Every Street Smart training day gives young drivers something no classroom ever could: real-world experience, behind the wheel of their own car, guided by expert coaches.
Running a single Street Smart training day costs $517.50 per participant. That figure covers the coaches who guide every activity, venue costs, insurance, and all the behind-the-scenes work that goes into creating a safe, controlled environment where young drivers can learn by doing.
It's a lot…and that's the point. Street Smart isn't a quick lecture or a theory test. It's a full day of practical, supervised driving practice designed to grow awareness, sharpen decision-making, and give young drivers a genuine understanding of how their own car behaves in situations they might one day face on the road.
Why you only pay $179
The amount whanau pay to book a training day is $179. That's only a fraction of the true $517.50 cost.
As a charitable trust, Street Smart heavily subsidises the rest of every training day. We're able to do this thanks to the generosity of our partners, who help close the gap between what a training day actually costs and what families are asked to pay. Without that support, this kind of real-world driver education simply wouldn't be accessible to as many young people.
How you can help close the gap
Following feedback from participants, we’ve recently introduced the option for attendees to top up their registration fee and help make an even bigger difference. When you book a training day, you'll have the option to add a little extra on top of your $179. You can choose to:
Add $338.50 to cover the full true cost of your own place, so your contribution fully funds your training day
Add $179 to cover the subsidised cost of a training day for another young driver who might not otherwise be able to attend
Add an extra $50, or $20 - any amount helps us keep closing the gap
Every extra dollar goes straight toward one goal: To reduce road deaths in New Zealand by helping young drivers develop essential safety skills beyond the basics of a standard driving test.
Why this matters
Road safety shouldn't be reserved for those who can afford it. Every young driver deserves the chance to learn in a safe, controlled environment, with guidance from coaches who understand what it takes to build awareness on the road. When you contribute a little extra, you're not just supporting your own training day, you're helping open the door for another family, another young driver, another step toward safer roads across New Zealand.