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
How to Get a Texas Learner License at 15 (2026 Steps)
You can get a Texas learner license at 15. See what to finish first, the steps at DPS, who can ride with you, and when the license expires.
Utah Learner Permit Rules: Age 15, Supervisors and the 6-Month Hold
Get a Utah learner permit at 15. See who may sit beside you, how long to hold the permit at each age, the 40 practice hours and what the parent signature means.
Minnesota Hands-Free Law: Phone Rules, Fines and the Teen Cell Phone Ban
Minnesota hands-free law: no holding your phone while driving, even at a red light. See what you can do, the fines and the teen cell phone ban.
What to Bring to Access PEI for Your Instruction Permit
The ID, two proofs of PEI address, parental consent form, glasses and fees to bring to Access PEI when you apply for a PEI Class 7 instruction permit.
PennDOT DL-180 Physical: Who Can Sign It and How Long It Is Valid
Who can complete the health section of the PennDOT DL-180, when to get the physical, how long it is valid, and what the form says about vision.
Utah Written Knowledge Test: 50 Questions and the 80% Pass Mark
How many questions the Utah written knowledge test has, the 80% pass mark, open or closed book, timing, retakes and what happens at your appointment.
Montana Learner’s Permit Rules: NCLP Age, Supervision and the 6-Month Rule
Get a Montana learner’s permit at 14½ in traffic education or at 15 at an MVD exam station. See who can ride with you, how long it lasts and the 6-month rule.
Moving to Minnesota: How to Transfer Your Driver’s License (60-Day Rule)
You have 60 days to get a Minnesota license. See who skips the written and road tests, what to bring to DVS and what changes for teens and expired licenses.
PEI Stage 1 Rules: Supervising Driver, Passengers, 1 a.m. Curfew
Who can sit beside you, who can ride in the back, when you cannot drive and what happens after a ticket: the Stage 1 rules for a PEI Class 7 Instruction Permit.
Pennsylvania 65-Hour Driving Log: Night Hours, Bad Weather and the DL-180C
A Pennsylvania teen needs 65 supervised hours before the road test. See the night and bad weather minimums, how to log them and what the parent signs.
Utah Permit Test Cost, Retakes and Driver License Fees
What the Utah learner permit and Class D license cost, how many tries one fee gives you, and what you pay if you fail the knowledge or skills test.
Foreign Driver’s License in Minnesota: Can You Exchange It?
Moving to Minnesota with a foreign license? Most new residents must pass the written and road tests. See the Germany and Taiwan exceptions and what to bring.