NAICS 611692 Quarterly Industry Report
Automobile Driving Schools
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 611692Sector: Educational Services (61)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Automobile Driving Schools (NAICS 611692) draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[7], Bureau of Labor Statistics[8], state DMV regulatory frameworks, and SBA size standards database[6]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides valuation professionals, education analysts, and business appraisers with current market data. The editorial analysis reflects the independent assessment of FairMarketValue.com's research team, with all quantitative claims sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the automobile driving schools industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Automobile Driving Schools (NAICS 611692) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in offering automobile driving instruction per the U.S. Census Bureau[5]. Services include beginner driver education for teenagers and adults, defensive driving courses, and refresher instruction for mature drivers. This classification covers passenger vehicle driving instruction only, as truck and bus driving schools fall under a separate trade school classification.
Roughly 4,864 establishments employ 15,400 workers and generated $796 million in revenue in the most recent Census year, with annual payroll reaching $295 million. Operations are heavily regulated at the state level, with each state Department of Motor Vehicles or equivalent agency setting specific requirements for school licensing, instructor certification, background investigations, liability insurance minimums, and vehicle inspection standards. California requires instructors to be at least 21 years old with 2,000 hours of licensed instruction experience, while Wisconsin mandates $500,000 minimum liability insurance coverage.
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[6], the size standard is $10 million in average annual receipts. State-mandated driver education requirements for teenage licensure create baseline demand in states that require formal instruction before issuing a driver's license. Insurance discounts for completing approved defensive driving courses generate additional enrollment from adult drivers seeking premium reductions. Seasonal enrollment patterns follow school year calendars, with peak demand during summer months when teenage students have scheduling flexibility for behind-the-wheel training hours.
What's Included in This Industry
- Beginner driver education for teenagers and first-time drivers
- Behind-the-wheel instruction and in-car training sessions
- Classroom driver safety and traffic law instruction
- Defensive driving course delivery for insurance discounts
- Mature driver refresher and road safety programs
- State DMV road test preparation and mock examinations
- Online driver education theory course delivery
- Driver permit test preparation and study resources
- International driver orientation and license conversion assistance
- Fleet driver safety training for commercial operators
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Educational Services | 61 |
| Subsector | Educational Services | 611 |
| Industry Group | Other Schools and Instruction | 6116 |
| NAICS Industry | All Other Schools and Instruction | 61169 |
| National Industry | Automobile Driving Schools | 611692 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 611519 | Other Technical and Trade Schools | Other Technical and Trade Schools include truck and bus driving instruction that shares the driver training business model, though automobile driving schools focus exclusively on passenger vehicle education rather than commercial driver licensing |
| 611691 | Exam Preparation and Tutoring | Exam Preparation and Tutoring shares the test preparation service model, with driving schools providing permit test prep and road test readiness training analogous to standardized academic exam preparation courses |
| 611620 | Sports and Recreation Instruction | Sports and Recreation Instruction shares seasonal enrollment patterns and youth-focused service delivery, competing for the same teenage population during summer months when both driving lessons and sports camps see peak demand |
| 611430 | Professional and Management Development Training | Professional and Management Development Training overlaps in corporate fleet driver safety programs, with some management training firms including driver safety modules in their workplace risk management curricula |
| 524210 | Insurance Agencies and Brokerages | Insurance Agencies and Brokerages create demand for defensive driving courses by offering premium discounts to policyholders who complete approved programs, generating a recurring adult enrollment stream |
| 611710 | Educational Support Services | Educational Support Services provide curriculum design, online course platforms, and student management systems that driving schools contract for digital theory course delivery and enrollment administration |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 12.2% | 316 |
| 2 | New York | 10.6% | 273 |
| 3 | Texas | 7.9% | 203 |
| 4 | New Jersey | 5.5% | 142 |
| 5 | Ohio | 4.9% | 126 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 4.8% | 123 |
| 7 | Washington | 4.6% | 119 |
| 8 | Florida | 4.6% | 118 |
| 9 | Maryland | 4.0% | 104 |
| 10 | Michigan | 3.7% | 95 |
% Of Establishments
0%
12%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
240
Total SBA Loans
$38.7M
Total Loan Volume
$161K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.48%
Average Interest Rate
1,760
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[6], Automobile Driving Schools (NAICS 611692) has a size standard of $10 million in average annual receipts for federal contracting purposes. SBA lending programs[9] support vehicle fleet acquisition, facility buildout, and technology investment for qualifying driving school operators. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[10] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[11] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association | 16 | $12.8M | $800K |
| 2 | U.S. Bank, National Association | 24 | $8.4M | $349K |
| 3 | Northeast Bank | 56 | $5.6M | $100K |
| 4 | Zions Bank, A Division of | 24 | $2.6M | $108K |
| 5 | Lendistry SBLC, LLC | 16 | $1.8M | $114K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the NAICS code for driving schools?
NAICS 611692 covers automobile driving instruction establishments, including beginner driver education, defensive driving courses, and mature driver refresher programs per the U.S. Census Bureau[5].
How many driving schools operate in the U.S.?
What is the SBA size standard for driving schools?
The SBA size standard[6] is $10 million in average annual receipts, determining eligibility for federal small business contracting programs and SBA lending products.
How are driving schools regulated?
State DMV or equivalent agencies regulate school licensing, instructor certification, background checks, liability insurance minimums, and vehicle inspection standards, with requirements varying widely by state per respective regulatory agencies.
What insurance coverage do driving schools need?
Coverage requirements vary by state. Wisconsin mandates $500,000 minimum liability insurance, while North Carolina requires $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for bodily injury plus $50,000 for property damage per state regulatory requirements[12].
What drives enrollment at driving schools?
State-mandated driver education requirements for teenage licensure create baseline demand, while insurance premium discounts for defensive driving course completion generate additional adult enrollment per industry tracking data.
When is peak enrollment season for driving schools?
Peak demand occurs during summer months when teenage students have scheduling flexibility for behind-the-wheel training hours per Bureau of Labor Statistics[8] seasonal employment data, with secondary peaks during school breaks.
Are truck driving schools classified under this NAICS code?
Truck and bus driving instruction falls under NAICS 611519 (Other Technical and Trade Schools) rather than 611692, which covers only passenger vehicle driving education per U.S. Census Bureau[5] classification guidelines.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]SBA Table of Size Standards sba.gov
- [7]U.S. Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [8]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [9]SBA lending programs sba.gov
- [10]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [11]504 loans sba.gov
- [12]state regulatory requirements ncdot.gov
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