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.
1417 articles by Stephanie
What to Bring to the California DMV: Permit, Drive Test, REAL ID
The documents, car, insurance and licensed driver you need for a California permit, license or drive test, and why a REAL ID is optional.
Colorado Teen Driver Points: Suspension Limits and the 0.02 Rule
A Colorado driver under 18 can be suspended with more than 5 points in 12 months. See the limits by age, point values and the under-21 0.02 alcohol rule.
Florida Teen Driving Curfew: Driver License Rules at 16 and 17
A Florida teen with a Class E license may drive 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. at 16 and 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. at 17. See the exceptions, penalties and learner's license steps.
Hawaii Provisional License Rules: Passengers, Curfew, Work
A Hawaii provisional driver may carry one passenger under 18 and may not drive from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. See who can ride along and the work exception.
Maryland Driver’s Ed and 60 Practice Hours: Rules for Teens and Adults
Do adults need driver’s ed in Maryland? Yes. See the 30 + 6 hour course, the 60 practice hours (14 at 25 and older) and how long you hold the permit.
Michigan Level 2 License Rules: Curfew, Passengers and Level 3
Michigan Level 2 Intermediate License rules: the 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew, the passenger limit, exceptions, penalties and how Level 3 starts.
Moving to Maine: Get Your Maine Driver's License Within 30 Days
New to Maine? You have 30 days to apply for a Maine license. See the penalties, which tests you take, what changes under 21 and under 18, and the steps.
Moving to Nevada: How to Transfer Your Driver's License in 30 Days
Moving to Nevada? The Nevada Driver's Handbook says apply for a license within 30 days. See the documents, the tests by age and record, the cost and the steps.
New Hampshire Teen Driver Penalties: Suspensions and the 0.02 Limit
See how long a New Hampshire driver under 20 can lose an original license, the youth operator curfew fines, the 90-day rule, the 0.02 limit and phone fines.
New Mexico Teen Driver Penalties: Permit Delays, Points and DWI Rules
A traffic conviction can delay a New Mexico teen's next license step by 30 days. See which offenses count, the 90-day clean period, points and the 0.02 rule.
Newfoundland Zero Alcohol Rule for Drivers Under 22
Under 22 with a full Newfoundland and Labrador licence? See the 0 mg alcohol limit, the 7-day and 90-day suspensions, repeat penalties and how to reinstate.
NJ GDL Violations: Fines, Probationary Driver Program and Phone Rules
What happens when a New Jersey GDL driver breaks a rule: the $100 fine, the phone ban, the Probationary Driver Program, the under-21 alcohol limit and points.