Driver’s Education FAQs:
 Getting your license with MJM Hill Driving School

Driving lessons are scheduled through DriveSpace, which allows students and parents to:view driving progressschedule behind-the-wheel appointmentscheck other pick up locations and high schools for availability track upcoming lessonsreal time feedback on student performanceYou can learn more about scheduling on our Behind-the-Wheel page.

Yes! Once a student receives their Wisconsin learner’s permit, they may drive with a qualified parent or guardian. They are not required to drive first with an instructor before driving with a parent or guardian. However, Wisconsin law requires a student to schedule a driving or observation lesson with a licensed instructor within 60 days of receiving their permit.

There are 2 different paths to start driving: If a student IS enrolled in a Behind‑the‑Wheel program at the time they finish their online education (such as through an MJM Hill combination package), the Behind‑the‑Wheel provider will issue the student an MV3001. This form is taken to the DMV so the student can complete the Written and Signs Test. Once they pass, the DMV issues the learner’s permit — and the student can begin driving that same day. If a student is NOT enrolled in Behind‑the‑Wheel when they finish their education, MJM Hill will mark the student complete in the DOT’s DEC system. The DOT then emails the student a Completion Certificate. This certificate must be presented to a Behind‑the‑Wheel provider at the time of enrollment so the provider can certify the student with the DOT and issue them an MV3001. Important Wisconsin Requirement Wisconsin law requires students to complete their first Behind‑the‑Wheel lesson within 60 days of receiving their learner’s permit. Missing this window can cause delays or compliance issues, so early planning is essential. Why Early Scheduling Matters MJM Hill serves students across southwestern Wisconsin and works with hundreds of families each month. Drive times fill quickly — especially at high‑demand high school pickup locations. We strongly recommend entering your permit number into your DriveSpace account as soon as you receive it. This unlocks access to local pickup options and allows you to view when sessions are available.

To ensure all students complete their required driving and/or observation hours in a timely manner, MJM spaces lessons a minimum of 10 days apart. We offer both local community pickup locations and select high‑school pickups; however, students who want to schedule every 10 days will need to work within the availability of those locations. For example: If a student from Belleville wants to drive every 10 days but MJM is only in Belleville every 15 days—or if the Belleville day is already full—the student may need to book at one of our other nearby locations such as Verona, Evansville, Orfordville, or Monroe to keep the desired pace. We highly recommend planning in advance and scheduling early as slots do get booked quickly.

Drive times vary based on time of year. Spring, summer, and fall session times are: 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday - Sunday Winter session times are: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday Weekends are reserved for school cancellation make up days- ensuring students stay on track In winter, MJM Hill adjusts lesson times to start later in the day to ensure safer travel conditions with better visibility. Through years of experience, we’ve found that lessons held after 4:00 p.m. often put students into “survival mode”—they’re already anxious about winter driving, it’s dark, and they may be unfamiliar with their surroundings. These factors do not create a productive learning environment and do not help students build the skills needed to pass their road test. While other schools may offer late‑evening winter lessons, MJM prioritizes what we believe is safest for students and what allows them to get the most out of each session.

Maybe. Our instructor's availability is released 6–8 weeks in advance. If you are ever scheduling a drive and no availability is showing, it is likely you are too far out of range for availability. If your goal is to schedule drives as frequently as possible, combining the 10‑day minimum wait time with our 6–8 week schedule release typically allows families to book most of their sessions—depending on how flexible they are with pickup or high‑school locations. Students who want to drive every 10 days may need to choose from multiple locations rather than relying solely on their closest one, especially if that location fills quickly or is offered less frequently.

Congrats on your first driving session — it’s a huge milestone, and we love celebrating it with you!  Please plan to arrive about 5–10 minutes before your scheduled time. There’s no need to come earlier than that, as most instructors will still be out on the road with other students. Be sure the student has their permit with them; they cannot drive without it. If you’d like, we’re happy to take a quick photo of the student holding the keys in front of our car before the session begins. It’s a fun memory, and many families love putting that first‑drive picture on the fridge. Once the session starts, the student will typically observe first, watching an experienced driver to get a feel for how everything works. When it’s their turn behind the wheel, we’ll spend a few minutes going over the controls, buttons, and basic adjustments before moving the vehicle. From there, we usually head out of town and drive in the country. The first session often comes with a lot of nerves, so we like to get away from traffic and people and let the student experience driving with as little pressure as possible. After the drive, both the student and parent will receive an email summary through our DriveSpace/TeachSafe system. This includes what was covered during the session and any notes the instructor has for the student or parent. If you’d like to speak with the instructor in person, you’re always welcome to take a few minutes after the session to ask questions. We’re happy to chat about progress, comfort level, and next steps.

Wisconsin winters can be unpredictable, but your student’s safety never is. At MJM Hill Driving School, we stay ahead of the weather so families can feel confident and informed every step of the way. We monitor forecasts daily and make proactive decisions when storms are expected. If the chance of snow or hazardous conditions is above 80%, we may cancel sessions in advance. If the chance is 80% or below, we follow your local school district’s cancellation system. If your school announces a closure or late start, MJM will typically cancel or delay early sessions as well. Communication: When weather impacts our schedule, we notify families across all major channels: • Social media • Email • Text message For the fastest updates, we recommend: • Watching your school district’s announcements • Following our social media pages • Checking your email and texts regularly Cancellation Policy: Our winter schedule is intentionally designed with flexibility in mind. We reserve most Saturdays, and in some cases Sundays, specifically for make‑up sessions. This ensures that even when winter weather disrupts plans, your student’s progress stays on track. We work quickly to reschedule canceled sessions and make the process as convenient as possible. Your student’s journey toward earning their license should stay smooth — even when the weather isn’t. Biggest thing to remember, if ever in doubt- contact us or watch for updates. If you cancel on your own, the late cancellation fee will automatically get applied. We will refund IF A SESSION IS CANCELLED, but it will be minus the credit card processing fees.

Our High School Pick‑Up option is built to make driver education easier, more accessible, and more convenient for students and families. When a student selects a High School Pick‑Up, our instructor meets them directly at the local high school, and the driving session begins right from the school’s parking lot. While many students choose the high school they attend, it is not required — students are free to schedule at whichever pick‑up location works best for their day.If the Pick‑Up Location Is Your High SchoolTo keep everything running smoothly, students must notify their school administration of the date and time of their driving session. Driver’s Education is an excused absence, but most schools require advance notice. This quick step helps students:Stay in good standing with school administrationAvoid any confusion about attendanceEnsure they can still participate in their scheduled lessonPrevent a No‑Show FeeAt the conclusion of each driving session, the student will receive a signed pass from their instructor. This pass can be presented to school administration when checking back into class, providing clear documentation of the excused absence.If the Pick‑Up Location Is Not Your High SchoolStudents should park in the visitor lot and remain outside the building until the MJM Hill vehicle arrives. There is no need to enter or approach the school if it is not your own. Once the instructor parks and the previous student exits, the next student may enter the vehicle and begin their session.Where We ParkOur instructors will park in the designated Visitor Parking area at the front of the school. If those stalls are full, we will park directly in front of the building. Should anything change due to school traffic or construction, the instructor will contact the student directly with an updated meeting point.