Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions 

Thank you for visiting Wichita Driving School!

Any additional questions you may have can be answered via email or phone call!

General Questions

What exactly is drivers education?

• Our private course is a minimum of 14 hours (8 hours of class and 6 hours of driving).   It is geared to teach students the fundamentals of driving, the rules of the road, and defensive driving techniques and methods.  You can sign up for longer courses, but 14 hours is the minimum length (required for successful completion) to obtain your license. 

What is the first step I take?

• The first step you should take is to select a class date and make an enrollment deposit to fully secure the student's spot in class.

How will class be ran?

• The academic portion of the course consists of 8 hours of classroom instruction that covers fundamental and advanced techniques of driving. Class will begin at 8:00 AM and go until 5:00 PM. Students will begin studying for the the written test at 3:30 PM to take the test at 4:00 PM.

What material will be covered in class?

• The material covered in class includes the fundamental techniques of driving, as well as advanced techniques of defensive driving in residential, rural, and urban areas. Also detailed is night driving, driving in adverse conditions, and the effects of alcohol and other drugs as relating to driving. Handling emergencies, avoiding road rage, purchasing and maintaining a vehicle, and auto insurance issues are also covered.  There is a high emphasis on the new age of driving destractions drivers face, (cell phones, social media, etc.) and how to minimize these risks and to focus on the main priority -driving your vehicle!

What should I bring to class?

• Please bring a proof of the students lawful presence (birth certificate, social security card, or unexpired passport) and proof of Kansas residential address (utility bill with your address, for minors parents utility bill). If the student previously has a KS Instructional Permit/ID, please bring that to class as well.

What do students do during the lunch break?

• Our lunch break is an open lunch. Parents are welcome to pick up the student, send them with a lunch, or the student is able to walk to surrounding restaurants.

When will I be contacted to schedule the driving time?

• You will be contacted 10-12 days after the 8 hour academic course to arrange the driving times. If you are utilizing the installment payments, the third payment must be made before the student begins driving with an instructor.

How long does the course take to complete?

• On average, the course takes 4-5 weeks for the average student to complete.

Does the course include a permit or learner's permit?

• If the student were to pass the written test at the end of the 8-hour class, all students (without a permit) will receive their temporary driver's ed permit after class. If the student already has a permit, they won't need the paper permit unless the DMV permit is expired or lost. Most students (ages 14-17) need to exchange the temporary permit for their photo permit. At the DMV, do not ask to take the DMV written test, your driver's ed permit will get you your photo IP usually without additional testing.

Do you have practice recommendations for beginning drivers?

• Upon completion of the academic class, parents will receive an email that will have practice tips and a log sheet to keep track of your driving hours. The recommendations are also at the office when you attend class. 

What kind of written test will be used at the end of the academic class?

• The test will consist of 100 multiple choice or true/false questions. An 80% is required to pass the test. No assistance is allowed during the test, I.E.P or 504 plans are not used at Wichita Driving School or at the DMV. Utilizie our study guide to fully prepare for the test.

Who cannot take driver's education?

• Students under the age of 14, students who failed 4 times recently at the DMV, or students who have unpaid tickets or a suspended license are not legally allowed to take driver's education. Students who have medical or physical or psychological conditions that affect driving are required to be medically cleared before they are allowed to receive their permit and begin the driving lessons.

Driving Format

The behind-the-wheel sessions will include: residential and city driving, highway and interstate driving, various types of parking, handling downtown Wichita's Central Business District, and a high focus on defensive driving. The student driver will usually be picked up from home unless otherwise specified. Some get picked up from school, work, or other location. At the conclusion of each session, the student will be dropped off at home unless there is a special request. Some students, for example, arrange to be dropped off at school, work, church, or a relative's house. All special situations need to be approved by a parent or guardian. 

Parents are, of course, welcome in the car. Students with no experience (especially adults), sometimes require extra driving beyond the 6 hours. In such cases, the single most important factor in successfully passing the driving portion of the course (in the standard 6 hours) is the student / student's family being willing and / or able to practice between the driving lessons.

Students who live outside of Wichita Metro area such as Clearwater, Winfield, Eldorado, Kingman etc.... will need to meet the driving instructor at Wichita Driving School West, Wichita Driving School East or a Wichita Metro location. 

Our driver education cars are equipped with dual brakes, liability commercial insurance, and student driver signs.

We may not be able to accommodate some situations in the classroom or car.

Refund Policy

*The enrollment deposit for Driver Education is non-refundable but can be used for a future class within 6 months from the  time of initial enrollment in case of a conflict. If the students attend any portion of the class, they are responsible for the two-third  cost of the course. Once the students begin the driving sessions, they are responsible for the entire cost of the course.  Our time-limit policy regarding refunds or unused credit is 6 months. 

Note: "This course fulfills the state driving and written test, but governing rules mandate that driving schools or high schools can make no guarantee to student or parent / guardian that course completion assures a DL from the state of KS. The state of Kansas reserves the right to test or deny any license applicant. Some rare examples of this include: vision, physical, or mental conditions, past tickets or violations, a passport issue or failing DMV testing several times (recently), etc. "  - Mike Johnson 

*Since our defensive driving classes are funded by pre-enrolled students, the enrollment deposit for the National Safety Council's Defensive Driving or Alive at 25 is non-refundable and should be used within 12 months after completing the driver education program. We offer these classes (at a 50% discount) for our driver education students / parents who want extra training or an insurance discount. 

Please monitor our class schedule by clicking the "Def. Driving / Discount Car" at the top of this page, and contact us a week before the course you choose to attend.