Attorney General Jeff Jackson Sues Charlotte-Area Driving Instructor Accused of Defrauding New Drivers and Their Families

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Contact: [email protected]
919-538-2809

RALEIGH - Attorney General Jeff Jackson is suing a North Carolina driving instruction business NC Virtual Drivers Ed, LLC and its owner Courtney Elizabeth Brazil, alleging that the defendants charged new drivers and their families for instructions they never provided, misled customers, and refused to give them refunds.

"Young people and their families trusted this business to teach them how to drive," said Attorney General Jeff Jackson. "Instead, the business took their money and never gave them the lessons they paid for. We're taking them to court to make sure they can't do this anymore and to get justice for these families."

"North Carolinians place their trust in driver education schools to provide quality instruction and prepare new drivers for the responsibilities of operating a vehicle safely. When businesses fail to meet those obligations and violate the standards established to protect consumers, we will take action," said DMV Commissioner Paul Tine. "We appreciate the partnership of the N.C. Department of Justice in holding accountable those who undermine the integrity of driver education and the trust of the families we serve."

The business advertised driving instructions online, specifically targeting young people who are learning how to drive and their families. The defendants' website offered 30 hours of online instruction for $125, six hours of private driving lessons for $450, six hours of group driving lessons for $250, and a combination of 30 hours of online instruction and group driving lessons for $350.

In some cases, customers would pay the defendants for one of those options, and the defendants would never provide the instruction or driving lessons. In other cases, the business would do vision or medical screenings and parking lessons instead of actual behind-the-wheel lessons, which did not meet the six hours of behind-the-wheel instructions that the North Carolina DMV requires. When new drivers or their parents reached out to ask about the services they had paid for or to ask for a refund, the defendants routinely ignored them or responded with false information.

The defendants also promised that new drivers would get a certificate showing they completed online instruction, which they needed to receive credit and ultimately be granted a learner permit, but the defendants regularly failed to send them one.

Additionally, the business continued to collect advance payments even though it did not have enough qualified instructors, continued promoting driving lessons in areas of North Carolina where it did not have the ability to provide the lessons, and advertised immediate availability when they knew they could not deliver the promised services.

In September, the defendants had their license to conduct business in North Carolina revoked by the DMV, but they continued to operate and collect payments. They also continued to advertise that their business was approved by the DMV, that it met all state requirements for instruction and driving lessons, and that its instructors were DMV-licensed. In October, they changed their website to sell "defensive driving" classes without DMV authorization.

Attorney General Jackson is asking the court for restitution for consumers and civil penalties. He is also asking for a temporary restraining order to immediately block the defendants from adverting driver education services, contracting for or performing such services, collecting payments for services, and destroying, moving, concealing, or changing business records.

A copy of the complaint is available here.

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