Central Maine Driving Academy

The state requirement of time spent behind the wheel is ten hours. Each driving segment is for two hours. Students begin driving directly after the first week of classes. This allows enough class time to cover the material necessary to prepare the student for the in-vehicle lessons, also a state requirement. Driving times are scheduled one to two times per week with at least one drive toward  the end of classes in an effort to allow the student better retention for a smoother transition from drivers ed to their own vehicle.

The Secretary of State mandates that all driver education schools in Maine are  not to exceed ten hours of classroom instruction in a seven day period. We hold ten, three hour classes, two or three weekdays per week.  Including drive times, our program is four weeks.  Students who cannot be available for open drive time slots, due to busy schedules outside of driver ed will take longer.   we coordinate openings with the instructors in advance per the number of students and days available to complete the course.

No.  CMDA prides itself in offering one-on-one in-vehicle instruction.  Your driving time is YOUR driving time, not to be shared with other potentially distracting students.

We reduced our program fee from $475.00 two years ago to do our part in making driver education more affordable in a time of economic crisis.  We intend to hold this lower fee for as long as possible  to maintain student enrollment  in an effort to avoid  teens taking a written test at the age of 18,  and entering our roadways, without the necessary skills they gain from licensed instructors in driver education.

CLASSES:  We will make the necessary schedule changes per the sports schedule, at no cost to you, provided prearrangements are made with the school owner, (prior to the start of classes).  The administrative costs are much lower when making advance schedule changes, than they are when classes are missed.  If a class is missed, a set fee must then be passed on to the parents.

DRIVES:    During registration, you and your teen will receive a calendar with all the class dates.  Students will be asked to take the calendar home and return with it each week, with any days marked off that they cannot drive in the upcoming week(s).  The student needs to note on the calendar, each newly scheduled drive date and time that they signed up for in class.  This eliminates any conflicting schedules between home, and the actual classroom schedule that the student signs. 

Please note:  Our instructors commit to, and are paid for, the hours of each class or vehicle drive session per the schedules.  Once the student signs, he or she is committed to that session. 
    

A make up does cause administrative costs.  We must be notified immediately, and a doctors' note must be submitted upon the first class or drive upon your return, to waive the fee. 

Driver education makes a wonderful gift.  We offer gift certificates.  You can pay an amount of $100.00 or more toward the cost of the program by mail, and we can mail the certificate to you.  If you want it to be a surprise, you can call us to arrange a time that you can come in to the class to pay and pick it up.