Ottawa driving school closure leaves students, parents and instructors scrambling for answers

An Ottawa driving school’s unexpected closure has students, parents and instructors searching for answers. CTV’s Katelyn Wilson reports.

Beep Beep Driving School has stopped operating and closed its doors, leaving some families trying to recover money and complete driver training elsewhere.

Former instructor Usman Khan says dozens of students have been caught in the fallout.

“I was shocked that that was going on because I care about my students,” Khan said. “They were like my kids.”

Khan says he started working for the company in March and claims there were payment issues early on. He says his paycheques stopped at the beginning of June and that he is now owed about $8,400.

“It’s a lot of money. I pay for my gas every session,” he said. “What should I do? I don’t want to cry but it’s worse for me. I was not expecting this.”

In a statement to CTV News, Beep Beep owner Chris Addie said the company closed due to financial challenges, writing, “There are simply no funds available to issue refunds or satisfy all outstanding obligations.”

Addie says Khan has not been paid because he has not provided complete student log sheets and supporting documentation since early May. Khan denies that claim.

Meanwhile, families like Jamie Janes are caught in the middle.

“Because we live in a rural area, for a lot of families it’s not just a luxury to have your G2, it’s a necessity to get a part time job, to school, you know sports commitments, etcetera,” Janes said. “So, we were working within a timeline, and we had not been made aware that there was going to be a delay.”

Janes says she is out about $1,000 after her son completed the online portion of his driver training in March and has spent the past few months waiting to begin in-car lessons before the school closed.

“When I reached out to the company, they just said, ‘well we’re understaffed and this is what it is, we’re a great company and so you should just accept the wait and ride it out,’” she said.

“So, the conflicting information that was provided from Beep Beep was that delays of weeks or months was standard across the board and it should have been a red flag to me then. But I started reaching out to other companies and it’s just not the case.”

The company says its focus is now on helping students transition to other accredited driving schools and is encouraging families who paid by credit card to contact their providers or financial institutions about possible chargebacks.

The Ministry of Transportation says students may be eligible to transfer to a new driving school to complete the remaining portion of their training. Students can request a transfer by emailing [e-mail] and providing the student’s name and driving school information.

Beep Beep told CTV News June 19 represents the first contractor payment the company has been unable to make due to insufficient funds. However, CTV News spoke with another former driver who claims he has not been paid since last year.

For many families, the uncertainty isn’t over.

“A lot of families are really destitute right now, they’ve spent their thousands of dollars and don’t know what to do,” said Janes.

Full Statement from Beep Beep Driving School

Chris Addie, the owner of Beep Beep Driving School, issued the following statement to CTV News:

This has been an incredibly difficult situation for everyone involved. I am deeply saddened that Beep Beep Driving School was forced to cease operations and I sincerely apologize to the students, families, instructors and staff affected by the closure.

The decision to close was not made overnight and was certainly not one I wanted to make. Like many small businesses, it faced significant financial challenges, including declining registrations, rising operating costs, vehicle expenses, insurance, fuel, maintenance, facility costs and staffing challenges. Despite extensive efforts to reduce costs and continue operating, the company ultimately reached a point where it could no longer sustainably provide services.

With respect to the certification issue you referenced, I am aware of one administrative error involving a student record. During the closure process, I have been working through a large volume of student files and updating records to assist with transfers. Once the issue was brought to my attention, I immediately contacted the Ministry to request that the certification be withdrawn and corrected.

Since the closure, my focus has been on helping students transition to other accredited driving schools wherever possible. We have advised families who paid by credit card to contact their credit card providers or financial institutions regarding available consumer protections and potential chargeback options. I have also been providing available student records and training logs to assist with transfers and have been communicating with other reputable driving schools regarding options for students who wish to complete their training elsewhere.

I also feel it is important to acknowledge that while families are understandably upset and seeking answers, the situation has unfortunately extended beyond concerns about the business itself. My family has been subjected to online harassment, the sharing of personal information and threats during this process. We have seven children and seeing our family’s safety become a topic of public discussion has been particularly distressing.

I understand the frustration and disappointment many families are experiencing. For years, Beep Beep Driving School was built around providing quality driver education and prioritizing student safety. The closure is devastating not only for our students, but also for my family and those who worked hard to build the school.

I would like to emphasize a few important points.

First, social media is an incredibly powerful tool, but it can also be a source of misinformation. Unfortunately, once information is shared online, assumptions and speculation can quickly become accepted as fact, regardless of their accuracy.

The driving school industry has changed significantly over the past several years. Despite considerable efforts to adapt while maintaining the standards and quality of instruction that Beep Beep was known for, the business ultimately became unsustainable.

Since ceasing operations, I have been actively communicating with several reputable driving schools to explore transfer options for affected students. My goal is to help families transition to quality programs where possible and to encourage prorated pricing based on each student’s completion status, rather than requiring families to pay for a full program again.

It is also important to clarify that Beep Beep Driving School never publicly stated that it was bankrupt. The term appeared on social media and has since been widely repeated, creating confusion about the school’s circumstances.

Throughout our operation, employees and contractors were paid for their work. Friday, June 12, 2026, represented the first missed employee payroll due to insufficient funds. June 19, 2026, represents the first contractor payment that the company has been unable to make due to insufficient funds.

With respect to contractor records, one contractor, Usman Khan, has not provided complete student log sheets and supporting documentation since early May despite repeated requests. These records are necessary to verify services provided, update student training records where applicable, and support Ministry reporting requirements. The outstanding contractor invoice currently due relates to services for which supporting documentation remains incomplete or outstanding. Beep Beep previously paid an earlier invoice in good faith while continuing to request the required records.

The absence of complete log sheets has also created challenges for some students seeking transfers, as these records are necessary to accurately confirm completed in-car training hours. We continue to request the documentation and remain committed to ensuring students receive proper credit for any training they have completed.

While this situation has been devastating for students, families, staff, and my own family, Beep Beep is continuing to be as transparent and forthcoming as possible. We remain committed to supporting students, employees, and their families through this transition and to helping affected students access the records and information they need to continue their driver education elsewhere.

Unfortunately, there are simply no funds available for the company to issue refunds or satisfy all outstanding obligations. That is the reason operations ceased.

The decision to close was made after professional advice was obtained and once it became clear that continuing operations was no longer financially viable. Had funds been available, the company would have continued operating and fulfilling its commitments.

Since closing, we have been encouraging affected students to pursue refunds through their credit card providers or banking institutions, and many have reported success. We have also been working with reputable schools to facilitate student transfers on a prorated basis where possible.

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