Premier Driving Academy

Fantastic experience: Marty was a great instructor for my daughter. He helped to build her confidence and pushed her out of her comfort zone. Driving is such a huge responsibility and it was extremely helpful to have Marty’s calm demeanor while she was learning. Thank you, Marty!

Fantastic experience: I came to Premier driving with a lot of driving fear, anxiety and honestly no prior driving experience. Todd was so calm, informative, and professional. Just one month of driving with the help and instructions from Todd I felt confident to drive around town with my infant which before premier I couldn’t even make it out of my driveway without having my husband jump in the drivers seat. Something that I never thought I could do was drive on the highway and be able to do lane changes now I don’t even fear the thought! After our course finished the following week I got my license with no issues! I was amazed at how calm and collected I felt during the whole exam. Everything in the exam Todd and I had gone over enough times to make me feel worry free while performing the steps during the driving exam. I’m one happy camper and now a licensed driver! Big thanks to Premier driving academy and Todd! I would 100 percent recommend to anyone!

Fantastic experience: Marty was awesome he taught me so many valuable skills with driving and was really nice I had a lot of anxiety with driving and over the lessons was able to overcome my anxiety and learned a lot would recommend to anyone especially anyone with anxiety about driving

Fantastic experience: Great experience with Marty. My daughter was nervous to drive but was always more confident after her lessons. Great investment to help kids become better more confident drivers. Would recommend to anyone

Fantastic experience: Worth the investment. Marty Elmore was fantastic, my daughter was so comfortable training with him and she looked forward to each session. We learned the hard way with our first driver and decided to go with some formal training, so glad we did as she is doing great.

Fantastic experience: I highly recommend Premier Driving Academy! Four of my grandchildren have went thru this program and were very well prepared for their new driving adventures. All the instructors were very professional and worked very well with my new drivers easing any nervousness. I will be sending the rest of my grandchildren thru this program when they are old enough. Shout out to Dan, Todd and Marty, you are awesome! Thanks again, The Clevenger’s and Langstons

Fantastic experience: This was worth every penny. I was trying to teach my 22-year-old son how to drive and I was nervous and he was getting frustrated and I said let's just do this another way and we called Premier Driving Academy and got six lessons with Todd for 1 hour over six lessons and by the end of the 6 hours my son knew what he was doing and felt very confident behind the wheel. Not only that but he felt like Todd was a friend at the end of the 6 hours and he was rather sad that the lessons were over ..... I thought that was really sweet. My child lost his dad at 15 very suddenly and he really kind of bonded with Todd who's a very nice man and a real professional. My kid got a 96 on his driving test out of 100 and I couldn't be more proud of him. I feel confident that he will be a better and safer driver because he took professional driving lessons and you can't put a price on that. I would recommend Premier Driving Academy to anyone that wants to learn or has a kid that needs to learn. So worth the price !!!!!

Fantastic experience: Todd has been fantastic from start to finish! My son felt very comfortable with learning from him and he was confident in taking his test. He earned a 93% and the tester said, “He is a very good driver.” Thank you Todd!

Fantastic experience: I highly recommend Premier Driving! My son took lessons with Dan and he was wonderful! We were repeat customers for my daughter and had another great experience with Dan!

Fantastic experience: Dan was a tremendous blessing in establishing a positive relationship with our son, Andrew, and teaching him the skills he needed to be a safe driver. It saved this momma’s nerves! He was calm, patient and encouraging, as well as fun! I highly recommend their services both in the classroom (Driving 101 and Permit Testing classes) and behind the wheel classes with the 6 private Driving Lessons. Dan was the first person Andrew wanted to call when he passed his driving test. The price is fair and well worth it.

Fantastic experience: Can’t recommend Premier Driving Academy enough. My son learned so much. Well worth the money. The gentleman that gave his drivers test said it showed that he had excellent training.

Fantastic experience: I had a great time with Todd and he taught me the in and outs of the road and help me build my confidence driving and help me to pass the driver test. I heavily recommend using this company if you have someone that’s lacking confidence.

Fantastic experience: I can’t say enough wonderful things about this driving school! My son was involved in an accident as a permit driver. He was just too scared to drive after that. Dan was patient with him and with proper instruction he has become a confident driver. He passed as the most careful driver with the highest score of the day according to the instructor. We had our other son take lessons with Dan. His favorite Dan quote is “Let’s boogie”. Both my sons also took a class offered by Premier prior to lessons and I feel like it really helped them take driving serious. Great job Premier Team

Fantastic experience: My daughter was not excited about taking lessons with someone she didn't know, but Mr. Gene made her feel at ease right away. She learned much more than she would have from just her parents, and passed the exam on her first attempt! We couldn't be happier with the results and are thrilled we chose Premier Driving!

Fantastic experience: Dan was a great teacher for my teen driver and made lesson pick-up and drop-off so convenient for us.

Fantastic experience: Highly recommend! Very professional and knowledgeable with experience in law enforcement. Very flexible and a breeze to schedule. Wouldn’t have anyone else instruct.

Fantastic experience: My daughter didn't really want to do driving lessons, but she really enjoyed her classes with Dan. She learned a lot - so much so that she started critiquing my driving! The lessons gave her the skills confidence she needed to ace her driving test. Dan's calm demeanor and incredibly friendly personality make him a great match for apprehensive teens (or anyone else) who need driving lessons - I highly recommend. PRO TIP - Sign up a few months before you actually need the lessons, otherwise you might have a hard time finding open driving dates - Dan is very popular, especially in the summer!

Fantastic experience: What a great experience from beginning to end! My son initially signed up for 6 driving lessons with Todd Vermillion at Premier Driving Academy and Todd was awesome! My son is on the autism spectrum w/Aspergers Syndrome & ADHD so my son knew going into this that he would probably need many, many lessons. Todd was so patient & kind. He had a very calm & steady demeanor, was very encouraging, supportive & fair with his assessments after each lesson. He really went above & beyond to help my son learn to drive & eventually succeed w/getting his driver's license (TODAY). We couldn't have asked for anyone better to be his instructor! We were both extremely satisfied with our experience and will recommend Premier Driving Academy. Signing up for lessons on their website was also a super easy process; we scheduled all of his lessons, received immediate Google calendar reminders, confirmation emails & reminder texts, easy cancellation/rescheduling if necessary. It really couldn't have be more user friendly. Thank you Todd!

Fantastic experience: Premier Driving Academy was the perfect choice for teaching my daughter the rules of driving. Dan was wonderful to work with and my daughter enjoyed the driving lessons. She is a very safe and attentive driver now and I can give 100% of the credit to Dan at Premier Driving Academy. This should be a requirement for anyone turning 16! Worth every penny.

Fantastic experience: My 17-year-old daughter had some very CLOSE CALLS, driving too confidently for her skill level and limited days of driving experience. I agreed to allow her to drive IF SHE PAID for her own indivdual, private lessons with a professional driver's training course. This course is not cheap - took her 2 full months of riding her bike to her part time job after school and on weekends to earn enough to pay for it! BUT, it's worth every dollar she has invested in it because today - her first day of her senior year of high school - was her first time driving to school again, due to her dedication to work hard, saving her money, and thanks to Gene Harmon, her patient driving instructor, at Premier Driving Academy in Springfield, Missouri.The fact that she had to pay for the course made her appreciate every lesson! This company teaches students in an equipped car that helped put my mind at ease; because I knew that if my daughter were to make a poor decision during her driving lesson Gene would take over the driving in that moment. Gene has 30+ years experience in law enforcement and driving instruction/testing, therefore, I knew my daughter was in good hands and she would take him much more seriously than she did me (like most teens with their parents, she gave me a little attitude when I would correct her driving style). Plus, I found out that our insurance now gives us a discount because she has completed the course, which means the course will probably pay for itself within a year or so!! I highly recommend this course, and Gene Harmon as an instructor, if you are looking to improve the important LIFELONG driving skills of those you hope to keep safe on dangerous streets, intersections and highways!

Fantastic experience: I worked with Todd over the course of 6 sessions. He’s a very kind and patient man. Not only did he help me build my confidence on the road, but overall gave me advice on on different scenarios that may occur on the road and how to work through them. Todd had no judgements on me being a 24 year old still learning to drive and because of him I successfully passed my driving test with a score of 90! I couldn’t recommend premier driving academy more. Thank you so much!

Fantastic experience: Todd is an awesome teacher and my driving confidence felt the results! Wouldn't have been able to pass the test without his help. Great staff!

Fantastic experience: Dan Bracker is a great instructor. My daughter passed her driving test with a high score and now drives with confidence. Choosing Premier was one of the best decisions I’ve made.

Fantastic experience: We didn't get driving lessons until after my daughter didn't pass the driver's exam. I wish we would have started with Premier!! Gene was so helpful in being able to communicate to her what needed to be done to be safe, accurate, and confident! The number one thing was the confidence he gave her. Made all the difference in the world when she was no longer tense and nervous!! Please don't wait to get lessons for your kids!! It is so worth it!! Highly recommend Gene as the instructor!!!

Fantastic experience: Outstanding experience. We are so glad we found Premier, it is so nice to have someone other than a parent teaching our daughter about driving and safety on the roads. Dan is so professional and knowledgeable from his experience in law enforcement. Our daughter enjoyed the experience and feels more confident in her driving. Highly recommend, we are so thankful they are offering this service.

Fantastic experience: Todd is an excellent instructor! My daughter enjoyed her driving classes with him, learned a ton and passed her driving test with flying colors. The officer giving the test even commented on how well she did on parallel parking and I credit that all to Todd on teaching her that skill.

Fantastic experience: I passed my driving test today in Ozark, Mo after taking lessons with Gene Harmon. He was an amazing teacher for me, and was able to help me celebrate the small steps I was making with each lesson. I was severely anxious about getting my license, and he was able to calm my nerves. Thank you so much to everyone at Premier it was worth every penny!!

Fantastic experience: So thankful for instructor Mr. Gene Harmon! Excellent coaching and training of driving skills with my son. We had the basics down, but need assistance in several specific areas and Mr. Harmon was able to teach effectively where my son learned and passed driving exam with 100%. We weren't expecting that but knew we just needed to pass. I have a sense of unexpected peace as a mom with him now driving by himself. Absolutely worth the investment both time and money. Mr. Harmon held the standard high and we highly recommend!

Fantastic experience: Todd was an outstanding instructor for our daughter. They thoroughly prepared her to pass her drivers test and prepared her to hit the road on her own. Thanks Todd

Fantastic experience: I would highly recommend Premier Driving Academy. They were exactly what my son needed to build confidence in his driving skills.

Fantastic experience: Premier Driving Academy is a fantastic school for anyone wanting to learn how to be safe while driving. My daughter learned all the great skills to help her succeed in the road. Her instructor was Todd, he was very patient and knowledgeable. My daughter felt very comfortable with him. I would highly recommend this driving school.

Fantastic experience: We absolutely recommend Premier Driving Academy! Dan Bracker is wonderful. Our daughter felt comfortable working with him from the get-go, which is super important for a 15-year-old girl and her parents! We saw a huge strides in our daughter’s driving skills right off the bat. Mr. Dan did a fabulous job coaching her and we are SO thankful for the skills he taught her during their sessions. She was so proud of herself when she went to take her driver’s exam & passed on the first try, earning “the highest score so far” that day We will definitely be calling Mr. Dan again when it’s our next daughter’s turn to start learning to drive!!

Fantastic experience: Gene was great!!! He made my daughter feel safe and confident. We are really thankful for the extra experience. Definitely will us Premier again with my younger kids.

Fantastic experience: We were very impressed by the quality of instruction that Dan provided for our daughter. She felt comfortable asking questions and appreciated the preparation for her test, especially with parallel parking. She passed her driver’s test on her first try! We highly recommend Premier! ~ The Hampton Family

Fantastic experience: The driving instructor was extremely friendly and I became very confident behind the wheel. My favorite part was the instructor didn’t judge you for your mistakes, he would ask what went wrong and you would figure out the answers.

Fantastic experience: My daughter has high anxiety and I felt I was unable to help her gain the confidence she needed to succeed on the road. Gene was our instructor and he did a fantastic job. He is encouraging, kind and professional. It was easy to fit each practice into our schedule. I highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: Thank you Premier Driving Academy for providing driving lessons for my daughter!! Todd gave her the skills and confidence she needed to be a good driver! She passed her test on the first try!! Thank you again for providing such a valuable service!!

Fantastic experience: Todd did a wonderful job of teaching my daughter how to drive, I’m very happy with the results and highly recommend Premier Driving Academy!

Fantastic experience: We highly recommend this program. We wanted our son to be a strong driver, defensively with alertness to his surroundings. We feel that this has been accomplished as well as little things that we wouldn't have thought to cover with him. Sometimes an outside source can provide that extra bit of assurance. Gene did an excellent job and our son respected his insights. They got along very well. He was a great mix of professionalism and friendliness. Thanks Gene!

Fantastic experience: This was such a great value to our daughters future. Thank you so much Dan!!

Fantastic experience: Highly recommend this program! Dan was AMAZING with our teen and instilled confidence, built skills, techniques, and safety with our new driver. Our teen was so anxious and made many critical errors before this program, now she’s able to drive safely and use the wisdom she’s learned to encounter driving situations with greater confidence.

Fantastic experience: Todd's calm demeanor and years of experience were just what our teen needed to become confident and safe on the road. And, she passed her driving test, first time, with flying colors! We can't praise them enough!

Fantastic experience: We used Premier Driving School prior to our daughter getting her license and they are AMAZING. Very informative, positive, and encouraging to our daughter who passed her drivers test with flying colors! We will definitely use them again with our son when he is ready to start driving!

Fantastic experience: Incredible! Helped my daughter pass her test. Gene was kind and patient with her,helped her a lot, she loves him to death!

Fantastic experience: My daughter took the 6 hour driving course with Dan Bracker through Premier Driving Academy. Her first one hour lesson was October 10, 2020 and her last one was March 13, 2021. We took our time in between lessons for practice driving and school activities. She took the skills test on March 19, 2021 and passed with flying colors. To say I was PROUD would be an understatement! Let me tell you why I was impressed with Premier. I was visiting with a friend about teaching my daughter to drive and all the issues surrounding that activity especially between a mother and a daughter. My friend suggested I contact Dan and visit with him about my concerns. My friend knew Dan personally and vouched for his integrity, which relieved some of the pressure I was feeling about letting my precious five feet tall daughter get in a car with a stranger. Dan had a very professional tone when he addressed me or my daughter. He arrived at our home on time, the driving car was immaculate and had signs warning other drivers to be cautious of student drivers. My daughter had very little driving experience so the first couple of lessons were in a huge parking lot. This helped settle my daughter's nerves. The car also had a brake on the passenger's side just in case this was needed. Dan taught my daughter many skills, but his instruction was limited to only 6 hours over the months. My daughter and I drove many hours in between lessons. We drove around parking lots, farm fields, country roads, our neighborhood (speed limit 25 mph), and then on back roads (speed limit 45 mph). We would drive later at night and early in the morning when traffic was at a minimum. Whatever the instruction included, I tried to duplicate it. My daughter would certainly let me know if I was not "teaching" it like Dan. Let me address the cost of the instruction- $379.00. I was a bit taken aback when I saw this number. I did the math and figured out is was about $63.00 per one hour lesson. I decided the money was a great investment, since I was investing in my only daughter's safety. I had spent more money at the grocery store or Walmart for items that I really did not need. I encourage you to invest in your child, the return will be immeasurable. At times, my daughter would not want to practice. I would discuss this issue in a calm voice--hard sometimes. Practice driving was part of the agreement. Her practice driving was homework, it had to be completed. She soon realized this expectation and we figured out when we could fit it into both of our schedules. In closing, I like to think I was the one that taught my daughter to drive with a bit of help from Dan and Premier Driving Academy. As parents/guardians you MUST practice driving with your teens. Please take the time to do this, you will not regret it. Thank you very much for taking the time to read this message. Happy driving!

Fantastic experience: This was our first time having the privilege of working with Premier Driving Academy and we would recommend them 100%! We're not looking forward to our youngest driving, but we're glad he can learn from these instructors in a couple years. Everything was super easy to register, schedule, reschedule (they know how teen schedules are) and the feedback was really helpful. We loved Dan Bracker and even our neighbors who saw him come and pick up our student driver, commented on how impressed they were. Our student passed the driving test on the first try and had a good score. I can only say good things about our experience.

Fantastic experience: We used Premier Driving Academy shortly after my son received his permit. We wanted him to have quality instruction to help set good driving habits right away. We were very pleased with the detailed instruction, calm and professional demeanor of our instructor, and thorough lessons. Our instructor met us and finished each lesson at a location that was super convenient for our family. I felt very safe with my son in the instructor's hands. I noticed immediate results in his confidence and skills driving. We will do another few lessons right before taking his behind the wheel test to do a skills review. To me it was worth the time and money invested into my son for a lifetime of good, safe driving habits. I highly recommend Premier Driving Academy; especially Instructor Todd.

Fantastic experience: Todd did a great job working with our son on driving skills. He was calm and helped build his confidence. Having someone other than one of us help him with specific skills was a wise move on our part. He worked on skills we wouldn’t have thought of. Our son is a much better driver because of Todd!

Fantastic experience: Our daughter was a hesitant, nervous driver. After working with Dan she feels so much more confident behind the wheel. Her driving improved dramatically after the first session! Amazing! It's the best money we've spent. We would recommend Dan over and over and over again!! He's professional, kind, encouraging, fun, and an incredible instructor! Thanks Premier - We will have a safe and confident driver!

Fantastic experience: Great hands on learning opportunity for our 15 year old son, that also gave him experience and confidence.

Fantastic experience: We had a great experience with Premier Driving Academy. We recently moved to the area and wanted our 15yr old daughter to feel comfortable driving in a new area and learn the roads here. Todd was her driving instructor and even taught her skills that we hadn’t taught her. When she went to take her skills test after she turned 16, she had more confidence in her driving skills. I highly recommend Premier.

Fantastic experience: Premier is a great program for new drivers. My daughter had such anxiety about driving and the instructors were so patient with her. We feel very fortunate to have found this program. The teaching and the instructors are so kind and professional. Highly recommend this company.

Fantastic experience: I recently took lessons with Dan from Premier and it has been a great experience! I struggled with driving anxiety for a very long time and could never gather the courage to practice driving. Now after 6 lessons with Dan, I passed my driving test the first time with a 93. I feel like a much safer and more confident driver. Highly recommend Premier Driving Academy!

Fantastic experience: This was an excellent experience for our 16-year-old granddaughter. The instructor was professional, knowledgable and kind. Her nervousness soon turned into confidence. Passing her test the first time, she is now a calm, thoughtful and confident driver who had safe driving instruction from an expert. This birthday gift will last a lifetime!

Fantastic experience: Officer Bracker did fantastic job teaching my daughter to drive well, with expertise and patience that I would have never been able to give her myself. She came away from these lessons with skills and knowledge that I never had, and the confidence it gave her was definitely worth the cost.