Take our North Carolina state-approved teen driver education course at our driving school in Hickory. Gain confidence behind-the-wheel (BTW) and learn the laws/rules of the roadway.

You must be 14 years 6 months by the first scheduled class and under age 18 in order to start your NC Permit process.

  • NC Permit Package: 30-Hour Class + 6 Hours BTW Training

    You must pay your deposit upon registration or your account may be deleted. Only accounts with their deposit paid will be secured in a class.

    ***Please notify us if you plan to drop the deposit off or mail it.

    Includes the 30 hours of class and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training required by the State of NC to obtain a permit for students ages 14 1/2 and under 18 years of age.

    A mandatory parent meeting is required the first day of class. Only one parent, guardian, or lawful custodian is required to attend the mandatory meeting on the first day of class when the doors open either at 9 AM or 5 PM. We will not open the door any earlier. Please be on time. This is very necessary for the process to run smoothly. Students are asked to wait in the vehicle or outside at the picnic tables while the parent meeting takes place to accommodate the classroom size. The meeting takes approximately 30 minutes. We will have a quick Q & A session to ensure we're all on the same page.

    No birth certificate or social security card will be needed at the time of the parent mandatory meeting.

    No cell phones, airpods, earbuds, watches, or anything associatied will a cell phone will allowed at the students seat. ALL cell phones and items associated with a cell phone will be placed in a basket and can be ONLY used during lunch or breaks. 

    Studenta will need to bring a pen, pencil, highlighters, lunch or money for lunch and breaks during the four-day week or weekend classes. NO food, drinks, candy or gum allowed in the building. Student may bring a clear plastic bottle of water. 

    Once the student completes and passes their classroom portion, you will login and select three days of 2-hour increments on the calendar to schedule the 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training. Please understand that the student will be in the car for four hours for all three sessions. We never drive one student alone. Please send money with your child because they will sometimes stop for breaks/meals.

    Students will be required to wear closed-toe shoes while driving. Sandals, flip-flops, or open-toed shoes are not allowed.

    Cell phone usage is not allowed during driving sessions.

    HDA is not responsible for personal items. 

    The best form of communication with Hester Driving Academy is via email.

  • NC Permit Package 30-Hour Online Class + 6 Hours BTW Training

    Your deposit must be paid upon registration or your account may be deleted for the 30 hour online course. Balance MUST be paid in full prior to scheduling the three driving sessions. 

    ***Please notify us if you plan to drop the payment off or mail it.

    Includes 30 hours of class online and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training required by the State of NC to obtain a permit for students ages 14 1/2 and under 18 years of age.

    Once the 30 hr online package deposit is paid the student will receive an email with the information to start the HDA online package. Student must use a personal email address, not one associated with their school. Schools have restrictions and blocks set. Parents will recieve email updates on the students progress. The student will have 90 days to complete the 30 hr online class portion. The balance MUST be paid in full prior to scheduling the three driving sessions.

    After the student completes, passes their class portion and we issue a release, you will then login and select three days of 2-hour increments on the calendar to schedule the 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training. Understand that the student will be in the car four hours for all three sessions. We never drive one student alone. 

    All driving sessions will begin and end at Hester Driving Academy, 45 13th Avenue NE, Hickory, NC 28601. Please be on time for all drive times. This is very necessary for the process to run smoothly.

    No cell phones, airpods, earbuds, watches, or anything associatied will a cell phone will allowed during drive times. 

    Students will be required to wear closed-toe shoes while driving. Sandals, flip-flops, or open-toed shoes are not allowed.

    HDA is not responsible for personal items. 

    The best form of communication with Hester Driving Academy is via email.

  • NC Permit 30-Hour Online Class Only

    Your account must be paid in full upon registration, or it may be deleted for the 30-hour online course. Only accounts with their balances paid in full will be secured in the online course. 

    ***Please notify us if you plan to drop the payment off or mail it.

    This includes 30 hours of online class.

    Once the 30-hour online package deposit is paid, you will receive an email with the link to start the HDA online course. Student must use a personal email address, not one associated with their school. Schools have restrictions and blocks set. The student will have 90 days to complete the 30-hour online class portion. After completing the online course, your next step will be to take the NC Permit test 

  • PPC2 Permit Prep Class (2-Hours ONLY)

    Includes two hours of private class time with an instructor for North Carolina permit test prep. 

    HDA is not responsible for personal items. 

  • Lease HDA Vehicle for NC DMV Road Test

    This service allows the student to lease one of the HDA vehicles for use to take the NC road test to obtain a NC driver license.

     Once the NC road test date has been determined the student will contact Hester Driving Academy to schedule the date and time to Lease the HDA Vehicle.

     No Show for vehicle lease to the Hickory DMV office will result in a $55 fee.

     Students will be required to wear closed-toe shoes while driving. Sandals, flip-flops or open-toed shoes WILL NOT be allowed.

     Cell phones usage WILL NOT be allowed during driving sessions.

     HDA WILL NOT be responsible for personal items.

NC Permit 30 Hours Classroom

Hickory

Sep 9 - 12
9:00 am
Closed
  • X
  • M
  • T
  • W
  • T
  • X
  • X

Please note: You must pay your deposit upon registration or your account may be deleted. Only accounts with their deposit paid will be secured in a class.

Remember we need only one parent to attend the mandatory parent meeting, starting at 9:00 am the first day of class This class will meet September 9-12. This class will be meet 4 consecutive days. Check your student center for the times.

Dec 6 - 15
5:00 pm
Closed
  • S
  • X
  • X
  • X
  • X
  • F
  • S

Please note: You must pay your deposit upon registration or your account may be deleted. Only accounts with their deposit paid will be secured in a class.

Remember we need only one parent to attend the mandatory parent meeting, starting at 5:00 pm the first day of class. This class will meet December 6-7 and 13-15. Check your student center for the times. Friday class starts at 5pm. Saturdays are 9am and Sunday 1pm.

Dec 9 - 12
9:00 am
Available

Please note: You must pay your deposit upon registration or your account may be deleted. Only accounts with their deposit paid will be secured in a class.

Remember we need only one parent to attend the mandatory parent meeting, starting at 9:00 am the first day of class This class will meet December 9-12. This class will meet 4 consecutive days. Check your student center for the times.

Dec 27 - 30
9:00 am
Closed
  • S
  • M
  • X
  • X
  • X
  • F
  • S

Please note: You must pay your deposit upon registration or your account may be deleted. Only accounts with their deposit paid will be secured in a class.

Remember we need only one parent to attend the mandatory parent meeting, starting at 9:00 am the first day of class This class will meet December 27-30. This class will meet 4 consecutive days. Check your student center for the times.

Jan 10 - 19
5:00 pm
Available

Please note: You must pay your deposit upon registration or your account may be deleted. Only accounts with their deposit paid will be secured in a class.

Remember we need only one parent to attend the mandatory parent meeting, starting at 5:00 pm the first day of class. This class will meet January 10-12 and 17-19. Check your student center for the times. Friday class starts at 5 pm, Saturdays are 9 am and Sunday 1 pm

Jan 31 - Feb 23
5:00 pm
Available

Please note: You must pay your deposit upon registration or your account may be deleted. Only accounts with their deposit paid will be secured in a class.

Remember we need only one parent to attend the mandatory parent meeting, starting at 5:00 pm the first day of class. This class will meet January 31- February 2 and 21-23. Check your student center for the times. Friday class starts at 5 pm, Saturdays are 9 am and Sunday 1 pm

Mar 3 - 6
9:00 am
Available

Please note: You must pay your deposit upon registration or your account may be deleted. Only accounts with their deposit paid will be secured in a class.

Remember we need only one parent to attend the mandatory parent meeting, starting at 9:00 am the first day of class. This class will meet March 3-6. This class will be meet 4 consecutive days. Check your student center for the times.

Mar 7 - 23
5:00 pm
Available

Please note: You must pay your deposit upon registration or your account may be deleted. Only accounts with their deposit paid will be secured in a class.

Remember we need only one parent to attend the mandatory parent meeting, starting at 5:00 pm the first day of class. This class will meet March 7-9 and 21-23. Check your student center for the times. Friday class starts at 5 pm. Saturdays are 9 am and Sunday 1 pm

Apr 4 - 13
5:00 pm
Available

Please note: You must pay your deposit upon registration or your account may be deleted. Only accounts with their deposit paid will be secured in a class.

Remember we need only one parent to attend the mandatory parent meeting, starting at 5:00 pm the first day of class. This class will meet April 12-14 and 26-28. Check your student center for the times. Friday class starts at 5 pm. Saturdays are 9 am and Sunday 1 pm

Apr 21 - 24
9:00 am
Available

Please note: You must pay your deposit upon registration or your account may be deleted. Only accounts with their deposit paid will be secured in a class.

Remember we need only one parent to attend the mandatory parent meeting, starting at 9:00 am the first day of class. This class will meet April 1-4. This class will be meet 4 consecutive days. Check your student center for the times.

Permit Prep Class 2 hours only (1 on 1)

Hickory

Dates to be finalized
TBD
Available

When registering for this course, we will contact you to schedule the available times for your Permit Prep Class. This is a 2-Hour one-on-one class time opportunity to work with us to help you prepare for the NC permit test.

After you complete your registration and payment, log into your student center and confirm your email and cell phone to receive automatic text and email reminders for your upcoming lessons.