Behind the Wheel Training

• The Next Street behind the wheel lessons are 2-hour appointments where the student is in the driver's seat and a highly trained instructor is in the passenger seat.
• The lessons are all done in one of our dual controlled driver training cars.
• Behind the wheel lessons are customized to meet the individual student's skill and comfort level. Lessons can include parking maneuvers, highway driving, city driving, defensive driving techniques, road scanning, or whatever specific skill The Next Street driving instructor or the student feels they need more work on.
• We will challenge the students’ abilities so that they are comfortable and confident when they get behind the wheel on their own.
• Behind the wheel lessons can be scheduled at any of our locations or at any of our partnering high schools.
• At the start and end of the lesson our instructor will spend time going over your skill set, talking with a parent/student, getting you prepared for the driving lesson, and recapping how well you drove. Do not worry if you are not physically driving for the full 2 hours, this is how we structure our drives.

• The Connecticut DMV requires new teen drivers (16 and 17 years old) to record 40 hours of time behind the wheel with a trainer. This time can be done with any person that has held their license in the US for at least 4 years with no suspensions as your trainer.
• Any time done with The Next Street counts towards the 40 hours. As an example, if you register for the Full Driver Education Course that comes with 8 hours of driving, 32 hours would have to be completed on your own time for a total of 40 hours.
• Adult Students (18 and older) do not have a behind the wheel training requirement, though we still recommend an adult log at least 40 hours of practice before going it alone.
• All students are required to bring their permit/license, glasses or contacts, and closed toe and heel shoes to the driving lesson. Failure to bring any will result in a shorter drive time or cancelation, as well as a fee.

The short answer is: it depends. If you have experience driving and have family members that are willing and able to practice with you, we recommend at least 8 hours of driving lessons with a professional driving instructor. If you don't have people that can practice with you, we recommend a larger package - remember you need at least 40 hours of behind the wheel training before you test.

We also understand that price plays a major factor in this decision. Because lessons are one on one with a professional, they can get very expensive. Even if you can only afford 2-hours of time, do it. Any time spent with our professional staff will make you more prepared for a safe life on the road, and more likely to pass your driving test on the first try.

We sell our lessons in 2-hour blocks. Lessons can be added at time of enrollment into a classroom product, after enrollment through our student portal, or you can purchase only driving lessons without a classroom product by calling (860) 631-4292.

• Behind-The-Wheel lesson prices vary depending on how many hours you purchase and if you bundle with a classroom product. Payment plans are available for purchases over $300 for more info on payment plans go here.
• Behind-The-Wheel lessons can be purchased at the time of enrollment or added to an existing account at any time by visiting the Student Portal or calling 860.631.4292.
• A minimum of 2 hours of Behind-The-Wheel lessons must be purchased to take your License Test with The Next Street.

Our Mock Road Test Lesson is a 2 hour add-on that will be your final driving lesson before your test*. You will perform a mock version of the test itself, with one of our licensed driving instructors playing the role of a DMV testing agent. They will provide expert commentary and feedback, so you'll know exactly what areas need the most work, and the remaining lesson time will be spent working on those maneuvers in order to prepare you for testing day.

* All lessons must be completed at least 5 days before your scheduled road test.

Our Mock Test Promise: If you have completed one of our Full Driver Education Programs and fail your road test after taking this lesson, you will be able to take your test with The Next Street again until you pass for no charge (DMV fees not included).