Thank you for choosing S.O.D.E., Inc. for your driver education and testing needs. Our mission is to provide high-quality driver training while ensuring fairness, safety, and respect for every student. By enrolling in any of our programs or scheduling a drive test with us, you agree to the following terms and conditions.

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1. Registration & Enrollment

1.a. Learner’s Permit Required

Students must have a valid Oregon Learner’s Permit before registering. You CANNOT register prior to obtaining your permit.

You must enter the permit number, issue date, and expiration date at the time of registration.

• Missing or incorrect permit info will result in automatic removal and a refund minus a $50 registration fee.

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1.b. Permit Must Stay Valid

The student's permit must be valid and remain valid through completion of the course.

• Students must bring their physical permit to all drives. A pic or copy is not acceptable. 

• If the permit is invalid at any point, the student will be dropped without refund or transfer.

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1.c. To Register

Check our website for updates on upcoming courses.

• 1.c.1. The registration link will be posted on the date registration opens. Refresh your browser to see it.

• 1.c.2. Spots are limited and fill fast.

• 1.c.3. To complete your registration, you must submit a fully completed form with accurate information, along with full payment.

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1.d. Age Requirement

Our Driver Ed Course is ONLY for students ages 15–19 with a valid Oregon permit. No exceptions.

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1.e. Waitlist

Once the course is full, the registration link will close and a waitlist link will open. Please note:

• 1.e.1. You will only be contacted if a spot opens.

• 1.e.2. You are still required to attend the Mandatory Parent Meeting.

• 1.e.3. This waitlist is only for the current course. If you don’t get in, you will not be automatically rolled over to future sessions.

• 1.e.4. If a spot opens up, you will be required to complete the registration form and pay in full to secure your place in the course.

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1.f. Payment

Payment is due when you register.

• 1.f.1. Registration isn’t complete without both the form and full payment.

 

1.g. Mandatory Parent Meeting
A required Parent Meeting will be held via zoom, about three weeks before the course begins. (See Section 4.)

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2. Course Fees & Charges

2.a. Course Fees for Ages 15-17

• 2.a.1. The fee for students aged 15-17 throughout the course is $500.

• 2.a.2. Scholarship rate of $425 is available with proof of SNAP or free/reduced lunch within the last 6 months. Full $500 is due at registration, then $75 refunded once proof is received.

• 2.a.3. If the student turns 18 before finishing the course or gets their license independently before course completion, an extra $210 fee applies.

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​2.b. Course Fees for Ages 18-19

• 2.b.1. The fee for students who are 18-19 during or before course completion is $710.

• 2.b.2. If a student turns 18 during the course before passing the final written exam and final drive assessment, an additional $210 fee is due immediately. By registering, you authorize us to charge this additional $210 to the same card used at registration.

• 2.b.3. Students 18+ must take a separate DMV drive test after the course to obtain their license. (See Section 7 for details.)

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2.c. Registration Fee & Refunds

• 2.c.1. A non-refundable $50 registration fee is included in the course price.

• 2.c.2. Qualified refunds (see Section 3) will be issued minus the $50 registration fee and may take 7-10 business days to process.

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2.d. Additional Fees

• 2.d.1. Less than 24-hour cancellation/reschedule fee: $25 if a drive is missed without 24-hour notice.

• 2.d.2. No permit at behind-the-wheel (BTW) drive fee: $25 if the student arrives without their permit; the drive will be cancelled and rescheduled.

• 2.d.3. Excessive rescheduling fee: $25 starting from the third rescheduling of any drive.

• 2.d.4. Private lessons: $110 per hour for additional driving lessons beyond the six included drives.

• 2.d.5. Course retake fee: Full $710 fee required for students retaking the course, regardless of age.

• 2.d.6. Reassessment fee: The final (6th) BTW drive must be passed within 30 days. Reassessments within 30 days are free; after 30 days, a $40 fee applies.

• 2.d.7. Students must pass the final drive assessment within 180 days of the first class. You must contact S.O.D.E., Inc to make arrangements.

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2.e. Course Retake Requirement

• 2.e.1. Students who do not complete the course must pay the full $710 fee to retake it.

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3. Drops, Refunds, & Other Fee Policies

3.a. If a student drops before the course’s drop date, a refund will be issued minus the $50 registration fee.

3.b. No refunds or transfers will be given if a student drops after the drop date.

3.b.1. The drop date is usually two weeks before the first class and is listed in the Class Schedule for each session.

3.c. Suspension, expulsion, or failing the course will result in no refund or transfer.

3.d. Students dropped by the office for failure to attend after the course starts will not receive a refund or transfer.

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4. Mandatory Parent Meeting

4.a. The Mandatory Parent Meeting will be held via Zoom. The meeting link will be emailed about one week before the meeting date to the email provided on the registration form. Please use best contact email during registration. Please check the inbox and spam/junk folder. Contact our office immediately if you do not receive the email. (Office hours: 10 AM–4 PM, Monday–Friday)

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4.b. Meetings are usually scheduled 2–3 weeks before the course starts. The date is provided before registration, listed with the session dates, and posted on our website under “Class Schedule.”

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4.b.1. Please mark your calendar and ensure a parent/guardian attends this required meeting.

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4.c. Failure to attend the Mandatory Parent Meeting will result in automatic removal from the course, including waitlisted students. Attendance is tracked by Zoom screen name. Pease set your screen name to include both your name and your student’s name.

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4.c.1. If dropped for missing the meeting, a refund will be issued minus the $50 registration fee. Refunds may take 7–10 business days.

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4.d. Students are welcome and encouraged to attend the meeting. Students must keep their cameras on throughout the meeting.

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4.d.1. If cameras is off, you'll be marked absent and removed from the course.

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5. In-Session Policies & Procedures

5.a.  Student Materials

Each student will receive a copy of The Keys to Teaching the Skills of Driving student booklet and the Playbook on the first day of class.

• 5.a.1. Parents/guardians are encouraged to read through these materials with their student.

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5.b. ODOT Driver Training Requirements

Students must complete a total of 42 hours of driver training/education, including:

• 5.b.1. 30 classroom hours: During the school year, classes meet twice a week for six weeks. Summer courses meet 4 days per week for three weeks.

• 5.b.2. 12 hours behind-the-wheel (BTW) instruction: 6 drives of 2 hours each (1 hour driving + 1 hour observing). Scheduled once per week over 6 consecutive weeks per ODOT guidelines, though possibly every other week if instructor availability is limited. Each BTW drive pairs two students with one instructor.

• 5.b.3. The 6th BTW drive cannot be completed until at least 35 calendar days after the first class, so the classroom portion will finish before all BTW drives are completed.

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5.c. ODOT Attendance Requirements

• 5.c.1. Failure to attend the first two classes and/or the first BTW drive will result in course drop with no refund or transfer. No exceptions.

  • 5.c.1.1. Attendance is required at all 12 classes (minimum 30 classroom hours).

    • The course is not considered complete until all 30 hours are fulfilled.

    • The first two classes cannot be missed for any reason; missing either results in automatic course drop. No refunds. No exceptions.​​

  • 5.c.1.1. Attendance is required for the first BTW drive.

    • The first BTW drive must occur after the 4th hour and before the 10th hour of classroom instruction.​

• 5.c.2. ODOT does not allow missing any class or BTW drive.

  • In extreme unforeseen circumstances, with approval, missed classes and BTW drives (except the first two classes and the first BTW drive) may be made up in future courses, extending completion time. No exceptions for the first two classes or first BTW.

  • If tardy, you will arrange with the classroom instructor to make-up time before or after future classes.

  • If an entire class is missed, with approval, it can only be made up in a future course; students must schedule make-ups with the instructor. The make-up must correspond to the same class day number.

• 5.c.3. First BTW Drive: The first BTW drive must occur after the 4th hour and before the 10th hour of classroom instruction.

• 5.c.4. Failure to attend the first two classes and/or the first BTW drive will result in course drop with no refund or transfer. No exceptions.

• ​5.c.5. Should a student not be able to attend the first two class and/or the first BTW drive for any reason, the student will be dropped from the course with no refund or transfer. No exceptions. 

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5.d. Course Completion Timeline

Students must complete all coursework by the end of the following course session.

• 5.d.1. (Example: Spring session students must complete coursework by the end of the first Summer session.)

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5.e. Practice Driving Requirements
S.O.D.E., Inc. provides auto insurance only during driving in our education vehicles.

• 5.e.1. Students must complete at least 5 practice hours outside of class with a parent or guardian who has insurance on their vehicle.

• 5.e.2. ODOT requires these 5 hours be completed during the dates of the course. Hours completed before the course begins do not count.

• 5.e.3. A signed 5 Hour Parent Involvement form is required before releasing the course completion certificate. 

• 5.e.4. Although 5 hours is the minimum, 10–15 hours of practice is highly recommended for success.

• 5.e.5. These hours must be logged with dates after ​​

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5.f. Summer Course Duration

A summer driver education course cannot be completed in fewer than 35 days from the first class. BTW drives will extend beyond the classroom portion.

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5.g. Refresher Policy
Students who have successfully completed S.O.D.E., Inc.’s ODOT-approved driver education course may attend any future classroom portion free of charge.

• 5.g.1. Arrangements must be made by contacting the office.

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6. Behind-the-Wheel (BTW) Drives

6.a. BTW Drive Time Signups

A link to the BTW drive signup sheet will be emailed the day after the Mandatory Parent Meeting to all attendees.​

• 6.a.1. BTW drive times are scheduled in two-hour blocks (1 hour driving, 1 hour observing) once per week for six weeks, unless otherwise specified due to instructor availability.

• 6.a.2. Students are paired with a drive partner and will keep the same drive partner, drive time, location, and Drive Instructor for the full course. Any changes will be communicated directly by the Instructor.

• 6.a.3. ODOT requires the first BTW drive to occur after the 4th hour and before the 10th hour of classroom instruction.

  • 6.a.3.1. Students cannot miss the first two classroom sessions under any circumstances and will be dropped if they do. No refund or transfer.

  • 6.a.3.2. Students must attend their first scheduled BTW drive or they will be dropped. No refund or transfer.

  • 6.a.3.3. If a student misses the first two classes and/or the first BTW drive for any reason, they will be dropped from the course with no refund or transfer. No exceptions.

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6.b. BTW Drive Assignments

Assigned BTW drive times, partners, and locations are final for the entire duration of the course.

• 6.b.1. RESCHEDULING & POSTPONING: If a student must reschedule a BTW drive for any reason (illness, family emergency, etc.), they must contact their Drive Instructor and drive partner to find a new, mutually agreed-upon time. The Drive Instructor has full discretion to approve or deny changes.
  ⚠️ Please note: Because students are paired with a drive partner, any rescheduling affects the other student and family, and will delay completion of the course for both students.

• 6.b.2. Excessive rescheduling: Beginning with the third rescheduling request, a $25 rescheduling fee will be charged per instance

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7. ODOT Course Completion Guidelines

7.a. Students ages 15–17 who successfully complete all course requirements and have paid all fees will have their course completion electronically submitted to the DMV.

⚠️ Note: ODOT no longer issues plastic Driver Education cards. Completion information is submitted to DMV2U electronically and can be viewed by visiting the DMV2U website.

• 7.a.1. To pass the course, students must achieve at least 80% on all classroom exams and on their final BTW assessment (refer to Sections 5 & 6 for details).

• 7.a.2. Any missed class or drive time must be made up. Completion will not be submitted to DMV2U until the student has completed:

  • A minimum of 30 classroom hours, and

  • All 12 hours of Behind-the-Wheel (BTW) instruction.
    The classroom Instructor will provide make-up options that comply with ODOT guidelines.

• 7.a.3. Completion will also be withheld if the 5 Hour Parent Involvement Form has not been turned in.

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7.b. Students who are 18–19 years old may request a paper certificate of completion.

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7.c. Why is the DMV2U Course Completion Date important?

• 7.c.1. Once a student is at least 16 years old and has met all course requirements, they may go directly to the DMV to be issued their driver license without needing to take a DMV drive test.

  • 7.c.1.1. DMV2U Course Completion removes the requirement to take a DMV drive test prior to obtaining a license.

  • 7.c.1.2. This course completion status remains valid in DMV2U for 2 years.

  • 7.c.1.3. The DMV is working on a feature to allow printable proof of completion.

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A Grievance Form is provided on our "Forms" page that can be submitted to the DMV.

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Step 3 - Review course details

 

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