New driving school set to launch in Eatonville

Soon, young drivers in Eatonville will have a local option for driver education.

Husband-and-wife team Luis and Tracy Marin are set to launch Take the Wheel Driving School in Eatonville. Luis has been a certified driving instructor and examiner for 20 years and has a background in enforcement, while Tracy has worked with vehicle licensing in Washington state for the last 25 years.

Together, they bring over 40 years of licensing experience and form a dynamic duo with extensive knowledge in the field.

“We love this town and the people who call it home. We look forward to serving our great community,” Tracy said.

The idea for the driving school stemmed from a focus on valuing and using time wisely.

“As parents, we realize the value of time and how most of us could use more of it. Having a driving school in town will provide convenience for all of us working parents. Our business hours will align with school hours and should be accessible to parents,” Tracy said.

Take the Wheel Driving School will be the only driving school and Department of Licensing (DOL) testing center in Eatonville. This will allow families to get licensed locally instead of traveling to Graham, Lakewood, Yelm, or Lacey.

What sets them apart from other driving schools is their commitment to providing a robust foundation in driver education. While many focus on issues like gun violence or drug use, Take the Wheel recognizes that vehicle crashes are the leading cause of teen fatalities, according to the Highway Safety Commission.

“At Take the Wheel Driving School, we don’t just aim to fill seats; we strive to ensure that each student leaves as a skilled and responsible driver. Our goal is to equip young drivers with the tools and knowledge they need to be collision-free for life, aligning with Washington State’s ‘Target Zero Plan’ to eliminate traffic fatalities,” Tracy Marin said.

Take the Wheel Driving School is eager to start offering classes, currently scheduled for Aug. 20.

In addition to driver education, the school will offer private coaching for those needing extra one-on-one help.

They will also serve as a “one-stop shop” as a DOL testing center (pending approval from the DOL). They anticipate to be a DOL testing center in approximately three weeks, or sooner, and will be able to service the community for these needs then. In the interim, they plan to provide available private coaching in preparation for the DOL skills test. 

“This will allow anyone to schedule and take their written DOL exam and their DOL skills exam (drive test). The only services we do not provide are picture taking and final issuance of the actual driver’s license. Customers will need to visit an actual DOL location for those services,” Tracy Marin said.

Anyone interested in learning more about Take the Wheel and its offerings can visit their website at ttwdrivingschool.com, email them at takethewheeldrivingschool@outlook.com, or call 360-832-1731.