Two-Payment Plan (Details and Estimated Timing)

This page explains the details behind the potential timing of from when you make your first payment of $100, giving you the green light to take the Knowledge test and earn a Permit. Until the time you must pay the remaining balance $340 before receiving your White Card (E-Card), which is required before getting the green light to take the Road Test for a License. (An estimated 10 days up to 9 months)

  1. First, you must pay to get a Blue Card (E-Card) which is needed to take the Permit Test. At which time you can schedule your Knowledge Test, although you can actually schedule your Knowledge Test before you get your Blue Card (E-Card), just as long as you pay for it and receive it before you take the test. (Please allow SMDS 24-48 hours for processing) So you’re looking at a couple days up to 30 days, because you can only schedule the Knowledge Test 30 days in advance per State of MN rules.

  2. Then you must take and pass the Knowledge Test. If you do not pass on your first attempt, you will need to re-schedule and try again. So now you’re looking at a couple of days up to maybe 2 months or more if you persistently take but fail the permit test more than a couple times; 2 to 60 days.

  3. Once you earn your Permit, you can begin to drive. Ideally, students should drive at least 3 hours under adult supervision before Scheduling Behind-The-Wheel Lessons. This allows more time for students to experience and discuss new, difficult, and potentially dangerous driving situations with Instructor Supervision, and less time spent on vehicle controls and basic driving tasks. If you prefer your first hours to be with a Driving Instructor, we can arrange that too. This could take a couple days up to a couple weeks depending on family comfort and schedules; so another 2 to maybe 14 days.

  4. Now you need to Schedule Behind-The-Wheel Lessons and be connected with one of our Driving Instructors. During slower times of the year our instructors might be able to get you in you within a week but because ISD196 shut down their Behind-The-Wheel Program to new enrollees, we anticipate high demand beginning late in the fall of 2025. SMDS plans to hire Driving Instructors based on demand; our goal is to schedule and complete Behind-The-Wheel Lessons within six months of when a student indicates they want to start lesson, at the worse case scenario. Realistically and based on our experience running the ISD196 Program, you should expect to complete your lessons within a couple weeks up to 2 to 3 months. Please keep in mind, that although we are experienced, we are a brand new business filling the strong need for behind-the-wheel lessons, immediately after ISD196 shut down their program. So it’s possible, that all 2000 of those students may want enroll with South Metro Driving School. If that happens, we’ll do our best to keep up and be honest if we can’t.

All-in; in the shortest of time-frame, you’re looking at 10 days. That’s from the start of the process by making your first $225 payment until making your second $225 payment when finishing your 6th and final hour of behind the wheel. At the longest time frame, you’re looking at potentially 9-months between first and second payments. Contact SMDS with more specific questions.