New Driver Education Course in Dartmouth and the Annapolis Valley
The Complete Path to Your Class 5 Licence $699
Our New Driver Education Course is built for drivers who have never been behind the wheel before, combining 25 hours of self-paced online theory through Trubicars with 10 hours of one-on-one in-car instruction. Over the 9 months leading up to your road test, we walk you through everything Access Nova Scotia requires, including the road test itself in our vehicle at no extra charge, so you finish ready to drive with real skill and genuine confidence.
What's Included in the 35 Hours
The course splits into two parts that work together, including the online theory you complete on your own time and the in-car training you schedule directly with us. Both pieces build toward your road test, with the final two in-car hours happening on test day itself in the same vehicle you've been practising in.
- 25 hours of Trubicars online theory, self-paced and accessible any time
- 10 hours of one-on-one in-car instruction in our dual-brake vehicle
- Lessons typically run 2 hours and are scheduled around your needs
- Pickup and drop-off arranged within our service area
- Use of our car for your road test at no extra charge
- Driver’s Education Certificate issued to Access Nova Scotia and your insurance company
Why the Course Saves You Three Months
In Nova Scotia, drivers without a completed Driver's Education Course wait 12 months between getting their Class 7 licence and being able to test for their Class 5N. Completing our New Driver Education Course shortens that wait to 9 months, so you can test sooner and start driving on a full Class 5N licence three months earlier than you would otherwise. The course is structured around those 9 months, so by the time you're eligible to test, you've also completed the in-car training to actually pass.
How the In-Car Lessons Work
Your in-car hours are scheduled directly with us across the months leading up to your road test, with the final two hours completed on the day of your test itself. Lessons are shaped around your specific skill level and needs, starting with the fundamentals like steering, braking, and observation, then building through actual road test routes and defensive driving techniques as your confidence grows. We provide feedback after every session so you always know what's improving and what to work on before next time.
- Lessons scheduled directly with your instructor
- Feedback provided after every session
- Coverage of actual road test routes used in Dartmouth and the Annapolis Valley
- Defensive driving techniques built into every lesson
Driving practice outside formal lessons strongly encouraged
Built-In Insurance Benefit
On completion of the course, you receive a Driver's Education Certificate that you provide to Access Nova Scotia and to your insurance company. Most insurance providers offer reduced premiums for new drivers who complete an approved Driver Education program, which means the cost of the course often pays itself back through lower insurance rates over your first years on the road.
Why Nova Scotia Drivers Choose Our New Driver Education Course
Province-Approved Curriculum
9-Month Timeline
One-on-One In-Car Training
Trubicars Online Theory
Insurance Discount Eligible
Road Test Day Included
We Serve Dartmouth and the Annapolis Valley
Our New Driver Education Course is offered in Dartmouth and across the Annapolis Valley region. Whether you live in Cole Harbour, Woodside, Fairview, Wolfville, Kentville, or anywhere between, we arrange pickup and drop-off so you don't have to worry about getting to lessons or test day on your own. We know the local roads you'll actually be driving on every day, including the Circumferential Highway and the country roads of the Valley, and we make sure you're comfortable on all of them before your test.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the New Driver Education Course for?
The course is built for drivers who have never been behind the wheel before, taking you from zero experience through to your full Class 5N licence. If you already have a licence and are looking for a refresher or specific skill work, our Private Lessons are likely a better fit.
How long does the whole course take?
The course runs across the 9 months leading up to your road test, with the 25 hours of online theory completed at your own pace and the 10 in-car hours scheduled around your availability. The final two in-car hours happen on the day of your road test itself.
Does the price include use of the car for my road test?
Yes, use of our vehicle for your road test is included in the $699 course fee at no extra charge. You take your test in the same dual-brake vehicle you’ve been training in.
How does the road test booking work?
Once you’re ready, you purchase a road test receipt through Access Nova Scotia and provide it to us, and your instructor books the test on your behalf.
Will completing this course actually lower my insurance?
Most Nova Scotia insurance providers offer reduced premiums for new drivers who complete an approved Driver Education Course, which is exactly what our course is, and the Driver’s Education Certificate you receive on completion is what you submit to your insurer to apply for the discount.