Malibu High School Behind-the-Wheel Lessons

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

The 50 hours can be tracked using our free California driving log. Individual or custom lessons with our instructors count toward this total.

Students who want more time with an instructor beyond their standard package can book individual or custom lessons at any point. These are a great option 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

If individual lessons sound useful, mention it when you sign up, or get in touch once your package is completed.

Practice what was covered in the most recent lesson before advancing to anything new.

• 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've already booked your own DMV appointment, let us know the location. We'll do our best to practice in that area beforehand, within legal limits. Note that DMVs prohibit driving the actual test route during active business hours, but we know the surrounding roads well and can prepare your student accordingly.

This lesson works great on its own, and pairs naturally with the day-of test prep below.

This is our most hands-off option for families. When you book the DMV Test Prep package, we work with you to find a DMV appointment that fits both your schedule and our instructor and vehicle availability. No DMV scheduling stress for you. If you're using this package, please don't book your own DMV slot separately, as we may not be available for that date.

On the day of the test, we pick the student up roughly an hour ahead of the appointment, warm up with focused practice on roads near the DMV, then drive to the test in our licensed, insured, and test-ready vehicle. The instructor handles check-in, makes sure all paperwork is correct, and gives last-minute tips and encouragement right before the examiner arrives.

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

Home pick-up is the most popular option, and the most convenient for most families. The instructor arrives at your front door at the scheduled time, greets the student, and (when a parent is around) briefly goes over the lesson plan beforehand and shares progress notes 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.

A convenient option on school days or after activities. Students can meet us at or near the stop sign at Morning View Dr and Merritt Dr. Our vehicles have a large leaf logo on the side. The instructor will exit to greet your student when safe, or your student can approach and enter directly.

Pick-up and drop-off can sometimes be different locations. For example, picked up at Malibu High School and dropped at home.

Pick-up spot: Malibu

Following every lesson, your instructor sends a written assessment by email to both the student and parent. It covers what the student practiced, how it went, and the priorities for between-lesson work. When a parent is at drop-off, the instructor also takes a few minutes to talk through it in person.

Practice what was covered in the most recent lesson, ideally on familiar Malibu streets where stress is lower. The progress report will give you specific guidance, but the rule of thumb is to master that skill before moving on 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 Malibu 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.

We have both male and female instructors on staff, and you can read bios before booking any lesson. Vehicle choice is also flexible: pick between our Toyota Prius and Lexus SUV, both fitted 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

It is common for students to use both test prep options as a sequence: first a refresher lesson in the days before the road test to polish skills, then our full DMV Test Prep package on test day, when we coordinate the appointment, bring a licensed and insured vehicle, check the student in, and give a final confidence boost before the examiner arrives. Together they cover preparation and execution.

Book a DMV prep lesson