- Bucharest has driving ranges to learn legally in a controlled environment.
- First training hour usually on the range to get comfortable with the car.
- Ranges teach basics like pedals, gear, steering, parking, distances, and hill starts.
- Driving-range exams were debated in 2016 but remain optional; many ranges closed.
For those starting out and preparing to become drivers, learning to drive correctly is essential. While many people believe they can practice on public roads or unauthorized terrains, this is illegal and can lead to severe penalties, including the possibility of not obtaining your driving license. Fortunately, in Bucharest there are several driving ranges where you can learn to drive legally, in a safe and controlled environment.
These ranges provide a supervised setting where learners can familiarize themselves with how the vehicle operates, learn the basic controls (pedals, gear lever, steering wheel), refine their driving skills, practice driving in tight spaces, learn to correctly gauge distances between vehicles, practice parking in limited spaces, and master starting from rest and hill starts.
Currently, most instructors begin the first training hour on the range so the driver can get used to the car and learn to handle it, after which training continues on various routes in real traffic.
Driving ranges: a brief history and their importance
In the past, most learners learned to drive for the first time in a driving range, because the driving-range test formed an integral part of the license exam, alongside three other tests. This stage was essential for developing basic driving skills.
The driving range provides a controlled environment where learners can:
- familiarize themselves with how the car works
- learn the basic controls (pedals, gear lever, steering wheel)
- refine their hand-eye coordination at the wheel
- practice driving in tight spaces
- learn to accurately gauge distances between vehicles
- practice parking in tight spots
- master starting from rest and hill starts
Currently, most instructors support the initial training session on the range so the driver can get used to the car and learn to master it, after which training continues on various real-road routes.
Reintroducing the driving-range exam?
In 2016, there were discussions at the level of the Road Police leadership about reintroducing the mandatory driving-range exam. The measure was proposed in response to the alarming rise in road accidents, many caused by newly licensed drivers who did not have well-established basic skills.
Arguments for reintroducing the driving-range included:
- The need to test learners’ basic skills in a controlled environment
- Reducing accidents caused by newly licensed drivers
- Improving overall preparation of future drivers
- Increasing learners’ confidence in their own abilities
However, so far nothing has changed in this regard, and the driving-range exam remains optional or at the discretion of driving schools.
What happened to the driving ranges?
With the removal of the obligation of the driving-range from the driving exam, most ranges fell into disrepair or were closed entirely. Without being used for trainee preparation or to host official exams, these facilities no longer held commercial interest.
At best, some driving schools purchased ranges and use them for their own trainees, with no longer available for people who want to learn to drive independently.
Why you cannot legally drive on public roads without a license
It is essential to understand that you do not have the right to drive a car on public roads if you do not have a driving license, even if you are already enrolled in a driving school. The consequences of breaking this rule can be severe:
- Substantial administrative fine
- Possible seizure of the vehicle
- Entry in the driving record
- Delay or inability to obtain the driving license
- Criminal liability in case of an accident
Legal alternatives for practicing driving without a license are:
- Private lands (fields, gravel roads not belonging to public roads)
- Authorized driving ranges
- Areas specially arranged for learning to drive
Driving ranges available in Bucharest
ACR Driving School Range
Location: Sector 1, Jiului Street No. 161
This driving range is considered one of the best equipped in Romania and offers all the facilities needed for a complete training:
Facilities and features:
- Complete circuit for learning parking
- Areas specially arranged for driving between cones
- Ramp for practicing hill starts
- Areas for starting from rest
- Areas for practicing maneuvers in reverse
- Clear markings that meet road standards
Advantages:
- Open even on weekends
- Access for people who are not students of the ACR school
- Instructors present on site at all times
- Possibility to request support and guidance
- Flexible schedule
- Sanitary facilities and waiting area
Schedule: Monday - Sunday; check exact hours by contacting the school
ACR Driving School Range is ideal for beginners who want to learn the basics before heading into traffic. The constant presence of instructors adds safety and immediate feedback.
Ilioara Auto-Moto Range
Location: Sector 3, Ilioara Street
This private driving range stands out because it does not belong to a specific driving school, and is open to anyone who wants to improve their driving skills.
Features:
- Private, independent range
- Open to any interested person
- Full circuit with all types of maneuvers
- Facilities for practicing parking
- Areas for learning defensive driving
Circuits available:
- Side, perpendicular and angled parking
- Serpentine and slalom
- Stops and starts on the ramp
- Tight turns and narrow areas
- Turning maneuvers
Schedule: Open all week, including weekends
Note: Being popular and open on weekends, the range tends to be busy on these days. We recommend visiting during weekdays or early weekend mornings to avoid crowds.
The range is appreciated by learners because it offers all the circuits needed to practice maneuvers they will later perform in traffic, providing a gradual and safe transition to driving on public roads.
Teo Driving School Range
This range belongs exclusively to Teo Driving School and is not open to the general public. However, if you are in the process of choosing a driving school and would like to benefit from driving lessons in a range, this option is worth considering.
Important details:
- Exclusive access for the school’s students
- 2 hours of range driving included in the standard package
- Lessons conducted with a qualified instructor
- Open only during weekdays (Monday - Friday)
Advantages of including range hours in the training package:
- Cost included in the enrollment fee, with no extra charges
- Constant supervision by an instructor
- Gradual and monitored progress
- Ability to repeat difficult maneuvers until mastery
If you are looking for a school that owns its own range, Teo School is a viable option, even if access is restricted to its students.
Tips for effective use of driving ranges
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Start with the basics: Don’t rush into complex maneuvers. First familiarize yourself with the pedals, gear lever, and steering wheel.
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Practice systematically: Repeat each maneuver several times until you master it.
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Ask for feedback: If instructors are on site, don’t hesitate to ask for guidance and corrections.
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Vary the exercises: Don’t focus on a single maneuver. Alternate between parking, hill starts, and driving between cones.
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Simulate real situations: Try to imagine you’re in real traffic to prepare mentally.
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Be patient: Learning to drive takes time and practice. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get it right away.
Conclusions
Driving ranges provide a safe and legal environment for learning to drive, offering the opportunity to develop basic skills without the stress of real traffic. While options in Bucharest are more limited than in the past, the existing ranges offer the facilities needed for proper preparation.
Whether you choose the public-access ACR driving range, the private Ilioara range, or enroll in a school that owns its own range, the important thing is to take advantage of this opportunity to consolidate your skills in a controlled environment before heading into real traffic.
Remember: driving on public roads without a license is illegal and can carry serious consequences. Use driving ranges to learn legally and safely.
