
911 Driving School Tacoma

Information about 911 Driving School Tacoma
98407, Tacoma
Opening hours
- sunday: (closed)
- monday: 10:30-18h
- tuesday: 10:30-18h
- wednesday: 10:30-18h
- thursday: 10:30-18h
- friday: 10:30-18h
- saturday: 9:30-15:30
Drivers Training for all ages. DOL testing !
Our comment from DrivingSchools.Directory about 911 Driving School Tacoma:
911 Driving School Tacoma is dedicated to providing a top-notch driver education experience. Many users highlight the passion and expertise of the instructors, with several sharing stories of their positive experiences and the supportive environment they create. For instance, parents have noted that their children felt comfortable and confident thanks to patient and informative instructors like Shannon and Jeff. The school also offers the convenience of online courses which have been well received, allowing students to learn effectively from home.
While many reviews emphasize the professionalism and helpfulness of the staff, some concerns were raised about scheduling for in-car instruction, with a few users mentioning significant waits for driving sessions. However, it is noted that the school is actively working on hiring more instructors to accommodate demand.
Despite some mixed feedback regarding test experiences, many still recommend the school for its excellent classroom education and dedicated instructors, making it a great choice for anyone looking to enhance their driving skills.
911 Driving School Tacoma: Reviews
Fantastic experience: Clearly very passionate about what they do
Fantastic experience: Great place
Fantastic experience: Awsome experience for my son. Instructors and staff were patient and informative.
Fantastic experience: Did the online driving course! Great experience and had absolutely no issues with doing it online. Very grateful to have been able to do this course online. Very nice instructor! Through my drives I met some staff that were also very helpful and nice!
Fantastic experience: I passed my “Road Test” for the second time, and my instructor was ‘ Shannon’ I couldn't be more impressed! “SHANNON was patient, knowledgeable, and Clear explanations of driving concepts. I highly recommend this Branch to anyone seeking top-notch road test instruction. Also, a shoutout to two ladies at the front desk they are very kind.
Fantastic experience: Instructor Paul amazing listens cares helps people succeed takes pride in his job
Fantastic experience: I recently passed my Skills Test (Road Test) with my instructor Shannon. I showed up ~5 minutes early to my appointed time with no issues and began my test as scheduled. Shannon was very helpful, clear, professional, and even kind. Loved her constructive feedback and ability to facilitate a focused environment for test-takers to perform at their best. Additionally, the front desk workers were very patient and kind as well. They're open for any questions or concerns you may have. If you're looking to obtain your Driver's License, I would 100% recommend making an appointment here at their Tacoma Building, especially if the location is closest to home! Big Shoutout for Shannon!
Thank you for your review. We are glad you had a great experience.
Positive experience: I saw the negative reviews and heard first hand negative feedback, but honestly, this was the closest to us, so I looked the other way. Don't. I don't have anything horrible to say for the "in class" (my daughter did it virtually) instruction. The in car is another issue. It took about 3+ ADDITIONAL MONTHS past when my daughter finished her instruction to finish her in car time. She turned 16 in mid July and I thought "if she starts drivers ed in early Feb , we will be totally ok!" Nope. The only reason we finally were able to finish is school let out and it was summer. I checked their online scheduling multiple times a day; no drives would be listed for 5+ days at a time (of checking). Occasionally, I would see a drive, but it would be in the middle of a school day; if your child is homeschooled or has other flexible schooling, then you might be ok. I am not pulling my daughter out of school to do a drive from 12-2pm on a Wednesday. After my daughter had been out of the "instructional" part for 2 months and not seeing ANY openings for drives show up for 13 days, I called the office. They did eventually get back to me with a drive time on the Saturday of 4th of July weekend, which we couldn't do. It took my daughter 7 months to complete her drives. Like I said, the instruction was fine. All the people I personally spoke with were respectful and I had all my messages returned within 24 hrs. The problem is they are enrolling way too many kids to keep up with the amount of time they have scheduled for in car. I have known 4 families that have gone through this specific office and have all taken 6 months to get through all the drives because they do not have enough time slots open during reasonable (non-school) hours. So if your child is 15 and starting driver's ed, you should be great; if you are at the 15 1/2 yr old point, I would be very wary and be on top of calling the office to get in car time. I waited until my daughter was all the way through the process to write this review. I am not sure if there would be an issue if she was still actively going to 911, but I wanted to wait. We had them give her the written and driving test (This has nothing to do with 911- but you are having the people who gave the kids' instruction do the tests??! That seems ridiculous. Why wouldn't they pass kids to have their "Pass rate" be high. I have nothing proof/suspicion to say this is happening, just skeptical of how the whole system is run now. Seems suspect - by the state, not 911) So , if you are willing to keep calling and your student isn't turning 16 right away, it's not a bad place to go.
Ms, Zarling, I am sorry that you had a bad experience. We have it posted on the very first page of our webpage that we are short staffed and actively hiring. Also, we added that if you sign up for drivers education, you will need to be patient in getting your drives completed. Then once you choose a class to enroll in, we have the following; "Please note that classes will be conducted in a timely manner however, we are experiencing a back log of student drives. We appreciate your patience and understanding during these times.". Then once you have signed up for the class, we a box you have to click that you have read the policies and that "it can take up to 12 months to complete the course" (or sign the policies in person which state this). Then we talk about it on the first day of class. All of this has been in place some time now. It takes time to train instructors, which we have several that have just completed training and are now licensed. As far as speculation if we are doing things correct or not; I can assure you we are doing things correctly. We have been in business for 18 years and we are audited by DOL every year on both the drivers education and testing side. Maybe I can answer one of you questions regarding and instructor being the examiner. Obviously in a perfect world the instructor is not also the examiner and in 95% of our cases, that is true. But in Wa state, you have to be a driving instructor before you can be an examiner. So our Examiners are licensed instructors, because that is state law. I wish you would have expressed your concerns right away, so they could be addressed. I can also assure you that there would not be "an issue" with your daughter in the course because you had concerns, complaints or otherwise. As you stated in your review that all the employees were respectful and that would be the case in any situation. Again, I apologize for your experience but I feel we have done our part in communicating this issue. Have a great weekend.
Negative experience: If you get Shanon as your driving exam instructor, good luck. The brakes and gas pedal on their provided cars are also extremely tight and touchy, it's nearly impossible to come to a smooth stop/start up again smoothly with their vehicles. I was stopped 5 minutes into my test because I "didn't make a complete stop at a stop sign" well yes actually I did. I counted to three and I also looked both ways twice before proceeding through the sign. I was not able to complete any more skills after this my test ended immediately and unfairly. Not to mention I've taken my written test here as well and was treated poorly by the instructor for that as well as the women who work at the front desk. I would not recommend coming here, I know I will not be returning.
Ms. Combs, I am sorry you failed your skills test. I reviewed the video of your test, (we have a camera facing outside and one facing the inside of the testing vehicle). The first stop sign you approached to make a right turn; the vehicle did not stop. It slowed and rolled through the right turn without coming to a complete stop. Per the DOL guidelines, not fully stopping is an automatic failure of the skills test and we are required to end the test at that point. Our car's brakes are certified by a mechanic which were recently inspected and work fine. I also test drove the car after reading this review and the accelerator and brakes work properly. I called you to discuss the test and advised you that I watched the video of the test and that there was not a complete stop. I wanted to discuss watching the video with you, but you ended the phone call and did not answer a call back. Again, I am sorry that you failed the test, but we are a contractor of DOL to administer the test and we must follow their rules on administering the test. Let me know if there is anything else I can assist you with.
Fantastic experience: Although I am in my twenties and am not required to take a driver's Ed course, I decided to go to 911 to get that extra knowledge with driving. Jeff was my teacher and I learned so much from his class! He made the class fun and explained things so well. The ladies at the front desk were really nice too! I really enjoyed the class and recommended it to anyone wanting that extra confidence with driving. :)
Fantastic experience: This place is an incredible and useful resource for anyone in need and/or wanting to drive. The instructors are well versed in the rules of the road and experienced with teaching other people from high school students to full adults. They will give you all the information needed to become a SAFE and EFFECTIVE driver and will make it absolutely clear of the responsibility and the dangers on being on the open road. The instructor I had, Jeff, would talk about his experience in the police force and the things he’s seen, learned, and done to really drill in the importance of the laws of the road, maintenance of our vehicles, and being able to use our best judgment in order to stay safe. They will talk about vehicle incidents that’s they were called to, tell us the consequences of those errors or failings to do the basic things. By doing this, it really made it clear how important everything we learn is. This is the reason why I think everyone needs to go here. They are excellent teachers, they know the laws by heart, they can teach anyone, they’re enthusiastic about teaching, but most importantly they will teach you the reality of the world we are in. I’ve learned so much more from this place than I have from anyone, anywhere else. Yes they’re expensive, but it’s worth every penny.
Fantastic experience: Reasonable folks who understand the consequences of unsafe/unaware driving.
Fantastic experience: Taught me how to drive fairly simply or as simple as it can be detailed and informative good classes.
Negative experience: My boyfriend pre paid $80 for his test, and because of traffic was about 8 minutes late. They say it’s “policy” that he has to pay again and make a new appointment but this was never clarified or discussed when making the appointment. Then when he was talking to the instructor she had a completely disgusting attitude for no reason. A late fee, I can understand. Rescheduling, I can understand. Theft, I cannot understand. This will be taken further than a bad review if this is not fixed. (Edit: the manager also won’t call you back until RIGHT before they close if you request to speak with the manager)
Ms. Brown, we are sorry your boyfriend had a bad experience. I looked into the situation. I was advised that the applicant was actually 12 minutes late and was advised he could reschedule with a new fee. The father of the applicant later called and spoke to our manager. When the manager explained the situation, the father began yelling profanities and hung up on us. For the last 12 years, we explain to every applicant at the time of scheduling that there is no refund if you miss your test time and it is also posted on our website. There are other testers on the schedule throughout the day, so we have to stay on a timed schedule. The employees are getting paid by the hour, meaning if someone misses their test time, the employee is still getting paid and again when the applicant actually takes the test.
Fantastic experience: This place is one of best driving schools to go. It doesn’t just have great front desk staff but it also has best instructors you can get in the state. This is coming from former student of this amazing establishment.
Positive experience: This school offers high quality instruction and the convenience of a remote classes; however they offer insufficient opportunities for students to complete their required drives during the course. Students should not expect to be able to schedule all of the required drives until at least a few months beyond the conclusion of classes. I would give a five-star rating if the school offered students an opportunity to complete the required drives during the scheduled course period.
Hi Amanda, Thank you for your review. I understand we are backed up on drives and apologize for that. We are actively hiring more instructors. I don't understand your frustration though, considering your daughter does have drives scheduled and she is not able to get her license until next September. The course is not designed to have everyone done within the 5 week class portion of the course. It does state this several times on our website. If you would like to discuss this further please call the school and ask to talk with the owner. Thank you
Fantastic experience: My older son went to a different driving school and had a horrible experience. 911 has been amazing for my younger son. Highly skilled instructors that relate well to the students. They are appropriately firm while empowering them with skills rather than fear that causes anxiety. Highly recommend them
Negative experience: The instructor literally nit picked my son on his skills test and failed him by 4 points. Her scoring didn't make any sense to me and marked him for not doing stuff that he did do. She marked him off for not coming to a complete stop when he pulled out of the parking spot and I saw him stop completely but she didn't want to hear it. My opinion they purposely fail you the first time so they can collect another fee from you because you have to pay each time to go. Pretty dang sad when a company has to take advantage of a 19 year old. If you have the option I highly recommend going some where else.
I'm sorry you feel this way. We are a reputable business and would never fail someone to just get more money from them. We are contracted by the State of Washington to administer skills tests and we have strict criteria on which to test applicants. We have to adhere to those requirements. As a school we are audited by the State once a year and our examiner's are also subject to yearly audits to test their grading skills. I will have our manager give you a call to discuss your son's skills test further
Fantastic experience: I had a drive test for the dol office at Lackwood for November 22. I figured it was to far ahead so I scheduled an appointment for my drive test hear. After my first appointment she said I was qualified to pay for my license the next day. I had a great experience with them.
Negative experience: As far as testing goes, I am horrible at taking tests and have always struggled usually needing make-ups, re-dos, or tests administered in different ways. I took the knowledge test twice and failed, I accept that. However, both times when I was informed I failed, I was never shown what I missed so I left with no idea what I need to improve on. I understand the goal is to have safe and knowledgeable drivers on the road but that can only happen when given the opportunity to learn from mistakes. Also, my results from the second attempt were said out loud in front of the other testers and I find that to be very inappropriate and unprofessional. I tested with the same person both times and felt he did a good job, but it’s the lack of transparency of test results and the unprofessional way my results were announced are the reasons why I'm leaving 1 star
Mr. Martin, I am sorry that you experienced this. We are a contractor of DOL to administer the testing. They do not allow us to show the applicants the test questions that were answered incorrectly. I agree that your results should not have been announced in front of others and we will be looking into this and making sure that does not happen again. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call and ask to speak to a manager or owner.
Negative experience: The 911 car breaks are so hard to press on its almost impossible to come to an easy stop. Rude customer service aswell. I can see why people were complaining about the car breaks and see why the ratings are low. I went to another driving school and passed breaks were not tight like 911 and instructor at the other school was nice and they had good customer service I suggest going to freedom driving there way better then driver 911
Fantastic experience: Had a great experience. The people in the office were nice so was the driving Instructor.
Fantastic experience: I had a great experience with this driving school. I had Dan Hanes as my driving instructor. He was extremely professional and patient with helping me overcome my driving anxiety! Thanks to him I am now comfortable and confident driving. Highly recommend.
Negative experience: Very impersonal, front desk staff seeming put out assisting anyone. As I waited for my child to finish her written test, I witnessed staff more interested discussing parties, checking cell phones, and smugly laughing, rolling their eyes as people left. An automated kiosk would have been more helpful than these folks. This really should be a single star except for one of the driving instructors stopping outside and taking time to answer a few questions I had. This is the second 911 Driving School location I have experienced this type of behavior with staff. Pretty solid, last impression asking what did I pay for here?
Negative experience: I had 3 different drive instructors who where amazing and extremely helpful, they where also extremely positive. Unfortunately i took my drivers test with someone else who acted very unprofessional and EXTREMELY rude. I didn’t mind failing but I did care about how I was treated as many rude commentaries where made
Guadalupe, the test is different than a drive during the drivers education course. During the education course we are in "training mode" and doing everything we can to help you learn drivers education. The skills test is a DOL sanctioned test with strict guidelines. We are just scoring the test and then giving the results of the test at the end, (explaining what happened and why it was scored). We are not allowed to help or coach applicants. We have reviewed the video of your drive test. We would like to sit down with you and your parents and watch the video of the test because we feel this review is unfair compared to what actually happened, which was all recorded. Please let us know when a good time to do that is.
Fantastic experience: The course did a great job exposing learners to the myriad of dangers on the road, providing a strong incentive to drive safely for the protection of yourself and others.
Thank you for the review. Safe driving!
Fantastic experience: This is a very professional place. Shannon was amazing and clear with her instructions. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone.
Thank you for leaving a review. We appreciate your recommendations. Drive safe!
Fantastic experience: This was a good place. Worth the money. The lady was a nice polite person and told the directions clearly and when asked to repeat she gladly did. This is the best option to go with.
Positive experience: This is a great drivers education program! I have now sent 2 kids thru the program and I have not been disappointed. Both the class instructors and the drive instructors have been fantastic! The office staff is great and can answer any questions you throw at them, and I have thrown many.
Thank you for leaving a review. We are so glad you and your children have had great experiences with our school. Let us know if you need anything.
Fantastic experience: I highly recommend this place!! I had a great experience, all the employees are super nice and helpful.
Negative experience: The instructor (older gentleman) is extremely condescending and disrespectful. Reading all these reviews makes me think the company truly does not care about their customers because they continue to allow this employee to behave the way he does. For a company mostly working with children, this establishment is absolute trash. Be better.
Mrs. Digiovanni, we are sorry you had a bad experience. The gentleman you speak is no longer doing skills testing with us. But we would like to review your test. We have cameras inside our vehicles that record outside, inside and audio. We attempted to find a test(s) that you took at our school and have no record of your name associated with testing at our location. Can you provide a date and time so we can review the test? Or you can call the school (253-566-9111) and ask to speak to an owner and I will get beck to you.
Fantastic experience: Really good experience taking the WA state Written/Knowledge drivers license test here. Appointment made by phone and had openings to take test almost immediately (Within days!). Process for the test is simple, covid measures are in place for distancing. The room for taking it is comfortable, quiet and monitored by instructor. The results are shown to you outside and you are on your way. Staff was friendly, courteous and efficient. So much better than past DMV office experiences.
Fantastic experience: Very professional business! Bob, the instructor, very very professional and polite!
Fantastic experience: It was great staff was very friendly and accommodating
Negative experience: STOP DO NOT SPEND YOUR MONEY HERE The driving Instructor (white elderly tall man) extremely rude , impolite and nervous. Worst place to take a driving test. And also at the front desk a lady (young and white woman) was very rude and unfriendly.
Fantastic experience: It was a good experience everyone was friendly and helpful I took my knowledge and drives test here when I failed the first time they were very helpful in finding me resources to practice so I’d be ready to retake it they also gave me very informative feedback as to what I did wrong and how to correct it and build good driving habits
Negative experience: Dennis was very unprofessional & belittling from the start before we even got in the car it was obvious he wasn’t having a good day & he was late.
Negative experience: Instructor (elderly tall white man) was very impolite ، rude and nervous.
Fantastic experience: Everyone working there was very kind and helpful. Thank you!
Thank you for the kind review.
Fantastic experience: I had a great experience with both the knowledge and skills test. Regardless of the outcome, they will explain to you the points that you missed so you know what you need to work on to further improve your driving. Fortunately, I passed the skills test on my first try. The instructor explained everything very well and was polite. Although I wasn’t able to get a private lesson before my skills test (due to current restrictions), I would highly recommend this location for anyone who’s looking for a place to learn and test.
Chau, thank you for the review. Rarely do customers who pass the testing leave reviews. We are so glad you passed your tests and had a great experience. Unfortunately some people who fail the test because they have no training, blame us for their failure. Because of low staffing from Covid, we have stopped doing private drives. But we are happy to announce that we are starting private drives again for those that would like training prior to testing. Again, thank you and drive safe!
Negative experience: Not happy with the driving test. Took my son to the street and no even take him for a test in the first stop my son was told to go back and failed. There's no marks on what was good or bad. They have to circulate
Anibal, on the test sheet picture you posted it shows at the bottom of the sheet why there was a failure of the test and it states what happened. Your son did not fully stop for a stop sign which is a violation of law. Per DOL rules for the test, there are 5 laws that if violated during the test, we must immediately return to the school and not continue on with the test. This is not our policy but the rules set by DOL for us to administer the test. Not fully stopping for a stop sign or red light is one of the 5 laws that we must end the test if it happens. Your son did this at the start of the test, that is why nothing is circled, because the test was over at that point. I hope this answers your questions. Hopefully your son gets practice and does better next time.
Negative experience: STOP DO NOT SPEND YOUR MONEY HERE everyone I interacted with at this unprofessional, dismal business was Incredibly Rude. Took my drive knowledge test here and had paid for my first lesson. Wouldn't allow me to reschedule when my hard copy permit didn't arrive in time and kept my money. Laughed me out of the office for asking. I have NEVER gone through the trouble of posting a negative review for any other business, and wouldn't have for this one, if it hadn't been for the blatantly contemptuous way I was treated by every person I interacted with here. Please trust me and go somewhere else.
Fantastic experience: Bob He is so NICE Driver Instructor!! All the 911 Staff in here are nice and welcoming!! % Recommended this Driving school!! Thank you all especially Jim and Bob!! God bless you all!!
Negative experience: Dennis (white elderly tall man) was quite unprofessional. We explained we had a 1030 appointment. The first thing he did was point at the clock and stated that we were late. We explained that we called the receptionist, but was placed on hold twice. Instead of informing customers professionally in a professional tone, Dennis continued to raise his voice and talked to us in a condescending and demeaning way. We felt like he did not care about what we had to say. If we had made contact with the receptionist, it would've been more convenient, instead of having to drive 17 miles.
Negative experience: The driving instructor here (white elderly tall man) got frustrated at me and belittled me and caused me to have so much anxiety I failed the test. Passed first time in lakewood with a very nice redhead lady. I would suggest asking for her instead. He also marked me down for turning my wheels the wrong way on a hill (which I did not), I got 74. Seemed mysogynistic.
Positive experience: Amazing service, walked right in and got in line for my appointment. Thank so much.
Fantastic experience: We just completed the whole learn to drive process for my second teenage driver and 911 Driving School in Tacoma has been fantastic the whole way through. The classes and lessons were all very clear and thorough and the guidance during driving practice was very direct and thorough. Even through the whole pandemic the school has been great about communicating changes and following through with strong safety protocols to keep everyone safe. I really appreciate the dedication of the instructors in the classroom and the instructors on the road and I would strongly recommend them.
Negative experience: Never never never be here again, I don't suggest anybody to come this place. They try do find a way to fail you on the driving test. The instructor was on bad attitude, high five..Thank you for ripping off people's money.
Negative experience: It has some hard examiners.
Fantastic experience: I applied to this organization for driving practice. Only positive emotions remained. The employee of this organization Ulyana helped a lot. She listened to me and helped me with my questions and provided me with a good instructor Bob. Thank you so much!
Cassius, thank you for taking the time to give us a review. Stay safe!
Fantastic experience: This is an honest opinion. By far one of the best School I have ever been to. Stuffs are very friendly and cooperative. I definitely suggest this school for the first choice.
Thank you for your feedback and kind words.
Fantastic experience: Good friendly staff. Good prices, highly recommend.
Fantastic experience: They do a really good job in the virtual instruction, especially having to scramble with the closures during COVID. Front office was aways really helpful and the drivers were awesome with my daughter.
Fantastic experience: The instructors are very nice, they help you understand everything you need to before you have your test! I would recommend going there for drivers ed! i feel like i wouldnt know as much as i do without them!
Fantastic experience: Very professional place.i was very nervous to take my test..but my instructor made me feel comfortable and thanks to 911 driving I now have my license.i friend referred me and I will definitely do the same.
Fantastic experience: Updated review: This place is absolutely AMAZING! I took both my written & driving tests here, and the instructor I had was the same for both. He is super understanding, and made me feel more comfortable about taking my driving test today. I highly reccomend this place to anyone needing to take their test. He understands that its nerve wracking, and helps to make u feel more comfortable. Thank you 911 driving school. For the 1st time in 37 years I am going to be a licensed driver, you're amazing!!!
Negative experience: Just waste time to come here... and waste money.. I'm disappointed with this place.. they try robbed your money in here..
I would like to talk to you regarding your complaint. We do not have a record of your name in our system. Please call.me at 253-230-2401 to discus this futher.
Negative experience: Instructors were rude and like to raise their voice when driver doesn't understand directions. Worst place to take a drivers test.
Fantastic experience: My son had an excellent experience at the 911 Driving School on Pearl street. Everyone was very friendly and professional. Highly recommend this school to all my friends and family.
Fantastic experience: I recently put two children through the 911 driving school, they were very professional and both of my children excellent driver. The classroom and the road time gave both of my kids confidence to be successful drivers
Fantastic experience: learned from the best
Negative experience: Had my driving test today, I did not like my instructor from the beginning he was rud and yelled at me. He did not make me feel comfortable.
Negative experience: Worst customer service of all time. The people at the front desk are unfriendly, unhelpful, and rude if you bother them by asking questions. I can't believe this place stays in buisness. Their organization and systems are poor and require parents to stand around for extended periods just to pay or ask questions.
Negative experience: had to do driving test multiple times with rude instructors (one of them stared weirdly at me). they talked rudely behind my back ( i know because someone told me). i also felt very unwelcome when doing the driving tests. it seems like the driver instructors do not try hard enough and do not care enough about their job. waste of money for sure. they try to take as much as they can. the desk ladies are alright.
Positive experience: I spoke to a lady Jennifer this morning about my knowledge test. She answered the phone before they opened and was very kind and feiendly in helping me figure out if it was still valid or not. She gave me all the information I needed BEFORE they opened. Great employee and made things easy and painless for me!!
Negative experience: I recommend to get a private driving lesson from here, but not the road test. I actually got a private driving lesson for 1 hour about a week ago and I never had a problem with the school car (that had 911 mark on it) at that time. However, when I took a road test, I drove with the school car (that doesn't have 911 mark on it) and failed on it due to violation law. The car (no 911 mark) that I drove for the road test was really weird; the brake and handle were difficult to control. While I was taking the road test, the instructor stopped me and reasoned that I had not fully step on the brake in front of the stop line. Also, he SHOWED his motion that his body should moved forward and backward if I am stepping on the brake properly. The ridiculous thing is that their paper (which is in front task) mentioned if I can stop the car smoothly, but the instructor told me to stop roughly. In addition, the instructor was really emotional to me by saying that he is okay that I am taking road test from OTHER driving school (I never said anything about other driving school to him) and he pointed out that his job was a police officer. This is my first time that I gave one star in the google review and it was very horrible experience.
Negative experience: Went here to take my drive test here the other day. The instructor made me feel uncomfortable, rudly gave instructions, yelled at me in the middle of an intersection nearly getting us both killed, was disrespectful and unhelpful with his “helpful advice” at the end of our drive, lied about things I didn’t get right on my end score sheet (someone saw me do things he said I didn’t), gave me a 60 end score, and didn’t even let me finish the test. I then the very next morning went to another drive school and passed my test with an 88. I failed not because of my lack of skill, but because of the lack of complete f*cks the instructor gave.
Fantastic experience: Tom is the best instructor makes drives easy and is fun
Fantastic experience: I got such a good instructor❤ so nice in telling me how I could do better.
Fantastic experience: Taught by police officers and a great way to learn how to drive.
Fantastic experience: Denis was my examiner and he was very helpful and courteous. All of the instructors are wonderful as well. I worked with both James and Jim before taking the test, and they both prepared me for everything I needed to know. If you fail the first time, it is okay, because Dennis explains why you failed and helps you know exactly what you need to work on to pass your next driving test. He is great! I highly recommend this place.
Thank you for your feed back. We are glad you had a great experience.
Fantastic experience: I recommend 911 Driving School in Tacoma 100%. Dennis was working alone today as the person responsible for the knowledge test as well as the driving skills test. He was kind, professional, relaxed patient and calm for both parts of the test. He administered the driving test in a way that put me at ease and decreased my nerves a considerable amount. I really appreciated him. I did not get the secretary’s name but she was also very professional and patient with all of the folks wanting to test as well as the several people who called on the phone. Even though there was only one person available to test today, I arrived at 12:50 and was done by 2:45.
Positive experience: If you do are having difficulty driving, are a parent/guardian without a vehicle, or are simply stumped, 911 Driving might be a fine solution. Otherwise, I may recommend other options. I signed up for standard classes: 15 days of classes that were three days a week for two hours, and five drives for a total of around $600. I feel like my education was fairly comprehensive, though - and this by no means the fault of our instructor: Officer Dwight (he was very patient, informative, and helpful) - I wouldn't say it was worth the price. The classes overall felt like a YouTube video you had to watch in person. You could write everything that ended-up graded on some note cards and still have over half the pack left. The rules of the road are many, but not complex. Our group managed to finish all of the signed material early, and then the review activities as well. Despite this, we were still contractually obligated to stay in the class for anywhere between twenty to thirty minutes, with one class ending an hour early while we had to stay anyways. As for the instructors: they're not bad. I'm not too outstanding of a motorist, and my instructor remarked on as much during my first lesson. Some may find the berating of all millennial less endearing than I did. Overall, however, they were much like the classroom teacher. They had the patience to deal with me not exceeding five miles per hour for a decent duration of the hour and a half lesson, and the encouragement needed to get me and my white knuckles to cross a road. It was a big improvement for someone who hadn't started a car until that same day. The real issues came with scheduling. Had it happened to one friend, I would have shrugged it off. However, I've had multiple friends who clicked a wrong button or fixed a hasty mistake only to be charged $40 for it. A night drive is required, though two of my friends were apparently called and told to get to the school for their unscheduled surprise night drive, which may not play well with some schedules. Once again and overall: I don't believe this school is for everyone. If a friend or family member has the free time, proper amount of wheels, and access to Google, they'd certainly be the cheaper option. However, individuals less fortunate or in need of a different educational environment may be able to justify the cost.
Positive experience: Dwite was an absolute baller his lessons were instructional and engaging and his knowledge of the road and law application were phenomenal and his lessons truly prepare you to be on the road!
Fantastic experience: Dwight was a great instructor for our class very to the point and fun. All the driving instructors were kinda are there for your improvement I have zero complaints.
Fantastic experience: James is the best super funny! Dwight is amazing and makes class super fun.
Negative experience: I dint like her, she yelling at me maybe coz am black....
Fantastic experience: Tom Arnold was a very good instructor who taught me very well on my second drive! I would like to also mention that Dwight was the best teacher and he made learning about driving fun!
Thank you for the review. We are glad you had a great experience.
Fantastic experience: Excellent. Very patient and informative!!
Thank you for the review.
Fantastic experience: alex did great with 911 and passed on the first try!
We are so glad to hear he learned from our class and his DOL test confirmed that. Thank you for the review.
Fantastic experience: Great course, detailed and fun at the same time. Dwight is a dude
Thank you for the review!
Fantastic experience: Dwight is a very great instructor who was fun and enjoyable. Everyone in my class can agree
Brian, we agree also with your review.
Fantastic experience: Dwight is the best.
Thank you for the review Olivia.
Fantastic experience: Mr. Dwight is a very great instructor I'm definitely taking my kids here.
Thank you for the review. I will pass this on to Dwight.
Fantastic experience: I absolutely love this school, the school provides great information for all students. In class learning allows you to take the information further on the road. Teachers and staff are very friendly and provide you with a great learning experience. I would highly recommend to anybody who is looking to further their driving education, it’s pricy but in my experience it’s totally worth it.
Addy, thank you for the great review.
Fantastic experience: Everyone I talked to said that 911 was the best driver's training, even the lady at the DOL I got my permit from said so, and they were completely right. The lessons are so organized and easy to understand. The instructors really care about what they teach and showing students how to be safe in the car. I found it really helpful, and I think everyone should go through this course no matter how old you are, because it puts you in the right mindset. I definitely recommend this school to everyone who wants to drive, it is %100 worth the money.
Kaitlin, thank you for the review. You are spot on about everyone should go through drivers training.
Fantastic experience: Great place and awesome staff. I would recommend this place if you want to visit the DMV as least as possible if you want to do the state testing. The walk-in state testing is great but it could get a little slow sometimes waiting for an instructor to take you out for the driving test or to take you in for the knowledge test. Other than the wait time, which is expected everything went perfectly well.
Negative experience: Went to take my driving test yesterday and they tried to tell me that i had to take my knowledge test again even though i showed them my valid permit that i had got from them last year. They said they had no record of me taking a test there. I had recently got my name change and had to change my name on my permit but, that shouldnt have been a problem. I even showed them the one with my old name on it and they still said they had no record of me taking the knowledge test there. Turns out when they entered my info into theyre computer they put the wrong birth date. When i finally got that cleared up next they said i couldnt take my driving test because my insurance was expired. Which it doesnt expire until september 23rd. The driving instructor refused to call me by my legal name. Even after i told him four times that that wasnt my name. Even before i started driving he was marking points off on the clip board. I got docked points because i looked both ways before turning on a green light. He yelled at me to just go and that i didnt need to look because the light was green. I got docked points because i was going around a corner backwards and didnt go when he told me to because there was a couple and theyre dogs crossing the street. He told me when i was going around the corner that i turned too wide and he almost had to automatically fail me but that wasnt the case. He handed me the paper from the test and told me everything i did wrong. Then said I could go to a driving school and "REALLY" know how to drive if i could afford it. When he got out of the car he was really smug like ha ha i failed her. Then proceeded to tell my boyfriend a completely different story than he told me. He told him that i was just sitting at the green light to turn not doing anything and that he had to tell me to go. Told him i almost hit a curb while turning backward around the corner when he told me i was nowhere close to curb. That i was driving down the middle of the road when i was turning on a two lane road which wasnt the case at all. Told me i didnt look enough when changing lanes even though i looked in every mirror and behind me twice before changing lanes. I got docked points for not turning the wheels the right way on a hill to park even though i double checked after the test in the dol handbook. turns out i had the wheels turned the right way. Over all i will never go here again and ill tell everybody i know about my experience. I dont feel like i was fairly judged and i feel like they were setting me up for failure before i even took the test.
Ms. Enigma, I'm sorry you feel this way. Maybe I can explain some of your concerns. I looked into your test and spoke to front desk staff and Examiners regarding the incident. We can not enter wrong dates of birth into the DOL system (that's the program we use to look up applicants). It only uses PIC numbers to locate an applicants file. Our front desk staff discovered that you had 3 PIC numbers, one with your current name, 1 with your old name, and another that was created with the wrong date of birth. We have never refused to take someone on a drive test that has Proof of current insurance unless the the car doesn't pass the safety inspection. The Instructor had to use your old name on the testing forms because that was the name you used to take the written test with and we cannot administer the skills test until the record shows a passing score on the knowledge test. Because your new name is not linked to your old name, we had to use your old name for the test so it would show the knowledge test and the skills test. You can request that DOL link your two names. The Examines are not allowed to have conversation during the test with applicants other than to clarify instructions. It may seem rude, but it is so the applicant is not distracted. As far as discussing the actual events on the test; I would be glad to discuss that with you as I have reviewed your score sheet. Our Examiners are highly trained and audited yearly (meaning going through a mock test with a DOL Auditor or Master Examiner). Some people who are just learning to drive may not understand all of the scoring requirements for the driving test.
Fantastic experience: Great place to learn and prepare for the knowledge test. I’ve taken many online tests and I learned and comprehended much more from the class than online. Instructor was patient, engaging, and descriptive when teaching. All my practice drives that I’ve taken so far have been enjoyable. Driving instructors are patient and don’t make you feel stressed/anxious as long as you have a positive attitude and are open to constructive criticism. I haven’t taken the driving test yet, but the practice drives have been a great way to boost my driving skills and my confidence. Good attitude and effort gets you a good outcome.
Fantastic experience: Great teaching and great experience
Fantastic experience: 911 DRIVING SCHOOL IS THE PLACE TO GO FOR DRIVER'S ED! I was EXTREMELY pleased with the course. While I was doing the course, I could immediately tell that all of the instructors were trying their hardest to work with the students to develop the right skills that will last a lifetime to keep everyone safe on the road. The teachers and instructors were supportive, educational, effective, and generally fun to be around! An important part about the course that I really appreciate is that by using statistics and real events from the police officers' past experiences, the school highlights the legitimate dangers of driving and communicates ways to stay safe on the road and avoid hazardous situations. Getting hit with the facts in class may seem a bit scary in the moment, but what the teachers are doing is giving students the knowledge everyone needs to be safe on the road. Telling students the dangerous part of driving is all about being appropriately aware of the risks when you get behind the wheel. They're not trying to make you or your child a nervous wreck, I swear! The instructors on the 5 required drives with the school were fantastic. They gave easy instructions while I was actually in the car with them and provided me with ways to improve my driving to use while I was practicing at home. One of the best part about learning to drive with 911 is that all the instructors were police officers so they really knew what they were talking about. I would definitely recommend going to this school to learn to be a safe driver. 911 Driving School gives you all the tools you need to pass the course along with your subsequent DOL tests because I have finished the course and I'm preparing to take my written test very soon! I would definitely recommend this school! (Summer 2018) Update 1: The process for doing my written test was very orderly and the experience was very easy and straight forward. There wasn't a bad wait. Update 2 (2019): I went back in May for my skills test. The staff was friendly. I didn't mind the wait too much and it wasn't that long. I didn't use a 911 vehicle. The instructor with me during the test was nice to me. She didn't talk to me, as to be expected, since it's policy and they're there to judge peoples' driving, not make conversation. We did have good interactions before and after the test. Even though we didn't have much conversation/casual interaction, I felt like she was supportive and kind. I would still recommend 911!
Cady, thank you for the wonderful review. Well said and I'm glad we are getting the point across to students about the importance of learning safe driving.
Fantastic experience: I am so glad that I came to 911 driving school for drivers ed! Both the classroom education and the drives were very informative. The instructors are all very helpful. They helped me feel much more comfortable behind the wheel. They focus all of their teaching on safety and helping to make us all informed and responsible drivers. I am/will be recommending 911 driving school to everyone I know who is looking into drivers ed. Thank you again Jeff and all of the staff at 911 driving school for giving me an amazing drivers ed experience! You guys exceeded all of my and my families expectations! Thank you!
Anna, thank you so much for the great review. We are so happy that you had such a great experience. As you know; you can always come back for questions or just to check in. Safe Driving!
Fantastic experience: Amazing driving school! Wouldn’t want to go anywhere else and I definitely learned more than I thought I would. Instructors are super cool and friendly plus they have really interesting stories :)
Thank you for the great review Kate.
Fantastic experience: This school is super great. The classes are really informative and the people that work here are super helpful. The drives with the instructor was also really nice as it lessened my fears of driving. It doesn't deserve all the negative reviews from angry people
Emma, thank you for your great review. Some of the angry people are upset about failing the drive test. We are glad you took the time to learn to drive the right way. Drive safe!
Negative experience: Condescending examiner. After failing my test he proceed to belittle me and talked to me like I was 12. My bad review is not about passing or not; I understand that WA has very strict rules about it. My complain is about the entitlement this gentleman has about the "power" he holds, and so he feels compelled to make you feel like a complete, powerless idiot. He certainly enjoys his power trip.
Fantastic experience: This school is awesome! The instructors were great, the classes were not boring, and I didn’t feel that stressed on drives. All of the instructors are highly qualified as they were/are cops. I would 100% recommend to anyone looking for a good driving school!
Carter, thank you for the review and thank you for choosing our school. Be safe.
Fantastic experience: I just want to start off by saying that alot of the reviews on here are simply not true. I just finished my driving course today and it was an amazing experience. I learned so much from the instructors and it is so worth the money! Alot of the low reviews come from people that didn't put in any work to even attempt to learn how to drive and I feel sorry for them because they missed out on a great opportunity and experience! Thank You for everything you guys have taught me!
Andrew, thank you so much for your review and we appreciate your honest opinion. That type of attitude will get you very far in life. Way to work toward being a safe and responsible driver.
Fantastic experience: Overall this class course and all the drives were very helpful. On the drives my instructor was very nice and had left me certain notes and was very helpful with pointing out what i needed to work on. On the drives i had the same instructor which was very helpful and nice that i didnt have to get used to anither person . The driving instructor i had knew everything i needed to work on and saw the improvements or would make a note and say to practice more . The class are 2 hours which you take notes in and you have 4 tests , which i really liked because it would help me to prepare for what to look out for while driving and what there was going to be on the test . Then there is a 20 minute simulation of driving as well , the only thing i would change about that would be to update what the simulation looked like but other than that the driving school and instructors were great and helped a lot .
Ev, thank you so much for the feedback. We always loof on how to improve the course. Drive Safe!
Fantastic experience: Great driving school with professional and passionate instructors!
Ella, Thank you for the review. We are glad you had a good experience. Drive Safely.
Fantastic experience: Great instructors, helpful and kind staff. Highly recomend!!
Thank you for the review!
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