american driving academy

What american driving academy does

American Driving Academy is a Colorado-based, privately held driver's education provider founded in 1999 that operates as the state's largest driving school. The company delivers a comprehensive suite of driver education services through 15 physical locations across Colorado, including Aurora, Centennial, Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins, Longmont, Loveland, Pueblo, and Westminster. Its core customer base is Colorado teens aged 14.5–17 obtaining their first driver's license under the state's graduated licensing system, supplemented by adult learners (new-to-state drivers, first-time drivers, and returning drivers) and Spanish-speaking families served through its Clase de Permiso sub-brand. The company trains approximately 40,000 students per year and has served over 400,000 total customers since inception.

The company's product portfolio spans the entire license pathway: a state-approved 30-Hour Online Course (self-paced, $39.85 standard or $29.85 for partnered-school students), a 30-Hour Classroom Course, behind-the-wheel private lessons ($70–$80/hour), bundled Full Program packages ($495–$535 depending on region), third-party drive license testing, written permit testing, and practice evaluation tools. The technology stack is conventional: a web-based booking portal (bookings.americandrivingacademy.com), self-paced online course delivery, and a dual-controlled vehicle fleet maintained to AAA standards with in-vehicle cameras. The platform integrates educational content such as the Colorado Safe Ride Simulator (an interactive BAC estimation tool co-developed with MADD) and parent-teen safe driving agreements.

Revenue is generated through one-time course fees and per-hour professional services, with regional pricing differentiation across Colorado Springs, Denver/Aurora, and Pueblo. The GTM motion is direct-to-consumer via website, phone (two regional numbers), and walk-in, supplemented by inside sales for enrollment. The company holds the AAA Approved Driving School designation (one of only two in Colorado) and a partnership with MADD, supports up to 75 state-certified instructors, and is owned by Kevin Hughes. The company has not disclosed revenue or external funding, and there is no evidence of institutional investment or acquisition activity.

Name

american driving academy

Legal name

American Driving Academy

Website

https://americandrivingacademy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

American Driving Academy is a Colorado-based driving school founded in 1999 that delivers state-approved driver's education, permit testing, behind-the-wheel lessons, and third-party drive testing across 15 locations, serving approximately 40,000 teen and adult students annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Driver Education Services

NAICS

Automobile Driving Schools (611692)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive (EDABALAB)

Keywords

• Driver education courses
• Driving school services
• Behind-the-wheel lessons
• Permit testing services
• License road testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Colorado Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 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: 30-hour online and classroom courses covering driver education requirements for Colorado teens and adults. Revenue generated from course enrollment fees.
2. Behind-the-Wheel Lessons: Private driving instruction with certified instructors using dual-controlled vehicles. Hourly rates vary by region ($70-$80/hour). Lessons are typically 2 hours but can extend to 4 hours upon request.
3. Full Program Packages: Bundled packages combining 30-hour classroom course, permit test, and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel lessons. Pricing by region: Colorado Springs $515, Denver/Aurora $535, Pueblo $495.
4. Permit and License Testing: Third-party drive testing and permit testing services for both students and non-students of the academy. Fees vary by location as stated on website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

American Driving Academy delivers state-approved driver's education courses (online and in-person 30-hour curriculum), permit testing, behind-the-wheel driving lessons with certified instructors in dual-controlled vehicles, and third-party drive testing for license issuance. The academy serves Colorado teens (ages 14.5-17) and adults through 15 physical locations across the state plus an online course platform, including bilingual Spanish instruction via Clase de Permiso.

Product overview

American Driving Academy is Colorado's largest driving school offering a comprehensive suite of driver's education products and services. The core offerings include the 30-Hour Online Course and 30-Hour Classroom Course (both state-approved driver education), the Full Program (which bundles classroom instruction with permit testing and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel lessons), and location-specific Online Packages for 9 Colorado cities. Additional services include Behind-the-Wheel Driving Lessons, Driver's License Testing (third-party drive tests), Driver's Permit Testing, Practice Driving Evaluation, Practice Permit Test, and Spanish-language Clase de Permiso. The company also offers an educational Colorado Safe Ride Simulator for DUI awareness. Programs are differentiated for teen drivers (ages 14.5-17) and adult drivers (18+), with 15 locations across Colorado including Aurora, Centennial, Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins, Longmont, Loveland, Pueblo, and Westminster.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Clase de Permiso: Bilingual Spanish driver's ed classes and permit services offered by American Driving Academy in Colorado.

Products and services

• 30-Hour Online Course Self-paced online driver's education course covering Colorado traffic laws, safe driving practices, hazard recognition, defensive driving, and permit preparation. Available statewide via online platform; $39.85 standard, $29.85 for students from partnered schools.
• 30-Hour Classroom Course In-person classroom driver's education course taught by state-certified instructors covering the same state-approved curriculum as the online version with interactive learning. Priced at $195 across all locations.
• Clase de Permiso (Spanish Driver's Ed) Bilingual Spanish-language driver's education classes, permit preparation, driving lessons, and testing services for Spanish-speaking students and families in Colorado.
• Driver's Permit Testing Written permit test administration at multiple Colorado locations covering traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving practices for Colorado permit applicants. Available to both students and non-students of the academy.
• Driver's License Testing (Drive Tests) Third-party drive testing services with state-certified examiners providing professional feedback to support safe driving skills for Colorado driver's license applicants.
• Behind-the-Wheel Driving Lessons Professional driving instruction with state-certified instructors in dual-controlled, camera-equipped training vehicles maintained to AAA standards. Available as 2-hour sessions (extendable to 4 hours) for teens and adults; hourly rates $70-$80 vary by region.
• Full Program (Classroom Package) Bundled package combining 30-hour classroom course, permit test, and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel driving lessons. Pricing by region: Colorado Springs $515, Denver/Aurora $535, Pueblo $495. Available at 9 Colorado locations.
• Online Packages (Location-Specific Bundles) Location-specific bundled packages combining the 30-hour online course with in-person permit testing and behind-the-wheel lessons, offered for Aurora, Centennial, Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins, Longmont, Loveland, Pueblo, and Westminster areas.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35% drop in Colorado teen driver fatalities since Graduated Driver Licensing passed in 2002 (CDOT data)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican Driving Academy is recognized by MADD as a driver education partner supporting its mission to end drunk and drugged driving, support victims of these crimes, and prevent underage drinking and drug use. ADA created an educational impaired driving prevention resource in partnership with MADD, featuring real stories, Colorado DUI law information, a safe ride simulator tool, and parent-teen safe driving agreement resources.
• American Automobile Association (AAA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerAAA Approved Driving School designation - an independently verified credential requiring ongoing compliance with AAA standards for curriculum, instruction, vehicle safety, and professional practice. ADA is one of only 2 AAA Approved Driving Schools in Colorado. AAA members receive $15 off enrollment, and qualifying teen drivers may receive free AAA membership upon completing ADA course.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Aceable: Aceable is a leading online driver education provider offering state-approved driver's ed courses across multiple U.S. states. It directly competes with ADA's online course offering and operates nationally, making it the most direct competitor in the digital driver education category.
• All Star Driver Education: All Star Driver Education is a multi-state driving school chain offering in-person and online driver education, permit testing, and behind-the-wheel lessons. It is comparable to ADA as a regional driving school operator with multiple physical locations and a similar curriculum/delivery structure.
• 911 Driving School: 911 Driving School is a regional driving school chain with multiple locations in the Pacific Northwest and beyond, offering driver's ed, behind-the-wheel lessons, and drive testing. It is comparable to ADA as a multi-location, in-person driving school operator with similar curriculum and service offerings.
• I Drive Safely: I Drive Safely is an established online driver education provider offering state-approved driver's ed and traffic school courses. It competes with ADA in the digital delivery layer and exemplifies the online-only model that pressures traditional in-person driving schools.
• DriveSafe Online: DriveSafe Online is an online traffic school and driver education provider offering state-approved courses. It competes directly with ADA's online course products and represents the growing category of pure-play digital driver education.
• DriversEd.com: DriversEd.com (now part of Aceable) is one of the longest-running online driver education platforms, offering state-approved courses in dozens of states. It competes directly with ADA's 30-hour online course and represents a national, lower-cost alternative to in-person driver education.
• SafeWay Driving School: SafeWay Driving School is a long-standing regional driving school serving multiple U.S. states with behind-the-wheel lessons and online driver's ed courses. It is a direct competitor to ADA's hybrid online/in-person model and serves a similar teen and adult customer base.

Broad incumbents

• American Safety Council: American Safety Council is an established provider of online safety and driver education courses across multiple verticals including traffic school, defensive driving, and workplace safety. It is a broader incumbent in the online safety education space with overlapping driver education capabilities.

Others

• Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD): MADD is a nonprofit organization that partners with ADA on impaired driving prevention education (including the Colorado Safe Ride Simulator). Although not a commercial competitor, MADD is a key ecosystem partner that supports ADA's brand positioning and social mission credentials.

Regional players

• Colorado Department of Revenue - Division of Motor Vehicles: Colorado DMV is the primary regulatory authority governing driver licensing and testing in Colorado, and also operates as a competing provider of permit and license testing services. It is the most important 'competitor' to ADA's third-party drive testing services and substantially influences the regulatory environment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVf08ZViJtz4V9bvUjgz2Ew
• Facebookfacebook.com/AmericanDrivingAcademy
• Instagraminstagram.com/american.driving.academy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-driving-academy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 american driving academy