Shrewsbury, MA Driver Education FAQ JOL License Mustang

Are you certified by the RMV?
Yes, we are Professional Driving School #9172.

Why should I go to Gilmore's Driving School?
You want to receive the finest driver education available, obtain the best value in the driver education business, and take advantage of the highest passing rates in the area. Nobody else comes close.

What do you teach in the course?
Our classroom curriculum is closely based on RMV course guidelines and teaching safe driving techniques. We carefully schedule road lessons to focus on skill advancement and avoid "taxi" driving. Our highly experienced instructors will train you to anticipate and avoid risks, rather than just reacting to them. In addition to real-world street skills, you'll practice all of the maneuvers required for the road test on nearly every lesson!

Is Gilmores Driving School and Boylston Auto School the same company?
Yes, we are incorporated as "Boylston Auto School, Inc", doing business as (DBA) "Gilmore's Driving School". We began using the name Gilmore's Driving School because too many people were confused about "Boylston" vs. "West Boylston".

If I take your course do I get an insurance discount?
Yes. Graduates of our full driver's ed program automatically receive a 10% insurance discount, no extra courses required!

How much does it cost?
See our registration page for our current low prices.

Why does another website say that I shouldn't consider price or passing rates?
They probably have a high price and a low passing rate.

How does your payment plan work?
You can give us an initial deposit (usually $75 or $95) and then pay as you wish in single or multiple installments, anytime within 6 months of the first classroom session. (Tuition is paid in full before the driving portion of the curriculum begins).

How do I register for your course?
Call us at 508-869-2500, come see us in person at 81 Shrewsbury Street Boylston, or click the Registration link.

How old do I have to be to get started?
You can take our driver's ed classroom at 15 years, 9 months old. We recommend taking the classroom session shortly before turning 16, as the permit test at the RMV will be easier as a result (but you should still study the driver's manual, due to the possibility of obscure questions that wouldn't be covered in our class).

Do I need a learner's permit to get started?
You do not need a permit to register for a class or to start the classroom sessions with us (see above).

How do I obtain my learner's permit?
You should study the driver's manual and then go to the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) to take the permit test. No appointment is needed, but you must arrive at least 1 hour+ before closing. Bring your birth certificate and Social Security card. Driving schools cannot give permit exams, you must go to the RMV. We strongly recommend that you pay RMV licensing fees ($70) while you're at the RMV for your permit. This will save you time and hassles later!

How long will it take to complete driver's ed with you?
Although we are focused on providing the best education, customer service is also very important to us. The time for you to finish depends mainly on your own priorities, availability and motivation. Once your classroom is completed, our online scheduling system allows students to schedule up to 3 road lessons per week. You can (and many students do) finish road lessons in 4 to 6 weeks, which we consider to be the minimum time required to get enough practice at home in-between lessons with us, and become a well-trained, safe driver. Your best strategy is to START EARLY so you won't need to rush. If you have any special needs or requests, ask for Mr. Gilmore at 508-869-2500.

I play sports plus work a job. I can only drive 1 day per week. Will I ever get my lessons done?
The online scheduling system works for most students, but if you are in a difficult situation, please let us know. We can't help you if you don't ask!

What is included in tuition at Gilmore's Driving School??
Except for the ONE-TIME $10 Schedule2Drive online scheduling account fee, your tuition includes everything to complete your driver education: the 30-hour classroom, use of our well-maintained cars for 12 hours of road lessons and 6 hours observation, and the parent class. There are no additional per-lesson charges or charges for fuel, etc.

All Massachusetts residents who seek a driver's license must also pay $70 in licensing fees directly to the RMV. The RMV fees are not included at any driving school and cannot be paid through the school. Once you are finished with all requirements, if you are under 18 or want the insurance discount, you'll give us a check made out to "Mass DOT" in the amount of $15 for the driver education certificate fee. Saturday road test sponsorship costs are not included since the Saturday road test is an optional service!

What types of cars do you have?
Our fleet consists of a variety of low-mileage vehicles including hybrids and all-wheel drive SUV's, giving our students experience with a range of different vehicles and thus graduating better-prepared for real-world driving. Although our motto is "safety first", we also aim to put "fun" back into driver education with cars like our Ford Mustang and Subaru XV Crosstrek. We're extremely diligent about maintenance, which is performed by ASE master technicians. All cars are IIHS top safety picks or NHSTA 5-star rated, and equipped with dual controls, ABS, front and side-curtain airbags, and quality name-brand tires.

Before giving your money to a driving school, take a good look at their cars first!

Can you explain the various terminology?
Most students begin with the classroom session, where students come to the driving school and attend a total of 30 hours of classes while sitting at a desk. There is no driving done during classroom sessions. Once students have a learner's permit, they can begin the 12 hours of road lessons, which is the on-road driving portion of driver's ed. Road lessons are ongoing, you may start anytime. The road test is the examination that you take when you are going for your license.

What is done in the parent class?
Our parent class is a painless two-hour information session, either on a weekday evening or a Saturday morning.

I missed a classroom session, what should I do?
You will need to make up the time during the next available course session on a space-available basis. Please consult the Online Schedule and then give us a call to find out when this might be possible. Please note that we do not guarantee the availability of make-up classes, therefore students are strongly urged to attend their regularly-scheduled classes in full.

What is the Schedule2Drive account fee?
Schedule2Drive is a third-party company that provides the online road lesson scheduling system. They charge a one-time $10 account fee, which you'll pay directly to them at the time that you register for an account.

How do I schedule road lessons?
JOL students should go to our scheduling instructions page and then use the school code that was given to you in class to register. Once you have registered, please wait to be activated (one week or less) and then use your student login.

How do I schedule a lesson with my friend?
Look on Schedule2Drive for a lesson with 2 spots open, with the same instructor at the same time. If you both sign up for this lesson, you will be together.

Where will you pick me up and drop me off?
We pick up at local high schools and other convenient locations, including our Boylston and Holden offices. At certain times (summer and weekends) we may occasionally offer pickup at home in our primary market areas. We do our best to accommodate dropoff requests, within reasonable limits. Please keep in mind that our top priorities are your safety, and the quality of education provided (we don't want students to be "taxi drivers" at the expense of receiving quality lessons).

What is the RMV certificate fee?
In order to qualify you for a JOL license (under 18) and insurance discount (all), we need to send a form to the RMV by mail stating that you completed driver education, along with a check you make out to "Mass DOT" in the amount of $15. We'll need the check no later than 21 days before the road test. A "certificate" is no longer mailed, it is merely an entry on the RMV computer system now.

Do you have the optional Saturday RMV road tests?
Yes, we offer the Saturday road test approximately 2 to 3 times per month at our Shrewsbury Street, Boylston location. Our sponsorship fee is the lowest in the area and includes a $20 "Saturday convenience fee" that we pay to the RMV for each applicant (in addition to what you pay the RMV directly). Please pre-pay the road test sponsorship fee to us 3 weeks in advance. The RMV license processing fee ($50) and appointment fee ($20) are separate, not included in our sponsorship fee, and paid by you directly to the RMV. Please note that you CANNOT schedule a road test at the RMV and another one with us as a "backup", or vice versa, the RMV will NOT allow it!

Do you guarantee that I'll pass ?
Although we have a high passing rate, your chances are influenced by factors beyond our control, such as the quality and quantity of your practice at home, and how well you function under pressure. Therefore, we are confident of a positive result but cannot guarantee it.

Do all driving schools have Saturday road tests?
No, they don't. If your school doesn't offer Saturday road tests, the wait to get you into a road test at the RMV could be months. You will not have that problem with us!

How long will it take to get into a road test with you?
You must finish all requirements and give us a check for $15 made out to "MASS DOT" 21 days in advance. Don't forget to pay the separate RMV appointment and licensing fees ($70 total) directly to the RMV at least 36 hours before the road test by calling 857-368-8000 or visiting any RMV branch (cannot be paid online).

How do I schedule a Saturday road test?
DO NOT call the RMV! We will do this for you. Saturday road tests are scheduled using a completely different system. Just let us know when you would like to take it, and make sure that you have all requirements (including payments) done at least 3 weeks in advance. Also, if you need to cancel a Saturday road test, we must hear from you AT LEAST 8 days in advance to avoid unnecessary RMV fees.

Why don't you include road test sponsorship in tuition?
It is an industry standard. No driving school includes optional road test sponsorship in tuition. Some students cannot take the Saturday road test for personal, religious or logistical reasons.

How do I find out my appointment time for the Saturday road test?
DO NOT CALL THE RMV! The RMV lists Saturday road test appointment times randomly and it will be incorrect. We make the actual schedule, which begins at 7 or 7:30AM and ends around midday. If you call RMV it will only confuse things, and possibly cause you to miss your road test entirely! We post the times on our website (linked through our Schedule2Drive message board), you can call us to find out, or we'll tell you at your warmup lesson.

Can I rent or borrow one of your cars to take the road test on my own at the RMV?
Sorry, we'll NEVER do that. Have a nice day.

What about skid school?
You might want to read this article on the possible dangers of skid school before deciding if you are still interested. For additional training that is different than the typical skid school program, the crash prevention course offered by In Control, could qualify you for an additional insurance discount.

How do I get 12 hours of driving but only 6 hours observation?
Focus on your drive times with us and supervised (at home) driving, and don't worry about observation time, which usually just takes care of itself.

I am under 18, what do I need to do, when can I get my license, etc?
You will need to meet the following criteria before taking a road test:
1) Have a clean permit for 183 days by the road test date, with no surchargeable offenses. You have also completed 40 hours of supervised driving in addition to 12 hours with us.
2) At least 21 days before the desired road test date: complete your driver education, including the parent class, give us a check made out to "MASS DOT" for the $15 RMV driver education certificate, settle any remaining account balances, and pay us $80 if you're taking the Saturday road test with us. If the parent class was already taken elsewhere, you must submit to us a copy of the certificate. If you don't submit the parent class certificate to us, we cannot process the driver education certificate, and licensing will be delayed
3) Pre-pay the $70 in RMV licensing fees at least 36 hours before the road test by calling 857-368-8000 or in person at any RMV branch office. RMV fees are separate from our optional Saturday road test sponsorship fee and cannot be paid on the day of the road test or through the school.
4) Pass road test!

I am over 18, how do I obtain a MA driver's license?
1) Obtain learner's permit at the RMV.
2) Acquire sufficient practice time to be ready.
3) Schedule and pass road test.

Once you pass the road test, your permit becomes a license if you prepaid the RMV fees (total of $70). You may pay the RMV fees by phone at 857-368-8000, or in person at any RMV branch.

Who designed this website?
This site was hand-coded by Mr. Gilmore.