You can do almost everything online nowadays - order pizza, rent movies, even buy books you can read instantly on your computer. And did you know that you can also take drivers education classes on the internet? You might think: Wow, that definitely beats being holed up in a classroom all weekend watching car slides! But don't enroll just yet - we'll give you the info you need to decide if online drivers ed is right for you. Take this as your first lesson!



What it's great for:

If you live in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania or Texas: lucky you! Your state's laws give you the option of taking an online drivers ed course - instead of a classroom one - to fulfill the 30 hours of required drivers education classes for teens. Internet classes can be a great alternative to an actual driving school, especially since they're very interactive and let you work at your own pace and schedule. They are generally cheaper than classroom-taught driving courses, and your parents save gas, money, and time by not having to drive you back and forth from class.

As for those of you in the other 41 states: you're still required to do it the old fashioned way - find a driving school and sit through the required classroom time (don't worry, it's really not that bad!). But you can still sign up for an online course to qualify for an insurance discount or to purchase practice questions for the written test. There are even several companies that will refund your money if you don't get your permit on the first try!

If you are interested in lowering your auto insurance rates (and who isn't..!?), completing an online drivers ed class can qualify you for a discount of up to 10% - and it doesn't matter where you live or how long you've been driving. But first, check with your insurance company to make sure they have a policy of rewarding drivers who take "safe driving" courses.

The Cons:

Even if you can complete your state's drivers ed class requirement on the internet, it's important to know that online courses won't fulfill the driving instruction portion of it. Driving instruction consists of several (usually around 6) hours of behind-the-wheel, supervised drivers training. You can either hire an instructor just for this from a driving school, or have your parents teach you. Laws vary state-by-state, so make sure to check your driving manual for details.

Everyone has a different learning style, and taking an online drivers ed class requires you to keep on top of your work without much supervision, even if it's 20 minutes a day. If you tend to be easily distracted by fun stuff like IMs, flash games, or MySpace any time you're on the internet, then you might have a hard time getting through the course material on your own. In this case, you might really benefit more from a traditional classroom environment at a driving school - do your best to figure out which method will be better for you.

So, to wrap up: if you do decide that online drivers ed is for you, make sure to choose a company that's solid and reputable, just like you would in non-virtual life. Search the web for other people's reviews, and check their reputation with the Better Business Bureau at bbb.org. Ready to get started? Best of luck, and don't be late to class!