11/10/09

One driving school in NY that is truly OUTSTANDING!

by jonathan cohen

So here's the story---me and my friend had a fun deal after choosing this school. We signed up for the same package and taking lessons with different instructors, I had Ray and he had Vercel (?). The fun was, we always compare our instructors after each lesson, bigheading my instructor as better than his, claiming that he has a superior lesson than mine, that I drive better than him now, that he will pass the test with a better grade, so forth and so on. I know we both had incomparable instructors and the "rivalry" was all for fun. We both passed the test yesterday with bouyancy. As my friend gives credit to his instructor, I give credit to mine -Ray! My overall experience with this driving school is incredible; from accessible office location to professional office staff, from tidy and efficient cars to favorable driving locations, from excellent instructions to my hero, RAY!

One driving school in New York that is truly OUTSTANDING!

• Pros: neat and efficient cars, outstanding instructors

11/10/09

EXCELLENT SERVICE

by geraldfordny

I called and tested out a number of driving schools which I needed to help me obtain my NY driver's license and I found this school the most professional and logical in giving details on the services they offer. A very friendly representative made clear to me different packages and proposed one of them as the most suited one for my need.

I did my lessons after work and some of them during my lunchbreak. I also had a couple done on a weekend. Unnecessary to say, my instructor who was pleasant and 'genius', at first, weighed my skill up and paying more attention to my flaws and faults. Learning how to drive and prepping up myself to pass the driving test was not as tough as I thought. I give credit to my instructor, Berkel (not sure with the spelling) and to the entire Professional Driving School who put everything in order for me. A double thumbs-up for this company. THANK YOU, PROFESSIONAL DRIVING SCHOOL!

You guys are truly professional!

• Pros: pleasant, professional and orderly
• Cons: nothing

10/15/09

All-around positive experience

by Canuck

Let's face it - there's nothing glamorous about driving schools in NYC. But this school is definitely a cut above the rest, from following up with customers to attracting good instructors. I am a reluctant driver and just got my licence 2 days ago (my first licence, at 45!) after just a few lessons with this school. I had taken classes at another school and failed the test just 2 months ago. This other school kept switching instructors on me, forgot one of my lessons - and sent me to the road test in a car held together with duct tape. My advice to student drivers is: shop around for a good school and a good instructor - they are not all created equal, although the prices don't seem to differ much. If you are a mature student, in particular, get a school and an instructor that will listen to your concerns. PDS was a great fit for me. They didn't just prepare me for the road test - they actually care about helping me being safe and smart behind the wheel.

• Pros: Real pros in a low-rent market

09/14/09

Congratulations!

by PRODRIVE

Congratulations, Marguerite! You are now a licensed driver!

We are pleased to have been able to meet your expectations from us.

It has always been our school policy to provide the highest standard of informative driving instructions to our students. Our school is committed in molding better, safer and law-abiding drivers. We give emphasis on the importance of driver safety in order to make our roads and highways safer for all road users.

Regarding the expired 5-hour class certificate that you were holding on the day of the test, you were totally eligible to take the roadtest with that certificate because the roadtest appointment was set or made before its expiration. As mentioned before, anyone is eligible to take the roadtest with an expired certificate as long as the roadtest appointment is set or made before the expiration of the certificate. Reissuance of a certificate or issuance of a duplicate of the certificate is applicable only to lost or damaged certificates. Reissued certificate must bear the original date of issuance, since it only replaces the original certificate,therefore, not a remedy to an expired certificate. One has to retake the 5-hour class when the certificate is expired, unless again the roadtest is set or made before its expiration, one is eligible to take the scheduled roadtest.

Again, congratulations for passing the roadtest! Enjoy your license and keep it clean!

09/11/09

Professional Driving School Changed My Life

by MargueriteNYC

This was one of the best investments I ever made. I took the 20 hour package because I never drove before and was a bit intimidated, especially since I was going to learn in Manhattan. My instructor was Leo and he was amazing! He was on time for my lessons. He was very knowledgable, patient, friendly and has a great sense of humor. I felt relaxed from the first moment I got behind the wheel even with the crazy traffic in Manhattan. I always felt that he and the school were personally invested in my success. The folks at the school was friendly, professional and courteous. They always communicated with me in a timely manner if and when a lesson had to be changed. The only thing I would suggest to them is that if they have a student whose 5 hour class certificate expired at the time of the road test, they should re-issue a new certificate even though the appointment for the road test was made before the certificate expired. I was assured by a few people at the school that it wouldn't be a problem, but when I got to my road test, the first inspector wouldn't accept it and was upset because she was very busy and didn't want to spend the time on the phone with the driving school confirming the date the road test appointment was made. I was already nervous about taking the test and this problem made things a bit more distracting for me. Fortunately, the problem was resolved and I was able to take the test. Therefore, I would recommend that anyone who finds themselves with an expired 5 hour class certificate go up to the school and get a new certificate before showing up for the road test. Oh, and I passed on my first try thanks to Leo. I would recommend anyone thinking of learning to drive that they enroll in the Professional Driving School and be sure to ask for Leo.

• Pros: Professional, Courteous, Punctual, Good Communication
• Cons: Problem with 5 hour class certificate

08/31/09

Ask for MELVIN

by Katherine R

I am 23 years old and had never driven before in my life. I signed up for a package of 10 lessons and by the end I was driving better than most of the people I know. I passed my test on the first try.

Melvin is extremely professional and patient. He gave me the confidence I needed to drive in Manhattan. He has a great personality and always makes the lessons enjoyable and fun. He is very punctual and when I needed to change my pick up location last minute he always accommodated me.

Book lessons with Melvin in advance because he is one of the more popular instructors and his schedule fills up very quickly.

If you cannot get Melvin ask for Patrick. For one of my lessons I had Patrick and he was great too.

• Pros: Professional, punctual, patient
• Cons: Melvin's schedule fills up quickly- book lessons in advance

08/26/09

This Driving School Rocks!

by Starbuckk

I passed my road test on the first try thanks to this school! My teacher knew his stuff and taught me what I needed to drive and park well and pass the test. Everyone from the office staff to my teacher was very professional and put me at ease (a very nervous first time driver I was!). I recommend this school to anyone needing to learn to drive. I signed up for the 5-hour package but did feel the need for one additonal lesson which I scheduled with no hitch whatsoever. My teacher, Leo, was the best. He was always on time (often early, even!) and very courteous. Props to this school & staff!

• Pros: Good Teachers, Accommodating Staff
• Cons: None

08/26/09

A great driving school

by arthenis

Without any driving experience whatsoever, from the first minute of my very first lesson I was driving around Manhattan! My instructor, Leo, believed in me even when I didn't, and that really made a difference for me. I looked forward to each lesson, and each one was pleasant and fun. I learned a lot, and after going through the lesson package and passing the road test I really felt I had gained the confidence and competence needed for driving.

The staff members at the school are all very calm and professional, and good at handling scheduling and communication.

My only problem was that a few lessons got canceled, one at the very last minute, but that is not surprising given that they were scheduled well in advance, and life is not always predictable. The rescheduling was very smooth.

All in all, this is a great driving school, with instructors and staff that want you to succeed.

I enjoyed the lessons so much that I might take additional ones to improve my skills and learn more about defensive driving.

• Pros: great instructor, professionalism, efficiency

08/25/09

Excellent Driving School

by joanahn

Professional Driving Schhol Stands By it's Name.

Before I took out my package at Professional Driving School, I took one lesson with an instructor at the Grand Prix Driving School (Ed) to determine my driving skill since I had not driven in many decades. My experience with Ed was very disappoinitng because: :

1-the car was dirty and cluttered,

2- the instructor talked about himself and his family throughout the lesson,

3- He yelled (loudly!) at me twice, on this first lesson, for using too much gas on the U-turn.

To be fair and to his credit, he did throw me into driving in trafic on a busy street in Manhattan from the get-go - a sink or swim situation - which I appreciated. I did well.

However:

4- the desk person never called to tell me the date of my road test even though he promised to do so. I had to call him for two days to get the date only to find out he had scheduled it not only for the wrong time (Am) when I wanted a PM appt., but at a site other than what I asked for because it was easier for them to get to. .

I later found out the site I wanted WAS available because Professional Driving asked if I wanted that site!

Because of all all the thngs mentioned above I decided not to go to Grand Prix for any further lessons, cancelled my road test with them and went to the Professional Driving School for my package/road test.

From the minute you walk into this school, you get the feeling it's very well organized, calm and together. The man who booked my package, Richard, was very organized, and reassured me that even though I hadn't

driven in so long I'd be fine. He specifically chose an instructor, Jerry, who he felt I would work well with.

I have nothing but the upmost praise for Jerry who is an incredible instructor. A consumate professional, he is calm, patient and of course knowledgable. No matter how many times he had to repeat something he did not get impatient, yell, or make you feel unqualified. His aim was to teach you what you needed to know to be a qualified driver and pass your road test. (I passed my road test on the first try!!)

Jerry has very specific techniques to prepare you for all the things the road test inspectors look for.

Again, his manner is what made the lessons go so well for me. Even though i felt I could use more lessons before the road test, he felt I'd do o.k. and as above, I did pass on the first try.

The office staff, too, was very polite and together. and always left messages at both my home and office numbers to make sure I was aware of any changes in my schedule (thank you Gretchen)

All in all, I would highly recommend Professional Driving School.. I have signed up for (advanced) driving lessons even though i got my license today.

• Pros: Extremely professional school from A-Z
• Cons: None

08/04/09

Leo was amazing!

by LD7667

I've had my permit forever, but was always too afraid to take lessons or schedule my road test. After just a few lessons with Leo, I had the confidence I needed to pass my road test on the first try! He is incredibly knowledgable about what you need to do to pass the road test, and I was comfortable during the test because I knew exactly what to expect thanks to him. He was patient, flexible, and you could tell that he really cared about his students. He was the best, and I highly recommend him as an instructor!

• Pros: great instructor, flexible lesson times
• Cons: none