NY 5-Hour Online Pre-Licensing Course
~$49.00
iDriveSafely scored the lowest of any provider we tested. Keystroke verification is fundamentally broken on mobile devices, and they use deceptive billing practices. We strongly recommend Safe Drivers Academy ($43) or Defensive Drivers Institute ($42.95) instead.
Reviewed by Marie DeSouza | Last updated:
I want to be straightforward: avoid iDriveSafely. This is the only provider where I was unable to complete the course due to their broken identity validation system. And then they tried to charge me additional fees. Here is what happened.
iDriveSafely uses "keystroke biometrics" to verify your identity. The system supposedly analyzes your typing patterns to confirm you are who you say you are. In practice, this system is atrocious.
I started on my phone, as most people would in 2026. The keystroke system immediately failed. When I contacted support, they told me that keystroke validation does not work with mobile phones unless I have a physical keyboard connected. Who connects a keyboard to their phone? This is absurd for an online course that most people will access on mobile.
I switched to my laptop. It still did not work reliably. The system kept telling me my typing pattern did not match, even though I was the only person using the device. After multiple failures, they wanted to charge me an additional fee to reset my validation. At that point, I cut my losses.
During checkout, I was unknowingly signed up for a recurring Allstate Roadside Assistance subscription. This was buried in the checkout flow and pre-checked by default. I discovered the charge on my credit card statement the following month. This kind of deceptive practice is inexcusable.
Do not just take my word for it. Look at iDriveSafely's one-star reviews on Trustpilot. The complaints are remarkably consistent: broken keystroke verification, hidden charges, and unresponsive customer support. I refuse to believe their positive reviews are genuine.
iDriveSafely gets a 3.9/10, our lowest rating. The course content itself is actually decently written, which is the only thing keeping them above a 2. But what good is content if you cannot complete the course? Between the broken validation, deceptive billing, and terrible support, this is a provider to avoid entirely.
| Provider | Price | Rating | Validation | Works on Mobile? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safe Drivers Academy | $43.00 | 9.8/10 | One-Time PIN | ✅ Yes |
| Defensive Drivers Institute | $42.95 | 9.3/10 | One-Time PIN | ✅ Yes |
| Safety Sense Solutions | $43.95 | 9.1/10 | One-Time PIN | ✅ Yes |
| iDriveSafely | ~$49.00 | 3.9/10 | Keystroke | ❌ No |
Complete scam. Keystroke thing failed over and over. They wanted $15 to reset it. Then I found out they signed me up for some roadside assistance thing I never agreed to. Disputed both charges with my credit card.
DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY. The typing verification does not work on phones. Period. Customer service told me to use a laptop. I do not own a laptop. No refund offered. Total waste of $49.
The actual course was okay but the keystroke verification ruined everything. Failed so many times I almost threw my laptop. Eventually got through but it took 3x as long as it should have.
Found a charge for Allstate Roadside on my card a month later. Never signed up for it. Checked and it was buried in the checkout. Incredibly shady business practice. Stay away.