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
Connecticut Driving Test: What to Bring, Car Rules and What Is Checked
What to bring to the Connecticut road test, which car the DMV accepts, what the agent checks, and what to do after a pass or a fail.
Hawaii Teen Driver Penalties: Provisional License Suspension, .02 Rule
On Oahu, a first provisional license rule break means a 3-month suspension. See the revocation terms, ticket checks and the .02 zero tolerance limit under 21.
Moving to Florida: Get Your Florida Driver's License Within 30 Days
New to Florida? You have 30 days to get a Florida driver license. See who counts as a resident, which tests you may skip, what to bring and what it costs.
Maine Provisional License: Tickets, Suspensions and Zero Alcohol Under 21
What a Maine provisional license means: the 2-year rule under 21, suspensions after a ticket, zero alcohol, and the one-year adult provisional license.
Michigan Probationary License: Points and Tickets for New Drivers
Every new Michigan driver is on probation for at least 3 years. See how probation ends, what a ticket does, and how the point system works.
Moving to Maryland? Transfer Your Driver’s License in 60 Days
New to Maryland? You have 60 days to get a Maryland license (30 for a CDL). See who can exchange, what to bring, the vision screening and the provisional rules.
NC Provisional License Suspension, Points and Cell Phone Law
What a ticket means for a North Carolina provisional license: suspension steps, points, the under-18 phone rule, the texting fine and the under-21 alcohol rule.
Moving to New Hampshire? Get Your Driver's License Within 60 Days
New residents have a maximum of 60 days to get a New Hampshire license. See which tests the rule lists, what happens to your old license, and what it costs.
Moving to New Jersey: Transfer Your Driver's License Within 60 Days
New in New Jersey? You have 60 days to transfer your out-of-state license. See which tests you skip, what to bring, what it costs and the rules at 17.
Moving to New Mexico: How to Transfer Your Driver's License in 2026
New to New Mexico? See when to switch your license, the tests you skip, the $18 or $34 fee plus a $15 records check, and how REAL ID and teen rules work.
Moving to Newfoundland and Labrador: Exchange Your Licence in 3 Months
New in Newfoundland and Labrador? See when to exchange your driver's licence, which tests you skip, what happens to your old licence and what to bring.
Moving to North Dakota: Transfer Your Driver's License Within 60 Days
New in North Dakota? You have 60 days to drive on your old license. See the appointment, documents, $15 fee and test rules to transfer it to NDDOT.