L.A. DRVNGBook NowLucas had just turned 18 and, like a lot of teenagers today, wasn't particularly motivated to get his license. With rideshare apps and electric scooters on every corner, the driver's license doesn't carry the same urgency it once did for younger generations.
It was his father Luciano who came up with a smart plan. Rather than teaching Lucas himself — a stressful task that puts both parent and teenager in an awkward dynamic — he hired a professional instructor and kept his own car out of the equation entirely.
Lucas took the written test shortly after turning 17, then spent the following year practicing roughly twice a month. By the time the road test came around, he had well over 50 hours behind the wheel — exceeding the DMV's own recommendation, including the required 10 hours of night driving. He also bypassed the $500 completion certificate required for minors under 18.
On test day at the Culver City DMV, he made one error. One. That's the second best score I've seen in my career.
Teaching your own child to drive is genuinely difficult — and risky. The professional relationship doesn't exist, the car isn't properly equipped, and the family dynamic gets in the way. For what it's worth: I'm a licensed instructor and I didn't teach my own son either. I called a colleague and handed it off.
Congratulations, Lucas. Well done.
