Offerings
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What We Offer
At ShiftMax, stick shift lessons are tailored to help you build real success behind the wheel to master a valuable life skill. ShiftMax teaches learners of any driving age and driving experience in an automatic or a manual. Lessons are taught by a fully licensed Virginia driver with unrestricted driving privileges. Your instructor brings decades of experience teaching and training adults, including stick shift instruction to learners of all ages and backgrounds. Concepts and techniques are broken down into manageable steps to be able to practically apply concepts and ensure confidence and control right from the beginning. Instruction is delivered in a friendly, patient, and encouraging manner.
Whether you're brand new to driving stick shift or brushing up your skills, you'll walk away with:
• Smooth, consistent starts from a stop
• Mastery of clutch control and timing
• Confident upshifting and downshifting
• Controlled hill starts without stalling or rolling
• Parking, reversing, and maneuvering slowly and controlled in a manual transmission car
• Techniques for driving in traffic with ease and precision
• A mindset of calm, capable control—even under pressure
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Overview of Lessons
Any 2-hour lesson or more is ideal for first-timers or experienced drivers looking to relearn correctly and have additional practice time. Longer lessons are recommended for students who want more real-world driving time in one session.
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All new students begin with a minimum 2-hour lesson to ensure proper instruction and a strong foundation. The first 45 minutes of every initial session includes expert explanations, including but not limited to: detailed breakdowns of concepts and successful techniques to ensure thorough understanding, fast learning, and maximum effective stick shift driving, the difference in the role of the driver in a manual as opposed to an automatic, and the engineering behind a manual as opposed to an automatic. The time also includes demonstrations, a safety orientation based on the ShiftMax teaching approach, and Q & A. This intentional time—regardless of prior experience—ensures that each driver starts with the right techniques, not the wrong habits.
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Returning students receive customized review and targeted practice based on needs and desired skills to refine. Returning students build on previously-learned techniques. Practice includes additional driving in open roads and on freeways, depending on desired practice areas.
The ShiftMax approach is rooted in a blend of methodical instruction, real-world scenarios, and personalized coaching—not generic tips. We don’t share our methodology publicly to preserve the integrity of the experience. We believe in teaching with precision and purpose. That’s why our unique method is shared only with clients—never published or posted.
What to Expect
Vehicle
Lessons are hands on and taught in a 2019 5-speed manual transmission sedan, 4-door, dual front airbags, ABS, traction control, and electronic stability control, air-conditioned and clean interior, with a traditional 3-pedal manual gearbox. Vehicle is fully compliant with Virginia’s annual safety inspection requirements and is thoroughly maintained for mechanical safety and performance.
Insurance
Lessons in ShiftMax’s vehicle are covered under full commercial auto insurance, whether in parking lots, on quiet streets or open roads, and beyond. Lessons can also be provided in your own manual car if you have one and would like to learn in your own car. Proof of minimum insurance coverage for your state of residence or District of Columbia is required.
Lesson Requirements
Learners must be at least 16 years old and hold a valid U.S. driver’s license. License is verified before instruction. Secure footwear for safe driving must be worn.
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2-Hour Lesson | $220
For new and returning students. New students receive:
• 45 minutes: in-car instruction, explanations of techniques, demonstrations, and stick shift driving safety
• 1 hour+ of hands-on practice in parking lots and quiet streets
• Focus on starting and stopping, upshifting and downshifting smoothly, parking and reversing, and hill starts
Returning students focus on additional practice time (see Overview of Lessons on Offerings page).
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3-Hour Lesson | $300
For new and returning students. New students receive:
• All that is covered in a 2-hour lesson, plus:
• More time on quiet streets with transition to moderate traffic/open roads
• Clutch control and gear transitions between higher gears in real-world driving
• Reinforcement through varied scenarios and additional practice of all skills covered in a 2-hour lesson
Returning students focus on additional practice time (see Overview of Lessons on Offerings page).
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4-Hour Lesson | $380
For new and returning students. New students receive:
• All that is covered in a 3-hour lesson, plus:
• Extended practice in open roads and optional highway/freeway practice
• More second-nature upshifting/downshifting practice and lane transitions
Returning students focus on additional practice time (see Overview of Lessons on Offerings page).