WI Driver Ed FAQ

Yes, our school and our instructors are State certified.

The minimum age to receive the temporary license (instructional permit) is the age of 15 years.  Students are eligible to receive their probationary license at the age of 16 and have held their temps for a minimum of 6 months.

Students are required  to have 50 hours  of in-car practice with a parent/guardian  10 of those hours need to be done during the darkness/nighttime.   Everything looks different in the evening.

The practice with parent/guardian is an important step of obtaining a driver license.  The more practice they have, the better of a driver they will become.

Yes. You may enroll in either behind-the-wheel and/or online program or both.

If classroom/online was taken through a different school, the student will need to finish the classroom training at the other school, provide a completed form from that school, complete an Agreement For Services with us and pay the course fee.  Once this is received we will mail you the paperwork that is needed to take the written temps test at the DMV.  Once the student has their temps then we will schedule a road lesson. 

Online Program:  The online program is 30 one hour sessions.  Students can complete up to 2 sessions per day.  Can be completed in as little as 15 days or can take up to 90 days.

Behind-the-Wheel: The program consists of six two hour sessions. One hour of the sessions is spent driving and one hour of the sessions is spent in observation.

Not available at this time --> Classroom: After school classroom, includes 15 sessions of two hours each. Coleman courses are held during their scheduled class period at their school.

Students will  go to the Department of Motor Vehicles for the written temps test. After the student has their temps, then the behind-the-wheel lessons will be scheduled.

Certified birth certificate, social security card, a completed application (MV3001) signed by the Driver Education Instructor.

To be Real ID Compliant Two (2) proofs of residency are required.

The following documents are acceptable proof of Wisconsin residency when they include your name and current Wisconsin residence street address. Documents listing a post office box are not acceptable. The department will decline to accept any document presented if it does not provide conclusive proof of residency. Additional verification may be requested.

For REAL ID compliant and non-compliant cards:

All documents presented for proof of Wisconsin residency must contain your name and current Wisconsin address.

Printed electronic copies are acceptable for the following documents: 

• Paycheck, stub or earning statement with your employer's name and address
• ​Financial statements: bank statement for a checking or savings
• Valid Wisconsin hunting or fishing license

The following documents must be originals.  Printed electronic copies are not acceptable. 

• Report card, school transcript or certified school record
• ​Employee photo ID card issued by current employer
• Tribal identification card
• Parent or guardian may present their Wisconsin driver license or ID card. Address on record must match with the child's current address on record.

After a student successfully completes the drivers ed program and all fees have been paid, the driving school will file the completion electronically with the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

There is no paperwork that is given to the student/parent showing completion.

When going to the DMV  students must bring their Instruction Permit (temps), Social Security number, and the required fees for the new license.

Road tests can be scheduled by going to the following web link: Wisconsin DMV Official Government Site - Schedule a road test appointment or follow the web address: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/drivers/drivers/schedule.htm The road test can be scheduled up to 11 weeks in advance.

Students are able to begin the course when they are 14 years and 9 months.

The online program is a self paced program that is set up to meet the State requirements of 30 hours.  The 30 sessions are broken down into one-hour sessions.  Students are able to complete up to 2 sessions a day, per the State limitation.  With this flexibilty, the students can complete on their time schedule and do not need to report into a class for a specific date or time.

The program consists of 30 hours of instruction, which is set up in 1-hour increments.  Students have 90 days to complete the course and they can complete the maximum of 2 hours of instruction per day.    If students are anxious to get their license, they can complete this course in 15 days. If the course does expire and the student is not complete, you can extend the course for 30 days for a $30 extension fee.

Simply click the register now button to enroll. When registering for a class, please complete the Agreement for Services Contract located in the forms area and mail with remittance to the address listed on the form.

Once the 30 hour online program is completed, the file will be reviewed within 24-36 hours.

If you have registered for the behind the wheel program, the MV3001 form will be mailed to the student after all fees have been paid.  Once the student receives the MV3001 form, then they are able to go to the DMV for the written temps test when they are 15 years or older.

If you registered for the online program only, 1st Rate Driving will notify the State that the online program is complete and the student will receive a confirmation email to provide to the school completing the behind the wheel program.  The student would then receive the MV3001 form for their temps, from the school that will be providing the behind the wheel lessons.

Traditional Classes:  **CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE**

Online programs are self paced and there is no classroom. 

The drivers education online/classroom is good for 12 months.  After the 12 months, the student will need to take a 10 hour refresher course that is done online and can completed in as little as 5 days (by doing 2 hours a day).

The State of Wisconsin does require a student to complete a 30 hour classroom or online program AND behind the wheel instruction from a licensed drivers ed instructor.

You can change a behind the wheel appointment by:

Calling your driving instructor either Dave  (920) 373-2449 or Ann (920) 373-3707  at least 36 hours in advance.

Cancellations with less than 36 hour notice will be assessed a $50 late cancellation fee.

Scheduling the Behind the wheel lessons can be made by calling or emailing us.

Dave 920.373.2449 or Ann 920.373.3707 or firstratedriving@yahoo.com

The first drive time with a certified driving instructor must occur within the first 60 days of when the MV3001 form was signed by 1st Rate Driving School LLC

Depending on how old the student is when receiving the temps, road lessons are typically once a month for the minimum holding period of 6 months.  Students holding temps longer than 6 months, lessons could be every 6-8 weeks.

Students are typically completed within their temps holding period, as long as there are not cancellations or in delays of contacting us that the student has their temps.

The first road lesson must be within 60 days of when the MV3001 form was signed by 1st Rate Driving School LLC

We try to accommodate the student's schedules. Students may be picked up at school or their residence depending on location of residence.  

Behind the wheel lessons can occur before, during, or after school, after school activities (practices / rehearsals / etc) and Saturday lessons are also available.

Once the student completes the behind the wheel program.  The instructor will notify the State of the completion of the program.  There is NO paperwork that is given to the student or parent.  Everything is completed online directly with the Wisconsin DMV

Once the student has reached the minimum holding period of their temporary license, the behind the wheel is completed and all fees are paid, the student can then take the road test or have it waived with parent/sponsor authorization.

We accept cash, check, money order, and credit cards. Credit card payments must be on-line and must be for the full payment of classroom and/or behind the wheel lessons. Credit card will not be accepted for cancellations and NSF check fees.

By paying with credit card, you are choosing to forgo the cash discount of 3.0%

Full payment must be made by the time the student takes their temps test (if taking classroom) or before the end of the online 30 hour program.

If a payment plan needs to be made, contact us for more information.

Students will not receive their MV3001 until all fees have been paid.

1st Rate Driving School will not refund any tuition or part of tuition if the school is ready, willing, and able to fulfill its part of the agreement.