HARRISBURG, Pa.-- Up until now, the only place where you could go to get your driver's test was a PennDOT center. Under a new pilot program, 10 third-party sites across the state are part of the 18-month-long program.
Locally the closest one is in Lancaster county. It is located at the Lancaster County Career and Technology Center Brownstown campus. The other nine centers are located in Allegheny, Butler, Buck, Carbon, Delaware, Erie, Lancaster and Montgomery counties.
"The idea is to give customers more options when scheduling their driving test," PennDOT spokesperson Alexis Campbell said.
The idea to outsource testing began in the 1990s with commercial licenses. PennDOT saw success with it and after legislation passed allowing third party testing for non-commercial licenses, PennDOT decided to do it.
"We've been doing about 10 a week," Lancaster CTC Director of CDL Operations Vance Miller said, in regards to how many driving tests they do.
The pilot program began in May and is seeing success so far.
"Our feedback from customers has been good. They are glad to have that additional option," Campbell said.
The third parties are certified to give the PennDOT test, with no differences in procedure between the two locations. The one difference between the two, is that while PennDOT locations are free, the third party sites will charge a fee. The Lancaster CTC fee is $100.
"Some of the stuff parents were saying they need to drive to other counties to get test times," Miller said. "They are taking a day off and spending the day doing that, so monetarily it would kind of equal out in the end."
He said the wait time for their test is about week. PennDOT times vary but they say this time of year is high demand. They hope is to see the program expand.
"We're hoping," Miller said. "That's always the ultimate plan, to always be too busy."
If someone passes the test at a third-party site, their permit will be stamped. Within 120 days PennDOT should mail their photo card to them, so they can get their license at a PennDOT center.
The Lancaster CTC website directions you to how to schedule your test, if you are interested.