Learn a lifetime skill. Keep yourself & others safe.

Schedule your Behind the Wheel Session in August today!

Need to schedule a Behind-the-Wheel session?
Sign up for a convenient Behind-the-Wheel driving instruction session today. Send us an email and include the following information:

  • Date when you plan to take your MVA test.
  • Your preferred date(s) and time(s) for your Behind-the-Wheel session. (Please see information below about our standard driving time slots).
  • Where you would like to be picked up. (Please note that your pick up location must be within 10 miles of our Rotunda location or there is an additional fee).
  • The best phone number where you can be reached.
30-Hour Drivers Ed Training

Behind-the-Wheel Driving Hours

6 hours of driving time with an instructor is included as part of the basic 30-hour classroom training package. Each student will be taken out for 3 drives, each lasting 2 hours, using an MVA approved vehicle supplied by the School.

For all Behind-the-Wheel sessions, students are picked up at school, home, or at a place that is convenient for them. During the session, students are closely observed and carefully given instructions which will help them to realize what, if any, modifications need to be made.

Calm, courteous instructors guide the student through each of a number of activities relating to safe driving, from secondary roads to freeways.

One activity many students fear is PARALLEL PARKING. At Roland Park Driving School, they will absolutely be taught how to effortlessly perform this maneuver. Every aspect of parallel parking will be shown and mastered. (Incidentally, 90% of the students I have taken to the MVA to take their driving test have passed). An employee of The MVA who administers the driving test says that approximately 50% of the students he tests, fail the first time, and the majority of those fail due to an inability to parallel park correctly.

General Policies

You must have a current learner's permit or another license, before scheduling a drive time. You must have your permit WITH YOU to drive. Before driving, unless there are special circumstances, you must complete all classes and all payments.

Driving sessions are normally two (2) hours each in order to get a full experience. Exceptions can be made. There are 3 driving sessions (6 hour total). Within ten (10) miles we will pick you up and drop you off at home, school or work. There is an additional charge of $15 for longer distances due to added expenses

Drive times are normally 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM; 10:30 to 12:30 PM; 1:00 to 3:00 PM; 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM, seven days a week. During the summer there are evening times, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM and 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Very early drives are possible if urgent.

If you are under 25 years you must keep your learner's permit 9 months. It is best to spread out your driving time to get maximum valid. Basically we give you one hour for every twenty (20) hours you drive with a mentor. Try to schedule your last drive time about two weeks before your MVA Test. During the summer schedule weeks in advance.

To schedule a drive email us with relevant information, i.e. what time period you want, when is your MVA test or call during office hours (M-F 1:00 to 6:00 PM).

You will be graded on your driving. You will receive the scoring sheet. There are over 22 areas of competency. You must receive a MVA score of 80% on the final hour OR WE CAN NOT CERTIFY TO THE MVA THAT YOU CAN TAKE YOUR TEST. If you do not receive a score of 80% you would have to take additional hours (at additional expense) until we can certify your competency. ERGO please work hard driving outside of school.

All parts of the program must be completed within two (2) years from the end of the class you took, in which you enrolled, unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Scheduling Your Behind-the-Wheel Hours

To schedule driving hours send us an email. In your email, be sure to include:

  • How long you have had your Learner's Permit
  • When do you plan/want to take your MVA test
  • When you are free (afternoons, weekends, etc.)
  • If you have a particular day/time you would like to schedule. See below for a list of available times.
Drive times are available during the week and weekends at the following times*:
  • 8am - 10am
  • 10:30am - 12:30pm
  • 1pm - 3pm
  • 3:30pm - 5:30pm
*Special arrangements can be arranged if necessary.

If you have any questions, please call the Rotunda Office (410-467-RPDS).

If you cannot make it to a scheduled Behind-the-Wheel session, please let us know as early as possible. We require at least 24 hours notice to cancel a scheduled Behind-the-Wheel session. Without 24 hours notice, and for no-shows, there is a $75 cancellation fee.

RPDS recommends that the first two-hour Behind-the-Wheel session with an RPDS driving instructor occur 1/3 of the way through the required 60 hours of mentored driving time (after approximately 20 hours), although this can be scheduled earlier in the process if need be. The second Behind-the-Wheel session should take place about 2/3 the way through (after about 40 total hours driving with the mentor). Finally, the last two-hour instructor session should be scheduled three weeks before the desired MVA test to make certain that the student is skilled at driving and will pass the test.

We realize that some students will complete most of the mentoring hours before scheduling Behind-the-Wheel sessions. If that is the case, instructor sessions can be scheduled more closely together, adjusted to the individual's skill level and needs.

It is important that you do not schedule the MVA test before you have scheduled the last two hours of driving with RPDS. You will not be able to obtain a driver's license if you have not completed your Behind-the-Wheel instructor hours, and we cannot guarantee driving hours will be available before a test if you schedule your MVA appointment beforehand.

Behind-the-Wheel Cancellation Policy

We have a 24 hour cancellation policy for scheduled drives, with a fee of $75 if cancelled less than 24 hours before the scheduled session. Please email us as soon as you know you cannot make the drive time with the subject, "CANCELLATION".

There is never a charge if a drive is cancelled with more than 24 hour notice; only gratitude from us and others who want that spot. Please email us or call us at 410-467-RPDS and leave a message if you need to cancel. Thanks!

Information for Mentors

To ensure competency, driving students must drive with his/her mentor for 60 hours before taking their driver's test to get their license. Usually the mentor is a parent or guardian, or other licenced adult who can take the time to drive with the driving student. If the mentor needs instruction or is anxious about mentoring the student, RPDS can arrange sessions with one of the licensed instructors to work with the mentor and the student for a reasonable hourly rate.

Behind-the-Wheel Requirements

Each student under the age of 25 must complete 60 hours of driving time with his/her mentor and keep his/her Learner's Permit 9 months. Please note that all hours of driving MUST be completed within two years after the completion of the classroom part of the driving program.

RPDS gives each of its students 6 hours of individualized driving instruction. During this time an experienced and patient licensed driving instructor helps the student become competent in 22/24 driving skills. In order to be qualified to take the MVA final test for a license the student MUST score a grade of 80 on the final drive. If the student does not score 80 on the final drive the student must take additional hours, at his/her expense until he/she can score 80.

Behind-the-Wheel Sessions Completion Policy

We recommend completing the 6 hours of Behind-the-Wheel time with an RPDS instructor within 18 weeks of the conclusion of the 30-hour classroom instruction. If this is not possible, we expect that your first Behind-the-Wheel drive should be completed within the first year, and preferably all instructor drives should be completed within the 1-year time frame. If driving hours are not finished within 2 years of completing the 30-hour classroom instruction, the entire 30-hour course plus Behind-the-Wheel instruction must be retaken.

Additional Services

We offer extra driving hours and accompaniment to the MVA when taking your driving test. Please visit the MVA Test Accompaniment page for more info or email us about extra driving time.