Rules - Policies - Terms & Conditions
Age Requirements
By State of Maine Law, students must be 15 years of age on the date of class Orientation. Proof of age is required to enroll in driver’s education. If the student registered is not of legal age on the first day of class, the deposit is non-refundable. Student will be placed in the next not full class, as their age permits. The deposit will be held a maximum of 6 months from the date of the original application. After 6 months the deposit is forfeited and will not be credited toward another class. Any copy of birth certificate, passport, or other legal document showing proof of their date of birth is acceptable.
Deposit / Refund Policy
A $200.00 non-refundable deposit is required to register for the course. Registration is not considered complete until the deposit or payment in full has been received with proof of student’s age. The entire course registration fee is due on or before the first day of class, which is the date of Orientation, unless prior arrangements have been made. No driving will be scheduled until payment in full is received.
Students can drop the course up to the first day of class and receive tuition refund in full, minus the $200.00 deposit. No refunds after the 1st day of class. The student will have up to 6 months from the date of their original application to sign up for another class with available seating. Their deposit will count toward their tuition; the student will be responsible for the remaining balance before, or on, the first day of class. After 6 months the deposit will be forfeited. If the class registration fee has increased, they are responsible for the cost of tuition at the new rate.
**There will be no refunds of any kind if a student is removed because of disciplinary reasons.
Rules
We welcome a positive experience where all feel welcome. If the instructor feels that the student is repeatedly argumentative, disrespectful, uses foul or inappropriate language, or harassing the instructor or another student, a warning will be given and then removal from the classroom or canceling their drive session could result. Further disruption could result from discharge from the program. This applies to behind the wheel driving, as well as, in the classroom setting. All costs will be forfeited, and no refund will be given.
Disruption, of any sort both in the classroom and behind the wheel, can be cause for removal from the classroom and could end your drive session. If the instructor feels that the drive session is no longer productive, they can reserve the right to cease instruction for the day. A warning will be given and then any further disruption can cause dismissal from the program with no refund. Should a student miss classroom time for any reason, they will need to make up that class when that class is next offered. A Private make-up lesson can be requested, however a fee of $100.00 will be charged.
Students enrolled in our courses, employees, agents and driver education instructors may not intimidate or harass an employee, student or other person receiving driver education training based on sex, color, race, religion, national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability or sexual orientation. This includes instructor to student, student to student and student to instructor. Regulated by: Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Driver Education Program (207) 624-9000, ext. 52128.
It is at the discretion of the instructor to halt driving if the student is overtired, overly emotional, or generally not in a condition to drive that might put the public, instructor, student or other students at risk.
No drugs, alcohol, smoking or illegal substances are allowed at any time. If the instructor feels that the driver is impaired by any means or that they have used products prior to driving or while or during the classroom setting, it is at instructor’s discretion that both classes and drives will be suspended. This is cause for immediate removal from the program. No refund will be given.
Cell phone use is only allowed during class breaks. Any student caught texting or using their phone during class will be asked to leave the class and will receive no credit for the day.
Zoom etiquette: We have to see the students from the neck up. We have to be able to hear and speak to them and they have to be able to hear us and speak to us. They have to be in a well lit room without interruptions and not being distracting to other students. They can not be laying in their beds. No cell phone use during any classes. Only one device is to be used while class is in attendance. Students need to be respectful at all times
Successful Completion
The driver’s education course consists of 30 hours of classroom instruction and 10 hours of behind the wheel instruction.
It is mandated by the state, that the student score at least an 80% or higher on the written exam. An 80% or higher average must be maintained for the class grade for tests, quizzes and work sheets.
The student must attend all classes. If a class is missed, the class must be made up before they are able to take the permit test. Private make-up classes are an additional fee of $100 per class per student, but scheduled only at the availability of the instructor. Otherwise they will retake the written exam when it’s next offered.
If a student fails the written exam three times, they will need to repeat the class again at their expense. Enrollment must be within six (6) months of the original enrollment date. If the student fails the written exam after their third attempt, they must then reapply as a new student at the current cost of tuition. Please note that each retake of the written exam is an additional $50 fee.
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
The State of Maine requires all parents to be involved in their child’s driver education course. Parents will be required to do a 1-hour parent ride along with us at or around the 10th hour of the student’s last drive session with us or by participating during a virtual orientation session.
MEDIA & PHOTOGRAPHY
Acceptance of these terms permits Coastal Area Driving Academy to use photography of students for advertising purposes including but not limited to the business website and Facebook page. If a student or parent does not want photographs used, they must request so in writing.
It is also understood that our vehicles are equipped with video and audio recording equipment. These are installed for the safety of our students, instructors and recordings may be used as training aids.
Other Fees
The following fees are charged in addition to the regular course registration fee, when applicable.
Driving Appointment “No Shows” and Cancellation – A 6-hour notice is required to cancel any driving appointment. A $50.00 fee will be charged for late cancellations and no additional driving will be scheduled until the fee is paid in full.
If a student fails to show up at their scheduled driving time without a 6-hour notice, this will be considered a “no show” and a $50.00 fee will be charged. No additional driving will be scheduled until the fee is paid in full.
A $50.00 fee will be charged for each retake of the written exam.
Private make-up classes are charged at a rate of $100.00 per student, per class and are only provided upon approval under extreme circumstances as approved by instructor.
We will be teaching the curriculum from AAA “How to Drive, 15th Edition” via Powerpoint. If you choose to purchase the textbook outright or E-book to have in addition to what’s taught in class, it can be done at the following link: https://drivertraining.aaa.biz/products/how-to-drive-student-textbook. This is optional.
