Stephanie Bakalar
Stephanie has spent over a decade advising small and family-owned auto repair shops on growth, hiring, and customer experience. With an MBA from Western and a background in small-business lending, she has worked directly with more than 200 independent Canadian shops on pricing, marketing, and CRA-compliant bookkeeping. She writes about the operational and regulatory side of running a profitable independent garage in Canada.
1384 articles by Stephanie
New Brunswick Driver Training Course: Road Test at 8 Months, Not 12
A licensed driver training course cuts the New Brunswick Level 1 wait from 12 months to 8. Learn the 2-year limit, the green certificate and how you lose the credit.
Delaware Teen Driver Penalties: Permit Suspensions, the .02 Law and Points
See how long a Delaware teen is suspended for permit violations, phone use or drinking, how the .02 law works, and when points lead to action.
Louisiana Teen Driver Penalties: Phone Law, School and Extensions
What a Louisiana teen driver risks after a ticket, a crash, skipped school or a phone in hand: license extensions, school suspensions and phone fines.
Missouri Driving Test: What the Highway Patrol Examiner Checks
See what is on the Missouri driving test, what car you need, how the examiner grades you and what happens if you fail. The test itself is free.
New Driver Penalties in New Brunswick: Zero Tolerance, Points, Restart
Zero alcohol, 4 to 10 demerit points, the roadside suspension and the $340.50 phone fine: what New Brunswick Level 1 and Level 2 drivers risk.
Moving to Delaware? Transfer Your Out-of-State License in 60 Days
You have 60 days after you move to get a Delaware license. See what to turn in, how tests work for adults and teens, what it costs and who is exempt.
Manitoba New Driver Penalties: Zero Alcohol, Suspensions and DSR
New drivers in Manitoba must have zero alcohol and drugs. See the 24-hour suspension, DI&C review, tiered suspensions, DSR drops, insurance and appeals.
Missouri Full Driver License at 18: How to Leave the Intermediate License
At 18, or 30 days before, a Missouri intermediate license holder can apply for a full license. See the 12-month record rule, tests, $16.50 fee and steps.
Moving to Louisiana: How to Transfer Your Driver's License in 30 Days
New in Louisiana? You have 30 days to switch your driver's license. See the tests, documents, fee, REAL ID rules and what teens and students need.
Moving to New Brunswick: Exchange Your Out-of-Province Licence
Moving to New Brunswick from another province or the U.S.? See when to exchange your licence, if you take a test, how novice time counts and what to bring.
Delaware Foreign License Rules: Visitors, New Residents, Reciprocity
A visitor over 16 may drive in Delaware on a valid home license. New residents have 60 days to apply, and the Class D fee is $50 as of 2026.
Foreign Driver's License in Louisiana: Reciprocity and Testing Rules
Which foreign licenses Louisiana exchanges with a vision test only, and what others need: a TIP, driver education, and the knowledge, vision and road tests.