Imagine you’re running from a horde of zombies during the apocalypse in the middle of Alaska. Lots of abandoned cars around - but you don’t know how to drive.
Driving is an essential life skill every person should know, whether you have your own car or not.
There are many emergency situations in life that might need you to drive (like running from that horde of zombies) and knowing how to makes things more convenient for you on a day-to-day basis.
Like every skill, however, driving starts with learning. And getting the best possible driver’s education ensures that you know how to drive safely and responsibly.
Because of the recent pandemic, a lot of driver’s ed schools have taken training online, thus making it easier and more accessible for everyone to learn. You can take your pick from this list of the best online driver’s ed in Alaska.
Note: Driver’s ed is NOT required in Alaska. However, you will have to pass a written exam to obtain your driver’s license. That’s why taking an online driver’s ed course can prove to be very helpful for you.
Why Go Online?
While the traditional classroom instruction setting can give you a one-on-one learning experience, class schedules are not quite flexible compared to online classes.
Online classes are more convenient, allowing you to learn at your own pace and time, wherever you are.
This method has become more and more popular in the last 10 years. Whether you are a student or an adult working a 9-to-5 job, it is difficult to squeeze another class into your schedule.
That is why more and more people are preferring online driver’s ed.
Online Driver’s Ed in Alaska
Going into online driver’s ed in Alaska is quite simple. You just need to be at least 14 years old to get a learner’s permit.
This gives you enough time to learn how to drive before you turn 16, which is the minimum age a person can get a provisional driver’s license in Alaska.
While there are several online schools in Alaska that offer defensive driving education or traffic school, very few actually offer driver’s education.
Traffic school is mainly for reducing ticket points. Here are two online schools offering driver’s ed that you can take your pick from.
DriversEd.com
DriversEd.com is one of the oldest online driver’s ed schools and also one of the most popular - and for good reason.
We all know how boring lessons can be, but DriversEd.com has updated its lessons using animation and graphics which gives students a fun and stimulating learning experience.
Many reviews have praised it for having helpful courses that are easy to understand. It also covers all of the necessary topics you need to pass your exam.
DriversEd.com also gives high school credit for teen driver’s ed worth 0.5 Carnegie Unit. This is for teens who need extra credit points to earn their high school diploma. This school credit is accepted by all schools in Alaska.
Although this school’s reviews are not quite as high as DriversEd.com, DriverEdtoGo.com offers a lot of perks that other online driver’s ed schools don’t have.
Lessons are not timed and you can take as much time as you need to. They have a Guaranteed To Pass perk for students wherein you can take the final exam as many times as necessary until you can earn a score of 85% or above.
They also offer several upgrades to your course plan, including a Same-Day Processing for completion certificates, a read-along feature that narrates the course aloud, and practice tests & exam prep.
For students enrolled in Orion High School, completing the driver’s ed course gives you an extra 2.5 credits.
Getting Your License in Alaska
Alaska has a tiered driver’s license system, and getting driver’s ed is just the beginning.
You can get an instruction permit at 14 years old so you can start learning how to drive.
This allows you to practice while being accompanied by a licensed driver of at least 21 years of age and has at least one year of driving experience in the type of vehicle you are driving.
He/she must also be seated in the passenger seat at all times. Your instruction permit is valid for two years and can be renewed once. Instructions for getting this permit can be found here.
Once you turn 16, you can apply for a provisional driver’s license, which allows more freedom in driving compared to your learner’s permit.
Restrictions for a provisional license include not carrying passengers under the age of 21 (except siblings) and not driving between 1:00 to 5:00 AM.
If you commit a traffic law violation, there are repercussions. With a learner’s permit, you must wait for six months before applying for a provisional driver’s license.
If you receive traffic citations with a total of 6 or more points within 12 months, or if you receive 9 or more points within 24 months, you are required to take a nationally certified defensive driving course.
With a provisional license, a traffic violation has a $200 penalty and a 2-point violation that will show on your driving record.
You can apply for your first driver’s license when you turn 18. This is done in-person at your local Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office.
You will also be paying a fee with the amount depending on what kind of driver’s license you are applying for. You may refer to this list by DMV.
FAQs
Can I Take Online Driver’s Ed in Alaska?
Yes, although only a couple of online schools offer driver’s education. However, it is important to note that these online driving schools are not state-certified, since Alaska does not require a formal driver’s education course to get a license.
The state of Alaska also participates in the Parents Supervised Driving Program wherein instructional resources are provided for your parents or guardian so they can teach you how to drive without having to enroll yourself in a driving school.
You can find the resources on the DMV website here.
How Does Online Drivers Ed Work In Alaska?
Since Alaska does not require a formal driver’s education course to get a license, getting one is mainly for learning how to drive.
Online driver’s ed covers all the essential topics needed for you to learn and pass a driver’s exam. However, the practical training has to be done with your parents or guardian.
Before you can test for your driver’s license, you need to provide proof that you have completed a minimum of 40 hours of supervised driving training.
Ten of those 40 hours must be done in challenging conditions such as during the night or during inclement weather. Alaska DMV offers the RoadReady app to help you track your driving experience.
Conclusion
It's quite simple and easy getting your license in Alaska, isn't it? Once you learn how to drive, facing a lot of unexpected circumstances (zombie apocalypse) will be much easier.
If you have any questions regarding the process, you can head over to the DMV website or inquire at your local DMV branch.