Common questions about lessons, BDE & road tests

Yes. SAFA Driving Academy is approved by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) to deliver Beginner Driver Education. Our certified instructors follow the MTO-approved curriculum, and course completions are submitted to the MTO on your behalf.

Yes — supporting nervous and first-time drivers is one of the things we do best. Our instructors keep lessons calm and structured, build skills step-by-step, and adjust the pace to your comfort level. Many of our students arrive feeling anxious and leave each lesson feeling more confident.

We serve Oshawa, Bowmanville, Courtice, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, and the wider Durham Region. Pickup areas may vary by package — please confirm when you book.

Our MTO-approved BDE course includes 20 hours of online classroom instruction, 10 hours of structured homework or driving log activities, and 10 hours of private in-car lessons with a certified instructor. We submit your course completion to the MTO once you finish.

Students who complete an MTO-approved BDE course may be eligible to take the G2 road test after 8 months of holding their G1, instead of the standard 12 months. Final eligibility depends on the MTO and on completing all program requirements.

Many insurance providers offer a discount for new drivers who complete an MTO-approved BDE course, but discounts are not guaranteed and depend entirely on your individual insurer. We always recommend confirming with your insurance provider directly before assuming a specific discount.

Most BDE programs need to be completed within a defined timeframe set by the school and MTO. We will confirm the exact completion window when you enrol so you have clear deadlines for the online classroom, homework, and in-car portions.

In most cases, yes — students complete the early online modules before in-car lessons begin, so the foundational theory is in place before practical driving. We will explain the exact sequence when you enrol.

Yes. The online classroom portion is asynchronous, so you can work through modules on your own schedule, then book in-car lessons at times that work for you.

Absolutely. We work with first-time drivers, nervous beginners, and people returning to driving after a long break. Lessons start in calm, low-pressure environments and progress at a pace that works for you. Many students tell us they finally felt safe and supported with SAFA after struggling with other schools.

It depends on how much practice you need before the road test. If you are unsure, contact us — we will ask a few questions about your experience and recommend a package honestly. There is no pressure to upgrade.

Yes. We offer both hourly G2 ($55 / hr, tax included) and G ($60 / hr, tax included) lessons. You can also bundle lessons into a road test package if you want use of our car for the test.

Yes. Our road test packages include a focused pre-test warm-up lesson plus the use of a fully insured, well-maintained SAFA vehicle for your road test. Choose the lesson length that fits how prepared you feel.

Road tests are booked through DriveTest. You book your own road test slot — we then schedule a pre-test lesson and the test-day pickup around it. We are happy to advise on which DriveTest centre is most familiar to your instructor.

No driving school can guarantee a pass — your result depends on your performance on test day and the examiner. What we can do is prepare you thoroughly, point out specific habits to fix, and make sure you are calm and comfortable in the vehicle on test day.

We are available Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Specific lesson availability depends on instructor schedules — we will offer the closest options when you book.

We ask for as much notice as possible — typically at least 24 hours before your lesson. Late cancellations or no-shows may be subject to a fee. We confirm the exact policy when you book so there are no surprises.

We accept online payment through Stripe (Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and most debit cards), as well as in-person payment by cash or Interac e-transfer. You choose whichever method works best for you when you book.

Yes. All online payments are processed by Stripe, one of the most trusted payment platforms in the world. We never see, store, or handle your card number — it goes directly to Stripe's encrypted, PCI-compliant servers. SAFA only receives a confirmation that payment was completed successfully.

Absolutely. If you prefer not to pay online, you can pay in person by cash or Interac e-transfer before or at the time of your first lesson. Just select the "Book Now" or "Get Enrolled" option when booking (instead of "Add to Cart") and our team will confirm the in-person payment details with you.

No. We never store, see, or handle your credit or debit card information. All card data is entered directly into Stripe's secure payment form and processed entirely by Stripe. SAFA has no access to your card details at any point.

Refunds depend on the service and on how much of it has already been delivered. Unused lesson hours are typically refundable, while completed BDE classroom time generally is not. We will explain the full refund policy clearly before you pay so there are no surprises.