FAQ’s

Officially called the Parent Driving Permit, this document allows a student to legally drive a motor vehicle (other than a vehicle requiring a motorcycle or commercial motor vehicle endorsement) when accompanied by a licensed parent or guardian, or when accompanied by a non-licensed parent or guardian and a licensed adult. The student driver must be in possession of the Parent Driving Permit when operating a vehicle.

The purpose of the permit is to provide an opportunity for reinforcement of the instruction already received during the Segment I classroom and Behind-The-Wheel (BTW) sessions. Students should not attempt driving tasks that have not been previously introduced to them in Segment I.

No. A parent or legal guardian must sign the Parent Driving Permit before a student can legally drive. If a parent does not want the student to drive with the Parent Driving Permit, that is their decision. There are no required number of hours to drive with the Parent Driving Permit.

Note: Parents are recommended to contact their insurance company to determine whether an update / change to their policy is required prior to the student beginning to drive with the Parent Driving Permit.

During Segment I, a student who has completed 10 hours of classroom and 2 hours of Behind-The-Wheel (BTW) instruction may be issued the Parent Driving Permit furnished by the Michigan Secretary of State. If an Instructor has concerns with the student’s driving ability, the issuance of the Parent Driving Permit may be delayed until such time as the Instructor feels confident in the student’s driving ability. A brief meeting/ discussion with a parent/guardian is required before a Patriot LLC Instructor will issue a Parent Driving Permit.

There is an expiration date written on the Parent Driving Permit. This date is three weeks after the last scheduled Segment I class. This expiration date cannot be extended.

Notes: THE PARENT DRIVING PERMIT MUST BE RETURNED TO PATRIOT LLC AT THE
CONCLUSION OF THE FINAL CLASS OR DRIVE FOR THE STUDENT TO RECEIVE THEIR
SEGMENT I CERTIFICATE!

STUDENTS CANNOT LEGALLY DRIVE AFTER THE EXPIRATION DATE WRITTEN ON THE
PARENT DRIVING PERMIT UNTIL HE/SHE GOES TO A MICHIGAN SECRETARY OF STATE
OFFICE WITH A PARENT / LEGAL GUARDIAN AND GETS THEIR LEVEL 1 LICENSE.

*** PARENT DRIVING PERMIT CAN ONLY BE USED IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN – NOT
VALID IN OTHER STATES (OR COUNTRIES) AS A VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE! ***

No. Driving hours counted as part of the required 50 hours do not start to accumulate until the student receives their Level 1 license.

With the Level 1 license, the beginner driver may drive only while accompanied by a licensed parent or guardian, or with the permission of the parent or guardian, any licensed driver 21 years of age or older.

Note: A Michigan Level 1 license should be recognized & valid in other U.S. states. Parents or students may want to contact the Secretary of State / DMV or law enforcement in a specific state (or province) to confirm.

The required supervisory adult must be sitting in the front passenger seat of the vehicle next to the student driver. Other people may ride in the vehicle as passengers. Seatbelts are required for everyone in the front seat, and everyone under age 16 in the vehicle. Also, the required supervisory adult must be awake, attentive, & legally able to operate the vehicle themselves while mentoring the student driver.

There are phone apps available to record driving hours (Road Ready, for example) or a student can keep a written record of driving dates, start/finish drive times, running tally of total drive hours, etc.

Note: Parent or legal guardian must sign a certification statement attesting to the practice driving hours at the Driver Testing Business / Road Test location.

To enroll in a Segment II course, a student must have completed & logged a minimum of 30 hours of driving, including a minimum of 2 hours of night driving. Also, the student is required to have had their Level 1 license for a minimum of three (3) months before the first day of the Segment II class.

A Level 1 license driver must have completed & logged a minimum of 50 hours of practice driving, 10 hours or more which must have occurred at night. Also, the student is required to have had their Level 1 license for a minimum of six (6) months and have successfully completed a Segment II class.

Note: Students MUST take their Segment II Certificate of Completion to the Road Test. If a Patriot
LLC Segment II student needs a replacement certificate, he / she should contact the Patriot Driving School LLC office.