We would not hire an instructor we would not put our own child in a car with.
Serving Santa Barbara, Goleta, Montecito and Carpinteria; Ventura, Ojai, Oak View and Santa Paula; Oxnard, Port Hueneme and Camarillo; Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park and Moorpark.
Every instructor is named and pictured, because that is who you are trusting.
Director of Operations, co-founder
20+ years
A licensed driving instructor since 2006 and the school’s first and only instructor when it started with one car. Personally oversees the training of everyone who teaches here. Over fifteen years working with junior high and high school students.
Office Manager, co-founder
In customer service since 1985, and ten years alongside Mel working with junior high and high school students. The voice on the phone when you call the office.
Driving instructor
A criminal justice degree and a long habit of finding different ways to explain the same thing until one of them lands.
The 30 hours the DMV requires before a permit — eleven chapters, a quiz after each one, and the certificate posted to your home free.
from $49
Driver’s Ed
Two hours at a time, door to door, with a written practice plan afterwards — and lessons spaced far enough apart to actually work.
from $182
Behind the Wheel
On-site training for company drivers — defensive technique, hazard awareness, and documented evaluations and certificates.
Fleet TrainingTake the test in an Easy Street car — your instructor brings it to the appointment.
Drive TestPrices differ by location, so pick the one nearest you.
Between 15½ and 18 the DMV asks for online driver education plus a minimum of six behind-the-wheel hours. These are the hours.
One two-hour lesson, à la carte
$182 · $91/hr
What you get
1 lesson of 2 hours · 2 hours total
Six hours — the DMV minimum
$498 · $83/hr
Saves $48 against three separate lessons
What you get
3 lessons of 2 hours · 6 hours total
Ten hours
$820 · $82/hr
Saves $90 against five separate lessons
What you get
5 lessons of 2 hours · 10 hours total
Twenty hours
$1620 · $81/hr
Saves $200 against ten separate lessons
What you get
10 lessons of 2 hours · 20 hours total
Four manoeuvres decide most California drive tests. Press one and watch the route taught in every lesson.
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.
Every instructor here has driven the examiner routes in Ventura County more times than they can count.
“They raised the confidence of our drivers and helped reduce our driving incidents to zero this year. When you see their cars driving across town, know that the driver trainee is in good hands.”
Angela Buse · Fleet Manager, People Creating Success Inc
Eight cars, grown from the one Mel started with. Every vehicle records video and audio inside and out — for instructor training, and so that trust in what happens in that car is not something you have to take on faith.
Call the location nearest you and we will find a slot around school or work.