Safeway Driving School MN
Safeway Driving School MN is a privately held, Twin Cities-based driver education provider founded in 1969, training over 14,000 teen students annually via classroom, Zoom, self-paced online, and behind-the-wheel formats, distributed through 10 owned classrooms and 20+ community education and school partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1969
- HeadquartersRoseville, Minnesota, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Safeway Driving School MN does
Safeway Driving School MN (legal entity Safeway Driving School Inc.) is a privately held driver education provider headquartered in New Brighton, Minnesota, founded in 1969 and serving the Twin Cities metro for over 55 years. The company delivers a state-approved 30-hour classroom curriculum plus a 6-hour behind-the-wheel (BTW) training program, serving approximately 14,000 teen students annually and positioning itself as the largest driving school in Minnesota. Instruction is delivered through three formats: in-person classrooms at 10 Safeway-owned locations, Zoom-based distance learning, and a self-paced online platform, with mobile apps supporting permit test practice and supervised driving log tracking. Distribution combines direct-to-consumer registration with a partnership network covering 20+ community education programs and multiple private schools across the Twin Cities.
The business model is transaction-based one-time fees per program: the full classroom-plus-BTW package lists at approximately $440-$475, a classroom-only option at $100, an optional parent class at $10 (which reduces the state's required supervised driving hours from 50 to 40), and an in-house permit test at $10. Safeway is fully insured, bonded, and licensed by the State of Minnesota, holds an A+ BBB rating, and is a founding member of the Minnesota Driving School Association and member of the Driving School Association of the Americas. No venture capital, parent company, or acquisition activity is disclosed in available source data, consistent with a long-standing independent operator.
Safeway Driving School MN firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Safeway Driving School MN
- Legal name
- Safeway Driving School Inc.
- Website
- https://safewaydrivingschool.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1969
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Safeway Driving School MN is a privately held, Twin Cities-based driver education provider founded in 1969, training over 14,000 teen students annually via classroom, Zoom, self-paced online, and behind-the-wheel formats, distributed through 10 owned classrooms and 20+ community education and school partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Safeway Driving School MN industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Driver Education Services
- NAICS
- Automobile Driving Schools (611692)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Driver Staffing, Training & Compliance (CDL, Background Checks) (EDAEADAE)
Keywords
Where Safeway Driving School MN is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Roseville, Minnesota
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices12 records
Markets served
Safeway Driving School MN business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Driver Education Programs: Classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction packages for teen drivers. Includes 30 hours classroom + 6 hours behind-the-wheel training. Also offers classroom-only option for students using other BTW providers.
- Permit Testing: Administering Class D Knowledge Test at Safeway locations for enrolled students.
- Parent Class: Optional 90-minute parent class that reduces supervised driving hours requirement from 50 to 40.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Self-Paced Online Classroom + BTW Lessons |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Self-Paced Online Classroom Only |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Distance Learning (Zoom) Classroom + BTW |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Homeschool BTW Package |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Parent Class |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Permit Test at Safeway |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Safeway Driving School MN product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Safeway Driving School provides state-approved teen driver education in Minnesota, delivered through 30 hours of classroom instruction (in-person, Zoom, or self-paced online) and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel practical training. The school also administers the Class D Knowledge (permit) test at its locations and offers a Parent Class that reduces the supervised practice driving requirement. Instruction is delivered by certified Minnesota driving instructors across a network of Safeway-owned and partner classrooms in the Twin Cities metro area.
Product overview
Safeway Driving School is a traditional driver education provider offering a multi-module curriculum centered on its 30-hour Classroom Instruction program and 6-hour Behind-the-Wheel Training. The core Teen Driver's Education Package bundles both components, while a Classroom-Only Option serves students using third-party BTW providers. Ancillary offerings include a Parent Class (which reduces supervised driving hour requirements) and a knowledge test administration service. Digital touchpoints include two mobile apps (Permit Test Practice App and Supervised Driving Log App) and a Student Account Portal for scheduling and progress tracking. Instruction is delivered through in-person classrooms, Zoom-based distance learning, and a self-paced online format.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Classroom Instruction 30-hour classroom driver education program covering Minnesota traffic laws, defensive driving skills, safe decision-making, and permit test preparation, delivered in-person, via Zoom, or self-paced online.
- Behind-the-Wheel Training Six hours of practical driving instruction delivered in three 2-hour sessions, covering basic vehicle operation, advanced maneuvers, and parking skills, with home or school pickup and drop-off.
- Teen Driver's Education Package Comprehensive package combining 30 hours of classroom instruction with 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training for teen students seeking full driver's education; priced $440-$475 depending on format and payment plan.
- Classroom-Only Option 30-hour classroom instruction only for students who plan to complete behind-the-wheel training with another provider; priced at $100 with an e-card issued upon completion.
- Parent Class 90-minute parent education class that reduces the required supervised practice driving hours from 50 to 40 when completed; available via Zoom or self-paced online; priced at $10 non-refundable.
- Knowledge Test (Permit Test) Administration State-licensed Class D Knowledge Test administration at Safeway classroom locations, covering 40 multiple-choice questions requiring 32 correct answers to pass; priced at $10 non-refundable.
- Permit Test Practice Mobile App Mobile application for iOS and Android providing state-approved practice questions to help students prepare for the Minnesota Class D permit exam; available on Apple App Store and Google Play.
- Supervised Driving Log Mobile App Minnesota-approved mobile application for logging supervised driving hours, replacing paper logs; can email PDF driving log in state-approved format.
- Student Account Portal Online portal for students to manage lessons, schedule behind-the-wheel sessions, register permit numbers, and track progress.
Quantifiable outcome
- 14,000+ teens trained annually
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Safeway Driving School MN
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Safeway Driving School MN technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Safeway Driving School MN partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Anoka-Hennepin Community EducationcoreDistance learning driver education partnership with District 11. Students register through Anoka-Hennepin Community Education.
- Bloomington Community Education (District 271)coreDriver education partnership serving Jefferson and Kennedy High School students. Registration through Bloomington Community Education.
- Burnsville-Eagan-Savage Community Education (District 191)coreDriver education partnership at Burnsville High School. Registration through District 191.
- Eastern Carver County Community Education (District 112)coreDriver education partnership at Chanhassen and Chaska High Schools. Classes held at district schools.
- Columbia Heights Community Education (District 13)coreDriver education partnership at Columbia Heights High School. Registration through community education.
- Edina Community Education (District 273)coreDriver education partnership at Edina High School and Community Center. Registration through Edina Community Education.
- Eden Prairie Community Education (District 272)coreDriver education partnership at Eden Prairie High School. Registration through Eden Prairie Community Education.
- Hopkins Community Education (District 270)coreDriver education partnership at Hopkins High School and North Middle School. Registration through Hopkins Community Education.
- Minnetonka Community Education (District 276)coreDriver education partnership at Minnetonka High School. Registration through Minnetonka Community Education.
- Richfield Community Education (District 280)coreDriver education partnership at Richfield Central Education Center. Registration through Richfield Community Education.
- Roseville Community Education (District 623)coreDriver education partnership at Roseville Area High School and Anpetu Teca Education Center. Registration through Roseville Community Education.
- Spring Lake Park Schools Community Education (District 16)coreDriver education partnership at Spring Lake Park High School. Registration through community education.
- St. Louis Park Community Education (District 283)coreDriver education partnership at St. Louis Park High School and Middle School. Registration through community education.
- Stillwater Community Education (District 834)coreDriver education partnership at Stillwater Area High School. Registration through Stillwater Community Education.
- South Washington County Schools Community Education (District 833)coreDriver education partnership at East Ridge, Woodbury, and Park High Schools. Registration through community education.
- Heritage Christian AcademycoreDriver education partnership for Heritage Christian students. Classes held at school.
- Mounds Park AcademycoreDriver education partnership for Mounds Park Academy students only.
- Saint Thomas AcademycoreDriver education partnership for Saint Thomas Academy and Visitation High School students. Classes held at Founders Hall 101.
- St. Croix Lutheran AcademycoreDriver education partnership at St. Croix Lutheran Academy in West St Paul.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Safeway Driving School MN competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DriversEd.com: DriversEd.com is a long-standing online driver's education platform offering state-approved teen and adult driver training courses. It competes directly with Safeway's classroom and online instruction offerings.
- Safe2Drive: Safe2Drive provides online traffic school and driver education courses across multiple U.S. states. It competes with Safeway's online classroom instruction in the driver education category.
- I Drive Safely: I Drive Safely is an established online driver education and traffic school provider offering state-approved courses. It directly competes with Safeway's self-paced online classroom curriculum and permit prep offerings.
- Aceable: Aceable is a leading online driver education provider offering state-approved driver's ed courses across many U.S. states. It is a direct competitor to Safeway's self-paced online classroom offering and represents the digital threat vector to in-person driving schools.
- All Star Drivers Education: All Star Drivers Education is a multi-state driving school offering classroom, behind-the-wheel, and online driver's ed programs. Comparable to Safeway in offering a full teen driver's education package with both in-person and digital formats.
- Coastline Academy: Coastline Academy is a multi-state private driving school chain offering teen driver's ed packages, behind-the-wheel lessons, and online classroom instruction — directly mirroring Safeway's core product mix across multiple U.S. markets.
Broad incumbents
- AAA: AAA is a national membership association offering driver education programs across many states. It is both a broad incumbent in the driving-school space and an active Safeway partner (co-branded classroom location at AAA Minneapolis in St. Louis Park).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Safeway Driving School MN social profiles
Digital presenceSafeway Driving School MN financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Safeway Driving School MN leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Safeway Driving School MN funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Safeway Driving School MN M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Safeway Driving School MN
What does Safeway Driving School MN do?
Safeway Driving School provides state-approved teen driver education in Minnesota, delivered through 30 hours of classroom instruction (in-person, Zoom, or self-paced online) and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel practical training. The school also administers the Class D Knowledge (permit) test at its locations and offers a Parent Class that reduces the supervised practice driving requirement. Instruction is delivered by certified Minnesota driving instructors across a network of Safeway-owned and partner classrooms in the Twin Cities metro area.
Is Safeway Driving School MN a public or private company?
Safeway Driving School MN is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Safeway Driving School MN founded?
Safeway Driving School MN was founded in 1969. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Safeway Driving School MN based?
Safeway Driving School MN is headquartered in Roseville, Minnesota, United States, in the North America region.
How does Safeway Driving School MN make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Driver Education Programs are the primary driver. The others are permit Testing and parent Class.
Who are Safeway Driving School MN's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DriversEd.com, Safe2Drive, I Drive Safely, Aceable, All Star Drivers Education and Coastline Academy. AAA is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Safeway Driving School MN have an API?
No public API is recorded for Safeway Driving School MN.
What industry is Safeway Driving School MN in?
Safeway Driving School MN's product category is Driver Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEADAE, Driver Staffing, Training & Compliance (CDL, Background Checks). Its NAICS code is 611692 and its SIC code is 8200.