NC students could pay 500 percent more for driver's ed under Senate proposal

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Schools in North Carolina are only allowed to charge students $65 to take a driver's education course.

Lawmakers are now considering erasing the cap because more than half of the students who take the test fail multiple times.

If the new program passes, teens could be charged $400, which is what some driver’s education courses cost in Charlotte.

Lawmakers are promising to reimburse teens for the high costs, but only if they pass the test on the first try.

The driving school that contracts with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools for driver's education told Channel 9 this could have disastrous consequences. It thinks a significant number of its students won't be able to come up with $400.

"The cost for some families is going to be a big issue," driver Mark Dively said.

If students can't afford to pay for driver's ed, they will have to wait until they turn 18 to get their license.

Drivers, such as Bobby Armfield, worry that would put other drivers at risk because teens would be allowed to start driving without completing any training courses.

"They raise it to $400. That means more accidents out on the road because children will be less trained," Armfield said.

Driving schools told Channel 9 they have a lobbyist working with lawmakers in Raleigh.

The state Senate is planning to include the program in its budget. Channel 9 is now monitoring budget talks in the House to see if anything will change.

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