Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
How exciting! First of all, it’s totally normal to be anxious—driving is a big responsibility! But when you know what to expect, it doesn’t seem so scary. Each driver’s ed course and instructor will operate differently, but let’s look at what you can likely expect out of your first driving lesson.
What to bring:
Your driver’s permit
Comfortable shoes
Glasses, if you wear them
Water bottle, to ward off the nerves
What you can expect:
You’ll start off in the passenger seat. Don’t worry—your instructor won’t allow you to drive until they know you’re ready for it.
You’ll learn the basics. Expect your instructor to go over the function of all the instruments and controls as well as your mirror placement, seating position, and arm placement.
You’ll probably get to drive. Not on a busy road, of course, but you’ll get to test out the basics you’ve just learned in a safe setting while you learn the rules of the road.
You’ll probably have questions—and that’s OK! Your instructor is there to help you learn safe driving. If you don’t understand something, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification.
You’ll learn new skills. You can expect to learn a few hands-on driving skills, like turning, using signals, braking smoothly, approaching intersections, smooth acceleration, using turning lanes, and other basics.
If you’re a new driver hitting the road, you want to be as safe as possible in your first few driving years—and that includes rock-solid
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.