Registration for Manitoba Public Insurance's (MPI) popular high school education program, Driver Z, will soon be open.
MPI announced on Wednesday that it will open on July 23 at 8 a.m.
The program is offered in several communities around Manitoba. A mix of Lessons, virtual, and in-person classes is used. Students gain valuable experience through the in-car learning sessions, which provide knowledge and skills to drive safely and prevent collisions.
Manitobans will be able to plan ahead and determine which course offering works best when the Driver Z Course Finder is posted on the MPI website on Friday, July 18.
It is recommended to complete the following steps before registration day:
- Visit an MPI Service Centre or an Autopac broker with the new driver to set them up as a customer. A list of required documents that you must bring with you to verify their identity is available on MPI’s website.
- Purchase the Driver Z program, which can be done at the same time as the customer set up.
After completing the first two steps, parents and guardians can register their child for Driver Z in several different ways.
- By visiting one of the 300 Autopac brokers across the province (check operational hours to ensure the location you plan to attend is open at or before the 8 a.m. registration start time).
- Through the MPI Contact Centre at 204-985-7000 or toll-free at 1-800-665-2410.
- At any MPI Service Centre – centres will be opening early on July 23 to help customers prepare ahead of registration at 8 a.m.
- By calling the MPI Driver Education phone line at 204-985-7199 or toll-free at 1- 800-261-9928
“MPI recognizes the high demand for this program and that many customers are not always successful when trying to register their child for Driver Z,” said Satvir Jatana, President & CEO of MPI in a release. “We have heard those parents and are committed to making changes so Driver Z is accessible to those who need it.”
The fall capacity for Driver Z has been increased to nearly 4,700, of which 2,126 are outside of Winnipeg. The total seats is an increase of 3,500 from the fall of 2024.
10,000 seats are expected to be available for new MPI clients this year, which will return registration to pre-Covid registration levels.
“In addition to more seats, our Contact Centre will be prioritizing Driver Z registrations on July 23 and our Driver Education phone line will also be opening earlier than normal, at 8 a.m.,” said Jatana in a release. “We realize these are short-term solutions, but we are doing what we can in the interim as we continue to make inroads on sustainable long-term changes.”