Northstar Driving Academy

Negative experience: Take your money somewhere else. They don’t value your time when you schedule drives for your teenager. They don’t communicate that they are not going to be there and if they are, they make an excuse to why they can’t go out on a drive. We have had nothings but frustration dealing with this business. Poorly run. Waste of time and money.

Negative experience: I would not recommend Northstar. We had a very difficult experience. The communication was horrible. Had to follow up with them anytime there was a change or something came up. Tons of confusion on when where and how things would happen. With very little communication. They eventually got the job done. But Northstar is SUPER UNORGANIZED. Follow through and follow up is almost non existent.

Fantastic experience: Had a great experience with Northstar Driving Academy. Mr. Ricky is the best and I am very thankful to him. I highly recommend this place.

Positive experience: Una pregunta, saben si aquí hacen el examen escrito y práctica en español? Gracias por su respuesta

Fantastic experience: They're kind and patient I can say.

Fantastic experience: The people were helpful, teachers were great. We missed a class and my son got to go to another for make up. The teachers in Federal Way were great too! Everyone spoke understandable English.

Fantastic experience: Northstar Driving Academy looks good . #love

Negative experience: Very horriable place. Do not take your kids here, instructors are extremely racist. Front office is very rude, the place is just overall super bad

Negative experience: Went in here to take my knowledge test and I had taken the official washington practice test that contained 200+ questions. I took the practice test repeatedly and passed with a 95%, absolutely SURE I knew the content. I come in to take the actual test and absolutely none of the questions were similar to the practice test. All of the questions were randomized, not even in the Washington Drivers manual, and incredibly difficult to answer. I failed the test and the proctor told me to make sure I “read the drivers manual” as if I hadn’t read it before and know it like the back of my hand. About half of the people who took the test failed, any test geared towards solely spanish speakers also failed, and anyone who passed only passed with an 80-88% as their highest scores. I feel as though they proctor the tests specifically to their driving course, because they want you to throw $500 into the trash, and even then, they don’t prepare their students well for the knowledge test. considering I had a friend who attended driving school here, and didn’t pass her knowledge test until her 4th time, spending $100 ($25 each test). Don’t waste your money or time here.

Negative experience: As an adult student, I bought a 600 dollar package which gives 6 lessons. Not only did they schedule the lessons weeks apart, which makes it impossible to retain what I did learn, when I complained they told me their priority is their high school students. They lost my paperwork every single time I came in for a lesson (which was no surprise given there were weeks between lessons.) The instructors were gossipy about coworkers and would even overshare about their private lives to the point of distraction. I could go on but honestly, if you have a choice, go somewhere else. I wasted my money but hopefully I can stop someone else from the same expensive mistake.

Fantastic experience: As an adult driver it was hard for me to trying start learning how to drive my instructor whose name is Karen was very helpful and receptionist Maggie made me feel at home I recommend the school to anyone learning how to drive

Negative experience: I went in to take my driving test and I not only had the instructor be rude to me and my parent but she also didn’t let me finish parallel parking when I was doing it correctly, she basically failed me for nothing and didn’t inform me about everything that she needed to tell me at the begging of the test. We started with parallel parking and when I didn’t even get to re adjust she told me to re enter traffic and failed me and I never got any chances.

Positive experience: Porque hacen el examen escrito y práctico en español.

Negative experience: These people endanger your children using residential streets as a driving course. They were requested to stay off our street but instead increased, which then turned into a hit and run but went no where as witness wouldnt write a statement and camera angle was no good to catch the incident. So they of course just denied it. That kept em off our street for about 2 months. Then They returned to endanger our kids again.

Negative experience: Call center is always "full" they cant seem to find time to take my call. Office clerics give contrary information to the Northstar website and have poor attitude.

Fantastic experience: Good place, legit, straightforward

Negative experience: I went in to ask to use the restroom, not less than 20 minutes ago. The lady at the front desk, not only looked me up and down, but also refused to let me use the restroom. Not to mention, i felt embarrassed in front of the customer that was in there. I hope this gets to management, and someone reaches out to me for their lack of empathy.

Negative experience: Called many times over the week and couldn't seem to get anyone to pick up the phone to schedule a test.

Negative experience: I was doing good on the driving test at first but then I made a critical error (wheels on the curb) when backing out. I wasn't even allowed to finish my exam. The sevice is not great if anything the older ladies at the front desk come of as pompous and rude.

Fantastic experience: very good

Negative experience: Terrible

Fantastic experience: I am over 18 so I will through that out there I read the book studied and booked my written. Went in and the staff was super friendly sat down in the testing room almost immediately literally took me less then 10 minutes and I passed with 100% I mean it's not rocket science. I booked my drive test one week later and although I was a ball of nerves walked in and also aced that. My driver was super professional but I could understand why people make take it otherwise once the test was over h what've me my scores very nicely and let me know I passed and said congratulations! Now the reason I feel the need to write this is because of some of these negative reviews are ridiculous. Maybe things didn't go your way or you were upset with your results and you felt the need to comment negatively, now I'm sure maybe I caught them on a few good days. That doesn't make this a bad company. People looking into this place realize some people will never be happy.

Positive experience: Driving written exam not hard if you know the material. Driving test pretty easy, but pay attention always look and signal. Be sure to turn wheels toward curb when parking. Stay close to the curb when backing around corner. I passed written 23 out of 25. Got 82 on driving test, 80 minimum passing score. I drove their car, worth money if dont own or borrow a car.

Negative experience: INCOMPETENT to say the least. They did not give my son credit for two of his drives so he had to redo them, they scheduled us incorrectly for our driving skills test. The receptionis in Burien tried to argue with me. One of those unfortunate people who is ugly inside and out. CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!

Positive experience: Not too bad. It meets state requirements.

Negative experience: my instructor was very rude and giggled when i made one mistake, front desk woman is absolutely terrible a 5 year old could do better. search elsewhere!!!!

Negative experience: I was just there recently and left a little satisfied that id be learning how to drive. BUT when my mom called and ask for more info about the classes and what im going to be doing they said that id have to have had 50 HOURS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE before they would even let me into their cars! sure that reasonable because they don't want you wrecking their cars and whatnot but whats the point of going to a school to learn how to drive, when you already have 50 hours of experience? how are you going to fit 50 hours of driving into 5 weeks of the time it takes for the classes to finish? not to mention the class time and the extra 5 hours driving in their cars, while going to school? and if you have a job that even worse for time! I just think that some things about this is somewhat unreasonable.

Negative experience: when we came into today the person who took the test was vary rude, to me and my husband,

Negative experience: The worst driving school ever. I have been waiting for my file for weeks and they still are unable to find it. I would have had my drivers license months ago. WORST EVER. The customer service and horrible and overall it's just a bad story. CHOSE ANYTHING BUT NORTHSTAR! Or you will be disappointed.