A Driver's License: The Ultimate Christmas Gift?

If you're struggling with what to give your teenager this Christmas, consider the gift of road safety and driver's education courses.

Ok, ok, we know. No teenager wants to wake up on Christmas morning, grab a gift box from under the tree, rip off the wrapping paper only to discover a voucher for driving lessons.

With Nintendo WII's and iPods on the minds of teenagers, driver's education is the last thing they want to see under the tree. In fact, driver's education probably falls somewhere between socks and an embroidered handkerchief as a desired Christmas present.

However, it is a valuable gift -- one that your teenager would actually appreciate and find useful. Every teenager needs driver's education and a state-certified program is designed to promote driver safety and instill the importance of safe driving in your young driver for years to come.

So, if you don't want to put a driver's education course under the tree, how about dropping the voucher in their Christmas stocking that hangs above the fireplace?

We recommend starting with the in-class component of driver's education. It isn't very expensive -- usually falling below the $100 price point. If you opt for an online option, the cost works out to be even less expensive. That's because online driver's education courses don't have the overhead that bricks-and-mortar driver's education courses do. If you find a program that is approved by the state such as DriversEdOnline.com, you'll be even further ahead of the game.

What's more, online driver's education is a treat for you as well. Since the course happens completely online, you don't have to ruin your busy or relaxing weekend schedule to take your teenager to driver's ed. Your teenager takes the course at his or her leisure. They can log on whenever they like and finish each unit at their convenience.

How do you give the gift of driver's education? Simple. Just hop online, register for the course, and print out the password need to access the system. Drop the printout in a Christmas card and your young driver will be good to go in no time. All it takes is a computer, an Internet connection and a bit of free time.

If you opt for an online driver's ed option, your teenager can begin their driver's education learning experience the moment they receive the gift. In fact, before you know it, your teenager might be ready to head into the car with you to apply exactly what they've learned out on the road.

Let's face it. Your teenager is excited about getting behind the wheel and the freedom that comes with getting their driver's license. Giving them the gift of driver's education is a smart move for everybody involved. And knowing the rules of the road is the first step to driving safely behind the wheel.

Driver's Education. It's no iPod. But it sure beats socks.