Teens & Parents
Activate the permit straight away, then two more lessons timed around the six-month wait — not crammed into the fortnight before the test.
from $188
TeensDMV Licence E0200Since 1998
The person who wrote your test for five years now teaches it.
Founded by a former DMV licensing examiner.
4.5from 220 Google reviews
28years on these roads
7cities picked up in
Who it is for
Teens and parents. Adults and foreigners. Seniors.
Three different problems. A first licence, a licence transferred from another country, and staying on the road safely later on.
Adults & New Arrivals
Beginners, nervous drivers, people who have failed the test more than once, and drivers who need the freeway.
from $188
Adults
Seniors
For vision problems, medical suspensions, and referrals from a physician or police officer — including the DMV special drive test.
from $188
SeniorsDMV Drive Test Service
Car, registration, insurance and a licensed instructor at the exam — everything the DMV asks you to bring, brought for you.
from $300
Drive TestInstructors
Taught by a former DMV examiner.
The founder spent five years examining drive tests at the Clairemont DMV office before opening the school.
Dee Amanda Wu
Founder
30+ years
Spent five years as a licensing Registration Examiner at the Clairemont DMV, where she issued over 10,000 California driver licences, before founding the school. A BSc in Mathematics from San Diego State. Trained for the DMV Driver Safety Unit special exam for senior drivers with particular needs.
Joshua Ly Watts
School Operator and Office Manager
18+ years
San Diego born and raised, with Allstate since 2006. Has taught classroom driver education, trains the school’s new instructors, and speaks several languages well enough to run a lesson in them.
Kelly L. Nguyen
Driving instructor
25+ years
Here since the school was established in 1998. Speaks very softly, and her speciality is preparing students to pass the DMV drive test. Teaches in a Honda Civic.
Pricing
Priced by who you are, not by the hour.
Three lessons, spaced the way we actually recommend spacing them, ending with the DL400D completion certificate.
First lesson
Activate the permit as soon as it arrives
$188 · $94/hr
What you get
1 lesson of 2 hours · 2 hours total
- Two-hour behind-the-wheel lessons — included
- Pick-up and drop-off at your address — included
- Male or female instructor on request — included
- DL400D completion certificate — not included
- Freeway, traffic law and parking manoeuvres — not included
Second and third lessons
Each, booked about a month apart
$168 · $84/hr
What you get
1 lesson of 2 hours · 2 hours total
- Two-hour behind-the-wheel lessons — included
- Pick-up and drop-off at your address — included
- Male or female instructor on request — not included
- DL400D completion certificate — included
- Freeway, traffic law and parking manoeuvres — included
DMV Drive Test Service
Car, registration, insurance and instructor at the exam
$300
- Two-hour behind-the-wheel lessons — not included
- Pick-up and drop-off at your address — included
- Male or female instructor on request — included
- DL400D completion certificate — not included
- Freeway, traffic law and parking manoeuvres — not included
Prefer to buy lessons one at a time? See individual lesson prices.
The drive test
Marked by someone who used to do the marking.
Four manoeuvres decide most California drive tests. Press one and watch the route taught in every lesson.
Press a manoeuvre
Parallel Park
Pull level with the car in front of the space and sit about a metre off it. Reverse on full lock until you are round 45 degrees, straighten, then opposite lock brings the tail in and the car comes out parallel. The examiner is marking your mirror and blind-spot checks at least as closely as the car.
- Pull alongside the car in front of the space.
- Reverse on full lock to 46°.
- Opposite lock swings the tail in.
- Straighten up and centre in the space.
Every instructor here has driven the examiner routes in San Diego County more times than they can count.
In their words
Teens, transfers and seniors.
“Took a training session right before the test. Amanda gave many useful tips not only for the test but also for daily driving. Passed the test with 0 errors.”
Eric J.
“I had a lesson with Kelly. She was very kind and had great advice to help me prepare for the behind the wheel test. I passed this Friday and got my license.”
Samantha J.
“Easy to schedule. Very convenient with the pick-up and drop off by your address. The teacher was very knowledgeable about the area and gave great tips that helped me pass on the first try.”
Patrick A.
“I took my lessons with Thomas, a really nice guy, who lets you know what you’re doing wrong and right. Practiced in Clairemont, took my exam in Bell Gardens, passed on my first try.”
Amaris R.
“My instructor, Mayela, was extremely helpful and kind. She made me feel comfortable driving for the first time and was able to answer all of my questions.”
Leianna Y. · San Diego
“Josh is truly amazing. It would have been impossible for me to gain full confidence in such a short time without his experienced help and support.”
Payel R.
The cars
The car, set up for the test.
Each instructor teaches in their own named car — a Honda Civic, a Scion tC — and it is the same car for every lesson and for the DMV test.
- The car, registration and insurance for the DMV test
- Same instructor, same car, every lesson
- Pick-up and drop-off at your address
- Drop-off after testing within the three-hour window
Where we pick up