Driving is both a skill and a responsibility. As a driver, you are not only accountable for your actions but are also responsible for other people’s safety.
It is both a privilege and a burden. With a license, you can get to places faster. But risk also comes with it, which is why you need a strong foundation of driving knowledge. You need to possess proper skills to allow you to protect people’s lives by keeping the roads safe.
To acquire good driving skills, you need a good driver’s education - one that will not only teach you traffic rules and regulations, road signs, and driving techniques, but also a proper driving attitude.
There are thousands of online driving schools in the US. But today, we will look at two schools, see how they compare, and whether or not either of them can be the best choice for you.
Read on for a DmvEdu vs. First Time Driver driver’s ed comparison review.
DmvEdu vs. First Time Driver: Side by Side Comparison
Also called National Driving and Traffic School, DmvEdu is an e-learning company that helps students get easy access to driver education on any device.
Apart from helping mold students into good drivers, DmvEdu also contributes to the community by donating 10% of every purchase to charities. It also gives $1,500-value scholarship funds to selected students who do exemplary volunteer work.
First Time Driver, which operates under the American Safety Council, is a leading source of online driving education in the US. It launched its first online driver’s ed course in 1999 and has since continuously updated the content to properly meet the needs of its customers.
To compare both schools, we’ll look at:
- Availability
- User experience
- Pricing
- Reviews
- Features
Here’s a quick comparison chart:
dmvedu | first time driver | |
|---|---|---|
Available in: | AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY | CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, OH, OK, PA, TX, VA |
User Experience: | A bit boring but easy and educational | Simple, straightforward, but a bit boring |
Pricing: | $25 ~ $50, depending on the state and course duration | $25 ~ $100, depending on the state and course duration |
Reviews: | 4.7 out of 5 stars on ShopperApproved | 4.7 out of 5 stars on ShopperApproved |
Features: | Completion Certificate immediate available for download | Free Online DMV Practice Tests |
Let’s look into the details. |
Availability
DmvEdu offers online driver’s ed courses throughout the country. However, they are not approved in some of the listed states. Be sure to check with your local DMV first if they will accept the completion certificate from DmvEdu.
Meanwhile, First Time Driver’s programs are available only in 11 states. (Refer to the chart above for these states)
User Experience
DmvEdu’s user interface is simple. When you launch the course for the first time, you will be asked to read and accept a legal notice and disclaimer. Then, an overview of the course will follow.
It is a simple click-through program similar to PowerPoint slides, where you click next after reading through a page.
Depending on the state, the course will consist of several units, with a quiz at the end of each unit. You will have to score 80% on the quizzes to move on to the next chapters.
The course is pretty text-heavy and lacks multimedia content. It does contain some videos, but they are a bit old and outdated. If you’re someone who hates reading, you will most likely find the course boring.
Not all students prefer interactive modules, though. If you are self-sufficient, DmvEdu’s online driver’s ed course is a good option for you.
Like DmvEdu, First Time Driver also offers online driver’s ed courses in a simple format. The coursework is primarily text-based and presents information in an easy-to-understand, well-organized way.
However, it lacks multimedia content such as photos and videos and tends to be a little dry.
While it may not be the best course for those who prefer a more interactive user interface, it will suit you best if you like straightforward study materials.
You also don’t need to worry about the content because First Time Driver continuously updates its courses to reflect the most up-to-date information.
If you enjoy studying by yourself, without any unnecessary elements, you will find their course helpful.
Pricing
DmvEdu has similar prices for most of its courses in different states. Most show a starting fee of around $25, despite the differences in state requirements. Check with the school’s website to confirm how much each program costs.
On the other hand, First Time Driver’s online driver’s ed courses are affordable and are priced similarly to most online schools. Again, the prices may range from state to state, so check their website to confirm the fee where you’re from.
Reviews
DmvEdu is a top-rated provider of online driver’s education, and well, some of the customer reviews say it all.
Gregory of California said its course is “the most informative and complete online DMV course around.”
Another customer from California commented that “the customer service was helpful and responsive” and that “it was comprehensive and easy to understand.”
However, one customer shared that she noticed a few “grammar mistakes and cases of repetition.” While this is not at all that big of a deal, the course could do better with some edits to make them more concise and efficient.
First Time Driver also has a high average customer satisfaction rating. Some of the 5-star reviews from its previous users include the following:
“Simple and fairly clear options.”
“Easy to navigate. Great experience so far. I only had a bit of difficulty getting a username that wasn’t already in use, but other than that, easy.”
One user who left a 4-star rating left the following comment:
“It’s all right, pretty bland, though. Doesn’t seem exciting enough, I suppose.”
Features
Many online driver’s ed course users complain about how long it takes for them to receive their completion certificates. With DmvEdu, though, you can instantly download a soft copy of your certificate upon finishing the course while you wait for the hard copy to be delivered to your home.
If you’re someone who likes freebies, you’d be happy to know that, with First Time Driver, you can get 20 free practice tests even before you sign up for a course. The practice questions are available on their website for everyone to use. You’ll get more of these to help you prepare for your permit exam if you choose a course from First Time Driver.
Alternatives
If you want to check out some more options, here are two other online driving schools I would highly recommend:
iDriveSafely
iDriveSafely is one of the nation’s best providers of online driver’s ed, as well as traffic school and defensive driving courses.
It has been around for decades and has served millions of students and helped them become skilled drivers. iDriveSafely has been BBB-accredited since 2003 and has an A+ rating.
Its self-paced online driver’s ed courses are highly interactive. Its course materials provide students with a fun learning experience. Instead of just sitting and reading through boring text content, you get to watch educational videos, enjoy animations, and play mini-games while you study.
To sum up, iDriveSafely offers an unconventional way to teach teen drivers basic driving skills and prepare them for the road. Course fees range from around $25 to $100.
Aceable is one of those newer online driving schools that quickly made a name in the industry. It has only been around for less than a decade, but it has already established a solid reputation and a loyal customer base.
It receives consistently high ratings from its users who continue to recommend Aceable’s courses to others.
While most online driving schools have course materials that are fun and engaging, nothing beats Aceable’s offerings.
Designed using cutting-edge technology, its programs are by far the most modern, which means only high-quality videos and advanced 3D animations. Its courses are currently only available in a few states, but with the school’s growth, you can expect that they will expand operations soon.
Similar to iDriveSafely, Aceable’s online driver’s ed courses cost from around $25 to $100.
Verdict
It is difficult to conclude which one is better because it is a tight match. Both schools offer courses at reasonable prices, and they have similar coursework formats.
Both also have outstanding reviews from customers, so whichever you choose, you will no doubt acquire the skills and knowledge you will need to become a smart and responsible driver, plus be able to satisfy the state requirements.