Safeway Driving School Inc

What Safeway Driving School Inc does

Safeway Driving School Inc is a privately held Minnesota corporation founded in 1969 that operates Minnesota's largest teen driver's education program. The company serves teenagers aged 14-17 seeking to obtain their instruction permit and provisional license under Minnesota's Graduated Driver Licensing system, along with their parents who co-complete a portion of the supervised driving requirement. Its core product is a state-approved curriculum combining 30 hours of classroom instruction (covering traffic law, defensive driving, and accident avoidance) with 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training delivered in three 2-hour sessions, priced at $425-$475 per student.

The company delivers classroom instruction through three formats — in-person at 10 owned locations across the Twin Cities metro, live instructor-led Zoom distance learning, and self-paced online via a custom learning portal — and operates a permit test administration capability at selected sites. Supporting mobile applications on iOS and Android provide permit test practice questions and a state-approved supervised driving hour log. Distribution is driven by direct-to-consumer online and phone registration, organic search, and channel partnerships with 30+ school district community education programs (Anoka-Hennepin, Bloomington, Burnsville-Eagan-Savage, Hopkins, Minnetonka, Osseo, Stillwater, South Washington County, etc.) and private schools (Saint Thomas Academy, St. Croix Lutheran, Heritage Christian Academy, Mounds Park Academy).

Revenue is generated almost entirely through one-time transactional payments from individual families (full programs, classroom-only at $100, homeschool behind-the-wheel at $390, parent class at $10, permit test at $10), with community education partner pricing ranging $292-$469. The company is state-licensed, fully insured and bonded, a founding member of the Minnesota Driving School Association, and a member of the Driving School Association of the Americas.

Name

Safeway Driving School Inc

Legal name

Safeway Driving School Inc

Website

https://safewaydrivingschool.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Safeway Driving School is a privately held Minnesota corporation, founded in 1969, that operates the state's largest teen driver's education program, training over 14,000 students annually across 10 owned classroom locations and 30+ school district community education partnerships in the Twin Cities metro.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Amherst, Ohio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Driver's Education Courses: Revenue from comprehensive teen driver's education programs including classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel training. Two package options: classroom-only ($100) for students using another BTW provider, and full classroom plus 6 hours behind-the-wheel training ($425-$475 depending on location). Payment plans available. Additional revenue from parent classes ($10), permit testing ($10), and make-up lessons.
2. Behind-the-Wheel Instruction: Six hours of behind-the-wheel training delivered in three 2-hour sessions. Included in full program packages or as standalone for homeschool students ($390 for 6 hours).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Safeway Driving School delivers state-approved teen driver's education programs in Minnesota, combining 30 hours of classroom instruction with 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training. Programs are offered in three delivery formats — in-person at 10+ Twin Cities classroom locations, live instructor-led Zoom, and self-paced online — and include permit test administration, parent education, and mobile apps for test practice and supervised driving logs.

Product overview

Safeway Driving School is a single-location driving school offering teen driver's education across the Twin Cities metro area. The core offering is a comprehensive Teen Driver's Education Package combining 30 hours of classroom instruction with 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training. Classroom instruction is available in three formats: traditional in-person at classroom locations, live Zoom-based distance learning, and self-paced online. The school also offers standalone classroom-only instruction for students using other providers for behind-the-wheel training, an optional Parent Class that reduces supervised driving requirements, and permit test administration. Two companion mobile apps support permit test practice and driving log tracking. All programs are approved by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Teen Driver's Education Package (Full Program) Comprehensive driver's education program for Minnesota teens that combines 30 hours of state-approved classroom instruction (in-person, Zoom, or self-paced online) with 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training. Includes permit test preparation, Blue Card certification submission to the Department of Public Safety, and is required for teens to qualify for an instruction permit and provisional license under Minnesota's GDL system.
• Classroom Instruction (30 hours) 30 hours of state-approved classroom driver education covering Minnesota traffic laws, defensive driving, safe driving habits, and accident avoidance. Available in three formats: traditional in-person at Safeway classroom locations, live instructor-led Zoom sessions, and a self-paced online portal. Required component for Minnesota teen GDL compliance.
• Behind-the-Wheel Training (6 hours) Six hours of practical driving instruction delivered in three 2-hour lessons with home or school pickup. Covers basic vehicle operation, advanced driving maneuvers, and parking. Lessons must be spaced at least 30 days apart. Available as part of the full program or as a standalone $390 package for homeschool students.
• Permit Test Administration State-licensed Class D Knowledge Test (permit test) administered on-site at Safeway classroom locations. The 40-question multiple-choice test requires 32 correct answers to pass. Costs $10 non-refundable and is available at select Safeway locations.
• Parent Class Optional 90-minute live online class for parents of teen drivers. Completion reduces Minnesota's required supervised driving hours from 50 to 40. Costs $10 non-refundable. Designed to help parents coach their teen drivers and better understand state GDL requirements.
• Classroom-Only Package Self-paced online 30-hour classroom instruction only, intended for students who plan to complete behind-the-wheel training with another driving school. Issues an e-card upon completion for use with the alternate BTW provider. Costs $100.
• Permit Test Practice App State-approved mobile app for iOS and Android that delivers practice questions to help students prepare for the Minnesota Class D permit exam. Available in Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
• Supervised Driving Log App MN-approved mobile application for iOS and Android that allows students and parents to log supervised driving hours digitally, eliminating the need for paper driving logs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 14,000 teens trained annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Anoka-Hennepin School District Community EducationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistance learning driver's education partnership through Anoka-Hennepin Community Education. Students register and pay through the school district. Safeway provides curriculum and instruction.
• Bloomington Community EducationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDriver's education partnership serving Jefferson and Kennedy High School students. Registration through Bloomington Community Education.
• Burnsville-Eagan-Savage Community EducationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorISD 191 partnership for driver's education at Burnsville High School. Registration through district.
• Eastern Carver County Community EducationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity education partnership serving Chanhassen and Chaska high schools. Classes at high school locations.
• Hopkins Community EducationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Hopkins School District. Classes held at Hopkins High School and North Middle School.
• Minnetonka Community EducationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity education partnership at Minnetonka High School. In-person and distance learning options.
• Osseo Area Schools Community EducationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership serving Maple Grove, Osseo, and Park Center high schools. Multiple class formats available.
• Stillwater Area Public Schools Community EducationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorISD 834 partnership at Stillwater Area High School. Registration through district.
• South Washington County Schools Community EducationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership serving East Ridge, Woodbury, and Park High Schools. Multiple locations and formats.
• Saint Thomas AcademycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool program for Saint Thomas Academy and Visitation High School students. Classes at Founders Hall 101.
• St. Croix Lutheran AcademycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool program partnership for St. Croix Lutheran Academy students in West St Paul.
• Heritage Christian AcademycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool program for Heritage Christian students in Maple Grove. In-person and distance learning.
• Mounds Park AcademycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool program for Mounds Park Academy students in St. Paul.
• Minnesota Department of Public SafetycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory partnership for state-approved curriculum, e-card submissions, and permit testing authorization. Safeway is licensed and regulated by the state.
• Driving School Association of the Americas (DSAA)minorOthersNational industry association membership providing best practices, standards, and professional development for driving schools.
• Minnesota Driving School AssociationcoreOthersState industry association. Safeway is a founding member, indicating leadership role in the Minnesota driving school industry.
• Minnesota Towards Zero Deaths InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraffic safety initiative partnership with MN Department of Public Safety aimed at reducing traffic fatalities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• I Drive Safely: Online traffic school and driver education provider serving multiple states with teen and adult programs; comparable to Safeway's online classroom format and teen permit preparation services.
• Aceable: Online-first driver education provider offering state-approved courses with mobile-first delivery; comparable to Safeway's self-paced online and Zoom formats, targeting the same teen driver permit market.
• Top Driver: Multi-state chain of driving schools offering teen and adult driver education with classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction; directly comparable to Safeway in product offering, customer segment, and delivery model.
• DriversEd.com: Leading online driver education platform offering state-approved teen and adult courses; competes directly with Safeway's self-paced online classroom offering with broader geographic reach.
• 911 Driving School: Regional driving school chain offering teen and adult driver education with both classroom and behind-the-wheel formats; comparable business model and target customer to Safeway.
• All Star Driving School: Minnesota-based teen driving school offering similar classroom and behind-the-wheel programs in the Twin Cities area; direct local competitor to Safeway.
• Coastline Academy: Multi-state driving school offering teen and adult programs with online and in-person formats; comparable in product mix and customer target to Safeway.
• StreetSafe Driving Schools: Regional driving school chain with teen and behind-the-wheel programs; competes in similar geographic markets with comparable service offerings.

Others

• Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DVS): State regulatory body that licenses driving schools, approves curricula, and administers knowledge and road tests; not a competitor but a critical counterpart that shapes Safeway's operating requirements and competitive dynamics.

Broad incumbents

• AAA (Driver Education Programs): National motor club offering driver education through affiliated driving schools and insurance-tied programs; broader portfolio player with overlapping teen driver education offerings, including a co-located AAA Minneapolis Safeway Classroom in St. Louis Park.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SafewayDrivingSchool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/safeway-driving-school-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/safewayds

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Safeway Driving School Inc