FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
All Defensive Driving Instructors are certified through the Arizona Supreme Court.
Too many people get defensive driving school and traffic survival school confused. After all, even the names sound similar and they can be confusing to those who don’t understand the differences between the two. But in the interests of clarity, let our Arizona Traffic School outline for you exactly what the differences are between the two schools, so when you determine what you need and how you need it, you can see what works for you and what may not:
Traffic Survival School is Mandatory
Arizona Traffic School options all provide traffic survival school courses and lessons, as it is mandatory to drive in the state of Arizona. Traffic survival school is an eight-hour course, in-class, that is monitored and mandated by the state of Arizona and the Motor Vehicle Department itself. If you are notified to attend, it is required that you must attend the classes in order to avoid having your license suspended or voided.
If you have accumulated between eight and twelve points on your driving record, if you have had a DUI or have been arrested for driving under the influence, if you have been convicted of any red light violation at any point, or if you have had a first violation under the age of 18, you are required to attend traffic survival school when it comes to getting your record back and intact. It is both for your safety, and for the safety of the other drivers out on the road around you.
Defensive Driving is Optional
Defensive driving in AZ is an optional course that does not need to be taken by anybody, but is strongly recommended. Defensive driving is a four hour class that you can take either in class, or online. The class is taken in place of paying a ticket, to avoid accumulating points on your record for eligible violations.
Arizona defensive driving school is a pretty simple process, and it is ideal for people who have not taken defensive driving in at least the last 12 months from violation date, or for those who have not accumulated too many points on their record.
All in all, both traffic survival school and defensive driving courses are important for people who are seeking to get the most out of their driving and traffic experiences, though they need to understand that the two courses are ideal for two different sets of people. A good Arizona traffic school will provide options for both courses, while seeing to it that the right person gets in the right course, to ensure you get the most out of your courses, as well as meeting the right obligations from the state as you move forward with healthy and safe driving, and a clean record on your license in the state of Arizona.
Stop and Go Driving School maintains a 48-hour cancellation policy. If you cancel a drive less than 48 hours before your scheduled drive or are a no-show for a scheduled drive, there will be a $100 cancellation fee.
If you do not complete a TSS Course, your license will be suspended.
Students must bring their Corrective Action Letter/Proof of Assignment and a valid government-issued photo ID in order to attend class. If you no longer have the letter or the Proof of Assignment, you MUST obtain a copy from any MVD office. If you do not have a Corrective Action Order or Proof of Assignment letter showing TSS assignment at class check-in, you will not be allowed into class.
We offer multiple locations throughout the valley. View locations.
An applicant for a class G license must have a current Arizona instructional permit, which has been held for at least 6 months, or have a driver license from another state. An applicant must also have successfully completed a state-certified driver’s education program consisting of 10 hours (minimum) of in-car instruction; or the parent/guardian must provide documentation that the student has completed at least 30 hours of supervised driving practice, with at least 10 night hours. Stop and Go recommends spacing out lessons to allow for ample practice, with the goal of at least 100 hours in car training and practice combined, prior to being licensed.
Instructors will provide students with a variety of skill building exercises that prepare them to get their driver license, including but not limited to the following:
- High-volume traffic areas
- Complex driving, such as downtown Phoenix
- Airport and freeway driving
- Parallel parking/3-point turn
- Defensive Driving skills
- Rural/Residential driving
- Lane changing
- Parking maneuvers
- Uphill/Downhill parking
- Scanning
- Speed control
If a student chooses to purchase our Gold or Platinum package, they will be given an evaluation on their last hour of instruction, administered by our MVD certified tester. Upon passing, this evaluation will waive the MVD road test. Every Driving package will include an insurance certificate.
The Arizona MVD approves and regulates professional driving schools. Schools must submit an application, provide extensive documentation regarding offered programming and be licensed by the MVD. Whichever school you choose, make sure it’s an MVD-licensed school.
Instructors have had a full background check, go through classroom training and are approved through the Supreme Court to be certified instructor. In addition, all instructors are required to have yearly training to maintain certifications.
An operator license allows you to drive any vehicle that does not require a motorcycle or commercial license. You must be at least 18 years old to apply for an operator license.
If you are at least 16, but less than 18 years of age, you will be issued a graduated driver license that is valid to operate with restrictions. Learn about the restrictions of a graduated license on the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division website at http://www.azdot.gov.
All students are required by state and federal law to provide a social security number to verify identity. Also, when applying for a permit/license, students are required to provide the following:
- 1 document must be a primary source of identification (i.e., birth certificate, U.S. passport, U.S. Military ID card, Enhance Arizona ID card).
- 1 document must be one of the following:
- Social Security Card
- W-2 form or 1099 Form
- Pay stub
- 2 Documents must be two of the following:
- Documents or mail issued from a business, organization or government agency with:
- Applicant name and Physical residential address.
- examples: Report Card with name and address, Bank statement with name and address.
All documents must be originals or certified copies only!
With a graduated or operator permit, you must be accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old and occupies the seat beside you. These permits are valid for 12 months.
Arizona requires anyone under 18yrs to hold their instructional permit for 6 months from the date of issue, or until they turn 18yrs, whichever comes first. At this time, upon successfully passing the road evaluation or MVD road test, the student may get their driver license.
If your permit expires, you must contact a MVD or Licensed third party MVD to renew your permit before you are able to continue to drive. A valid permit must be carried at all times.
Permits are typically valid for one year. Permits can be renewed at any MVD or 3rd Party MVD and must be current and present at all times to drive and to receive license once eligible.
The Arizona MVD requires that a teen must be at least 15 years and 6 months to be eligible for a permit.
