West Coast Driver Training Will Be Increasing Its Class 5 & 7 Lesson Prices On 15 April 2024

West Coast Driver Training has maintained its current lesson prices since 2020 but, unfortunately, due to rising fuel and insurance prices, along with rising prices generally over the few years, West Coast Driver Training will be raising its Class 5 and Class 7 lesson prices on 15 April 2024.

Over the last four years we have made every effort to avoid raising our lesson prices but, unfortunately, we see no alternative to raising our lesson prices.

Most other Driving Schools in Victoria, Nanaimo and the Cowichan Valley have already raised their prices and charge higher lesson prices than we do. For comparison purposes, here are the current lesson prices for selected Driving Schools in Victoria, Nanaimo and the Cowichan Valley, listed in descending order of prices – highest prices at the top of each list and then in descending order of pricing:

Cowichan Valley

The Confident Driver – 90 minute lesson – $200.00 ; Road Test Package – $309.52
Isle Drive Driving School – 90 minute lesson – $161.90 ; Road Test Package – $209.50
Summit Driving Academy – 90 minute lesson – $160.00 ; Road Test Package – $200.00
Safe Harbours Driving School – 90 minute lesson – $150.00 ; Road Test Package – $200.00
CV Driving Academy – 90 minute lesson – $150.00 ; Road Test Package – $190.00
Changing Lanes Driver’s Education – 90 minute lesson – $145.00 ; Road Test Package – $200.00
West Coast Driver Training – 90 minute lesson – $130.00 ; Road Test Package – $135.00
1st Choice Driving Academy – 90 minute lesson – $120.00 ; Road Test Package – $185.00

Nanaimo

DriveWise – 90 minute lesson – $160.00 ; Road Test Package – $150.00
Changing Lanes Driver’s Education – 90 minute lesson – $145.00 ; Road Test Package – $200.00
Vancouver Island Driving School – 90 minute lesson – $135.00 ; Road Test Package – $175.00
West Coast Driver Training – 90 minute lesson – $130.00 ; Road Test Package – $135.00
All Gears Driving School – 90 minute lesson – $120.00 ; Road Test Package – $140.00
Streetwise Driving School – 90 minute lesson – $90.00 ; Road Test Package – $150.00

Victoria

Joan Wallace Driving School – – 90 minute lesson – $187.50 ;
DriveWise – 90 minute lesson – $160.00 ; Road Test Package – $150.00
Changing Lanes Driver’s Education – 90 minute lesson – $145.00 ; Road Test Package – $200.00
West Coast Driver Training – 90 minute lesson – $130.00 ; Road Test Package – $135.00

So on 15 April 2024, West Coast Driver Training will be increasing its Class 5 and Class 7 lesson prices from $130.00 (before GST) for a 90 minute lesson to $145.00 (before GST) for for a 90 minute lesson.

If you are thinking of booking driving lessons, please do so before 15 April 2024 to ensure getting our current pricing.

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Lorne Bunyan Will Now Be Teaching For West Coast Driver Training On Salt Spring Island

Lorne Bunyan, who used to own and operate Cornerstone Driving School on Salt Spring Island, will now be teaching for West Coast Driver Training on Salt Spring Island.

Lorne Bunyan well known on Salt Spring Island. He is licensed by ICBC to teach Class 2, 4, 5 and 7.

Lorne Bunyan will be arranging his own teaching schedule and he can be contacted by phone or text at (250)732-4735. Lorne can also be contacted by email at lorne@westcoastdrivertraining.com.

West Coast Driver Training has put its 2018 Toyota Corolla on Salt Spring Island for Lorne Bunyan to use in providing driving lessons for Salt Spring Island clients.

Our 2018 Toyota Corolla in front of the Third Wave Coffee Company near the Crofton ferry (photo: West Coast Driver Training)
Our 2018 Toyota Corolla in front of the Third Wave Coffee Company near the Crofton ferry (photo: West Coast Driver Training)

Our plan is that Lorne Bunyan can offer introductory driving lessons to new drivers on Salt Spring Island and then Mark Anderson, the owner and Chief Instructor of West Coast Driver Training, can offer subsequent lessons for Salt Spring Island clients in Duncan or Nanaimo, where they will encounter traffic lights and other road conditions not found on Salt Spring Island.

We typically meet Salt Spring Island clients at the BC Ferries terminal in Crofton.

We can pick up clients at the Crofton Ferry and drop them at the Crofton Ferry afterwards. But with the travel time between the Crofton Ferry and Duncan we recommend that Salt Spring Island clients consider doing 2 hour, 2.5 hour or 3 hour lessons rather than our usual 90 minute lessons.

Our lessons are typically 90 minutes. With a 90 minute lesson starting in Crofton, a significant portion of the lesson time is consumed by travel time between the Crofton Ferry and Duncan and back again. A longer lesson time gives the student driver more time in Duncan doing traffic lights and other driving conditions not encountered on Salt Spring Island. We can provide pricing on lessons that are longer than our standard 90 minute lessons.

As one example, a 2.5 hour lesson between 8:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., between the 8:40 am arrival in Crofton and the 11:25 a.m. departure from Crofton, would be $241.66 plus GST, or $253.75. This 8:45 am arrival at Crofton currently seems to be the most popular time for Salt Spring Island clients.

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West Coast Driver Training Is Acquiring A 2016 Mack For Teaching Class 3 Automatic

West Coast Driver Training is in the process of acquiring a 2016 Mack equipped with an automatic transmission which we will use for teaching Class 3 automatic.

We hope to have our new Mack available for Class 3 training in January 2024.

West Coast Driver Training has acquired this 2016 Mack, equipped with an automatic transmission, and will start offering Class 3 training on this truck in January 2024 [photo: West Coast Driver Training]
West Coast Driver Training has acquired this 2016 Mack, equipped with an automatic transmission, and will start offering Class 3 training on this truck in January 2024 [photo: West Coast Driver Training]
West Coast Driver Training has acquired this 2016 Mack, equipped with an automatic transmission, and will start offering Class 3 training on this truck in January 2024 [photo: West Coast Driver Training]
West Coast Driver Training has acquired this 2016 Mack, equipped with an automatic transmission, and will start offering Class 3 training on this truck in January 2024 [photo: West Coast Driver Training]
West Coast Driver Training has acquired this 2016 Mack, equipped with an automatic transmission, and will start offering Class 3 training on this truck in January 2024 [photo: West Coast Driver Training]
West Coast Driver Training has acquired this 2016 Mack, equipped with an automatic transmission, and will start offering Class 3 training on this truck in January 2024 [photo: West Coast Driver Training]
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Our Ford E450 20 Seat Bus Has Had Its Signage Applied And Is Ready For Class 4 Unrestricted Lessons

We recently acquired a 2009 Ford E450 20 seat bus, formerly BC Transit bus number 2189, for teaching Class 4 Unrestricted lessons.

West Coast Driver Training has also applied to the Passenger Transportation Board for a General Application bus license for our Ford E450. This application is still being processed but, once it is approved, we will be offering sightseeing tours as well as lessons for sightseeing drivers and those wanting to start sightseeing businesses.

We took our Ford E450 20 seat bus to Mark’s Instant Sign Shop in Duncan for its corporate signage to be applied. That has now been done and our Ford E450 bus is now available for clients wanting training in Class 4 Unrestricted.

Here are are some BEFORE and AFTER photos of our Ford E450 bus at Mark’s Instant Sign Shop on 22 August 2022.

BEFORE ALL THE SIGNAGE WAS APPLIED

Our Ford E450 20 seat bus at Mark's Instant Sign Shop awaiting application of its final signage [Photo: West Coast Driver Training]
Our Ford E450 20 seat bus at Mark’s Instant Sign Shop awaiting application of its final signage [Photo: West Coast Driver Training]
Our Ford E450 20 seat bus at Mark's Instant Sign Shop awaiting application of its final signage [Photo: West Coast Driver Training]
Our Ford E450 20 seat bus at Mark’s Instant Sign Shop awaiting application of its final signage [Photo: West Coast Driver Training]
Our Ford E450 20 seat bus at Mark's Instant Sign Shop awaiting application of its final signage [Photo: West Coast Driver Training]
Our Ford E450 20 seat bus at Mark’s Instant Sign Shop awaiting application of its final signage [Photo: West Coast Driver Training]

AFTER ALL THE SIGNAGE WAS APPLIED

Our Ford E450 20 seat bus at Mark's Instant Sign Shop after application of its final signage [Photo: West Coast Driver Training]
Our Ford E450 20 seat bus at Mark’s Instant Sign Shop after application of its final signage [Photo: West Coast Driver Training]
Our Ford E450 20 seat bus at Mark's Instant Sign Shop after application of its final signage [Photo: West Coast Driver Training]
Our Ford E450 20 seat bus at Mark’s Instant Sign Shop after application of its final signage [Photo: West Coast Driver Training]
Our Ford E450 20 seat bus at Mark's Instant Sign Shop after application of its final signage [Photo: West Coast Driver Training]
Our Ford E450 20 seat bus at Mark’s Instant Sign Shop after application of its final signage [Photo: West Coast Driver Training]
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Our Lesson Prices Will Be Increasing On 1 April 2022. Book Now To Get The Current Lesson Prices.

With the price of fuel and other inputs rising continually, West Coast Driver Training has found it necessary to raise lesson prices.

We have kept our lesson prices below our competitors’ rates for as long as possible but our lesson prices will be increasing on 1 April 2022.

If you are looking for driving lessons, please book with West Coast Driver Training before 1 April 2022 in order to get our current pricing.

This photo of West Coast Driver Training owner Mark Anderson appeared in a Cowichan Valley Citizen article about our use of dash cameras during driving lessons (photo: Robert Barron - Cowichan Valley Citizen)
This photo of West Coast Driver Training owner Mark Anderson appeared in a Cowichan Valley Citizen article about our use of dash cameras during driving lessons (photo: Robert Barron – Cowichan Valley Citizen)

Our Lessons Prices For Class 5 And Class 7 Will Be Increasing In March 2022

West Coast Driver Training has tried to avoid raising Class5 Lesson Prices and Class 7 Lesson Prices for as long as possible but with the rising costs of fuel, insurance and other inputs we will be raising our Class5 Lesson Prices and Class 7 Lesson Prices in March 2022.

West Coast Driver Training is currently charging $110.00 plus GST ($115.50) for a 90 minute Class 5 or Class 7 lesson. We will be increasing that to $120.00 plus GST ($126.00) in March 2022.

We encourage existing clients and potential new clients to book lessons at the current Class5 Lesson Prices and Class 7 Lesson Prices of $110.00 per lesson before our Class5 Lesson Prices and Class 7 Lesson Prices in March 2022.

Our 2020 Toyota Prius Prime is now available for lessons (photo: West Coast Driver Training)
Our 2020 Toyota Prius Prime is now available for lessons (photo: West Coast Driver Training)
Our 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid at the ICBC Driver Lincensing office, Nanaimo, BC (photo: West Coast Driver Training)
Our 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid at the ICBC Driver Licensing office, Nanaimo, BC (photo: West Coast Driver Training)
Our 2018 Toyota Corolla in front of the Third Wave Coffee Company near the Crofton ferry (photo: West Coast Driver Training)
Our 2018 Toyota Corolla in front of the Third Wave Coffee Company near the Crofton ferry (photo: West Coast Driver Training)

 

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West Coast Driver Training Will Be Offering Lessons In Victoria Every Saturday

Due to the increasing wait times for Road Tests in Duncan, many of our Class 5 and Class 7 clients are booking Road Tests in Victoria and are asking if I can do driving lessons with them in Victoria.

In order to accommodate these requests West Coast Driver Training will be now offering Class 4 Restricted, Class 5 and Class 7 lessons in Victoria every Saturday. We also welcome new clients from the Greater Victoria area.

For our Victoria clients and our Cowichan Valley clients wanting driving lessons in Victoria, we suggest meeting at the ICBC Driver Licensing office at #1-1150 MacKenzie Avenue or the ICBC Claims Centre at 425 Dunedin Street. These are the ICBC Road Test locations in Greater Victoria.

Our 2020 Toyota Prius Prime at the ICBC Driver Licensing office, 426 Dunedin Street, Victoria, BC (photo: West Coast Driver Training)
Our 2020 Toyota Prius Prime at the ICBC Driver Licensing office, 426 Dunedin Street, Victoria, BC (photo: West Coast Driver Training)
ICBC Driver Services, #1 1150 McKenzie Avenue, Victoria is one of the locations where Road Tests are held in Victoria. This photo shows the parking stalls where Road Tests begin and end. (photo: West Coast Driver Training)
ICBC Driver Services, #1 1150 McKenzie Avenue, Victoria is one of the locations where Road Tests are held in Victoria. This photo shows the parking stalls where Road Tests begin and end. (photo: West Coast Driver Training)

To arrange driving lessons, please Contact Us.

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West Coast Driver Training Is Now Offering Three Hour Malahat Lessons From Duncan To Victoria And Back

In response to frequent requests from clients, West Coast Driver Training now offers a three hour Malahat lesson which involves driving over the Malahat from Duncan to Victoria, lesson time in downtown Victoria and then returning to Duncan from Victoria via the Malahat.

Our 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid at the Malahat Summit Viewpoint. (photo: West Coast Driver Training)
Our 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid at the Malahat Summit Viewpoint. (photo: West Coast Driver Training)

The cost is for this 3 hour lesson is $220.00 plus GST, currently $231.00.

To arrange a Malahat lesson, you can Contact Us by phone/text at (250)732-8093 by email at mark@WestCoastDriverTraining.com. or through the dialog box at the bottom of this post.

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Our New 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Is Now Available For Driving Lessons

West Coast Driver Training has recently added a new 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid to out training fleet. It has had the corporate decals applied and the Instructor Brake installed on the passenger side and is now available for clients.

Our 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid at the ICBC Driver Lincensing office, Nanaimo, BC (photo: West Coast Driver Training)
Our 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid at the ICBC Driver Licensing office, Nanaimo, BC (photo: West Coast Driver Training)

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We Are Adding A 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid To Our Fleet

West Coast Driver Training has purchased a new 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid as a new training car.

It arrived at Jim Pattison Toyota in Duncan on 12 May 2021 and I will be picking it up next week after Jim Pattison Toyota has done the dealer prep on the car.

Product Adviser Axel Clarke with our new 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid that has arrived at Jim Pattison Toyota in Duncan (photo: West Coast Driver Training)
Product Adviser Axel Clarke with our new 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid that has arrived at Jim Pattison Toyota in Duncan (photo: West Coast Driver Training)
Our new 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid has arrived at Jim Pattison Toyota in Duncan (photo: West Coast Driver Training)
Our new 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid has arrived at Jim Pattison Toyota in Duncan (photo: West Coast Driver Training)
Our new 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid has arrived at Jim Pattison Toyota in Duncan (photo: West Coast Driver Training)
Our new 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid has arrived at Jim Pattison Toyota in Duncan (photo: West Coast Driver Training)

A shout out to Product Advisors Axel Clarke and Steve Reiffenstein and Sales Manager Kenny Hoang whom I dealt with for the purchase of this new training car.

I plan to take delivery of this car next week and it will be available for lessons once the new West Coast Driver Training decals and the passenger side brake have been installed.

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