Two daytime sessions: Wednesday and Saturday
Totally Cool’s page lists the course as a virtual pre-licensing course with set class times. That makes it a live class, not a recording. The two weekly slots are Wednesday from 12 to 5 PM and Saturday from 10 AM to 3 PM.
The Wednesday midday slot is the one to notice. The top four schools hold their weekday classes at 5:00 PM, so a learner who has a free weekday afternoon but busy evenings finds more to work with here. Drive Rite and Image Driving School also list weekday daytime sessions. Saturday is a standard weekend daytime class. The school’s office is at 139-39 Jamaica Avenue in Jamaica, Queens, and the phone is 718-206-2900.
With one weekday and one weekend slot, a missed class means a wait of three days (Wednesday to Saturday) or four (Saturday to Wednesday) on this schedule.
$50, and a free class with lessons
The class costs $50. The page labels that price a “Summer Special,” so confirm it is still current when you book. At $50 it is $10 above the flat $40 at 5 Hour Class NYC, NY 5-Hour Course and Take 5-Hour Course, the same price as Drive Rite, Super Starz and Alyaa, and $15 under Bronx Driving School and New York Auto School. Ten of the 13 schools we rank list $50 or less.
The school also gives the class away free with its $550 package of eight lessons. That is worth a look if you already know you need driving practice. Compare packages on what they include: the lesson length and whether a car for the road test is part of the bundle are the details that change the value. For reference, Coreway’s eight-lesson package costs $585 and bundles the class, a road test appointment, a car for the test and eight 45-minute lessons.
What the page leaves open
Two things matter to many learners and are not stated on the page we reviewed. The first is the language the class is taught in. The second is how the MV-278 reaches you. Our criteria weigh both languages and certificate handling, which is part of why Totally Cool sits below the top four schools. A quick call settles it. Ask:
- Is the class taught in English, Spanish or both?
- Is the MV-278 mailed, or do I collect it at the office?
- Is the $50 price still current for my date?
Whatever the answers, the MV-278 is valid for one year and you must bring the original to the road test, so make sure you know when it will be in your hands. The DMV course page has the official rules.
Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere
Totally Cool suits Queens learners, especially around Jamaica, who can attend a Wednesday afternoon or a Saturday morning. It also suits anyone planning lessons with the same school, since the class then comes at no extra charge.
Teens aged 16 and 17 can take a live class. Learners under 18 must also wait at least six months after receiving the permit before a road test and bring a signed MV-262 showing 50 hours of supervised driving, 15 of them after sunset.
It is a weaker match if your only free time is a weekday evening, or if you need Spanish confirmed up front. Coreway publishes both an evening schedule and select Spanish Sundays. For other Queens choices, see our Queens page and the comparison table.
How to sign up
Start from the school’s website and choose the Wednesday or Saturday session, or call 718-206-2900 with the three questions above. Have your learner permit ready, since a live class has to identify you by it. The full ranking shows how every school compares if you want a second opinion.
What we like
- Two fixed sessions a week, one of them on Saturday
- $50 listed price
- Included at no extra charge in the eight-lesson package
- A Queens school with a Jamaica Avenue address
Keep in mind
- Only two sessions a week, and one is a weekday afternoon
- The language of instruction is not stated
- How the MV-278 is delivered is not stated
Our verdict
Totally Cool is a straightforward local option with two clearly posted sessions and a $50 price. The best value is for anyone who already plans to take the eight-lesson package, because the class comes with it. On its own, the class costs $10 more than the booking sites, runs on fewer dates, and leaves the language and certificate questions unanswered on the page. We recommend a phone call before you book.
Best for: Queens learners who plan to book the eight-lesson package with the same school