Create your own Google API key for your driving school website

Why create your own Google API key?

Simple: it allows your Google reviews and Google Maps location to automatically appear on your driving school website. No more copying and pasting, no manual typing of stars and numbers.

Get a new review on Google? It will be on your site within a few hours. This saves you time and looks much more professional to your students.

For this connection, Google requires a free "API key". This is a kind of key that gives your website access to your Google data. Don't worry — you don't need to program anything. You can set it up in 5 minutes.

[SCREENSHOT: example of Google reviews block on a driving school website with stars and names]

What do you need?

• A Google account — preferably the account you use to manage your Google Maps / Google Business Profile.
• 5 to 10 minutes of time.
• Your credit card (required by Google, but you won't be charged — explanation below).

Ready? Grab a cup of coffee, and let's go step by step.

Step 1 — Log in to Google Cloud

Go to https://console.cloud.google.com and log in with your Google account.

The first time, Google will ask you to accept the terms and choose your country. Check "Netherlands" and agree.

[SCREENSHOT: Google Cloud Console login screen with country selection pop-up]

Step 2 — Create a new project

At the top of the screen, you'll see a dropdown with "Select a project" or the name of an existing project. Click on it.

Click on New project in the top right corner.

Give the project a recognizable name, such as:

• My Driving School Site
• Driving School Jansen Website

You can leave the location blank. Click on Create.

[SCREENSHOT: project name input screen with example "My Driving School Site" and New project button]

Wait a few seconds. A notification will appear at the top indicating that the project is ready. Click on it, or manually select your new project in the dropdown at the top.

Step 3 — Enable Places API

Click on the hamburger menu (the three lines) in the top left corner. Go to APIs & Services → Library.

[SCREENSHOT: sidebar menu with APIs & Services > Library highlighted]

In the search bar, type: Places API (New).

Click on the result Places API (New) and then on the blue Enable button.

[SCREENSHOT: search result Places API New with Enable button]

Done. Google will think for a few seconds and then take you to the overview screen.

Tip: If you want to add a Google Maps map to your site later, also enable Maps Embed API in the same Library. The same API key will work for both.

Step 4 — Create an API key

Go to the sidebar menu and click on APIs & Services → Credentials.

Click on + Create credentials at the top and choose API key.

[SCREENSHOT: Create credentials button expanded with API key option]

Google will generate a long code, something like AIzaSyB...xyz. That's your key.

Click on Copy and paste it somewhere safe (e.g., in a Note or Word document). Don't share it with outsiders via WhatsApp or email.

[SCREENSHOT: pop-up with created API key and copy button]

Step 5 — Secure the key (IMPORTANT!)

Don't close the pop-up yet. Click on Edit key (or the pencil icon next to the key in the list).

Why is this important? Without restrictions, anyone who finds your key can misuse it. Google will charge you for it. With the right restrictions, that can't happen.

5a — Application restrictions

Under Application restrictions, choose HTTP referrers (web sites).

Click on + Add an item and enter your domain, with /* at the end:

• https://your-domain.nl/*
• https://www.your-domain.nl/*

Add both. This way, the key will only work on your own website.

[SCREENSHOT: HTTP referrers field with two lines your-domain.nl/ and www.your-domain.nl/]

5b — API restrictions

Under API restrictions, choose Restrict key.

Only check:

• Places API (New)
• (optionally Maps Embed API if you want Google Maps on your site)

Nothing else. The fewer, the safer.

[SCREENSHOT: API restrictions list with only Places API New checked]

Click Save at the bottom.

Done. Your key now only works on your site, for only Places API. Misuse is impossible.

Step 6 — Find your driving school's Place ID

The Place ID is a unique number that Google assigns to your business. This tells your site exactly which reviews to retrieve.

Go to the Google Place ID Finder: https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/places/web-service/place-id

Scroll down a bit until you see a map with a search bar. Type the name of your driving school, e.g., Driving School Jansen Amsterdam.

[SCREENSHOT: Place ID Finder with search bar and map]

Click on your business in the suggestion list. A balloon will appear with your name, address, and a Place ID starting with ChIJ....

Copy that Place ID and paste it with your API key in your note.

[SCREENSHOT: map with opened info balloon and Place ID ChIJ... highlighted]

Step 7 — Enter the key in your IT Live website management

Go to your website admin: https://your-domain.nl/admin/login.php.

Log in with your IT Live password (default the password you received from IT Live — if you haven't changed it yet, do so now).

Click on Google connection in the menu on the left.

[SCREENSHOT: admin sidebar menu with Google connection highlighted]

Fill in the two fields:

• Google API key — paste your key (AIzaSyB...)
• Google Place ID — paste your Place ID (ChIJ...)

Click Save.

[SCREENSHOT: input page /admin/google.php with fields API key and Place ID]

You'll get a green notification: "Saved". Within a few minutes, your genuine Google reviews will appear on your site.

Costs — do you really need to pay?

No, in practice, not at all.

Google provides a free credit every month that's more than enough for a driving school. Your site only retrieves a limited number of reviews, after all.