Hello everyone! Today I'm sharing my thoughts on getting my driver's license, and I want to give a shoutout to the driving school where I learned. That school is DOSAAF.

I've heard it's one of the oldest schools around, with a whopping 82 years under its belt - if you're into history, check out their website for the full story.

DOSAAF Russia's Volograd driving school offers training, retraining, and skill upgrades in the following areas:

I was blown away by the sheer number of specialists that this institution trains, all connected to driving in one way or another.

I chose this school specifically because DOSAAF has a great reputation.

Now, let me tell you why I decided to enroll.

Drivers from all categories and subcategories, including 'A', 'B', 'C', 'D', 'VE', 'SE', 'DE', 'M', 'A1', 'VE', 'SE', 'DE', and all types of retraining from 'B' to 'C', 'B' to 'D', 'C' to 'B', 'C' to 'D', 'D' to 'B', 'D' to 'C' and upgrading qualifications for 'M', 'A' categories, 'A1' subcategory with automatic transmission, upgrading qualifications for drivers of vehicles in categories 'B', 'C', 'D' with automatic transmission.Drivers of vehicles for the transportation of hazardous goods (Classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9)Transport enterprise specialists in the organization of hazardous goods transportation.Drivers of vehicles equipped with lighting and sound signals.Training of production training instructors in driving.Upgrading qualifications of production training instructors.Electro-gas welders.Tractor operators in categories 'A1', 'B', 'C', 'E'.Excavator and bulldozer operators.Forklift driversAutomotive electricians, auto mechanics, mechanics, and plumbing mechanics.Annual upgrading of qualifications for drivers of automotive enterprises.Training of specialists in road safety issuesQualification training and retraining of specialists in the transportation of goods within the Russian Federation.Courses on filling out the EUROPROTOCOL at a traffic accident.Courses on providing 'First Aid'.Training of drivers for the right to operate a vehicle with a gas-powered equipmentOther specialties related to driving and servicing vehicles, self-propelled machines, and equipment.I was drawn to this school because of its reputation, and now I'm excited to share why I decided to enroll.

My decision to go back to school was a no-brainer. I used to think I was clueless, but life had other plans.

I signed up for classes in September, but things didn't quite work out, and I had to reschedule for October. Long story short, I started my classes in January 2025.

The course is divided into two parts: theoretical and practical. The theory is taught at three locations: one old building on Gor'ky Street, 39, and two new buildings on Mira Street, 53Ж and Olomutcaya Street, 22А in Volsk. I got lucky with my commute – it takes only 7 minutes to get to the nearest branch, and classes start right at 6 PM (5:30 PM in the old building).

Having multiple branches is super convenient.

The cost of the course is a bit tricky to figure out. You pay for the theoretical part (which might be split into two payments) and the practical part (driving lessons), each separately. The theoretical part costs 10,600 rubles, but the driving lessons depend on your progress – some people need fewer hours, while others need more. So, it's hard to give an exact price, but you'll need to budget at least that much.

Our first class was an intro session – we got the lowdown on the medical exam, signed some paperwork, and sorted out the logistics. We didn't pay for that one. A few people didn't show up for the second class: some hadn't passed the medical exam, while others thought it was too expensive. I was tempted to drop out too, since my husband was ill, and getting a driver's license is no cheap feat. But my family talked some sense into me.

Our second class was the real deal – we started learning the ropes. We got a membership card, which cost us a whopping 130 rubles (they also asked for a couple of photos, but I'm not sure if that's still required).

membership cardSo, what does this card get you? The main office has a computer lab where you can practice taking the test at any time between 8 AM and 5 PM, Monday to Friday.

They also set up a group chat where you can let people know if you're skipping a class or need help.

Each class was structured. I divided my notebook into three sections: notes from the theory, practice exam questions (maneuvers), and the instructor's tips (he shared his experience and thoughts, which were super helpful). We spent a lot of time going over the rules of the road book. I bought this book for blondes, and it really helped me pass the exam, since there were so many 'why' and 'what for' questions.

Here's what my notebook looked like after the course.

my notes on the rules of the roadmy notes on the rules of the roadIf I needed to remember something, I'd just underline it.

my driving school bookI really enjoyed attending classes, I felt like a first-grader again, my attention was focused solely on my instructor. I made sure to remember every word. Too bad I couldn't call my teacher a real DOSAAF instructor, the one I managed to drive crazy with my unconventional questions.

At home, I organized the information from the book and lectures and made notes

notesMy teacher always answered my questions, whether it was about the test questions or just a misunderstanding of a sign, and I was never refused an explanation.

When we finished the rules, our lessons moved to the branch on ul. Kirov 39, where there are computer classrooms, and there was a simulated exam, but with a running instructor among the students.

After class, I still had time to prepare for the internal exam, I tried to come to my lunch break as often as possible (at DOSAAF, there was no break at the time) and practice the test questions. I got to the point where I either had one mistake or none at all out of 4-5 test questions (I couldn't afford to spend time on the big test). What does this give me? On my phone, I see pictures from my phone, on the monitor they look different, and if most pictures are understandable, some test questions are just memorization, because it feels like these questions were created for the EGE, where you can essentially choose two options, but one of them is correct because it matches the key... So, to get to the point, having the opportunity to train in similar conditions is very convenient.

I was able to pass the theory exam early, and a huge credit goes to my teacher, I repeat, I'm a pretty diligent student.

However, I had difficulties with driving. The cost of one driving lesson was 800 rubles at the time, but only if you attended from Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 17.00. If later, it was already double the price. Considering I work from 8.30 to 17.30, driving with an instructor from the school was minimal, and I have nothing good to say about the instructors from this school. Most of my lessons were taken from another person I found privately. That is, I showed my skills to the school instructor, but the process of learning was a nightmare for another instructor. But that's a private situation, not everyone works 5/2 like I do.

I took the theory and practical exams separately, just like my instructors suggested. I was a nervous wreck, so it was more comfortable for me to get the theory out of the way first and then focus on the hours of driving. I didn't take the driving test until both of my instructors told me to go for it. I failed the first time - it was a combination of nerves, not understanding the situation, and being unfamiliar with the DMV car (I'd been practicing in other cars). But the second time was a charm: I knew what to expect, I knew the car, I knew the inspectors wouldn't bite my head off or yell at me, and I even knew how much water to bring so I wouldn't get dehydrated. I mean, you can end up waiting in the sun for 20 minutes or 3.5 hours - and I think 3.5 hours isn't that long. Before the test, I managed to stress out not just my friends and instructors, but even my coworkers, who I get along with. Needless to say, I was a wreck. But the second time around, I heard the magic words: 'Sign here, you passed.'

I'd definitely recommend this driving school to anyone learning to drive. I got a ton of useful information from both the theory teacher and my driving instructor, who was happy to explain things when I didn't understand. Thanks to the school, I'm no longer terrified of driving - I'm still being cautious, but with each trip into the city, my skills are getting better. If I had one suggestion for the DOSAAF, it would be to have separate instructors for morning and evening shifts to avoid the price difference. That's probably my only complaint, though. Otherwise, the school was great, and I'd recommend it to anyone.