The Shining Star Driving School in Wethersfield CT, was one of the most prominent driving schools in the region. It was the first choice among people who aspire to become licensed drivers.
This school in CT was known for its comprehensive driving programs and dedicated driving instructors. It was one of the biggest reasons why they were able to help many aspiring students to earn their licenses to be behind the wheels officially.
However, what’s most shocking about such a successful establishment is that it is no longer operational. In fact, the Shining Star Driving School was closed by the state in September of 2023.
Initially, this driving school only had its license suspended by the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), with authorities asking them to restore it. But the institution paid no heed to the warnings and even violated an agreement to restore the license; the state simply put a stop to its operations, permanently.
The permanent closure of the Shining Star Driving School in Wethersfield, Connecticut, took place a long time ago. However, there are many people, especially the locals, who still wonder what exactly happened.
Thus, whether you are a curious person or a former student of this school who wants to know everything related to this topic, we are here to help. In this article, we will tell you everything about what happened a year ago and what the latest updates are regarding this issue.
Also, if you are an aspiring driver who lives in Wethersfield, CT, and now is struggling to find the right institution to teach you, we also have listed some of the best alternatives as a part of our car advice.
**Note To The Reader**: All the information provided here is cross-referenced with credible sources like CT DMV, NBC News, and CT Insider. We have no personal review on this driving school. We are simply stating the facts to ensure you get the right details.
What Exactly Happened With Shining Star Driving School In Wethersfield CT?
The Shining Star Driving School was originally an institution based in Manchester CT. The one in Wethersfield was a second branch that the owner, Antoinette Khan, decided to open after the success of the first one.
With plenty of positive Shining Star Driving School in Manchester CT reviews, this new move was supposed to bring new horizons to the institution. However, this one decision got the school its license first suspended in early September 2023 and then totally revoked after a few weeks.
This decision came after the DMV, in an investigation, found out about the compliance issues and violations of statutes and regulations. There were also concerns regarding the school’s working ethics, working operation, and even the qualifications of its instructors.
The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) suspended the license of this particular driving school because they caused several regulatory violations.
Firstly, they had no license to open and run a driving school in the Wethersfield location. Secondly, they failed to meet the safe operational standards followed with employing driving instructors with no proper certifications. Thirdly, they never provided clear details about their curriculum, and lastly, they had non-compliance with state-mandated requirements for driving schools.
With so many things being overlooked in the name of making money and putting learners lives at risk, you can understand why queries related to Shining Star Driving School in Wethersfield CT, are still around.
This is why the Kelly Bates case from over a year ago is still in talks around different social media platforms. When institutes or companies do not follow their work ethics, it is hard to get past it as it affects the public at large.
What Went Down Between DMV and Shining Star Driving School?
Like any other driving instruction institution, there were some positive shining star driving school in Wethersfield CT reviews. Many locals had taken lessons here, which is why it was unsettling for many when the institute lost its license.
The school’s students, along with locals and media, were asking DMV to clarify exactly what went down. Some people even began accusing the government officials at the DMV, and that is when they finally made all the details related to the case public.
The CT DMV had all the right to shut down this beloved driving school because it did not have any official or government permission to run a business in the Wethersfield location. The school’s owner was informed by the DMV throughout 2022 that her application to open a branch of her main institute was denied due to her failure to meet the mandatory requirements.
Once the DMV issues a decision, they assume the people ought to follow the law. This is why it came as a shock to the officials when one of their team members saw people receiving driving licenses at Shining Star Driving School in Wethersfield, the one for which they had denied the license multiple times in the previous year.
As soon as the DMV officials in Connecticut knew about this situation, they contacted the school in July 2023 and made it clear that they were breaking the law by running a business for which they had no license to operate.
Again, there was no response from the institute, forcing DMV to conduct an audit, which revealed that the owner was not only giving driving lessons but also had signed nearly 190 electronic certifications despite her instructor’s license being expired on April 25, 2023. Also, she had been keeping Plus, the owner, was keeping most of her schools’ records, even the one from the Manchester at the unlicensed Wethersfield location.
Not only this, the DMV officials also found out that there was another person in the school providing lessons without owning one himself. So, if you get into an accident while learning from such a person, you will need a car accident lawyer first.
Was The License Reinstated?
The Shining Star driving school was given a warning and time by the DMV to reinstate their license under a “stipulated agreement.” However, the school’s authority did not pay any heed and even violated the agreement, leading the school to go from being temporarily closed to permanently shut down.
The said agreement was signed between the then DMV Commissioner Antonio Guerrera and the school’s owner Ms. Khan. The terms included payment of a $5,000 civil penalty, complete closure of the unlicensed Wethersfield location, storage of all records at Shining Star Driving School in Manchester CT, and changes to the school’s operation as per the DMV guidelines.
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In addition, the school was also instructed to provide free lessons to the students who joined the school on or after April 26, 2023. This also included the people who had already gotten their electronic driver education certificates signed by Ms. Khan on or after that date.
What most people need to understand here is that, as per the agreement that happened between this private entity and the government body, the DMV had to restore the Shining Star Driving School’s license once the institute had executed all the terms.
The DMV only had one condition that until everything was back in its place, the school would have required their approval before they could start accepting new admissions.
We are not going to sugarcoat it for you all. The terms provided by the DMV in this case were quite straightforward, whose implications would have restored a beloved institution. However, as the school’s owner, Antoinette Khan violated the agreement to restore the license.
Thus, the DMV had no other choice than to shut down the school, leaving many enrolled and prospective students to look for alternate options in the Wethersfield area of Connecticut.
Is The Shining Star Driving School In Wethersfield CT Now Open?
It has been more than a year since the DMV cancelled the license of a well-liked driving school in Wethersfield. While people enjoyed the services, they were shocked to know that their beloved institution was operating illegally, discarding the certificates of every individual who had gotten their license from there.
DMV gave chances to the Shining Star Driving School to handle the situation and reinstate their suspended license, but when they failed, the institute got permanently shut down by the end of September 2023.
However, in the beginning of this year, news about the school getting reopened surfaced on the internet. It turns out Zahid Khan, the husband of Ms. Khan and owner of Atlas Driving School in West Hartford, had been working to open a brand of “his” school at the location where Shining Star Driving School in Wethersfield, CT, was operating.
Mr. Khan even had filed an interim notice via the Shinning Star driving school to declare and prove that he had replaced his wife as the new manager and principal of her institute. He made it clear that he was involved in the working operations of his wife and now was planning to reopen it under his license by January 2024.
Even DMV was open-minded about the idea as long as he obtained the new license under state regulations. Everything till that point sounded promising, but sadly, Zahid Khan was not able to deliver. He was unable to gain a new license and clear the mess Ms. Khan had made.
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This attempt made it clear to all, especially the people who were looking to start their driving journey with them. To all those people, we just want to say there are plenty of other good institutions in the Wethersfield area. All you need to do is look.
To help you get started, we have some great options that you can explore.
5 Impressive Driving Schools Nearby Wethersfield For Aspiring Drivers
Wethersfield is a beautiful city in Connecticut. This suburban region is one of the best places in the US to learn driving. While the popular Shining Star driving school is no longer operable, many locals think there are no other options.
However, in contrast to this opinion, there are plenty of other institutions in the region that can help all the aspiring drivers, whether teenagers or adults, to get their driving license with their impeccable driving and car advice.
Check out below our top 5 picks that we have narrowed down through our thorough research by exploring different trustworthy platforms, including Google Reviews, Yelp, and DMV, to ensure you get only the properly licensed institution.
1. Santo Driving School LLC
Located at 2136 Silas Deane Hwy, Rocky Hill, CT 06067, Santo Driving School has stellar reviews from its customers, especially for its quality instruction. They are open 8 AM to 8:30 PM every day except Sunday. This driving school is just 10 minutes away from Wethersfield and offers lessons as per your requirements. You can reach out to them at (860) 296-0095.
- Address: 2136 Silas Deane Hwy, Rocky Hill, CT 06067
- Contact Number: (860) 563-7110
- Website: Santo Driving School
2. Glastonbury Driving School
Glastonbury Driving School is another great option in the Wethersfield’s nearby region that natives can go to. This institute boasts an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, which only reflects its dedication to quality driver education. With just a 13-minute drive away, here you will get trained professionals who are qualified to assess your strengths and weaknesses and give you lessons or sessions accordingly.
- Address: 730 Hebron Ave #6, Glastonbury, CT 06033
- Contact Number: (860) 633-1077
- Website: Glastonbury Driving School
3. Epic Driving School
With a close proximity location to Wethersfield, Epic Driving School has become a go-to option for many locals to not only learn how to drive a car but also get some car buying guides. This school offers flexible and professional services across their multiple locations in the CT state. Their professional staff makes it easy for customers to schedule classes as per their availability, making learning much more fun and engaging.
- Address: 20 Hurlbut St, West Hartford, CT 06107
- Contact Number: (860) 206-2215
- Website: Epic Driving School
4. AAA Driving School
The AAA Driving School also holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, highlighting their strong commitment to customer satisfaction. They are known for their impressive curriculum and professional instructions. Their effective teaching method is widely popular as it helps students learn with ease. Furthermore, the variety of vehicles they offer allows you to hone your skills at different rides from the very beginning.
- Address: 815 Farmington Ave, West Hartford, CT 06119
- Contact Number: (860) 570-4353
- Website: AAA Driving School
5. The Next Street – Rocky Hill Driving School
The Next Street driving school offers driver’s education classes, behind-the-wheel lessons, and license testing services for teens and adults. This institute is known for its flexible scheduling and supportive instructors who are patient and knowledgeable. This school provides a comprehensive approach to driver education, aiming to equip students with the necessary skills and confidence for safe driving.
- Address: 632 Cromwell Ave, Rocky Hill, CT 06067
- Contact Number: (860) 424-4517
- Website: Next Street-Rocky Hill Driving School
Things To Consider When Looking For A Driving School In Wethersfield CT
Above we provide you five of the many alternatives to the Shining Star Driving School. You can go with these choices if you see fit. However, if you want to explore your options on your own, there are certain things that you need to take into consideration.
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You cannot take this decision lightly if you do not wish to end up like the customers of the now-closed, shining star driving school in Wethersfield, CT.
Below are some of the factors that you should take into account, and they should be non-negotiable in your search for finding a driving institution that will provide you the necessary skills and government-certified license to get behind the wheel.
DMV Certification
The first step is to check if the school is government certified or not. You can simply go on the website of Connecticut DMV, pull out their list of certified driving schools, and find out if the school you have narrowed down is the right option or wrong.
Customer Reviews
After you have checked the government certification, the next thing to do is learn what other customers, both present and former, are saying about an institute. You can look online and also ask around (if possible) and can easily narrow down your choices.
Course Prices
Different driving institutions offer different prices. Thus, it is better you take quotes from different schools, compare their offered price for the course provided, and choose which one goes well as per your budget.
Visit The Institution
Before you make a final decision on a call, we recommend you visit the school in person and explore their office, talk to instructors, current students, and the vehicles in which they provide lessons. This one-on-one interaction will tell you whether you like the environment and whether the instructors are knowledgeable.
Check Out The Vehicles
You need to learn about the conditions of the vehicles in which you will be getting your lessons. So, on your visit, take a look at them. Even the well-reputed institutes tend to have poor cars. Thus, take a look at the rides. If they are well maintained, you are good to go; if not, walk away.
Ask About Scheduling Options
Not every institute will offer you class timings that suit your schedule. Thus, it is better you clear that thing up before you enroll. If you cannot commit to a fixed schedule, look specifically for a school that can accommodate your flexible timings to teach you how to drive.
Conclusion
The closure of Shining Star Driving School in Wethersfield CT, was a setback to the locals. Plus, the operation of the place illegally had shaken many people to the core. However, there are many alternatives that natives can go for. Driving is a necessary skill in the current times, and you need licensed professionals to help you with it.
Apart from all the things going around Shining Star, this article covers some of the highly acclaimed alternatives that will give you the worth of your time and money.
