Bay Area Driving Academy

Fantastic experience: Had a great experience with Clifton, very punctual and helpful. Gave great pointers before the test!

Fantastic experience: Very professional driving school with clear processes. Forest is such an amazing trainer! I had taken 1 lesson from her last year and when I wanted to take 5 more learning sessions this year, I specifically looked for her availability and booked 5 sessions for 2 months later when she had slots available, and it paid off! Got my license! Forest is a great teacher. She observes the student's driving style and gives very pointed feedback, which really helps a lot in building your confidence. Also she's very calm and composed no matter how you are driving. Has a great ability to tell you your mistake and how to work on it while not making you feel like you are a bad driver. She also let me drive in hilly areas and at very high speed on the freeway. These things really helped me gain a lot of confidence. Will 100% recommend Forest to anyone who wants to learn driving. P.S. I wasn't just learning how to drive in the states, but was learning how to drive from scratch. So if I could do it, you can too.

Fantastic experience: Passed the driving test. Very grateful to the instruction by Forest and Leroy. They are experienced and patient. Wonderful people.

Fantastic experience: Instructor Forest was excellent! I was a very nervous driver and she was very patient, helpful and she helped me feel confident. Her teaching style is kind and supportive. She was especially good at helping me face my fears through implementation and I'm really glad she was my instructor.

Fantastic experience: No issues. Did 16 hours with instructor Forest, and the test day assist with Clifton. Went from zero experience to passing the driving test and she was patient the whole time (and was good at not letting her stress show when I was doing questionable maneuvers), and had a lot of good tips. The cars were in good condition, and all compact honda civics which was good for learning on.

Fantastic experience: Clifton helped me pass my driving test today! Clifton prepared me and gave me some key tips and pointers as well as helped me practice some key parts of the test while emphasizing what I could work on and what is something that could cause a critical error! Was amazing! Recommended if u wanna pass!

Fantastic experience: I had 4 classes and 1 test day assist course from Bay Area driving school, and i passed my behind-the-wheel test with PERFECT score!! Special thanks to Forest for teaching me how to safely drive in various situations other than just the test routes (i.e., curvy mountain driving, high-way driving) — this really helped me build the confidence! Also thanks a lot to Leroy for the final reminders / tips during the test day assist course — these tips really helped me out! I highly recommend them!

Fantastic experience: Even though I had gotten my drivers license 20+ years ago in New York City, I never ended up getting a car or driving there. So I was quite nervous about driving when I moved to the Bay Area and I put it off for a few years. I was turned on to Bay Area Driving Academy by a friend whose two kids had great experiences learning to drive with them. I took several refresher sessions with Carrie, Ryane and Leroy and I loved them all! They were all super relaxed and extremely helpful with feedback and were totally not worried about how anxious I was. We did some city and highway driving, then on our third session, Carrie had me driving through the mountains to Santa Cruz on the very curvy Route 17! That was quite the confidence booster! I really appreciated that they have the custom course that you can tailor to exactly the things you want to work on. I'd recommend these folks in a heartbeat!

Fantastic experience: Took 4 courses w/ Scott back in September of 2023. Though I didn't pass it afterwards in their car, he really helped me gain the confidence and experience to succeed later! After a 3rd attempt at the driving exam using my own car, I was able to get my license. Thanks Scott!!!

Negative experience: I had a 6 hours course package plus a 2 hours extra lesson and the test day assist course. However, i had never tried a complete test route - drive out from the dmv, finish the route, drive back to the dmv and park the car. On the test day it was the first time I actually drove out from the dmv and also drove back to dmv parking lot and I didn’t know what to expect. Also, I didn’t know that I have to park the car after the test. I was told that I don’t have to park. Finally, I didn’t know that for the pre-test checklist, I have to turn on the battery without turning on the engine first. All these things were not taught by the instructor. Finally, I completed the 6 hours course with the instructor using the car, but on test day it was a different car.

Fantastic experience: Great lesson. The instructor communicated well, was on time, and very accommodating. Immediately made me feel comfortable. I took the highway driving course and highly recommend it. Will definitely use again. Instructor Leroy was great!

Fantastic experience: My adult son just passed his driving road test yesterday. I've booked my son for 6 hours adult driving lessons with instructors Leroy and Forrest. In addition, my son took a 2 hour "Pre-Test Preparedness Course” with Instructor Forrest and she really boosted his confidence. The Bay Area Driving Academy's 5-CORE COMPETENCIES Assessment was really helpful for my son to know what he needs to work on his own time. Both instructors Leroy and Forrest were patient, friendly and knowledgeable about relaying safe driving and road tips to my son. I also want to give a shout out to Jenny at the office for being efficient on rescheduling us when things didn't work out as planned. I highly recommend learning with Bay Area Driving Academy.

Fantastic experience: Took four lessons with Scott and passed the road test using their car! Scott is a patient and supportive instructor who explains things very clearly and is very fun to talk to! The post-lesson review email they send out is also super helpful in reminding me what I learned and what I need to improve in. During test day, he accompanied me through it all and helped a lot with calming my nerves. Would 10/10 recommend

Fantastic experience: Thank you to Carrie at Bay Area Driving Academy for teaching my oldest son to drive. He just passed his driver's test!! As a parent, I appreciated the email feedback with the information on what he is doing well and what he needs to work on. Carrie was a calm and straightforward instructor. I will definitely use this driving school for my other two boys.

Fantastic experience: I relocated from India and just passed my driving test all thanks to Scott! He's patient, friendly and knowledgeable about all things driving, safety, and test day tips. The assessment notes and feedback I received post our session was very helpful. On test day Scott arrived a little earlier than the scheduled appointment and we had some time for last minute practice as well! 110% recommended.

Fantastic experience: Scott is amazing! Funny guy that really knows how to teach and build up your confidence.

Fantastic experience: thank you so much to bay area driving academy and my driving instructor, carrie. with their help, i passed my drivers license test today. carrie was very thorough, and she gave me wonderful tips for driving. i definitely recommend using this driving school. best choice i’ve ever made.

Fantastic experience: I used the Test Day Assist service for my DL test at the San Mateo DMV. Instructor David was kind, courteous, and gave great feedback. As a bonus, he was even able to take me through the majority of the DMV test route, which was excellent preparation. Would highly recommend this business!

Fantastic experience: Good driving school. I had an issue, but they resolved it.

Fantastic experience: Booked Bay Area Driving School to take me to the DMV and use their car for the exam on test day. The instructor - Scott - was fantastic. He arrived to pick me up right on time, talked me through what to expect, discussed the rules of the road with me (in comparison to Canadian driving laws) and we had enough time to practice backing up along the curb prior to the test. It was easy to book online (though available dates that matched Bay Area Driving Academy’s availability and the DMV availability were several weeks out) and I was impressed with their rates. I accidentally booked the package twice because I missed when reading the fine print that they only do DMV tests in the morning. I got a refund for my extra booking within 2 days of cancelling it without having to follow up. Overall I had a good experience with this company.

Fantastic experience: I took the Pre-Test Preparedness Course and Test Day Assist Course, which was perfect for my needs. I hadn't driven in the past 5 years so I was feeling a bit rusty, but Scott was really friendly and provided me with all of the tips and confidence I needed to get comfortable driving again. Jenny on the operations / logistics side was also very friendly and helpful. Thanks for helping me pass my behind-the-wheel test Scott and the rest of the Bay Area Driving Academy!

Fantastic experience: Thanks Bay Area Driving Academy, and more thanks to Scott. I used the behind-the-wheel service. Scott arrived 10 min early than scheduled appointment and I really appreciated it. We arrived on time for the DMV and had some time for last minute practice. 100% recommended.

Negative experience: Definitely avoid this driving school. Unprofessional instructors.

Fantastic experience: I recently moved to the Bay Area and had to do my driving test. Teresa was THE BEST at helping us get prepared on the same day of the exam. We all passed the test on the first attempt.

Fantastic experience: I have avoided getting a driver's license because I've been feeling severe anxiety about driving and safety. Carrie and the team have been incredibly patient with me. I've taken several lessons with them and I feel significantly more confident and safe on the road. I highly recommend this business if you're learning to drive or looking for a refresher.

Fantastic experience: I took a pre-test preparedness course with Carrie. She is a great instructor and taught me all the things that I needed to do to pass my dmv driving test. I passed my test a couple of days after I took the lesson! I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking to take a driving lesson.

Fantastic experience: I enrolled in pre test preparedness course with Carrie and was able to pass my behind the wheel test. She guided me well and gave me tips regarding how I will be evaluated. Furthermore she also emailed me notes after the session on where I can improve. Overall I would recommend Bay Area Driving Academy.

Fantastic experience: I took a road test prep and test day assist class with them, both went well. David gave me useful pointers for the road test and was accomodating when the wait for the road test extended beyond my 2hour slot. I really appreciated the easy scheduling and payment system as well.

Positive experience: I took two road test-prep classes with them in the week(ish) before my test. They took me around the area, explained what the lead-up to the test in the DMV would look like, and reviewed parts of the test -- turning, spacing, curbs, etc. -- with me, so by the time I actually took the test I felt much more comfortable than I would've been driving in the area for the first time! I had two instructors over my two classes and my only problem was that one of them had a habit of grabbing the wheel -- that wasn't great :(, but the other one, Carrie, was super nice, made me feel really prepared, and made sure I knew what I needed to review before the actual test.

Fantastic experience: organized and flexible instructors. Had no issues personalizing my experience to work on my needs. Carrie was very experienced and knew what details were necessary and important for passing a drivers test.

Fantastic experience: I moved from Canada and had to do a road test to get my California license. Bay Area Driving Academy had the best deal for the Test Day Assist, most other places charge a lot more. David is a great instructor and I felt really confident after 20 minutes of practice with him. The DMV was really backed up but the time went by fast chatting with him.

Fantastic experience: 10/10 will constantly recommend! I was so anxious for my road test on 1/25/22. Ryane was such an out of this world instructor who help me fine tune my skills needed to pass the road test with nearly a perfect score. I've been to several driving school and Bay Area Driving Academy is in a class of its own. THANK YOU SO MUCH !

Fantastic experience: Amazing service. I moved from Canada and needed to take the road test to get an American license. My instructor gave me a 45min test prep on the streets I would be driving on and I only missed on 2 small things. They helped me feel well prepared and I never felt nervous while driving with the examiner.

Fantastic experience: Wow. Completely blown away with my experience and the lessons I received. I drove and was taught with/by Carrie, and other members of my family have been taught by them too. The lessons were fun every time. The first day Carrie took me up to the mountains, and had me driving on big streets. It may seem daunting, but Carrie picks up well on the ability of the driver. The lessons following were just as fantastic. A huge part of what makes this company awesome is that they have genuine care for the people they are teaching. Carrie has worked with drivers of many different skill levels. If someone is uncomfortable or scared with the idea of driving Carrie would definitely help. I could have taken my driving test after the required number of lessons, but I had an extra to help and I think it genuinely did. Surprised to see some of the other reviews having trouble with communication. Carrie would text me before lessons, telling me they are coming, and I could also take the initiative to text them and ask if they were on their way, which I would receive a fast response to. Another cool part of this company is the lesson summary, that gets emailed after every lesson. It tells you how you performed on the lesson, and recommendations and comments on what to practice and improve Overall an extremely positive experience. Would definitely recommend to anyone wanting to learn to drive or review their driving skills. Shoutout Carrie!

Negative experience: No problem with instructors at all. They do their work professionally, but company’s service is out of comments! It’s not friendly and not client oriented at all! No way to reach them ever. They never call you back. Trying to cancel may lead to a huge fine, it’s your problem that you can’t get them on the phone. First they gonna decline you called at all, but after receiving screenshots they will respond a nonsense about your duty to reach them differently... ugly management for this money and for how long they keep you waiting for a lesson... Unhappy and not satisfied for the money spent! Horrible service and communication! Do not recommend!

Fantastic experience: I had a wonderful experience with the Bay Area driving academy. I had two 2 hour lessons with Carrie and I can sincerely say that I was extremely pleased with them. Carrie instantly put me at ease, gave me just the right amount of guidance while letting me learn at my own pace and the conversation was wonderful as well. Then I needed to book a car with them for my driving test at short notice after a friends car I was intending to use fell through, and Carrie and the Bay Area driving team were extremely accommodating, doing what they could to ensure they could provide me a car and instructor at short notice for my test. I passed first time after just the two lessons. I couldn't be happier. In short, lovely people, relaxed atmosphere and I would highly recommend the Bay Area Driving Academy.

Fantastic experience: Overall very good experience. They have a very simple and easy to use online system to sign up as well as reschedule. They are extremely responsive to any inquiry as well. I took my drive test assist course with instructor David in San Mateo; two hours in DMV for behind the wheel test and BOOM passed!

Fantastic experience: Teresa was an incredible instructor, and she patiently helped me work through all of my mistakes. She never hesitated to correct me and was wonderful company through the DMV process.

Fantastic experience: Had a great experience with Teresa. I used the lesson to shake off the rust after years of being licensed but not driving much. I learned a lot and had a good time!

Fantastic experience: I took a refresher lesson and test-day assist course after moving from Canada to the Bay Area. Carrie was excellent and helped me feel confident on the road test and on any California specific rules and regulations.

Fantastic experience: I took a lesson and had a Test Day Assist course with David. He was awesome and super helpful. Without going too much into detail, if you’re not sure which instructor to go with, definitely choose David! Booking the appointments was also super easy. People sometimes complain that you cannot reach driving schools by email or phone, and that’s true (my experience with 3 schools) because they get super busy, and I’ve found the texting responses of BADA to be very prompt. They also send text and email reminders of an upcoming appointment, which I found very helpful.

Fantastic experience: It was easy to sign up and the reminder system by email before each class was very helpful. My daughter took 3 sessions with Armenia and loved it. Armenia was very punctual, professional, and friendly. She helped my daughter feel comfortable and confident behind the wheel pretty quickly. BTW, we misplaced the Certification of Completion of Driving Lessons a few days before the driving test. I emailed on the weekend and Vanessa from driving school replied early on Monday to help out for the replacement, but fortunately we found the document and didn't need it. Bay Area Driving Academy is the BEST!!! Oh and my daughter passed the test the first time at San Mateo DMV known to be tough with driving tests.

Fantastic experience: I took lesson with Hassell. Passed my behind-the-wheel test with an excellent score. Hassell is the best driving instructor ever. Highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: Earning my license was long overdue. I am a NYC native and I did not really feel motivated to obtain my license until I moved out to California. Three classes and one test day assist course later, I passed my test on my first try! Thank you to Felix, Sohrab, and Hassell!

Fantastic experience: This is no doubt, one of the best and most professional driving schools! They have a clear online appointment system that lets you choose the type of lesson, time and the instructor prior to paying the fees. You also get regular reminders of upcoming lessons, that I found helpful. I was able to overcome my fear of driving and pass my test on the first try after taking 3 classes with Hassell. He is punctual, friendly and patient (even when I made critical errors on the road). I really appreciated how he went out of the way to understand WHY I made certain mistakes and suggested how to avoid them. His tips, tricks and feedback have helped not only for the road test, but for safe driving on a daily basis. I highly recommend Hassell and the Bay Area Driving Academy to anyone looking for lessons!

Fantastic experience: I was a bit skeptical about booking a class because of the reviews here but I'm so glad i did. I had Carrie as my instructor and she is absolutely amazing! I went from being nervous and not knowing how to start the car to being comfortable driving at 45! In just 2 hours, she taught me enough to pass my test. strongly recommend bay area driving academy:)

Negative experience: Unreliable and extremely unprofessional. Save your time and money and find someone else.

Fantastic experience: Our daughter took 4 lessons with Amelia (an extra one for exam prep). Amelia was an excellent instructor--very patient and thorough. The booking process on the website was easy and there were many time slots to chose from. She passed the test easily on the first try. The extra exam prep class was great, because it really gave her confidence and put her at ease with the instructor. Our older daughter, who took lessons thru a different driving school 2-3 years ago had a very difference experience. She didn't pass on the first try and did not have the preparation that Bay Area Driving Academy provided. This driving academy is definitely a stand out. Thanks!

Fantastic experience: I had a great experience with Bay Area Driving academy. I took a few lessons plus the test day assistance package. Carrie and Hassel were my instructors and I must say they are pretty good at what they do. If you are nervous about the driving test I recommend Hassel's test preparedness course where he will put you through the DMV test, complete with the DMV test scoring sheet just like the real thing. By the way, happy to report that I passed in my first attempt.

Fantastic experience: one of the best services i went to. my trainer was Hassell, one of the very nice guys, very knowledgeable and hell of a trainer. Taught me really well. truly a 5 star service this one :)

Fantastic experience: I signed up my 15 year old for lessons with Carrie & Hassell ...THEY ARE BOTH ABSOLUTELY AMAZING and excellent in teaching.My son came home excited to tell me about his lessons .He learned how to parallel park , drive in mountains and even on the freeway . Carrie and Hassell made him feel comfortable & confident in the skill of driving while promoting positive reinforcement and redirection , as a parent practicing with a 15 year old he knows proper reactions to situations and points out different things and asks questions. This shows me that he is learning to scan and pay attention and use common sense .The assesment I received is a great perk as I can see excatly what he did, needs to practice, and how well he did it .THANK YOU BAY AREA DRIVING ACADEMY FOR INSTILLING THE BEST DRIVING PRACTICES AND FOR BEING AWESOME AT WHAT YOU DO .....CARRIE AND HASSELL ..YOU ROCK ....

Fantastic experience: I took lessons from Hassell. He’s very knowledgeable and informative. He gave helpful tips that I didn't get from anyone whom I practiced with, Thanks Hassell. I also had a chance to meet Tony and Carrie. Thanks to Carrie for the Test Day Assistance. I appreciate her extended help due to delay in DMV appointment timings. A great experience overall and I passed first time. I highly recommend

Negative experience: We booked a lesson for my daughter, but the instructor never showed up. Didn't call or say why. It took almost 24 hours to get ahold of anyone who could help. And while they offered to reschedule, it wasn't for another three weeks. There are lots of other driving schools in the bay area. Choose one of those.

Fantastic experience: I took a couple lessons with Tony and a couple with Carrie before taking my road test. They we're both friendly and knowledgeable. They gave helpful tips that I didn't get from any family or friends I practiced with, and I don't think I would have passed my first time without the lessons. I highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: Teresa is the best. My son loved the experience and the process for booking online was easy and simple. Affordably price with wonderful service a major plus for this day and age.

Fantastic experience: Easy to make appointments and pay for lessons online. I had two lessons with Lourdes and she was great at giving me tips and let me know what the DMV is looking for during the driving test. I recommend!

Fantastic experience: I opted for the "Driving Test Day" option since I needed a car just for the test. Carrie was my instructor and she was friendly and has a calming presence. She went over what I can expect in the test which helped me. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience.

Fantastic experience: I would highly recommend this school. I took a couple of lessons before my behind-the-wheel test there. Instructor Teresa helped me a lot to improve my driving style and cope with the test anxiety. I followed her advice and passed the exam. The school itself offers a great service: you can book lessons online, there is a big variety of pricing options, and you can also pay either before or after the lesson. Also, the school would always remind you in advance about your upcoming lesson.

Fantastic experience: I took only 2h, my instructor was very kindly and pacient. Solve all my doubts and gave me a lot tips that I would needed for Drive test. I passed. It's was great for me!

Fantastic experience: carrie and the entire driving lesson experience was simply perfect. highly recommend this company!

Positive experience: Recommend Carrie for the lessons. She was patient in answering questions and providing enough tips to pass the test in the first shot. Also recommend practicing after lessons to better absorb them.

Negative experience: HI, 1. SHE WAS LATE TWICE, NOT ONCE. I HAVE HER MESSAGES RE THE SAME. 2. YOU SAID YOU WOULD GIVE ME A REFUND. BUT I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE IT AND I CONTACTED YOU SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT REPLY. PLEASE GIVE ME THE REFUND AS I AM SICK OF THIS TREATMENT, WASTED TIME AND ADDITIONAL MONEY I HAD TO SPEND GETTING DRIVING LESSONS ELSEWHERE. If I could give this school negative stars I would. My wife and I wrote a review on yelp (which they had taken down) after which they contacted me, supposedly to make amends. I replied and never heard back. We found this place based on yelp reviews. I took lessons from Carrie. First, they charge well above many other decent places. But we got fooled looking at the positive reviews. I have driven years ago and really wanted to get some good lessons to feel comfortable. First lesson Carrie arrived 30 minutes late. Then she barely instructed me and continued texting and using her phone while I just drove around. Next lesson she was late for 20 minutes again. And again she didn't provide any instructions and even misdirected me. And was busy with her phone. She certainly didn't prepare anything to teach me. We complained and so she came on time for the third and last lesson. 6 billed hours (out of which she wasn't even there for 1) later, I still haven't learnt a thing. When I practiced driving with my friends car my friend pointed out I was making several mistakes which she didn't even bother pointing out! We ultimately had to book lessons elsewhere after wasting money on this school. I am not sure why she decided to use the time we paid for to attend to her phone instead. I am also doubtful now of the validity of the reviews on here for her business (especially after my previous review was removed). Stay far far away! This is a lot of MONEY and TIME to waste. Plus they didn't even have the decency to return at the least the amount for the hour she simply didn't come! Terrible.

Fantastic experience: Highly recommend. Teresa made my teen feel comfortable driving during the 1st lesson, even though she had never driven a car before that day. After 2 hrs. my daughter had driven on residential and commercial streets, and an expressway (45 mph). The 2nd lesson included highway driving. During the 3rd lesson (recommended a couple weeks before actual DMV test), the instructor acted like a person giving DMV test. This includes checking that the car has working lights, turn signals, emergency/hazard lights, etc. before driver can start the driving portion of actual DMV test. And knowing how to turn on radio _without_ turning on engine. For Prius, push Start button _without pushing the brake_ , to turn on just radio. Push Start button twice to use windows and A/C. Pushing Start the 3rd time, turns everything off. My daughter also thought Teresa was funny.

Fantastic experience: Great driving school! I was 28 when I decided to finally get my driver's license (it's impossible to live in the bay area without one). I was extremely nervous and tense on my first lesson with Carrie but she diffused my stresses with her calm and laid-back demeanor. They answered all of my questions and made sure I was ready to pass my behind-the-wheel test. This is an excellent school for anyone needing to learn to drive but especially the ones who are nervous to drive.

Fantastic experience: Best Beat and Beat~~ Recoomend Instructor Teresa Only 4 hours lessons and got DL