer to the question. Feel free to customize this content with the actual information you want to provide.
What areas of Orlando do we currently service?
Orlando, Downtown, UCF, Rollins College, Winter Park, Union Park, Avalon, Oviedo, Altamonte Springs, Conway and more.....
What are our hours of operation?
At present, we are available to start at 9.00 am and our last scheduled lesson starts at 4.00 pm.
We can start earlier, and finish later, weather & light allowing, with an additional charge of $35.00/session. Ask when booking your Lesson Package.
Mature Driver Discount Course
- Drivers who are 55 years of age or older can complete a Mature Driver (Senior Citizen) Discount course that is approved by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). Upon successful completion of the course, the driver can provide the completion certificate to their insurance company for an insurance discount. The amount of the discount is at the discretion of each insurance company and will typically last for three years as long as the driver:
- Is not involved in a crash for which the insured is cited; and
- Is neither convicted, nor pleads guilty or nolo contendere (no contest) to a moving violation.
- Visit our Mature Driving Discount Course page to read more.