Frequently Asked Questions

NW Drivers Ed, LLC is an Oregon DMV-Certified Driving School and an ODOT-Approved Driver Education Course Provider. We go beyond adherence to all the state and local laws to ensure the safety of our clients and others. Our lessons are taught using driver education vehicles that are fully equipped with safety equipment such as dual controls, instructor mirrors, an eye check mirror, an instructor side brake, and dash cameras.

"The safety of our community comes first."

NW Drivers Ed, LLC exists to help new and experienced drivers develop positive habits and safe driving practices. While it is common understanding that NW Drivers Ed, LLC cannot guarantee what will occur while you are driving, this policy exists to reiterate that which is common sense.

The skills we teach may greatly improve your ability to avoid crashes and collisions while driving. However, it is the responsibility of the licensed driver or permitted driver, whether or not he or she uses the tools that are taught, to make responsible, safe, and legal driving decisions. We are unable to guarantee that during a service or after completion of a service through NW Drivers Ed, LLC that you will not be involved in a driving-related incident. We cannot guarantee you will successfully pass your drive test even if an instructor finds that you are prepared to take and should be able to pass your test. We cannot guarantee that you will not be involved in a collision or a crash. Due to the nature of traffic conditions varying during every driving lesson/service we offer, we cannot guarantee that you will be taught or retain every available driving tool/tip.

At NW Drivers Ed, safety is our first priority. The vehicles we use for driving lessons and most other services are equipped with dual controls and instructor side mirrors. In order to teach at NW Drivers Ed, LLC, instructors are to be certified by the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles. While safety is our first priority, due to the inherent nature of the type of services we offer we cannot guarantee your safety.

During any of the services we offer (driving lessons, assessments, coaching, or other) you will be given directions to perform various driving maneuvers while operating a vehicle. It is your responsibility as the licensed or permitted driver to make responsible, safe, and legal driving decisions while maintaining control of the vehicle. NW Drivers Ed, LLC instructors will attempt to prevent any dangerous or illegal driving incidents from taking place, but there are no guarantees that the instructor present in the vehicle will be able to prevent an incident from taking place. An inherent responsibility of a driver is to assess constantly changing roadway conditions while implementing safe driving practices and maintaining control of the vehicle; thus, it is a necessary part of the services we offer that you demonstrate your ability to do so. To reiterate, the instructor in the vehicle will attempt to prevent incidents from occurring, but no guarantees can be made.

SAFE TEEN DRIVING COURSE: If you would like to withdraw from our Safe Teen Driving Course prior to the start of classes, please contact us in writing, and we will begin processing your request. Requests for refunds received within 24 hours prior to the date of the first class (Parent Meeting) will be subject to a $25 processing fee. After the start of the course, no refunds will be issued. After the start of the course, if you decide not to complete the program, an incomplete will be entered into the system, and any additional tuition not reimbursed by ODOT will be due.

ALL OTHER SERVICES: Prepaid lessons and packages do not expire for the initial/intended student driver. Payments made for a package may be used to satisfy applicable account fees. If, for any reason, you are dissatisfied with the services you receive or would simply like to discontinue receiving driver education, please notify us within 90 days of your purchase, and we will issue you a refund of the unearned portion of any services that have already been collected, subject to any applicable fees. When requesting a refund for a package, the earned portion will be calculated at the per-lesson rate. We ask in advance for your patience and understanding in processing refund requests while we conduct an accounting of the services, confirm the initial fees have been fully collected, and mail the refund to the address you provide. After 90 days, your purchase will no longer be eligible for a refund.

Unused balances may be transferred to another eligible student driver upon your written request. Transferred balances will be calculated using the refund method and are subject to a $20 transfer fee and other fees if applicable. After 180 days, your purchase will no longer be eligible for a transfer.

At NW Drivers Ed, LLC safety and education are our priorities. We do not tolerate abusive, harassing, or violent behavior. Any behavior deemed by our instructors to jeopardize the safety of our staff, our clients, or others will not be tolerated. We reserve the right to terminate services immediately if, for any reason, the safety of others is compromised. This policy includes terminating services if signs of alcohol or other intoxicants are present. At the discretion of NW Drivers Ed, LLC, management lessons may be rescheduled to another date and time if the client is too tired, distracted, or otherwise impaired. A $35 rescheduling fee will be applied to the client's account.

If a client or student is concerned that the instructor or examiner is intoxicated, do not get into the vehicle and contact management immediately at (541) 248-1962. All services will be rescheduled without a rescheduling fee.

If, for any reason, a client/student does not appear for a scheduled lesson, management may require any further lessons to be paid for in advance of reserving the time. This policy also applies when a client/student arrives for a lesson unprepared. Unprepared may include, but is not limited to, clients/students who arrive for a scheduled lesson without a learner's permit or license, without appropriate footwear, without appropriate attire, without required corrective lenses, impaired, or noticeably tired. Whenever a client does not show for an appointment, the client will be charged for the entire amount of the appointment time reserved.

Scheduled appointments may be rescheduled at any time. We encourage clients/students to reschedule appointments well in advance if, for any reason, it becomes necessary to do so. Appointments that are rescheduled within 24 hours of the scheduled appointment will be subject to a $30 rescheduling fee.

Scheduled appointments may be canceled at any time. We encourage clients/students to reschedule appointments well in advance if, for any reason, it becomes necessary to do so. Appointments that are canceled within 24 hours of the scheduled appointment will be subject to a $35 cancellation fee.

All driving lessons are subject to recording. Recording equipment designed to capture activity on the inside of the cab of the vehicle and outside of the vehicle may be employed. If a client/student objects to being recorded based on personal reasons, one-on-one custom lessons (i.e., private lessons) will be refused. Management may require an observer to be present for any lessons or services.

If, for any reason, you are dissatisfied with the services you receive from NW Drivers Ed, we encourage you to first notify us of your concerns. Our client's safety and education are our number one priority, and we appreciate the opportunity to address any issues that may arise.

If an issue does arise, please contact our management team by calling or texting us at (541) 248-1962. You may also email us at [email protected].

Whether or not we are able to resolve the issue, you always maintain the right to contact the Oregon DMV directly. You may contact the Oregon DMV, Driver Programs unit by phone, in person, by mail, or online:

NW Drivers Ed, LLC, ("NW Drivers Ed", "we", "us" or "our") provides official non-commercial drive tests for Oregon drivers under a third-party agreement with the Oregon DMV. When you schedule a test on our website, you are scheduling with NW Drivers Ed. The DMV is not involved in the scheduling, canceling, or rescheduling of your drive test.

NW Drivers Ed drive tests are conducted in strict accordance with DMV policies and procedures concerning test scoring and reporting scores to the Oregon DMV. Our examiners have been trained by the ODOT and are certified driving instructors.

All drive tests are recorded. They are used for internal training purposes only and are not available for viewing.

We require you to arrive 10 minutes early for your drive test appointment with all necessary documentation, corrective lenses (if required), and closed-toe shoes. If you are late, or otherwise unprepared, it will be treated as if you did not appear for your appointment. The No-Show Policy will apply, and no refund will be issued. ALL CUSTOMERS MUST PROVIDE A VALID PHOTO ID at the time of their appointment displaying their legal name and a current image (a valid learner's permit is required for customers under 18).

We may have same-day appointments available. You must call ahead to confirm.

During your drive test ONLY you, the examiner, and on occasion, an authorized manager or ODOT representative may be allowed in the vehicle. No interpreters, family, friends, or animals are permitted. If you require the presence of an animal or an interpreter, we are unable to provide the testing service to you. We recommend contacting the DMV to discuss your options. If you arrive for an appointment and are unable to test due to this condition or any others, no refund will be issued.

By booking an appointment with us, you agree to receiving appointment confirmations, reminders, and/or updates from NW Drivers Ed by SMS communications. Message and data rates may apply. You can reply "STOP" at any time to opt-out of further SMS communications.

You MUST have already taken your knowledge test and vision screening at the DMV prior to taking the drive test with us. If you have a valid learner's permit, you have already completed this requirement.

The DMV may have additional requirements prior to issuing you a license. The following is a list of eligibility requirements for customers choosing to take the driving test with NW Drivers Ed:

• ALL customers must provide their DMV customer number and date of birth so that we may confirm eligibility prior to your drive test. If we are unable to confirm your eligibility prior to your appointment, we will not be able to administer a drive test. If you have a restriction on your driving privileges and are obtaining a reinstatement, we recommend scheduling your drive test for at least one (1) day after the reinstatement has gone into effect as it may cause an issue when reporting your results.
• ALL customers must provide a VALID PHOTO ID at the time of their appointment displaying their legal name and a current image (a valid permit is required for customers under 18).
• Customers requiring the use of an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) MUST use a vehicle equipped with an IID during the test. Currently, we only administer drive tests using our vehicles. Even though you may be confirmed eligible to test with a third-party testing business, if you require the use of an IID, we will not be able to administer your drive test. Please contact another testing facility to see if they permit the use of your vehicle for testing.
• Customers MUST be at least 16 years of age or older at the time of the drive test.
• Customers who have failed a drive test may not take an additional drive test on the same day as the failed attempt. Customers no longer have a waiting period and can test the next day but cannot test twice on the same day.

Customers who are 16 and 17 years of age must meet the following additional requirements:

• Customers must have held a valid instructional permit from Oregon or another state for at least six (6) months prior to testing and must have their permit with them at the time of the test.
• If the customer's permit is from another state, the customer must first pass the knowledge test at the Oregon DMV and obtain an Oregon DMV customer number prior to testing.
• Customers must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian during the drive test appointment. The parent or legal guardian must remain at our office during the testing session.
• Before being issued a provisional license by the DMV for customers who are under 18, the DMV will require documentation demonstrating completion of 100 hours of practice driving (or 50 hours if the teen driver completed an ODOT-Approved Driver Safety Course). The DMV may have additional requirements and the requirements listed above may be subject to changes in the laws. Only the DMV can ultimately confirm your eligibility to receive a driver license.

To hold your appointment, payment for the test must be received at the time you schedule an appointment for a drive test. Testing fees are as follows:

Please note, the testing fees DO NOT include fees that are required to be paid to the DMV when you obtain your license.

Taking lessons with us prior to taking your drive test does not guarantee that you will pass your test. If you have taken lessons with one of our instructors, you will not be able to be tested by that individual; the drive test will have to be conducted by one of our other examiners.

NW Drivers Ed does not issue refunds for services performed. NW Drivers Ed does not issue refunds for missed or rescheduled appointments. If you are late for your appointment and we are unable to fit you in on the same day, it will be treated as a missed appointment. Should you cancel or reschedule your appointment the following fees may apply:

• To reschedule an appointment more than 48 hours before the appointment, there are no fees.
• To reschedule an appointment between 24 and 48 hours, there is a $20 rescheduling fee for drive tests and a $30 rescheduling fee for custom lessons.
• Rescheduled appointments are not eligible for a refund, and appointments can be rescheduled only once.
• When canceling an appointment more than 48 hours before the appointment, you are eligible for a refund minus a $10 processing fee.
• No refunds will be issued for any appointments within 48 hours of the date of the appointment.

Customers who fail their drive test will not be issued a refund, nor will customers who pass their drive test be issued a refund. The drive test is a service and thus is not eligible for a refund once completed.

Customers who do not arrive on time for their appointment or fail to show up for their appointment as scheduled WILL NOT be issued a refund. Customers choosing to schedule another appointment will still be required to pay the full price for the additional appointment.

If you lose or otherwise require a replacement certification (tests prior to July 6, 2020) for your drive test, you will be charged an additional $20 for the replacement.

At NW Drivers Ed, the Oregon DMV drive test directions will be given verbally. All locations can provide driving directions in Spanish. Our Salem office Monday through Friday and our McMinnville office Monday and Wednesday can conduct appointments with a fluent Spanish speaker. Our other locations require an appointment for Spanish directions, so please see our Spanish appointment schedule.

Due to a recent change, there are no longer waiting periods between test attempts. HOWEVER, customers may only attempt one (1) drive test per day. This means if a customer fails their drive test they may take another test the next day if an appointment is available.