Driving Lessons for Castaic High Students

Before a California teen can apply for a license, two requirements must be met:

• Minimum 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training with a licensed driving school (this is what our lesson packages cover)
• Minimum 50 hours of supervised driving practice with a parent, guardian, or licensed instructor. At least 10 hours must be at night

Practice hours can be tracked using our free California driving log. If your student adds individual or custom lessons with us, those count toward the 50-hour total too.

Beyond the standard package, students can add individual or custom lessons whenever they want. They are useful for:

• Extra practice on specific skills (freeway driving, parking, canyon roads)
• Logging additional hours toward the 50-hour DMV requirement
• Night driving practice with a licensed instructor (counts toward the required 10 nighttime hours)
• Building confidence before the DMV road test

Just ask about individual lesson options at sign-up, or anytime after your package is finished.

Stick with what was covered in the last lesson before moving on to anything new. Familiar Castaic streets are perfect for this kind of low-pressure repetition.

• Quiet residential streets with minimal traffic
• Empty public parking lots (school or shopping center off-hours)
• Avoid jumping to busier roads or freeway until the instructor confirms the student is ready

Students who put in regular practice between lessons progress noticeably faster. Less time spent revisiting old material means more time learning new skills.

We typically recommend spacing lessons across the 6 months students hold their learner's permit. This allows time for real supervised practice between sessions, and helps each lesson build meaningfully on the last. That said, every family's schedule is different. We work around school, sports, and activities.

It is more common than you might think, and completely understandable. Parents and students should not feel pressure to practice beyond their comfort zone. Wait for the next lesson, and your instructor will assess readiness and pick up from there.

This is a single targeted lesson, usually scheduled 1-2 weeks before the test. The instructor reviews DMV expectations, runs a mock road test, points out any habits that could cost points, and gets the student dialed in before test day.

If you have already booked your DMV appointment, share the location with us. We will work to practice nearby beforehand, within legal limits. Keep in mind that DMVs prohibit driving the actual test route during business hours, but our instructors know the roads around local DMV offices well and can prepare your student for similar driving conditions.

The refresher lesson works well on its own, and pairs naturally with the day-of test prep package below.

Of all our options, this is the easiest one for families to manage. After you book the DMV Test Prep package, we work with you to land a DMV appointment that aligns with your schedule and our availability for instructor and vehicle. The scheduling burden lifts off you. Just one heads-up: if you choose this package, please skip booking your own DMV slot, since we may not be available on a self-selected date.

On test day, we pick your student up about an hour before the appointment, warm up with focused practice near the DMV, then drive to the test in our licensed, insured, and test-ready vehicle. Our instructor checks the student in, makes sure all paperwork is in order, and provides last-minute tips and a confidence boost right before the examiner arrives.

No need to provide a car, arrange a ride, or sort out DMV logistics. We take care of everything.

For most families, home pick-up is the most convenient and common choice. Your instructor comes directly to your front door at the scheduled time, greets the student and, when a parent is available, briefly discusses the lesson plan beforehand and shares progress at drop-off.

There is a 15-minute arrival window built into every lesson to account for traffic. Lesson time is always taught in full from the moment the instructor arrives, with no portion shaved off because of a delayed start.

Each lesson is followed by a personal written assessment, emailed to both the student and parent. The report breaks down what was covered, how the student performed, and what to focus on before next time. If a parent is around at drop-off, your instructor will also walk through it in person for a few minutes.

Stick to what was covered in the most recent lesson. Your progress report will have specific guidance. The general rule: master that skill before moving to anything more advanced.

• Quiet residential streets, good for Level 1 review
• Empty parking lots, good for parking, turning circles, and low-stakes maneuvering
• Main streets throughout Castaic once residential driving is solid

If you and your parent or guardian are not comfortable practicing a particular skill between lessons, just wait for the next lesson. Don't push into situations that feel unsafe.

Male and female instructors are both available, and you can read bios before booking any lesson. You can also switch between our Toyota Prius and Lexus SUV, both equipped with dual brake controls for instructor safety.

Instructor and vehicle preferences are accommodated based on availability and are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis at time of booking.

Meet all of our instructors

Many students use both of our test prep options together: a refresher lesson in the days before the test to sharpen skills, followed by our full DMV Test Prep package on test day where we handle scheduling, bring a licensed and insured vehicle, check the student in, and provide a confidence boost right before the examiner arrives. They work well in sequence.

Book a DMV prep lesson