About

South Metro Driving School

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South Metro Driving School provides professional Behind-The-Wheel driving lessons for teens and new drivers in Apple Valley, Rosemount, Eagan, Lakeville, and throughout Dakota and surrounding Counties. Our experienced instructors are made up of current and former ISD 196 teachers. We help students build confidence, develop safe driving habits, and prepare to successfully pass the Minnesota Road Test on the first try. If you’re searching for a trusted driving school in the South Metro Twin Cities area, come take a drive with us. ENROLL NOW

Our Beginning

South Metro Driving School was founded to meet the growing need in our community for high-quality Behind-The-Wheel driving instruction. For decades, our instructors have been helping students learn to safely navigate roadways with confidence.  With recent closures and demand already exceeding the capacity of existing programs in the Twin Cities South Metro, SMDS is excited to help students achieve their driving goals. By opening our school, we are stepping in to ensure families have access to experienced, trusted educators who understand the unique needs of new drivers.

Our goal is not only to fill the gap but to raise the bar—offering a premium driver education service that combines the latest vehicle safety technology, flexible scheduling, and professional instruction to provide every student the confidence to succeed on the roadways.

Our Vision and Goals

South Metro Driving School is dedicated to continuous improvement and growth in the field of driver education. Our future plans include offering a comprehensive online classroom option, expanding services to include permit testing, and enhancing our instructional tools with cutting-edge technology. We pride ourselves on professionalism, flexibility, and the ability to meet the diverse needs of families in our community. Our instructors bring decades of teaching and coaching experience, paired with modern vehicles and safety-focused training, to give students the best possible foundation. As we expand, our commitment remains the same: to provide top-quality driver education that builds confidence, ensures safety, and prepares young drivers for a lifetime on the road. (Providing behind-the-wheel driving lessons in Apple Valley and Rosemount, MN and the surrounding communities)

Rosemount street scene with traffic lights, American flags, parked cars, a pub named 'Celt's Pub', and a crosswalk at sunset.

Mission Statement

At South Metro Driving School, our mission is to set the standard of Excellence in Driver Education. With decades of experience and a team of professional educators, we are committed to helping young adults build confidence, develop safe driving habits, and grow through real-world driving experiences. Our dedication to safety, professionalism, and personal growth ensures every student leaves our program ready for the road ahead.

Service Area

South Metro Driving School is based out of Apple Valley, Minnesota and services the ISD 196 attendance area within Dakota County, Minnesota.  Driving lessons taught in the cities of; Apple Valley, Rosemount, Eagan, Lakeville, Burnsville, Inver Grove Heights, Farmington, and any city within a short drive from Apple Valley.   

City of Minneapolis street scene, Portland Avenue, red brick buildings, parked cars, people walking dogs, traffic lights, and a street sign for Portland Avenue.

  • Students under 18 years of age must complete 30 hours of classroom Driver Education before taking the Knowledge Test to earn an Instruction Permit to drive.

  • Once you have completed 30 hours of classroom Driver Education, you will receive a Classroom Completion Letter from your school.

  • Students must be 15 years of age or older in order to take the Knowledge Test

  • Make your payment. Students under the age of 18 must enroll in a Driver Education Program (financially commit) before moving forward to earn an Instruction Permit. Students 18 or older are not required to complete classroom OR behind the-wheel-education

I think I’m ready to take the Permit Test

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Minneapolis street view with tall modern buildings, crosswalks, traffic lights, vehicles, and pedestrians at an intersection during daytime.

  • Students make take and pass the Knowledge Test with a score of 80% or better to earn an Instruction Permit

  • Students will receive a paper copy of their Permit at the DMV when they pass the Knowledge/Vision Tests and an ID card will be mailed within a few months. Once you receive your paper copy Permit, you are ready to drive.

  • Students should spend at least 3 hours learning vehicle control and basic driving tasks under adult supervision. This way, SMDS instructors can spend less time on simple tasks and more time discussing complex and potentially dangerous roadway situations. (If you prefer your first minutes of driving to be with an instructor, that works for us too)

I think I’m ready to Schedule Behind-The-Wheel

SCHEDULE LESSONS

SMDS Services Offered

  • ($438 when using a CC) This service includes 6-hours of Behind-The-Wheel Driver Education provided by a professional staff of State Approved Driving Instructors. Anyone under the age of 18 is required to complete these 6-hours before moving forward with a Provisional License.

  • This service is perfect for Adult Student Drivers who need real practice. Nervous drivers getting back behind the wheel, new Minnesotans learning Twin Cities roads, recently licensed adults who want a professional second opinion before driving solo. Two hours is the right block. Long enough to leave the parking lot, work on freeway entry, parallel park, and overall driving improvement. We can tailor the lesson to your needs and whatever you want to work on. Schedule a single 2-Hour Lesson or add more as necessary. (This service is different from the 6-Hour Student Driver option)

  • This service offers 1 (extra) Hour in a Mock Road Test designed to help students prepare for their official driving test. During this session, students will complete a simulated Road Test while the instructor evaluates their performance using the same standards applied during an actual Road Test. Following the drive, students will receive detailed, personalized feedback highlighting strengths, areas for improvement, and key skills to focus on specifically for passing the Road Test. This service is a great option for student drivers looking for a little extra confidence before an upcoming test, or student drivers struggling to pass the test.

  • This service ensures students (15 to 17) will complete their 6-hours of Behind-The-Wheel Lessons in expedited fashion, no later than 3 weeks of requesting to Schedule Lessons. SMDS will make time to fit you in to the best of our ability, possibly during off-peak times.

  • South Metro Driving School has partnered with Pass Drivers Ed to provide this pathway with an online curriculum that is self-paced and taught with real world situational driving. Pass Drivers Ed

  • SMDS prefers full payments up front but if you need to make two payments, we can help you with that. Pay $220 when you enroll and $220 before finishing Behind-The-Wheel Lessons. (You will not be able to schedule unless you’ve paid your balance) Contact SMDS directly if you have questions.

  • There are options to pay with cash, check, Venmo, Zelle, or CC. Contact SMDS directly with questions.

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City of St. Paul, Xcel Energy Center, Grand Casino Arena, intersection with traffic lights, cars, and modern buildings under a partly cloudy blue sky.

Why Choose SMDS?

  • We strive to be the best Driver Education School in the Twin Cities South Metro Area. By providing a premium service with a professional approach we hope to build a community of safer and more confident drivers.

  • All of our Driving Instructors are current and former ISD 196 teachers who know how to connect with teens and guide new drivers with patience and skill. We’ve been running Driver Education Programs since 1980, giving us decades of experience helping students become safe and confident drivers.

  • We make it easy to fit driving lessons into busy family calendars, with plenty of choice and flexible options.

  • We keep costs fair while providing modern Driver Education and Add-On services to enhance this experience for students.

  • Driving Lessons will be conducted in newer vehicles equipped with top-end safety features, ensuring safety and comfort.

Downtown Minneapolis street view with buildings, traffic lights, and a church in the background at the intersection of South 9th Street.

  • In the State of Minnesota you must be at least 16 years of age to qualify for a Provisional License to drive.

  • In the State of Minnesota you must complete 6 hours of Behind-The-Wheel Instruction with a State Approved Driver Education Program before taking the Road Test to earn a Provisional License to drive. This is not required for drivers 18 years of age or older

  • In the State of Minnesota you must complete 50 hours of supervised driving with a qualified adult, 21 years of age of older, 15 of these hours must be at night. (which means after dark) If the student driver is 18, then the supervising driver must only be 18 years of age or older. These driving hours must be recorded on the Minnesota Supervised Driving Log or on the app Road Ready.

I think I’m ready to take the Road Test

ROAD TEST CHECK LIST

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