Faulkner's Driving School

Negative experience: They had a dead rat on the floor within the office space the whole time my child took their class. When they took her out to drive the very first time they went straight to the highway and scared the $$$$ out of her. Then the guy tells her to turn as they are passing the point of turning. Yells to stop and belittles her to explain herself. Overall, gives vague, unclear instructions that can’t be followed and gets upset with students who mess up. Pathetic. All one star reviews are legit. He doesn’t even deserve that much. It’s funny how all of the responses to negative reviews are simply pointing out his BBB rating or how long he was a teacher, which is inconsequential. Put yourself in your kids shoes. Would you like them treated this way? Mr. Faulkner, please do our community a favor and close your terrible business.

Fantastic experience: Family-owned. I have had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Faulkner since he was my driver instructor long ago. He was such a great teacher that I have brought all of my children to him for Driver's Ed. He has a great system that works around your schedule. He makes sure you get your driving time in before your birthday. I highly recommend him. He is very knowledgeable and an excellent teacher. I really appreciate him working with us and around the kid's schedule. 5 stars!!

Negative experience: Actually useless. Instead of this useless place, I had to rely on myself to pass everything. Actually useless.

Fantastic experience: I have now sent four children to Mr Faulkner and all have done very well. Highly recommend!

Fantastic experience: I used him as a young man in 1997. All my siblings and church friends used him to. Now in 2023 my daughter is using him. He IS the best

Fantastic experience: Mr. Faulkner was a great teacher, and instructor. I was a nervous wreck when I started wasn't sure if I was going to make it, or if the teacher would just tell me I failed and not even help me. But no worries cause he made me feel like I was the only one that mattered even though it was a group of us. He took his time with his lessons and instructions and made sure you understood it and felt comfortable. By him dong that I passed my tests. I had the most wonderful experience and would highly recommend his School to everyone else.

Negative experience: If I could give zero stars I would. They take your money do not actually teach the students anything. I paid for my daughter to attend once they took our money they said the was NOT certified for the eye exam. The staff was very rude & unprofessional. My child’s finally day they gave her a completion paper & said to me schedule her dmv appointment but the certificate expires in 30days. Low and behold what they gave me was for the school not the DMV. Wasted time energy & money. I called no answer I email no response finally I text & instead of providing me with the information I need the owner was very rude. Everything that was sent in the confirmation email was a lie! Don’t waste your money!! This is why BLACK people can not do business with Black people.

Fantastic experience: I was a student here. Great place. The teacher was great, funny and engaging. He paired his lessons with real life example on things like critical thinking and safety. I would recommend this to others.

Fantastic experience: My daughter took in car driving lessons only and had a wonderful experience. She went from very afraid of driving to highly confident. I cannot speak to the in class portion but our experience was very good. Mr. Faulkner focuses on safety first which is obviously so important. Thank you Paul for helping my daughter. We are very appreciative of your service.

Positive experience: I would want to learn more like the test we’re going to get on the permit, I’ve learned some new things but not all things to pass the test.

Negative experience: I AM A STUDENT HERE AND I AM SO DISAPPOINTED. I havent learnt a single thing here except to be scared of driving.

Negative experience: If i could give 0 stars i would. I was once a student here and I am utterly disappointed!!! I didnt learn a single thing from this school, I am unprepared for the EMT test. Please do not enroll your children here, biggest mistake my parents made. Thanks a lot mom. Although I do have to say, mr faulkner is a nice old man and he deserves more respect than Ive given him in this review. I also want to say that the building is disgusting. There are mutilated rats everywhere and the bathroom is covered in dust, there are stains everywhere, and there is very inappropriate imagery written on the walls. TL:DR Do not enroll your kids here, please and thank you. - a student who once was

Negative experience: I am a student at faulkners driving school, I can confidently say I havent learned a single thing about driving. Waste of time, please do not give Mr. faulkner your time and business. It is not worth it.

Fantastic experience: I’m one of the students who went here and the school is amazing. I had Paul Faulkner as my teacher and his teaching style works very well. He clearly cares about his job and would ask us questions and use stories to make his points. Some may say he makes driving sound too scary but everything he says is true, driving is scary and dangerous and it should be taught that. Driving is a very big deal and understanding how important it is to know what you are doing is part of the responsibility of driving. He doesn’t just teach driving he teaches you how to think and what he says will effect you for the rest of your life. He is an excellent man and I’m very excited for my sister to come here next year.

Negative experience: He’s literally asleep while he’s supposed to be teaching!

Negative experience: This is my first negative google review. Faulkner’s was NOT a good experience unfortunately for my son and our family. Instructor was an unhappy teacher and their office never contacted me about scheduling the behind the wheel lessons despite my many calls/emails and their promise to call. Disappointing experience.

Negative experience: Our daughter recently attended driving school at Faulkners and she learned nothing except to be afraid to drive! They watched videos on teens getting in car accidents and about vaping and what that does while you are driving. Nothing about the basics in drivers education. Her road experience was less than wonderful as the instructor wasn’t patient and gave terrible information on how to drive properly. We had to contact them about receiving a certificate of completion and even that was not ready. Very unhappy and unprofessional place. Will not be sending out others to this place and will not be telling others about them.

Negative experience: What a SCAM this so called “business” is !!!! They take your money,,, do NOT teach anything in class,, and belittle your children. Once they had my money,, they NEVER contacted me again about getting my son his road time. I have been contacting them since June of 2021 and we are days away from January 1st of 2022!!!! If you want to throw away your money and have to take your children elsewhere to actually learn, then this is for you. I STRONGLY ADVISE EVERYONE TO AVOID this scam of a “business “. I’m currently going to report them to the Better Business Bureau and then sue them in small claims court for a refund.

Negative experience: Takes 400$ then completely neglects you after wards, leaving me 7 months stranded with no behind the wheel and 400$ poorer

Fantastic experience: Mr. Faulkner is absolutely fantastic! I have had 2 children go through Faulkner’s Driving School with a 3rd currently enrolled. We recently relocated to the lake area and are making the drive to Matthews due to the professionalism, education, information and one-on-one instruction Mr. Faulkner provides. My son consistently tells me how much he learned from Mr. Faulkner and how well he prepared him for driving. I will always be thankful for the behind the wheel skills my children learned and consistently use daily. From the driving instruction on the interstate, in uptown, and around the city, my children were prepped and ready for all aspects of driving. Thank you Mr. Faulkner for sharing your knowledge and keeping my kids safe and smart on the road. I will always be thankful.

Negative experience: This people put your kids to take classes but they never finish, my son done with the clases like 4-5 months ago and we still waiting for the driving classes, they always says we still on waiting list and they only return 50 dollars if you want your money back, my son is almost 18 and they this will be a waste of time and money

Negative experience: In my opinion I'm not sure how this "driving school" is functioning as a legitimate buisness. Not only was my son completely unprepared to take the first level learner's permit test (as nothing was taught to him) he was also bullied and intimidated by one of the driving instructors while operating a vehicle. I feel cheated out of $450 as my son had to download driver's training booklets and practice tests in order to study and prepare for the test on his own. Thankfully, he is a bright intelligent young man (unlike what one of the instructors suggested to him) and passed the test. My next 14 year old will not be attending this "school" and I strongly advise others to look elsewhere.

Negative experience: Terrible customer service and follow up. Said they would do something and they didn’t. Beware.......Do not use this for driving school for your child.

Negative experience: Mr. Faulkner’s driving school was recommended to me by my friend. I can proudly say that my mother taught me drivers ed better than these guys. We watched videos about people car accidents and telling us nothing about driving, like what to do when 4 people stop at an intersection at the same time, who goes first, none of that. This school was way overpriced for the stuff they “taught” us, I would save your money and go look at a different school.

Negative experience: If I could give this place 0 stars I would. My sister signed up and paid for diving classes. She did about 2 classes and then he never followed through with the other dates. He came up with every excuse in the books saying he was to busy to do a class. Even tho we said whatever day worked best for him she was free, to just let us know when he was available to schedule another class. Month after month everyday was excuse after excuse not to teach her. We had already paid the full amount for the classes and he refused to pay us anything back even tho she only had 2 classes out of several more to go. He was rude and unprofessional when we asked for not even a full refund but a refund for the dates she did not receive. He proceeded to tell us it was our faults and that he did not need to pay us back our money. Let me also add when he was teaching my sister to drive he basically had her drive him around to do errands like go to the bank, pick up food ETC...... just save your money people and go to someone who cares about their customers and respects them

Fantastic experience: My daughyer was able to complete her driver's education here from class room to in person driving. The teachers she drove with wore masks and did a great job of helping her feel comfortable about driving. She said the online class went well too. We are so thrilled that she can move forward now with her driver training despite the fact that the school system stopped it's program during COVID-19.

Fantastic experience: Staff was friendly and helpful

Fantastic experience: Great experience for our oldest daughter. She now has her permit, and has done great behind the wheel. She will talk about specific instruction she received from the Faulkners, when encountering situations while driving. Our experience was exceptionally positive, and we recommend Faulkner's Driving School highly.

Fantastic experience: I am sending my 4th kid to Faulkner's Driving School. Great people and very accommodating!

Fantastic experience: Mr. Faulkner was my high school driver's ed teacher at Sun Valley. About 21 years ago I took my lessons with him and still to this day I still remember his advice when driving always look ahead of you and not in front of you. Also remember the times he was really patient with the students more patient and I could be LOL and he always took us out to lunch nobody ever did not eat. He always really wanted you to succeed and is such a cool nice guy. My goddaughter in two more years will be doing her driver's education classes I will only recommend mr. Faulkner

Negative experience: God where do I start. Let me just say this, you are paying over $400 for a piece of paper. I learned NOTHING while I was there. The only reason I’m giving this two stars is because the son is wonderful and really helped me in the driving portion and at least tried to teach. The father however is GOD AWFUL. I don’t care if you have an A from the BBB, that doesn’t teach kids how drive sweetheart. Anytime he came in the class he interrupted his son and then started spewing about how he was the best driving school in Charlotte and about how nobody else compares to him and what he can do. When he took me out driving, keep in mind this was only my second time, he took me into the heart of downtown Charlotte, proceeded to yell at me when I left too quickly after the light changed or too late afterwards. He also then took me to a gas station where HE WENT OUT AND GOT LUNCH WHILE IT WAS STILL MY DRIVING TIME. He is one of the most unprofessional people I have ever had the displeasure of meeting and if you send anyone here just understand you are paying to get a piece of paper. You will gain little to no real knowledge of driving and will be talked down to the entire time. He didn’t give the kids the time of day and cared only about himself. The son should really be the only one there, he’s the only one that cares.

Fantastic experience: Just dropped of my last teen for driving school. This is our 5th time Mr Faulkner. All of our experiences have been positive. All of our children have passed and are safe and successful drivers. His staff are flexible and easy to work with.

Fantastic experience: This is a great school and Mr.Faulkner uses fun way to learn that stick with you and it is very helpful. 10/10!!!

Fantastic experience: Highly recommend Faulkners!! They have been a pleasure to work with. When my son had already done the classroom portion with his school and they are so behind on the driving part that it would be a month after his 15th birthday before they could get to him, I looked for a private agency and found Faulkners. Mr. Faulkner was able to work in his 6hours driving time and my son will now be going on his birthday to get his permit. I couldn’t be more impressed. They were very thorough and answered all mine and my sons questions. Mr. Faulkner is very professional and a man of integrity!

Fantastic experience: Great experience! Mr. Faulkner taught my EXTREMELY reluctant teen to drive. He taught her how to handle all kinds of traffic situations and all kinds of intersections. My husband and I were just not getting anywhere on our own, and Mr. Faulkner took care of it. Well worth the money!

Fantastic experience: Faulkner's Driving School is the best driving school to trust with your child. They set wonderful foundations and their driving lessons are customized to fit your child's ability and comfort, while still opening their eyes to the possibilities and capabilities of other drivers on the road. My daughter greatly enjoyed her time driving and taking the class.

Fantastic experience: Excellent!

Negative experience: My daughter took the classroom portion of the driving class in September. I have called numerous times and left numerous messages to get her scheduled for the driving portion. I called again today and now the mailbox is full. I feel like I have now lost $450 and have no way of getting it back.

Negative experience: This person and facility should get a 0 star as he is not professional, rude and disorganized. Keeps giving run around. Signs up too many students and can not offer services. I would stay away

Fantastic experience: I learned a lot and glad I went here instead of taking it in school

Fantastic experience: Mr. Faulkner is an exceptional teacher! I have a special needs son who needs a little more help than the average student. Mr. Faulkner did an excellent job with my son. I was surprised by the cost but heck I'm over 40 and don't remember drivers ed being expensive. I feel he was well worth every penny I spent and I am sending my other son there next. Not every school is for everyone. Due to their busy schedule it did take a few times of contacting Mr. Faulkner to get what we needed. Persistence is the key to anything!

Negative experience: This driving school is way over priced. It is so expensive and not worth it. I went there and honestly we didn't do much of anything. They give you a test with answers to memorize and then the final is the same questions. Find somewhere cheaper if you want to actually be educated.

Negative experience: According to their website, Mr. Faulkner's Driving School can accommodate 40 students. Even with 40 students, it would be a tight fit in the small facility. He enrolled 53 students the week I registered and paid for my daughter to attend. She said it was awful and that they were on top of each other. I called Mr. Faulkner after the first day and he offered to give me a refund because he could tell I was not happy. I told him that I would appreciate that because I didn't feel comfortable sending her back there. This was on July 6, 2015. My last interaction with Mr. Faulkner was on July 11th. He called me to say that he would bring my refund to my house on Monday, July 13th. It is July 19, 2015 and I still haven't received the promised refund. After involving a third party, Mr. Faulkner finally gave me a refund on July 27, 2015. On a positive note, I found a fabulous driving school for my daughter in Monroe, NC. She had a great experience. She was one of 22 students.

Negative experience: Faulkner promised to refund our fee after we decided not to use their service. After three promised dates with no payment and no proactive communication, we ultimately had to enlist a third party to secure resolution. Beware.