Driver’s ed is important for any driver, but even more so for newbies.
So if you’re gearing up to get your learner’s permit, you’ll need to take it - whether it’s required by your state or not - because yes, it’s the best way to prepare yourself for the responsibility of driving, as well as the written exam.
The good news is that most states allow you to take your driver’s ed online!
Even better news, there are a lot of great online driver’s ed courses out there.
And today, we’re going to talk about 2 of the best ones - DriversEd and DmvEdu.
We’re going to walk you through a DriversEd vs DmvEdu comparison review. This way, you’ll know which one is better for YOU.
So let’s get started!
DriversEd vs DmvEdu - An Overview
DriversEd’s 25 years of teaching experience across the US has set the standard for driver’s education.
Their commitment to providing the most effective drivers’ education has already helped thousands of new drivers prepare for a lifetime of safe driving.
Meanwhile, DmvEdu is also recognized as one of the leading programs that offer online driver’s ed nationwide.
They’ve served thousands of Americans for decades and have been a consistent and reliable source of information for safe driver’s training.
DriversEd vs DmvEdu - A Side by Side Comparison
Now, let’s compare both providers based on the following areas:
Course Availability
Accessibility
Pricing
User Experience
Customer Support
Reviews
Features
Before we get into the details, here’s a brief side by side comparison chart you can refer to:
Course availability | Available in all US States, as well as in Washington DC | Available in all US States |
States approved in | CA, CO, FL, GA, ID, IN, MN, NE, NV, NC, OH, OK, PA, TX, UT, VA, WI | AZ, CA, FL, GA, NV, NJ, PA |
Accessibility | Great | Great |
Pricing (varies per state) | Lowest price at $30 | $20-$100 |
User experience | Great | Good |
Customer Support | Great | Good |
Reviews | 4.6/5 TrustPilot excellent stars based on 8000+ reviews | 4.7/5 stars on ShopperApproved based on 3000+ reviews |
Features | Good | Fair |
Course Availability
When it comes to course availability, these two schools are some of the best ones as both offer driver’s education across all the states in the US. This means that they have specific courses, with specific rules and regulations, for each state.
That said, not all these courses are approved. (See the comparison chart for which states have approved courses.)
If not approved in your state, then that means you have to ask special permission from the DMV if they will accept their courses before taking them.
Accessibility
Both courses offered by DriversEd and DmvEdu are 100% online. Because of that, both are super accessible as you can study at any time, using any device.
If you’re from California, Texas, or Colorado, you get even more accessibility with DriversEd’s mobile app. It’s available for any iOS and Android device. It’s a perfect choice for a complete, user-friendly experience.
Source: DriversEd.com
Pricing
As you might expect, pricing varies per state.
I check into this - comparing their prices per state.
What I found was that, although DmvEdu’s initial offer is a lot cheaper, DriversEd matches this with a discount to boot.
I can say then that pricing between these two schools should be just about the same, around the range of $20-$100.
That said, it’s a good idea to check on their other features to see which one can offer the best value for your money.
User Experience
Both DriversEd and DmvEdu focus on providing a great user experience to their students.
Their course navigation has never been easier. Plus, both courses are easy-to-digest with shorter units, making them less tedious to read and understand.
They also made sure that their site design is efficient and responsive. Both provide a user-friendly dashboard that shows you the list of lessons you’ve already taken and how much still needs to be completed.
However, with DriversEd, you get interactive 3D-animated videos and cool driving scenarios that could be very beneficial for new drivers. They also make learning a lot more fun with their matching games and crossword puzzles in between lessons.
On the other hand, DmvEdu’s course content is more straightforward. Some teens might even find it dry and boring. Still, it teaches you everything you need to know in the simplest way possible.
Customer Support
Both schools offer customer support 7 days a week through their respective ‘contact us’ forms. But we all know it takes time to receive a reply through this support channel.
For an immediate response to your inquiries, DriversEd offers a live chat option.
And if you’re the type who’d like to find answers to your queries on your own, DriversEd also has a comprehensive FAQs page that you can utilize.
This is something that DmvEdu lacks. You have to rely on their course description page for more information about the course. If you face some technical issues, you may need to wait a bit longer for a response.
Reviews
Both schools have good customer satisfaction reviews, too.
DriversEd has a 4.6/5 excellent rating with TrustPilot (8000+ reviews) and DmvEdu has a 4.7/5 overall satisfaction rating with ShopperApproved (based on 4000 reviews).
DriversEd’s students are thankful for the real-life driving scenarios from the course. They also loved the interactive games as they get to enjoy while learn the different driving concepts being introduced.
Here’s a couple of DriversEd reviews from happy students:
Meanwhile, although the comments from ShopperApproved are short, students were satisfied with how fast they were able to finish DmvEdu’s driver’s ed course.
Most reviews point out how easy it is to navigate the course and understand their lesson.
Features
So far, DriversEd and DmvEdu aren’t that different.
Perhaps talking about each special feature can somehow close the deal. Let’s look at what each school has to offer, then.
First, let’s check DriversEd.
DriversEd offers discounts on almost all of its courses (regardless of your state). This means that you can get it very cheap. And what’s not to love about that?
Even better, they also offer one month’s free access to the Allstate Roadside Services plan. Of course, you can easily cancel after the free access has expired (or pay $5 a month if you want to continue your subscription).
We already discussed earlier how DriversEd’s course content is filled with 3D animations and driving scenarios to keep students engaged throughout the lessons. Don’t forget that they also have an app that’s downloadable for both iOS and Android. (App is only available in CA, TX, and CO currently).
Now, with DmvEdu, although their course is mostly text-based, they have multiple teaching methods that go along with it. You can access video and audio lessons to make your learning experience more interesting and engaging.
Also, it’s worth mentioning that DmvEdu has a Scholarship Fund that encourages students to volunteer. They give $1,500 scholarships to students doing exemplary volunteer work.
What’s more, you can choose to donate 10% of your purchase amount to one of their chosen charitable organizations.
So, if helping other people is one of your priorities, you might want to spend your money helping DmvEdu with one of their causes.
Driver’s Ed Alternatives
Sure, DriversEd and DmvEdu are already two of the best driver’s ed providers that you can find.
But if you still want to explore your other options, we also recommend Aceable, DriverEdToGo, MyImpov, iDriveSafely, FirstTimeDriver, and SafeMotorist.
All courses from these online driver’s ed schools deliver quality education. They have lots of positive reviews from their students.
If you enjoy humor in your learning materials, know that MyImprov’s driver's ed course is co-written by comedy writers. You’ll get to enjoy hilarious jokes and comedy skits while learning road rules and regulations.
If you want a modern design and fresh course materials, Aceable, being the newest amongst all these recommendations, should be your best bet. Their course is available in very limited states, though.
If you’re looking for convenience and easy-to-understand lessons, go with iDriveSafely, FirstTimeDriver, DriverEdToGo.
And if you prefer reading, SafeMotorist’s course is the most comprehensive out of all these choices.
Just make sure to check if the course is approved in your state if you plan to use credits for obtaining a learner’s permit or a driver’s license. You can contact your local DMV office or check their website’s FAQ section to verify before your register.
DriversEd vs DmvEdu - The Verdict
DriversEd and DmvEdu both offer online driver’s ed courses in almost every state in the US.
They’ve been around for so long that you can trust their knowledge and expertise in providing quality driver’s education.
Based on our comparison, they offer much of the same thing.
Except, DriversEd has more interactive features and more opportunities to save up with the discounts they offer. But DmvEdu’s humanitarian purposes may appeal to you more.
What matters most with your choice then is your needs and preferences.
If you choose the school that aligns with what you are looking for, whether that’s DriversEd or DmvEdu, then there’s no reason why it won’t be the best choice for you.
So, what are you waiting for?
Take your pick and good luck!