Business Details
23 Years
experience
Your Trusted Driving School in Cobourg, Ontario
Smart Choice Driving School has been dedicated to driver education in the Durham and Northumberland regions for nearly two decades. Our mission combines professional instruction with community engagement, offering MTO-approved beginner driver education, in-car training, and specialized programs for seniors and corporate clients. With classroom sessions at the Best Western Hotel and St. Mary's Catholic Secondary School in Cobourg, we emphasize defensive driving techniques and personalized learning experiences. Our instructors bring decades of combined experience, including former teaching roles and extensive community involvement through bursaries and local sponsorships.We prioritize one-on-one training, road test preparation, and adaptive teaching methods to address individual needs, from nervous beginners to experienced drivers seeking refresher courses. Our commitment extends beyond instruction, fostering safer roads and stronger communities through initiatives like annual student bursaries and partnerships with local organizations such as the Oshawa Kicks Soccer Club.
Services
Beginner Driver Education
Refresher Lessons
Senior Training
Corporate Training
Road Test Preparation
Details
- Year established: 2003
Highlights and features
- 20+ years of combined instructor experience in driver education
- Community-focused approach with annual student bursaries and local sponsorships
- Personalized one-on-one training tailored to individual learning needs
- MTO-approved curriculum with comprehensive road safety instruction
- Experienced instructors with backgrounds in formal education and coaching
Associations and certifications
- Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO)
Services
Beginner Driver Education
Our MTO-approved beginner course includes 20 hours of classroom instruction, 10 hours of in-car training, and 10 hours of homework. We teach road safety fundamentals, defensive driving techniques, and practical skills for real-world scenarios. Students gain confidence through structured lessons covering highway driving, parking maneuvers, and hazard management.
Refresher Lessons
Designed for drivers needing to update their skills after extended breaks, our refresher courses address bad habits and improve road confidence. Sessions focus on modern traffic patterns, vehicle control, and test preparation for license reinstatement or upgrades.
Senior Training
Tailored programs for older drivers include in-car sessions and seminars on adapting to changing physical abilities. We emphasize safety strategies, confidence-building exercises, and techniques for navigating high-collision intersections and night driving challenges.
Corporate Training
Customized fleet driver training programs help businesses maintain professional standards. Our corporate courses cover defensive driving, vehicle maintenance checks, and risk management strategies to protect company reputations and reduce accident rates.
Road Test Preparation
Specialized test preparation includes full route simulations, evaluation of driving habits, and targeted skill development. Our instructors provide detailed feedback on parallel parking, three-point turns, and highway merging techniques to ensure first-time success.
People
Jon Gale
Driving Instructor
Certified instructor since 2013 with 29 years of educational leadership experience as a teacher and coach. Specializes in patient, structured driver training for new learners.
Richard Jenkins
Chief Instructor
Driving instructor since 2000 with dual expertise in classroom and in-car training. Helps diverse clients overcome driving challenges, from teens to career professionals seeking license independence.
Questions
What driver education programs do you offer?
We provide MTO-approved beginner courses, refresher lessons, senior training, corporate programs, and road test preparation with both classroom and in-car components.
Are your instructors certified?
All instructors are MTO-certified with extensive experience. Our team includes former educators and coaches who combine technical expertise with personalized teaching approaches.
Do you offer online training options?
Yes, we provide self-paced online classroom sessions while maintaining in-car training for hands-on skill development with proper safety protocols.
What areas do you serve?
We operate throughout Durham and Northumberland counties, including Cobourg, Oshawa, Brighton, and surrounding communities with multiple training locations.
How do you support local communities?
We offer annual bursaries to St. Mary's graduates, sponsor local sports teams, and contribute to Cystic Fibrosis fundraising initiatives through our community partnerships.
Reviews (4)
Daniela Mastsipaniuk
Jul 24, 2021
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Amazing driving school! I had Richard as my instructor and he was just amazing. I felt comfortable and even had a fun time talking to him. He is really patient and he will go above and beyond miles to help book you a test, meet you at the drive centre where you will be doing your test, and try to make sure all your hours are done before your exam date. I cannot thank Richard enough for how much he has helped me and made sure I was ready for my G2 test, I will be recommending this school to people I know:)
Christine Roger
Jul 06, 2021
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Fantastic driving instructor. Both of my kids attended his classes and are both fortunate to have benefited from his instruction.
Taylor Nickerson
Jun 15, 2019
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If you want to learn how to drive in a professional, patient and friendly environment Smart Choice Driving School is the perfect place to go. Each lesson is specifically tailored to the needs of the person driving and they work around your busy schedules flawlessly. I was able to get my G2 so much sooner than I expected to, and it’s all thanks to the extreme care and dedication that Richard has for his students.
Ricardo Soyoye
Oct 23, 2018
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Great experience working with this company. I was able to learn how to drive perfectly after 5-7 lessons due to the great help and support I received from my driving instructor. At such a good price as well, the lessons more than worth it.