Behind-the-Wheel Lessons for Palisades Charter High Students

There are two California requirements that must be met before a teen can apply for their license:

• 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

Those 50 hours can be tracked using our free California driving log. Time spent in individual or custom lessons with our instructors counts toward the total.

Some PCHS students want more behind-the-wheel time than the standard package provides. Individual or custom lessons can be added at any point and are commonly used 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

Ask us about individual lesson options when you sign up or after completing your package.

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 practice between lessons advance significantly faster. Less time reviewing old material means more time building new skills.

Our usual recommendation is to spread lessons across the full 6 months of the learner's permit. That gives families time for real supervised practice in between, and lets each lesson build meaningfully on the last. Every family's schedule is different though, so we work around school, sports, and other activities.

This is completely understandable and far more common than people assume. Families should never feel pressure to practice beyond their comfort level. Just wait for the next lesson. The instructor will check readiness and take it 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.

Plenty of families use just this. Others combine it with the full test prep package below for end-to-end coverage.

This is the most hands-off path for families. With the DMV Test Prep package booked, we coordinate a DMV appointment that fits both your schedule and our instructor and vehicle availability. You skip the scheduling headache. One important note: if you go with this package, please do not book your own DMV slot separately, since we may not have coverage 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 front of school by the flagpole. 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 Palisades Charter High School and dropped at home.

Pick-up spot: Pacific Palisades

After every lesson, your instructor emails a personal written assessment to both student and parent: what was practiced, how it went, and what to work on before the next session. If a parent is available at drop-off, the instructor will take a few minutes to review in person.

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 Pacific Palisades once residential driving is solid

When a student and parent or guardian don't feel ready to practice a skill without an instructor, the best choice is to wait for the next lesson. Don't take on 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.

Both instructor and vehicle preferences are honored where possible, subject to availability. Assignments are made on a first-come, first-served basis at the time of booking.

Meet all of our instructors

Plenty of students combine both of our test prep options for the strongest setup: a refresher lesson a few days before the road test to sharpen any rough edges, plus our full DMV Test Prep package on the day of the test, where we handle the appointment, bring our licensed and insured vehicle, check the student in, and offer a confidence boost just before the examiner arrives. The two work well in sequence.

Book a DMV prep lesson