Hands-on driver training
Teens learn best by doing. Students get behind the wheel in a controlled environment, practice defensive techniques, meet challenging situations and learn how to respond — before they meet them on the road for real.
Teen Defensive Driving School
Preparing our kids
to be safer drivers.
Classroom training and behind-the-wheel instruction, in a single Saturday, 9am to 2pm. Taught by active firefighters, police officers and EMS drivers who have spent their careers on the roads your teenager is about to drive. Held at the Carolina Exotic Car Club.
Safety · Preparation · Training
Our mission is simple:
save lives.
The school helps young drivers build the skills and confidence to stay safer behind the wheel. The training goes past the basics — real-world driving situations, crash avoidance and the kind of decision-making that only comes from practicing it.
Sponsored by the Carolina Exotic Car Club and the Ride of Your Life Foundation 501(c)(3). Your $95 is donated to the foundation.
The DDS experience
How the school works.
Taught by trusted officials
Police officers, EMS and firefighters bring firsthand knowledge from years of working on North Carolina roads — practical instruction, real incidents, and an honest account of what dangerous choices actually cost.
Emergency preparedness
Handling a breakdown safely, changing a tire, responding to common vehicle emergencies, and knowing when and how to call for help — so they stay calm and make smart decisions when something goes wrong.
One day course.
Both parts run on the same Saturday, 9:00am to 2:00pm.
Part 1 — Classroom training
- Safe and defensive driving habits
- Identifying and managing risks on the road
- Understanding North Carolina traffic laws
- Sharing the road with drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians
- Handling adverse conditions — rain, snow, low light
- Responding in emergency situations
Part 2 — Behind the wheel
- Every student drives with a certified instructor
- Practicing the classroom material in real time
- Hazard recognition and crash avoidance exercises
- Roadside skills — breakdowns, tire changes, when to call for help
- Held at CECC, 3107 Glen Royal Rd, Raleigh
Upcoming courses
Teen Defensive Driving Registration
One Day Class
Classroom + Behind The Wheel + Roadside Assistance.
Select a class date below to sign up.
Location: Carolina Exotic Car Club, 3107 Glen Royal Road, Raleigh NC 27617.
November 21, 2026
$95
Register
December 5, 2026
$95
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December 19, 2026
$95
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January 9, 2027
$95
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January 23, 2027
$95
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February 13, 2027
$95
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March 6, 2027
$95
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March 20, 2027
$95
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April 3, 2027
$95
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April 17, 2027
$95
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May 1, 2027
$95
Register
May 22, 2027
$95
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Registration
Teen Defensive Driving Signup
Classroom + Behind The Wheel + Roadside Assistance. One day class, lunch provided! All classes listed 9am–2pm.
Location: Carolina Exotic Car Club, 3107 Glen Royal Road, Raleigh NC 27617.
“My child attended DDS and I couldn't have been more pleased. The instructors were so kind and knowledgeable. My kid had a great time.”Parent
“I highly recommend this program to any parents with teenagers. You will not regret it.”Parent
“I actually attended this program with my teenager, and even as an adult I learned so much. Highly recommend.”Parent
Our sponsors
Why we can charge $95.
The school runs because the Carolina Exotic Car Club donates the venue and the Ride of Your Life Foundation covers the rest. Every teen deserves this training regardless of what their family can afford — if the fee is a barrier, tell us in the notes and we'll work it out.
Carolina Exotic Car Club
Ride of Your Life Foundation
Before you register
Frequently asked.
- Minimum 16 years old
- The student must hold a driver’s license — a learner’s permit is not enough
- A parent or legal guardian attends the whole in-person portion
Yes. A parent or legal guardian stays for the whole in-person portion, start to finish, for every student.
They also sign the liability and legal waivers on the day.
$95 per student. That fee is donated to the Ride of Your Life Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
One day. Classroom training and behind-the-wheel both run on the same Saturday, 9:00am to 2:00pm, with lunch provided. Classes are hosted at the Carolina Exotic Car Club, 3107 Glen Royal Road, Raleigh NC 27617.
No. DDS is defensive driving training taken once your teen is already licensed — it isn’t a substitute for driver’s ed, and it doesn’t shorten any state requirement.
The student’s driver’s license, as proof of identity, and a parent or legal guardian who stays for the whole in-person portion.
Guides for parents
Still deciding?
We wrote these for Raleigh families working out whether this course is the right thing, and when.