Lake Murray Driving Academy

Fantastic experience: Our daughter had a great experience with them. Thank you

Fantastic experience: Highly recommend Lake Murray Driving Academy. Very easy to schedule in person class. Prompt responses, professional and personable staff for teens! After the initial class my son was given three pre-scheduled driving sessions. One of the lessons did not work with our schedule and I was easily able to reschedule the training. Mr Byrd responds immediately and is very accommodating to the student’s schedule and parent’s work schedule. Highly recommend taking the driving test with Mr Byrd as well. My son felt very at ease and comfortable asking questions. Five star training!

Fantastic experience: My son went through Lake Murray Driving School for his road test. My son felt at ease during the test and Mr Sammy was very accommodating with scheduling.

Fantastic experience: The Academy was very professional and taught my son the importance of driver safety skills. He also was able to take his driver license road test with them also which was a great help! Highly recommend!

Fantastic experience: Sammy was so professional and accommodating. My our daughter feel at ease. Highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: My son thought the instructor was very funny which helped the experience and keep his attention. He said this guy was perfect for teaching this course to teens

Fantastic experience: Great guy!! Very professional, was very pleased. Because sc is still living in the 1920's and my license had expired by 2 weeks from Fla I had to retake the driving test even though I'd been driving for 30 years! And of course everything is by appt only right now and I couldn't get one for 2 months. I had just bought a car and didn't want to wait, so a friend gave me his number and I had an appt in a couple days. He makes you feel very at ease.

Fantastic experience: My son learned confidence and how to be a better driver. Highly recommend

Fantastic experience: Couldn't ask for better instructors!

Positive experience: Not sure what has happened since my daughter went through this program but we did not have a good experience with my son. The instructors were fine but the owner was very confused and unorganized. He could not keep up with the scheduling of driving and taking the tests. I emailed him the form signed by the principal of my sons school that is required by the DMV. I reminded him multiple times that he had been sent this form via email and he confirmed he had received it and it was taken care of. My husband took my son to the DMV in Newberry and the correct form was not in the packet . They had to go back to the school and get it signed by the principal and then go back to the DMV. Easily avoidable aggravation.

Fantastic experience: This is the best driving school in South Carolina, maybe even the country. The class is taught by experienced police officers who know a thing or two about road safety and driving. This may seem like a boring class, but the instructors make sure to keep it fun and informational. Would recommend.

Fantastic experience: Recently had my second teen complete the course and have total praise for the staff and professionalism there. My teen had a great time too, huge bonus! Highly recommend following up by taking the test here also since already familiar with instructors and vehicles . Definitely lowers the stress and anxiety for a teen.

Negative experience: My son is currently a student driver with this school. I picked it because of the great reviews and the police officers running it, but I wish those taking the kids out to drive would do a better job at scheduling. I know things happen, but my son was scheduled to drive to school and when he texted the driver to see if they were still on... she said she misread her schedule. We live on the other side of town. My son does not take the bus to school and he can’t walk, but I take him before heading to work. So now, due to the misreading of a schedule, our entire morning had to be rearranged and I was late to work. Just a suggestion: Review your schedules beforehand to ensure you can meet your obligations and no one will be inconvenienced. It’s still a good school and I would recommend others, but the paying customers and their schedules should matter as well. UPDATE: The driver has since reached out to us and was very apologetic about the last minute schedule change. As I mentioned earlier in the review, this is a good school and I would still recommend it to others.

Fantastic experience: Can't say enough good things about Sammy Bird and Barry (our most awesome driver trainer)! Professional, detailed teaching, and easy to work with regarding scheduling. Mr. Bird and Barry actually went above and beyond with our family to make sure our new driver was trained and ready for her test. Thank you so much Lake Murray Driving Academy and I would recommend these folks to anyone! Heather and Brian Hardy

Fantastic experience: Excellent learning environment! The instructors are committed to ensuring your child is ready for the responsibility of being behind the wheel. Thorough program, Highly recommend!

Fantastic experience: Great experience!

Fantastic experience: I have known Sammy Bird for over 20 years and taking my two children to his driving school was an easy decision. Sammy's calm demeanor makes him a great fit to teach teenagers in a manner they can relate to and understand. I also personally know many of the retired police officers assisting him. Like Sammy, they are competent and extremely knowledgeable of the state's traffic and driver's license laws. For a teenager, driving a motor vehicle is more than likely the most dangerous thing they will ever do. Sammy and his assistants will not pass a child until they exhibit the knowledge and required skills to drive safely. I have verbally recommended the Lake Murray Driving Academy to many friends and will continue to do so.

Fantastic experience: Wonderful learning experience for my granddaughter who dreaded driving and tried to avoid it at all costs! She gained skills and, more importantly, self confidence in her driving from her instructors. Of course, we did provide hours of different driving experiences between lessons. We recommend them highly!

Negative experience: My daughter has failed for the 3rd time because of the messed up way this school teaches. Don't waste your money taking your kid here. It is a waste of time and money. Every instructor taught differently and because of their poor teaching I spent a year and a half trying to correct all the things that were taught wrong. This school should be shut down.

Negative experience: I don't have a kid that needs lessons. But woild take caution if I did. Was tailgated heavily by one of their vehicles on the Interstate while being held up by other traffic. When I finally got over the driver of their academy car was looking down at his cellphone when passing me and immediately up in the bumper of the next car.

Fantastic experience: I ws an unhappy customer for all of 12 hours. They did everything they could to fix my issue. I would recommend them to anyone needing drivers training.