Frequently Asked Questions
by Students:
Question:
What are your hours of operation?
Question:
How much do your classes cost?
Question:
Do you schedule classes over the phone & online?
Question:
What do I need to begin taking classes at Carmen
Driving School?
Question:
Do you accept credit cards, and which ones?
Question:
What is your deposit and payment policy?
Question:
What is your cancellation policy?
Question:
What is your refund policy?
Question:
How do I schedule a road test?
Question:
How much does scheduling the road test cost?
Question:
How long will I have to wait for a road test?
Question:
What happens if my road test is cancelled?
Question:
Do you teach in manual (shift) cars?
Question:
What make and models are the cars in which I will be taking
lessons?
Question:
How many instructors do you have?
Question:
It is better to take individual lessons, or buy a package?
Question:
Can you tell me more about the 5-Hour Pre-licensing course? Is
it REALLY 5 hours?
Question:
I was wondering about your Defensive Driving Course (10%
Insurance Reduction), do you offer this, and if so, when?
Question:
Where can I find more information on CDL classes?
Question:
How do I reach Carmen Driving School?
Question:
Where can I contact you?
Question:
Where can I learn more about Carmen Driving School?
Our office is open Monday to Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sundays: Available only by appointment. However, we do schedule and give classes both before 8:00 a.m. and after 5:00 p.m. M-F and Sat. Sundays is reserved for classes not able to be given during the rest of the week.
*Please bear in mind that because of road conditions in the wintertime, our hours may change.
The cost of our classes and various services vary widely.
Individual lesson prices can be browsed here, while prices for
packaged classes can be browed here.
While we schedule classes over
the phone for your convenience, please remember that these classes
are NOT CONFIRMED, and that our schedule may change. We cannot be
held responsible if you do not write down your appointment time
and date. It is also the student's responsibility to CONFIRM the
appointment by calling Carmen Driving School at least 24 hours
before the actual class time. Regarding scheduling classes online:
While we may implement the technology in the future, at the
present time however, we cannot schedule classes over the
internet.
You need to have a NYS DMV
Learner's Permit, which permits you to take classes with a
licensed driving school, such as Carmen. In order to get this
permit, you must pass a test, which if you study, is very easy. To
find more information about this question, please visit the NYS
DMV website by following this link.
Our policy on payment and deposit
is as follows: In order to secure your appointment for a
driving lesson, you must provide us with 100% of the cost of such
lesson before you take the lesson. This applies if you have
purchased individual lessons. If a package is purchased, 50% of
the package cost must be given as a deposit. By your third lesson,
you must provide us with the other 50% of the package cost. We
will not be able to provide you with lessons unless you follow our
deposit guidelines. Payment for individual services (road tests,
pre-licensing course) is required upfront.
Yes, we take credit cards. We accept all major types of credit
cards, as well as Debit cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express,
Discover, Diner's Club.
You have the option to cancel
your lesson, however, this has to be done 24 hours in advance.
Please see our refund policy for further information. Cancelled
road tests can be rescheduled for no fee 24 hours before the road
test date. After canceling/and or failing 3 times, you must pay
the Department of Motor Vehicles the sum of $10.00. Should you
cancel your lesson less than 24 hours in advance, we reserve the
right to charge you $10.00. You might be able to reschedule your
lesson for a future date, if you pay the penalty fee for
rescheduling.
When you sign up for lessons,
please bear in mind that you are committing yourself to taking
these lessons, and that others might have wanted your reserved
time. We will provide a full refund of the purchase price in the
same form as payment, if you cancel 24 hours in advance. We do not
provide pro-rated refunds because of lost driving time. Should you
cancel less than 24 hours in advance and request a refund of your
remaining classes, we will provide credit for your remaining
lessons that you may transfer to another person. We will reduce
your refund by the amount of the penalty that we access because of
late cancellation. We will provide a refund of $30.00 (50% of
the cost) for road tests that are cancelled by the DMV. We
will reschedule the road test for you at no charge.
You can schedule a road test either on your own, or through
Carmen Driving School. All of our packages already have this
service included in the package cost. Students who have not
purchased a package, may have Carmen Driving School schedule one
for them for a nominal $10.00 charge. See our Miscellaneous Fees
for more information.
Scheduling a Road Test appointment for students who
have purchased one of our packages is easy: students already have
this service included in the package cost. Students who have
not purchased a package, may have Carmen Driving School schedule
one for them for a nominal $10.00 charge. The road test fee itself
is $60.00 for areas which are less than 1 hour away from NYC.
Students who purchase a car for the road test already have the
appointment scheduling fee paid in the car cost. See our
Miscellaneous Fees for more information. for students who
have purchased one of our packages is easy: students already have
this service included in the package cost. Students who have
not purchased a package, may have Carmen Driving School schedule
one for them for a nominal $10.00 charge. The road test fee itself
is $60.00 for areas which are less than 1 hour away from NYC.
Students who purchase a car for the road test already have the
appointment scheduling fee paid in the car cost. See our
Miscellaneous Fees for more information.
The wait for a road test depends on the DMV and a variety of
factors. The normal wait time is 3-4 weeks, however, in times of
high demand, such as in the summer months, this can be more like
4-5 weeks. DO NOT make plans thinking that your road test
will be in less than the normal wait time, as some students do.
Most likely than not, your road test will take longer than 3
weeks. Also, you might not pass the road test, and have to take it
again. Therefore, allow enough time for the DMV to schedule a road
test, and for you to make plans with your license.
If
you road test is cancelled,
and it is our fault, then we will provide you with a full refund
of the road test fee. We will not be liable for any other incurred
costs as a result of lost work, etc. If the DMV has
cancelled your road test, we will issue you a refund of $30.00 or
50% of the road test fee, whichever is greater. We will also
reschedule your road test free of charge. If you cancel your road
test less than 24 hours before it is scheduled, we are unable to
provide a refund. Road test appointments must be cancelled 24
hours in advance. If you are late to your road test, we will make
all efforts to allow you to take it, however, we cannot provide a
refund in such a case. Road test dates are usually mailed to you
by our office. Also, you may call the office at 212-740-6529 to
check your road test date.
No, and we do not have any plans to do so in the future. There
are other schools who do, however, and we recommend looking in the
Yellow Pages for those schools.
We have an ever-changing fleet of cars in which we teach.
However, most of our cars are Toyota, and Nissan passenger cars,
no older than 1995 model years. We provide excellent maintenance
for our vehicles, and are always acquiring new ones.
Currently, we have 5 instructors who give lessons full-time, as
well as a few others who work part-time and on weekends. This is
something that changes very often, however.
This depends on your situation.
While we usually recommend a package because of the savings it
provides, and because most of those who come to us are first-time
drivers, packages are more convenient. However, if you would like
to test the waters first, and see how you go, or if you already
have a car for the Road Test, and only need a few lessons, then
individual lessons are right for you. Packages are always great
because you have everything you need to get your license, and
should you think that after your packaged classes are over, you
need more lessons, they are always available at reduced prices.
The 5-Hour pre-licensing course
acts as a condition to getting your license. You need it in order
to indicate that you are ready to take the Road Test. At the end
of your 5-Hour Pre-Licensing course, you will get a certificate,
detailing your accomplishment, which will serve as proof of taking
the course. These certificates cannot be given to you without
taking the course. For your convenience, we offer this course on
an open basis every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. and Saturday at noon.
This means that you don't have to make an appointment, just come
in on time. Please call us at 212-740-6529 for more information.
And, yes, the estimated time to take the course is five hours, but
it goes pretty fast!
This is a wonderful course when
you already have a license and a car. We offer a Defensive Driving
Course that is approved by the State of New York, and by most
insurance companies. This course usually involves watching a
movie, and completing various exercises. After successful course
completion, you are sent a certificate by mail that you can
present to your insurance company. Please remember to first find
out if your insurance company accepts this type of discount, and
if you are eligible BEFORE you take the course. Contact our office
for more details at 212-740-6529.
We are proud to now offer CDL
(Commercial Driver Licensing) classes. We have acquired a license
to teach these classes, and are proud to be part of the few that
can offer them. Please visit our CDL
INFO PAGE for more information, or contact our office
directly.
By Train: Take the number one
train to 181st Street, walk East to 179th St. and Amsterdam Ave.
By Bus: M101 to 179th St. and Amsterdam
Ave. Carmen Driving School's sign is outside.
You can reach our office at:
212-740-6529. Alternatively, you can reach our Customer
Service Department Or you can send us mail at:
Carmen Driving School
2402 Amsterdam Ave. New York, NY
10033.
You can read More
About Us here.
Have a question not answered
here?
Please contact our Customer
Service Department For questions not answered here.
