Seems like just about anything can be done on the internet these days - order a pizza, rent a movie, or even download an entire book instantly. And now the classroom-phobic and just plain busy can even take drivers ed classes online! Awesome, you may think: Why spend my weekends cooped up watching car slides in a moldy classroom? But before you sign up, you might want to make sure if virtual education really is the best option for you - we’ll give you the low-down on what it is and isn’t. Consider this lesson one!

What it’s great for:

Virtual drivers ed can be a more self-paced and interactive alternative to regular drivers education class. It lets you work at your own speed, tailored to your personal schedule. It’s usually cheaper than paying tuition at a regular driving school, and your parents save time and gas money since they don’t have to drive you to and fro. But watch out: only in certain areas can you take classes online to meet the 30 hour drivers ed requirement for teens. You’ve lucked out here if you live in: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania or Texas.

As for those of you in the other 41 states: you’re still required to do it the old fashioned way - find a driving school and sit through the required classroom time (don’t worry, it’s really not that bad!). But you can still sign up for an online course to qualify for an insurance discount or to purchase practice questions for the written test. There are even several companies that will refund your money if you don’t get your permit on the first try!

If you’d like to lower your car insurance payments, call your provider to see if they have a policy of rewarding drivers who take defensive or safe driving courses. It doesn’t matter where you live or whether you’ve already got your drivers license - completing one of these classes online can help you get up to 10% off your monthly rate.

What’s not-so-great:

Even if you can complete your state’s drivers ed class requirement on the internet, it’s important to know that online courses won’t fulfill the driving instruction portion of it. Driving instruction consists of several (usually around 6) hours of behind-the-wheel, supervised drivers training. You can either hire an instructor just for this from a driving school, or have your parents teach you. Laws vary state-by-state, so make sure to check your driving manual for details.

Take into consideration what type of learner you are: while online drivers ed may be a more convenient and flexible alternative to traditional class, don’t think you can cut corners and skip the material! You’ll need a bit of discipline to make sure you stay focused on the work, even for just 20 minutes a day. If you’re too easily distracted by all the other cool stuff online like games, IM, and MySpace, you’ll never finish the course. If you learn better in a structured classroom environment, then this option may not be for you.

And finally.. once you do decide to take an online drivers ed course, research the company you choose to make sure they’re reputable: do a web search for reviews, or check their record with the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org). Now you’re all set - good luck and safe virtual driving!