Phil's Driving School
Phil's Driving School has been serving the greater New Haven area since 1948. We are committed to road safety and strive to ensure that our graduates learn to be courteous and prepared while operating motor vehicles. We are dedicated to the education of safety conscious and courteous drivers in Connecticut.
With experience and patience, we prepare our student drivers for the Connecticut Permit Knowledge Exam and Behind the Wheel Road Skills Test. Our extensive training programs familiarize first-time drivers with typical road traffic situations, and provide them with rigorous safety instructions to prepare them for a possible emergency.
Opening hours
- sunday: (closed)
- monday: 10h-16h
- tuesday: (closed)
- wednesday: 10h-16h
- thursday: (closed)
- friday: 10h-16h
- saturday: (closed)
Photos of Phil's Driving School
Our comment from DrivingSchools.Directory about Phil's Driving School:
Phil's Driving School offers a mix of driving lessons with various instructors, resulting in a varied experience for students. Many reviews highlight the excellent quality of instruction from specific instructors like Victor, Gary, and Casey, who have been praised for their patience, knowledge, and ability to put students at ease. Students have noted that they appreciate the school’s accommodating scheduling and clean vehicles.
However, some students have reported issues with unprofessional behavior from certain instructors, including making inappropriate comments and being easily distracted during lessons. Additionally, there have been complaints about the organization of scheduling, with some clients experiencing confusion regarding their test appointments.
Despite these concerns, many students successfully pass their driving tests and have positive experiences, often citing the school's supportive environment and helpful staff as significant assets. Overall, Phil's Driving School is recognized for its strengths in teaching with a few areas needing improvement for a more consistent experience.
- Outstanding instructors like Victor and Casey who provide valuable tips and support.
- The school offers a flexible schedule and well-maintained vehicles.
- Many students report a positive outcome, passing their driving tests on the first attempt.
Phil's Driving School: Reviews
The most recent reviews on Google
Negative experience: Phil’s driving school is very unprofessional and unorganized. I was scheduled to have a test today and they chose to tell me at the time of my test that I am not on the schedule. They also informed me that there was nothing I can do about it even though I already did my 2 hours practice prior. Cassie took me off the driving test scheduling without informing me. I would also like to add that one of the instructions was very unprofessional and made me feel uncomfortable. He made very weird comments and I was informed by another instructor that he constantly makes inappropriate comments to students. Do not go to this school.
Thank you for leaving the review. We will look into this for you. It looks like your test and the two driving hours was scheduled without being paid for which is why you were not on the schedule for the test. It looks like one of our office workers may have scheduled you without payment which is not our normal practice. It looks like we fell short on meeting your expectations which we would normally refund you for if a payment had been made. We are happy to help reschedule your road test for you or if you are unhappy with the service we provided you recommend another school for you in the area. I would also offer you to drive two hours behind wheel (with me) and still offer the road test which I will pay for myself to you due to the office employee error. You can email me at [email protected] if you would like to schedule any of that, but I also understand if you'd like to go somewhere else.
Negative experience: My daughter test was scheduled for April 9th. She was removed from the testing sheet by the owner Casey Hubelblank without being notified by anyone, until she arrived. I spoke with Shirley Hally, who informed me that technically, Ms/Mrs. Hubelblank was not supposed to to remove her unless they notified her. Shirley, then decides to say she is going to sent my daughter to a much further location and if they can’t get her scheduled in time, then my daughter will just have to retake her permit test, which would be an additional costs to her. Shirley then made it personal, by starting to point out that my daughter waited too long to come get her test and when I said she is young and driving on unfamiliar roads could be scary, she became rude. She even made a comment that “this has nothing to do with my daughter’s race,” and no one brought race up! She threw everyone in the building under the bus except herself. I would never recommend this place if it was the last place on earth. And they have an instructor who they admitted to getting complaints of him being in appropriate, driving with my daughter and doing just that. I’m gonna file a complaint with Motor Vehicle and Better Business Bureau.
Thank you for leaving the review. We will look into this for you. It looks like your test and the two driving hours was scheduled without being paid for which is why you were not on the schedule for the test. It looks like one of our office workers may have scheduled you without payment which is not our normal practice. It looks like we fell short on meeting your expectations which we would normally refund you for if a payment had been made. We are happy to help reschedule your road test for you or if you are unhappy with the service we provided you recommend another school for you in the area. I would also offer you to drive two hours behind wheel (with me) and still offer the road test which I will pay for myself to you due to the office employee error. You can email me at [email protected] if you would like to schedule any of that, but I also understand if you'd like to go somewhere else.
Negative experience: Unprofessional on road instructor.Made unnecessary comments,vapes and distracting.Sceen employees better..Gary
Fantastic experience: I had three lessons with Victor, and he was outstanding! Excellent instructor and could communicate well what he was teaching. Very polite and friendly, as well. I strongly recommend him and Phil's Driving School. Best, Nazli (c/o Chas)
Negative experience: I can agree with others in saying that this driving school is not at all a good option for new drivers. This school will not properly prep you to pass your exam. The instructor I drove with made random and offensive comments throughout the entire lesson. He also vapes excessively. He does not value time management. He stops frequently for bathroom, smoke, and gas station breaks. Taking time away from a paid lesson. Not to mention the unprofessional comments and rudeness he displays.He even admitted himself that he goes overboard. Even Casey the owner is quite stoic in person. I urge you NOT to attend this school if you want to succeed and become a confident driver.
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