Driving Lessons in Fort Lauderdale
Learn to drive confidently with certified instructors in Fort Lauderdale — modern training cars & flexible scheduling.
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PalmWay Driving School Licensed by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV)
PalmWay offers behind-the-wheel driving lessons in Miami and South Florida with licensed instructors and structured road test preparation.
Why Choose Our driving school in Fort Lauderdale
Certified Instructors
DMV-licensed professionals with real road teaching experience.
Flexible Scheduling
Mornings, evenings, weekends — lessons on your schedule.
Local Routes in Fort Lauderdale
We train in the exact streets where you'll later drive daily.
Call Us Today 9AM–10PM
Or fill out the form below — our team will contact you within minutes to help schedule your first driving lesson.
Driving Lesson Packages in Fort Lauderdale
Single 45-Minute Lesson
Perfect for trying us out.
5 Lessons (45 min each)
Great for basics.
10 Lessons (45 min each)
Complete training.
Learning to drive in Fort Lauderdale means mastering some of the busiest roads in Broward County. Our certified driving instructors teach students on Federal Highway, Broward Boulevard, and Andrews Avenue where heavy traffic demands sharp attention. Each one-on-one driving lesson adapts to your skill level and comfort zone.
Our Driving Instructors
All our instructors hold current Florida state certifications and carry a minimum of eight years behind-the-wheel training experience. They speak English, Spanish, and Creole to accommodate Fort Lauderdale's diverse population. Each instructor completes annual safety training and background checks through FLHSMV.
Certified & Experienced
Minimum 8 years of behind-the-wheel training experience
Multilingual Staff
English, Spanish, and Creole speaking instructors available
Safety First
Annual safety training & background checks through FLHSMV
Our team includes specialists who focus on nervous drivers, those who fear highway speeds, and adult beginners who never learned as teenagers. One instructor spent twelve years teaching teen drivers at local high schools including Dillard High and Fort Lauderdale High.
Another worked as a professional truck driver for fifteen years before transitioning to passenger vehicle instruction.
Types of Driving Lessons We Offer
Beginner Lessons
Start in empty parking lots where students learn clutch control, steering basics, and mirror adjustment before touching public roads. After two or three sessions, most students move to residential streets.
📍 Practice Areas
Cooper City & Oakland Park streets under 35 mph
Refresher Courses
Help people who haven't driven in years or those moving from cities with good public transit. These lessons skip parking lot basics and jump straight into Fort Lauderdale traffic patterns.
🅿️ Real Practice
Parallel parking on actual downtown streets
Defensive Driving
Learn to anticipate other drivers' mistakes on roads where tourists often make sudden lane changes. Master three-second following distances and how to handle tailgaters.
⚠️ Real Scenarios
What to do when someone runs a red light
👥 One-on-One Driving Classes
Your first lesson begins with a conversation about what scares you or what specific skills you want to build. The instructor sits beside you in a vehicle equipped with dual controls — a second brake pedal on the passenger side. This safety feature lets the instructor stop the car if needed, though most students never see it used after their third or fourth session.
Beginners typically need ten to fifteen hours of behind-the-wheel training before feeling confident enough to take their road test. Students with some experience might only need four to six hours. The instructor tracks your progress on a checklist covering left turns, right-of-way rules, and speed management.
🛣️ Behind the Wheel Training
Fort Lauderdale's downtown grid system teaches students how to navigate one-way streets and timed traffic lights. We drive through Wilton Manors where narrow residential roads demand careful attention to parked cars and pedestrians. Students practice lane changes on I-95 during off-peak hours when traffic moves at 55 to 65 mph.
The Las Olas Boulevard area exposes students to valet parking zones, pedestrian crosswalks, and drivers searching for parking spots. Beach access roads near A1A present challenges like sand on pavement, cyclists sharing the road, and tourists unfamiliar with local traffic patterns.
✓ Every lesson includes at least 3 different road types
Pick Up and Drop Off Service
Complete Coverage
Our instructors will meet you at your home, workplace, or school anywhere in Fort Lauderdale, including Golden Heights and Washington Park neighborhoods. The service covers all zip codes from 33301 through 33349.
✓ You don't need access to a car
✓ No insurance worries
✓ All lessons use our vehicles
Flexible Scheduling
Schedule your pick-up time through our online booking system or by phone. Most students prefer afternoon slots between 2 PM and 6 PM when they finish work or school.
Afternoon: 2 PM - 6 PM
Popular for students & workers
Morning: 9 AM - 12 PM
Great for retirees & flexible schedules
Permit Exam & Road Test Preparation
Learner's Permit Exam
The Florida learner's permit exam tests your knowledge of traffic signs, right-of-way rules, and basic vehicle operation. You'll answer 50 multiple-choice questions and must score at least 40 correct to pass.
📊 50 questions total
✅ Need 40 correct to pass
🏢 Test at any FLHSMV office
Mock Road Tests
Before your driving exam, we conduct mock tests where the instructor acts as the examiner and scores you on the same criteria FLHSMV uses.
Common Mistakes:
• Rolling through stop signs
• Forgetting turn signals
• Incorrect lane positioning
What to Bring to Your Driving Test
📋 Required Documents:
- ✓ Learner's permit (held for 12+ months if under 18)
- ✓ Proof of vehicle insurance
- ✓ Car's registration certificate
- ✓ Parent/guardian consent (if under 18)
💡 Pro Tips:
- • Don't drink coffee/energy drinks before test
- • Wear comfortable shoes (no flip-flops or heels)
- • Arrive 15 minutes early to relax
- • Review parking lot markings before starting
Driving Lessons for Different Groups
Teen Drivers
Teen drivers face Florida's graduated licensing system where they can't drive between 11 PM and 6 AM during their first year. Our teenage student program includes conversations about distracted driving, peer pressure to speed, and the six-month restriction on teenage passengers.
👪 Parent Consultations
30-minute phone consultation after every 5 lessons
⏱️ 15-20 lessons typically
Adult Beginners
Adult beginners often feel embarrassed about learning to drive in their 30s or 40s, but they usually learn faster than teenagers because they take instruction more seriously. Adult lessons skip the rulebook lectures and focus on practical skills.
⚡ Faster Learning
More focused on practical skills
⏱️ 8-12 lessons typically
Senior Drivers
Senior drivers taking refresher courses often need help adjusting to modern roundabouts, LED traffic signals that are harder to see in bright sun, and increased traffic volume compared to decades past. We practice left turns across multiple lanes.
☀️ Daylight Hours
Avoid rush-hour traffic
🌍 International Drivers & Foreign License Exchange
If you hold a valid license from another country, you can drive in Florida for up to 30 days using that license plus an International Driving Permit. After 30 days, you must obtain a Florida license, which means taking both the written knowledge exam and the driving test at FLHSMV.
🎯 Special Focus Areas:
• Right-side driving adjustment
• Right turns on red lights
• Four-way stop protocols
• School zone speed limits
Pricing & Packages
Single Lesson
per hour
- ✓ Vehicle included
- ✓ Fuel included
- ✓ Insurance coverage
- ✓ Pick-up service available
5-Lesson Package
Best for refreshers
- ✓ All single lesson benefits
- ✓ 15% discount
- ✓ Flexible scheduling
- ✓ Online payment
10-Lesson Package
Best value!
- ✓ All single lesson benefits
- ✓ 25% discount
- ✓ Payment plans available
- ✓ Priority scheduling
Payment Plans: Available for packages of 8+ lessons. First half due at booking, remainder before your 4th lesson.
Student Cars & Safety Equipment
Modern Training Vehicles
All our training vehicles are 2020 or newer Toyota Corollas and Honda Civics with automatic transmissions. Each car has dual control brakes, extra-wide rearview mirrors mounted on both sides, and a small "Student Driver" sign on the roof.
Features:
✓ Dual control brakes
✓ Extra-wide mirrors
✓ Student Driver signs
✓ Commercial insurance
Safety & Maintenance
Every car undergoes maintenance checks every 3,000 miles including brake inspections, tire pressure monitoring, and fluid level verification. The passenger-side brake pedal gets tested before every driving session.
Our Standards:
✓ Maintenance every 3K miles
✓ Pre-session brake tests
✓ Cleaned between students
✓ Sanitized regularly
Class Schedule & Availability
📅 Operating Hours
Monday - Friday
9 AM - 6 PM
Saturday - Sunday
9 AM - 5 PM
Same-day lessons sometimes available if an instructor has a cancellation
📞 Booking & Cancellations
✓ First lesson within 2-4 days
✓ Real-time availability online
⚠ Cancel 24+ hours: Full credit
⚠ Less than 24 hours: 50% charge
⚠ No-shows: Full charge
Traffic School & Ticket Dismissal
Remove Points From Your License
Florida law allows you to attend traffic school once per year to remove points from your license after receiving a moving violation. The four-hour course covers defensive driving techniques, Florida traffic laws, and collision avoidance.
Benefits:
✓ Court dismisses the ticket
✓ Prevents insurance rate increases
✓ Once per year allowed
Enrollment Requirements
You must enroll within 30 days of receiving your ticket. The course is available in-person at our location or through an approved online provider.
What to Bring:
• Traffic citation
• Driver's license
• Payment for course fee
⏰ Enroll within 30 days!
Fort Lauderdale Driving Conditions You'll Learn
Afternoon Thunderstorms
June-September storms reduce visibility to under 50 feet and create standing water
Slow to 35 mph in heavy rain
6-second following distance
Beach Traffic
Weekend out-of-state drivers brake suddenly to read signs or make unexpected turns
Las Olas: 6-10 PM busy
Mid-block pedestrian crossings
Construction Zones
Frequent construction on major roads with lane shifts and reduced speed limits
Watch for lane changes
Obey reduced speed signs
How to Get Started
Call our office or fill out the contact form on our website with your name, phone number, and preferred lesson times. After we receive your information, an instructor will call within four business hours to discuss your experience level and schedule your first lesson.
Contact Us
Call or use online form
Get a Call Back
Within 4 business hours
Start Learning
At your chosen location
📄 Don't Forget:
Bring your learner's permit or driver's license to the first session
Our Fort Lauderdale service area covers all neighborhoods. Most students begin in their own driveway or apartment parking lot where they feel comfortable. The instructor will arrive five minutes before your scheduled time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is each driving lesson?
Standard lessons run 90 minutes from pickup to drop-off. Actual driving time is about 75 minutes after adjusting the car and completing a short review. Extended two-hour sessions are available for highway practice.
Can I use the school car for my road test at FLHSMV?
Yes. You can rent our vehicle for your driving exam. Rental includes insurance and a 30-minute warm-up session. The instructor drives you to the testing site and waits during your exam.
What happens if I don't feel ready after my lesson package ends?
You can buy extra lessons individually or purchase another package. Around 40% of students add three to five more lessons. Your instructor will tell you exactly what skills need more work.
Do you teach manual transmission or stick shift?
All lessons use automatic vehicles. We do not offer manual transmission lessons.
How many lessons do most people need before taking the road test?
Complete beginners usually take 12–18 lessons over six to eight weeks. Students with some experience often need 6–10 lessons. Instructors recommend testing only when all maneuvers are performed consistently.
Does insurance cover me during driving lessons?
Yes. Our commercial driving school insurance covers all students during lessons. It is separate from your personal auto insurance and provides liability protection.
What's your cancellation policy?
Cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours in advance for full credit. Cancellations between 12–24 hours incur a 50% charge. Less than 12 hours or no-shows are charged in full.
Can I take lessons in my own car instead of the school vehicle?
No. Instruction must be in our dual-brake cars due to insurance and safety requirements.