FAQ Index - find your question and scroll down.
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Common Questions...
Why must students be 15? Why not 14.5?
Are you state licensed? Yes.
Are the instructors vaccinated? Yes
I am from another state...?
What if my teen took driver training in another state?
Can I practice driving with my teen in a parking lot or neighborhood before or during driver training?
What about masks?
Partners - What if siblings or friends want to signup and drive together.
Do you teach teenagers?
Do you teach adults?
Do you teach stick shift/manual?
What if my teen is 17? Do they have to take driver training?
What if my teen is 18+ - what course or program do we choose?
What is the best age to start driver training?
What are the locations and drive lengths?
Can you pick up or drop off at home residences or schools?
How long will it take?
What if I have to reschedule or I miss a drive? What is the drive or course reschedule/refund policy?
How many total drives?
How do we get observation time if my student drives solo?
How long are the drives?
Why do we go to the DMV and what do we take?
Online Course Questions...
What if my teen has already completed the online class? [In Idaho or another state]
What if my teen has just started or completed another online class such as IDLA, Driversed.com, AAA, or Teachsafe?
Do we have to use IODE?
How do we pay for IODE?
When and where are classes held?
How long does it take to finish the online course?
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Miscellaneous Questions...
If I am 17+ can I take the Basic or Enhanced Course like younger teens?
What is the Enhanced Course?
What is the process after the 6 months supervised driving is complete?
Why should I take drivers education? Why not wait till I'm 17 and just take the test?
What car will my student drive?
Why so expensive?
Is there a student height or weight limit/requirement?
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Common Questions
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Why must students be 15? Why not 14.5?
We believe that students need to be a little older before taking on the awesome responsibility of driving a vehicle. Also it is getting more and more dangerous to drive in Idaho. Idaho is one of the most dangerous states to drive in now. Students need to be able handle the stress of driving and the cognitive abilities to take advantage of our advanced training. There is a big difference in learning and maturity between students who are 14.5 years old and students who are 15 years old. Many older drivers feel it is okay for their 14.5 year old to learn because they also learned at that age (or earlier) - but times are different now. Driving is much more dangerous.
The only exception Ultra Safe will make is if the student already has their permit from another driving school and needs more training.
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I am from another state...?
We receive lots of various questions from people who have just moved here, are going to move here, etc. This may help -
No matter what your circumstance, when it comes to Ultra Safe, our policy is you will go through the same process as an established Idaho resident. It does not matter what happened in another state in regards to driving instruction, an online class, or permit. This applies to students 17+ who already have a drivers license - you will sign up no differently. After clicking on Scheduling & Sign-up please click on the appropriate to tab to start the sign-up process. Other driving schools might have a different policy.
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What if my teen took driver training in another state?
We will only teach students who have an Idaho permit or have purchased an Idaho Supervised Instruction Permit from the DMV (the permit 14.5 - 16 year olds must get). If your teen is 14.5 to 16 years old, they will need to take our 10 drive course including the online classroom course - even if they have completed an online course or driving in another state. If they are 17 they can get their Instruction Permit (take DMV written test) which means they do not have to take the online course. They will take our 7 drive course.
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Can I practice driving with my teen in a parking lot or neighborhood before or during driver training?
NO! It is illegal to drive anywhere, unless it is private property with no public access. A school parking lot is private property with public access. A large ranch is an example of private property with no public access. You can review vehicle instruments, brake & gas, how to change gears (demo only), and turn signals with your student. There is no need to show how to adjust mirrors, seats, steering wheel, and headrest.
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What about masks?
Students are required to wear masks. The instructor wears a mask. Wearing a mask also reduces spreading the common cold and the flu to other students. We offer N95 masks that are comfortable and easy to breath in.
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Partners - What if siblings or friends want to drive together?
We do not teach friends together. We can teach siblings together. Drives are 3.5 to 4.5 hours long if siblings are together.
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Do you teach teenagers?
Yes. Ultra Safe is the best way for your student to earn their driving permit. It usually takes 3 to 5 weeks for students to get their permit. Some schools get the driving portion done faster but at lower quality - usually doing only 3 or 4 drives. This is unsafe and is too much driving information to be absorbed by the student. Some schools also have a physical classroom which means the classroom portion of the course is finished early but the driving portion could take more than 4 weeks.
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Do you teach adults?
Yes. Adults must have a permit to drive. You receive a permit to drive after you have passed the DMV Knowledge (written) test.
Do you teach stick shift/manual?
No. It is not efficient or safe to teach stick shift in driver education*. Many parents learned to drive stick shift only - but today's driving is much more stressful and dangerous than in the old days. Once students learn automatic, learning stick shift will only take about 20 minutes in your own vehicle.
*"For example: If we are stopped at a red light and the light turns green but the vehicle stalls - we could get rear-ended because the vehicle approaching us is expecting us to go.
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What if someone is over 18 - can they take the same driver training as 14.5-16 year olds?
No, 18 and over students will take our 1 or 3 drive course. They can purchase additional lessons afterwards.
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What if my teen is 17? Do they have to take driver training?
They do not have to take driver training (but they should). If you are at least 17 or older you can take the DMV written test at the DMV to receive your Instruction Permit. This permit is different from the Supervised Instruction Permit students under 17 receive when looking to take driver training. The Instruction Permit allows students to practice in any vehicle with a licensed driver at least 18 years old. The Supervised Instruction Permit means they can only practice in a certified driver training vehicle with a licensed instructor. Anybody can get a Supervised Instruction Permit but it means they will only receive their permit when both the online classroom and driving portion of the driver training program is complete - age doesn't matter. This means if you are 17 (or older) and you apply for a Supervised Instruction Permit and you do not finish either the online classroom or the driving portion - you will not receive the permit and you cannot drive with anybody. If you are 17 or older you must get your permit by taking the DMV written knowledge test.
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What if my teen is 18+ - what course or program do we choose?​
18 and over student cannot be in the driver training car with 17 and under students. 18 year olds who have a permit can schedule individual drives. Please click this link for more info.
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What is the best age to start driver training?
14 1/2 is too young. Although you may be patiently waiting for the day when you don't have to drive them around anymore - you could be setting your child up for failure (and failure could mean collisions, grief, debt, physical ailments, death, and stress). Our training is designed to be challenging and focus primarily on defensive driving. However, most students under 17 do not get the full benefit of our training because they simply don't have the mental capacity and mental focus. Another benefit to waiting is it allows them more time to observe you and other drivers. Many 17 year old students we teach have interesting and sometimes scary stories of friends who got their permit early and gotten into collision, had close-calls, or developed very bad habits. We discourage taking driver training under 17. Being 2 1/2 years older makes a huge difference and therefore will make them a safer driver. We will gladly teach 14 1/2 year olds because we don't want anybody else teaching them - but, please keep in mind they will not be as safe on the roads at a younger age. Will you be okay with knowing your child got injured or injured someone else simply because you were tired of driving them around?
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What are the drive locations and time lengths?
Drives start at Chuckarama off Overland and Cole Rd. Adult practice drives may start at other locations. All drives are 2 to 2.5 hours long. The last drive of the teen 10-drive course is 3 hours with 1 hour for parent observation drive.
Can you pick-up and drop-off at home residences or schools?
Sometimes students can drop themselves off at home for free. It depends on where they live. For home pick-up or drop-off the extra charge varies based on their location. All drives start at specific locations. This is to help make the drives as educational and efficient as possible. We can pick students up from any location, including schools, but there may be an extra charge because we will drive the student to the starting location. It is not efficient to have a student start driving from their school. Too much time is wasted just exiting the parking lot.
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How long will it take (for teens)?
*3 to 4 weeks once the drives begin. Idaho law requires you complete 6 hours of driving and 6 hours of in-car observation to complete the "driving" portion of the course. The observation requirement will be met in the driver training vehicle or in a parents vehicle.
What if I have to reschedule or I miss a drive? What is the drive or course reschedule/refund policy?
Please text or email us for the latest Policy Form.
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How many total drives (for teens)?
​10 total drives in our basic program.
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How do we get observation time if my student drives solo?
Students are allowed to get observation time with their parents. After you sign up you will be give a 6 Hour Observation log sheet. It is designed to increase the scanning ability. The student will be actively looking for potential problems and writing them down. The 6 Hour Observation log sheet will be turned in by the last drive.
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How long are the drives?
2 to 2.5 hours.
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Why do we go to the DMV and what do we take?
You go to the DMV to purchase the permit required to take driver education. The permit will be mailed to the driving school you tell them. Students can still train using the DMV Permit Receipt if the actual permit is still being processed. For a list of items you'll need to take to the DMV please go to the DMV Page.
Online Course Questions
What if my teen has already completed the online class? [In Idaho or another state]
If you finished you will not pay for the online course but you will pay for the driving portion.
If you finish an online course in another state, you will need to complete an Idaho approved online course. No exceptions - this is state law.
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What if my teen has just started or completed another online class such as IDLA, Driversed.com, AAA, or Teachsafe?
You will only pay for the driving portion. Your student must finish whatever online course they started in order receive their permit.
You can always stop whichever online course you are using and use IODE (no discount given). Many online courses will issue a refund.
Ultra Safe does not use, promote, contact, or work with IDLA. If you have signed up with IDLA you will choose and complete the drives as you would if using any other online course.
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Do we have to use IODE?
No. You can use another state-approved course but it is not recommended. You will get a $50 discount if you use a different online course.
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How do we pay for IODE?
Click on scheduling and follow the steps outlined. We will send a PayPal invoice. Once it is paid you will receive an email invitation to start the online within 24 hours. The cost is $50.
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​​​When and where are classes held?
"Classroom" classes are online through Idaho Online Driver Education (IODE).
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​How long does it take to finish the online course?
A minimum of 6 days. This is not advised. It is ideal for students to work on it for 30-90 minutes per day. Most students finish in 20-25 hours.
Miscellaneous Questions
If I am 17+ can I take the Basic or Super Advanced Course like younger teens?
17 year olds must take our 7 drive course. 17+ must get the Instruction Permit first by taking the DMV written knowledge test. Go to this page for more details...Adult Practice Scheduling
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What is the Super Advanced Course?
The Enhanced Course is 16 hours of driver training. With 4 additional hours students will drive in more environments, have more time to fine-tune their skill before driving with parents, and have more opportunity to make defensive driving a habit. We will also be able to discuss more driving laws and other important information. Also the 4 hours will be applied to the 50 hour requirement for the Graduated Driver License Program (supervised driving period). This is the best deal in all driver education. 16 hours of advanced driver training, including the online course, for $750.
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Hill/Mountain Driving (Cartwright Road, Dry Creek Road, Hwy 55)
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Additional Highway Driving w/ merging(To Simco Rd). Cruise Control is also taught.
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These additional routes might let us pass other cars on 2 lane roads such as Hwy 55. Passing is rarely ever taught in driver education because most routes don't give the opportunity.
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Allows more practice doing the basics such as speed control, lane changes, turns, and covering the break (very important because you won't have a passenger brake in your own vehicle).
​What is the process after the 6 months supervised driving is complete?
When the 6 months is complete you will go to the DMV to take the written knowledge test. If you lost the original DMV receipt please have them print another one. Make sure the $6.50 state skills test fee is paid. When the test is passed you will call up a "skills tester". They are listed by region on the DMV website. For the skills test you will need the DMV receipt and the UltraSafe Certificate of Completion (to show completion date).
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Why should I take drivers education? Why not wait till I'm 17 and just take the test?
Studies show those who take driver education will get into less accidents and keep insurance costs lower. Many accidents occur when uneducated drivers simply don't know the rules of the road. Working in a high school I speak with students about the accidents they get into...I would say 50% are from lack of discipline in following the rules, 30% are from knowing the rules but NOT knowing any defensive drives techniques, and 20% are from simply not knowing the rules of the road.
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What car will my student drive?
Our car has a passenger brake and is fully certified satisfying all state requirements including insurance. We use a 2006 Toyota Camry that is constantly serviced by a top mechanic. We've installed extra brake lights, turn signals, and neon magnets to help make driving safer.
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Why so expensive?
Like many business involving vehicles there are lots of vehicle maintenance costs such as oil changes, new tires, gas, insurance, etc. But there are also other behind-the-scene aspects of business that you don't see. We spend 30-60 minutes per day updating the website, 1 to 2 hours per day returning text messages and emails, 30-60 minutes per day working on other miscellaneous business activities (like advertising and taxes). Time is a necessary factor to include when deciding on what to charge. This is why an air conditioning guy will come to your house, spend 10 minutes working, and then charge you $80. It is because of the behind-the-scenes time involved in just making the business run. And also because the new administration has stopped the keystone pipeline and gas/oil prices are already starting to rise. We are anticipating gas/oil prices to rise 25% in the next year. Besides spending $100 more per month on gas and oil changes - everything involved in our business will get more expensive (paper, copy ink, windshield washer fluid, office supplies - everything.) Elections matter.
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Is there a student height or weight requirement/limit?
No and Yes. Your student will be in a mid-sized Toyota Camry. It does not have telescoping steering wheel which can make driving more challenging if you are shorter and heavier or if you are over 6' 2". It is a little easier for taller and skinnier students but is tough if you are shorter and heavier. For example if you are under 5' 5" and weight over 150 lbs you might feel uncomfortable because you will be sitting very close to the steering wheel. Most student get accustomed to either being really close to the steering wheel or really far from the steering wheel - it will just seem uncomfortable at first. If you are 6' 2" and over 200 lbs you will also feel uncomfortable at first. The height and weight limit is 6'5" and 250 lbs - any bigger than this and it might be unsafe for you to sign up (your head might be touching the ceiling). Text us if you are concerned with this issue.