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Ann's Driving School
Rating Details »
Categories: Automotive, Driving Schools
Neighborhood: SOMA650 Delancey Steet
Apt 307
(at Brannan St)
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 777-8666
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Announced 5 days ago- Hours:
Mon-Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
36 reviews for Ann's Driving School
This business is a Yelp Sponsor
3/25/2008
9/16/2009
9/7/2009
5/28/2009
5/23/2009
Updated - 5/8/2009
2/11/2009
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9/25/2007
One of the Business' Favorite Reviews What's This?
If I could give an infinite amount of stars I would. They are that superb.
I only had two official lessons and one prep before my driving test.
That's pretty cool especially since I'm a first time driver!
As a first time driver, at the age of 28, who used to hyperventilate at the idea of freeway driving, I am amazed to say that I passed my test in SF this week. I really wasn't sure the day would ever come. I couldn't have done it without the patience, encouragement and expertise of my instructor Jay.
Despite probably fearing for his life each lesson, he helped me overcome my anxiety with positive reinforcement and a general air of serenity (even when I cut people off, drifted into their lanes, and almost hit parked cars). Jay pushed me out of my comfort zone a little bit each lesson until I was driving around SF with ease. It only took a handful of lessons before I was freeway driving, parallel parking, and felt confident enough to take the exam. Amiable, talkative, extremely knowledgeable and great company, I highly recommend lessons with Jay.
If you are reading these Yelp reviews because you are considering driving instruction, as I did a few months ago, then look no further than Ann's Driving School. You won't be disappointed.
My beloved W. was the Helen Keller of driving and Joe was our Ann Sullivan. A New Yorker born and bred, she was that most exotic of creatures in California, an adult non-driver.
She had tried a dozen other driving instructors with nothing to show for her pains but an anthology of horror stories. I'd be damned if I was going to drive her to the corner store every time she had a craving for Chunky Monkey, so I buckled down to find the best of the best.
Joe is unbelievably gifted as a teacher and will work with you as long as it takes. For some people it's 5 or 10 lessons, for others it's months of lessons. Either way, he's in.
W. now has her license, of course, and we're both getting fat with all the ice cream she brings home all the time.
Truly, Joe is a Miracle Worker.
Seven words I want to say first, " I Passed My Test In San Francisco ". And it is all because of the confidence Coleen gave me. I took a few driving lessons and then had Coleen take me to my test. I have taken my test 3 times already before I contacted Ann's Driving School. I took 2 in Daly City and 1 in San Mateo. I guess there were things my other instructors weren't telling me . People were always telling me Daly City and San Mateo are easy. No they are not. Those examiners in the Peninsuila are nothing but a bunch of grouches.
Then I decided that I think I should try out for another driving school. I figured even if it meant shelving out for a little bit more money. I wanted to see what would happen. It turns out on April 15th , 2009 at the San Francisco DMV around 3 pm I passed my test. YAY !!!
At 27 I finally have my driver's license. And who would have guessed that I passed my test in San Francisco when every one was telling me to take the test out of SF. Coleen gave me the confidence that I can drive in the city and pass my test.
Thanks Coleen. It was your patience and confidence that you believed in me.
This is a driving school that will definately be worth your time and money.
Don't think about searching for a cheap low cost driving school. Those school's don't know how to teach. Ann's Driving school is worth the investment in my opinion.
I was going to make this review long and drawn out.
I was going to include my fascinating driving history.
I was going to delve into my early driving fears.
And include some cliche over the top stuff about how I overcome them.
But I'll save you from my "slow clap" original review and just say that Jay is the best.
He's patient, kind, reliable, and will help you believe in yourself and in your own driving ability.
Driving can be a very daunting thing, especially if you haven't had the experience and proper past instruction.
Ann's Driving School will work with you and your schedule. They won't quit on you. They'll continue to be that vital crutch, until they've inspired enough confidence in you to reach THAT day. That random foggy day, when you just get into a car and find yourself driving around the city. Some quick breaths here and there. But driving nonetheless. And strangely enough - enjoying it. Kinda.
Thank you.
When I reported this business to the Better Business Bureau this is Judy's response about me:
"Kriz M. has made several false or unsubstantiated statements over the course of her complaints, about the authorship of Yelp reviews for my business, about the nature of the incident that occurred during her lesson; about her inability to contact me and my business' inaccessibility. She has changed the nature of her demand from being reimbursed for 2 lessons to 1 lesson. Kriz M has continued to modify the content of her review over the past five months, it now includes the final phrase:''but I guess Yelp doesn't care since they are ''sponsored'' business.''
Make sure you Google this company and you will see more complaints.
The owner of this business tries to make me look dishonest by using, Yelp?
Does this sound like a business you would want to hire?
Seriously, If I knew this was going to happen I would of just taken Muni...
By the way, if you get Joe Scott try to get someone else because that guy needs some serious help. Total wack job and doesn't have the patience to teach. He'll yell at you for every little mistake! He also thinks woman are horrible drivers!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/8/2009
Complete waste of money. They over charge and if you can find a better deal else where. Also, most… Read more »
I just passed the driving test this morning.... yippeeee!!!!
I've taken lessons before with a much cheaper instructor in upstate New York where the test is a no brainer - and flunked. Avoided driving for years since - living in Manhattan was the perfect excuse - until I moved to the Bay Area where driving is a ticket to social life.
Therefore.... many many kudos goes to my instructor Jay who got a nervous driver like me to have fun each lesson. He broke down the driving techniques into manageable steps, and pushed me just a tad outside my comfort zone each time. I now feel totally comfortable driving in SF now with all the pedestrians, double parked trucks and whatnots.
Not to mention all the scenic tours around the city on the hills and along Ocean Beach :o).
Definitely worth the $ spent!
Highly recommend this place for teenage or adult student drivers.
My instructor was Eugenia, who is a real professional, and a competent teacher. She was always on-time, and called beforehand to confirm each lesson. Best thing I liked about her was that she was upbeat and cheerful, gave constructive feedback for any mistakes made and never dwelled on them. This really helped my driving confidence. I've had previous instructors in the past yell at me and lose their temper, so this is a refreshing change.
Some Yelp reviewers have mentioned the high prices for lessons. However, I had checked out some other driving schools in the city before this one (almost all of which, BTW, did not get nearly the same number of glowing reviews as Ann's Driving School) and quite honestly the lesson prices at those schools really weren't much cheaper...
This place is the Driving-Whisperer school of learning how to drive. Judy and Jay I swear are specially skilled at working with those who have a mental block around driving. I used to look at a car and get sweaty, nervous, short of breath, and terribly anxious. I had witnessed a serious motor accident as a child on more than one ocassion and it made me phobic. I took driving lessons in both SF and the East Bay so I could get the confidence to know I could drive in the city and suburbs of the Bay Area. Judy knows her stuff!!!! Jay, he threw me into the situation, and got me confident behind the wheel on the streets of San Francisco. He is as patient as a saint with my phobias around driving. If you want to be confident on the crazy hilly roads of SF, and have a phobia around driving to the point that you wonder if your memory is bad around learning the ways of cars, then Jay is your man! I took my test in San Francisco the first time and almost passed but it was a confidence booster. Then when I redid the test in the East Bay I passed right away. Confidence is King. So ask for Judy or Jay. If you want to learn in the East Bay only see my other review.
Judy was an incredible teacher - intuitive, patient, smart as a whip, and extremely knowledgeable. I've never been better prepared for a test than I was for the driving test, which I passed on the first go. I loved our lessons. I went from never having sat behind the wheel of a car to driving easily across the Golden Gate Bridge in a shockingly short time. I had no driving anxiety - I just grew up in New York City (like all the other reviewers) - but she told me stories of people with amazing obstacles to overcome whom she had also taught. Honestly, she taught me to respect driving and if I could afford it, I would keep taking lessons with her for months just to get the fine points and to chat with her in the car as we go.
Eugenia has officially liberated me from my bus pass!
I've waited hours on the corner of Noriega and Sunset for a 29 that never came.
I've lost many a battle running down Mission trying to flag down the 14 that didn't stop because yeah, the bus is full, but we all know one more person on that bus won't kill anyone!
I've sat on the 38 Geary, sick and trying to make it to the hospital, where I was shoved about by freakishly hostile and strong little old ladies.
and I have sat many times on my stoop, sad eyed and crying, for the taxis that never, ever, came..
but today....
THE 7 YEAR EPIC JOURNEY THAT WAS ME TRYING TO GET MY DRIVERS LICENSE HAS ENDED!
I first took the road test when I was 16. I didn't pass, and I felt really discouraged from trying again. I moved to San Francisco, yada yada yada, and although not driving was never a huge issue there were times that not having a license was inconvenient. I decided to try learning again at 22, but unfortunately chose an instructor straight out of the phone book. He ended up being unfriendly, impatient, and gave no help whatsoever to improve my driving.
A year later I decided to try again but this time I actually did research on the driving school I chose. After checking out yelp reviews I called Ann's driving school. My instructor Eugenia was absolutely fantastic! Eugenia was so patient and friendly. Throughout my lessons, Eugenia took great care in explaining and showing me how to improve my driving through providing helpful and constructive criticism. In addition, she was very supportive and encouraging which really gave me the confidence boost I needed in order to feel comfortable on the road. She worked with me from the start to finish and today I passed my driving test on the first try!
Anne's driving school is on the higher end in terms of cost but the quality of the instructors from my experience with Eugenia definitely makes me feel that every penny I spent was worth it. In addition the whole process was extremely easy, the driving school contacted me the day I called them and I was able to contact and set up a driving lesson with my instructor.
This is going to sound so cheesy, but the process of getting my drivers license has changed my life for the better. I feel a lot more confident about what I can accomplish and I feel more independent not having to rely on public transportation or friends to get around town. If you've been thinking about getting your driver's license but you've been putting it off because you're scared or not too comfortable on the road, don't put it off anymore! Ann's driving school can help you get that license. I definitely recommend Eugenia, she's a great instructor.
This school is testament to the saying "you get what you pay for". You could fart around with amateurs from the phone book or Craigslist all you like and wind up back where you started, or even worse: with a bruised ego and the urge to give up trying to drive.
Or you could do what my wife and I did, which is call Judy, arrange 3 or 4 lessons with her or one of her team of instructors, then pass your test with flying colors. Job done!
My wife and I both arrived from Ireland, in our late 20s, never having been behind the wheel of a car before (took public transport all our lives). My wife studied Arnie's DMV handbook, took the written test, passed it, booked 4 lessons with Judy over the course of a month and passed her test first time.
I studied the handbook, aced my written test (36/36), booked 3 lessons with Eugenia, and passed my test. Went from never having driven on a street to getting my shiny laminated license in less than 2 months.
And note that all this was done in the crazy old streets of San Francisco and its colorful DMV, not one of the easy-peasy routes like San Jose or Daly City.
Use this company - they do it right.
Thank you to Kim and Eugenia. They both are wonderful driving teachers.
They are really patient and kind with me when I made a mistake. After I took 4 lessons with them, today I take the test and I pass it.
Thanks
I recommended
QUALITY SERVICE & QUALITY INSTRUCTORS.
I cannot thank Coleen & Marilyn enough. Both instructors were patient, calming and unbelievably helpful. They made me feel confident and relaxed behind the wheel.
After reading all the other reviews on Yelp I frantically called the school 5 days before my driving test. I had only taking one previous one hour lesson with another instructor and i must admit i was a fearlful driver.There was NO WAY i was going to master driving before the test.
I had only one lesson with Coleen and one with Marilyn, and after all my worrying i am proud to say I PASSED.
I was a bit wary when scheduling my lessons due to the price but from the get go the service the school provided was worth every penny.
I HIGHLY recommend Anns Driving school and would advise any nervous beginners out there to give them a call.
I agree with everyone who's posted so far about Ann's, especially about my instructor Colleen. It's been more than 11 years since I last drove and that was in the expansive flatlands of LA. How would I react to the 3rd world insanity that is SF driving? Well Colleen's calm and soothing manner instantly alleviated any fears I may have had, so much so that after one lesson I've begun driving on my own in my own car. Now a lot of that may have to do with once you learn to drive you don't forget, but her calming manner meant that I quickly focused on the driving itself and not on my wild fears. Saving my sanity by making the experience such a warm and supportive one that I now can't wait to hop in the car and drive. My fears turned out to be so much foggy nonsense.
And now I can drive without even so much as a flicker of nerves as a bike messenger shoots out of nowhere and another 38 Geary almost clips my tail...but all is good because Colleen has given me such confidence. If this could work for a jangly nerved city dweller like me, it can for you too!
Three and three quarter stars.
The last lesson I took with Joe was in early August.
He's a pretty good instructor. Takes you out to the Presidio to hone your driving skills down. Talks to you in a calm manner and is client-centered. He is also able to book you in the early morning (7:30am), for those who can arrive to work later and are usually busy in the evenings and weekends.
However, whenever I scheduled a few appointments in advance and I consult him about my future appointments, they disappear. So let's say, I have a lesson with him on Tuesday morning and I say "I'll see you again next Tuesday morning!" He looks at his calendar and says something like...I don't have you on my calendar. What?!
I feel like the company gets booked pretty fast so if you are a first-time driver and want to get your license in say, one or two months, good luck...unless you can afford to take lessons every day.
Overall, pretty good driving instructor but be careful with scheduling. Company is good for you if you have patience to wait.
I found it weird that out of most my friends who failed the written test, i passed it off the first try, but failed my driving test twice. It was very disappointing and to be honest a let down.
I was searching online for the best way to pass the test and find an instructor that can help me overcome the things i was screwing up in, and i came across ann's driving school.
Called them right away, they set me up with JOE, who is not only a great instructor, but also a very knowledgeable man about things other than driving.
After taking my lessons, i passed and felt soooooo relieved. I couldn't believe it. We worked on my weaknesses, reviewed what i did wrong before, went over the routes, the signals, rare situations, etc and ended up coming out of it with a license.
I highly recommend this driving school, it was a great outlet and a great uplifting experience not only to pass the test, but actually helped me become a better driver.
ask for JOE. he is one heck of a teach.
In a few years, I'll be 40. Ever since graduating high school I'd always sworn to myself that I'd learn how drive. Every. Single. Year. But it never happened because everything else was more important.
Of course, growing up in pedestrian-friendly San Francisco and then going to college nearby, I really had little motivation to learn how to drive given all the excellent public transit in the Bay Area. I know how to bike so I've been getting by that way pretty well in combination with other means, but I have always wanted to know how to drive in case of an emergency.
Last December, I was hanging out with my friend, H., and we were talking about our New Year's resolutions and once again I rattled off the oh-so-familiar, "I want to learn how to drive." Well, enough was enough and he bet me that I wouldn't be able to get my license by my birthday, with the wager being an all-expenses paid dinner at Michael Mina.
That did it.
So, with this honey-glazed carrot dangled in my face, I instantly studied my ass off and passed the written test before the end of December. With that under my belt (and a seriously cute pic taken at the DMV for once), I started looking around for a good driving school. Thank you, Yelpers, for your fine recommendation of Ann's Driving School. Although I did end up taking more classes than I'd anticipated, I have to say it was well worth it. I was a far more fearful driver than most, and Joe Scott, my awesome instructor got me through it. By my third class I'd already driven across the Bay Bridge and through the FiDi in rush hour traffic! I KNOW!! Additionally, he teaches on a Honda Civic Hybrid, so I felt a little better about learning how to drive despite how un-green this activity is.
Anyhow, if you feel hopeless about learning this liberating life skill, fear no more. Help is here!
I had one lesson and then the driving test so I have not spent that much time with the school. The rating is based the short time I spent with the school, around 4 hours.
Judy was my instructor. I emailed the school as my first contact and she replied back quickly. I always got a quick response via email which is very good.
Judy is a very good instructor and I felt she didn't waste any time during the lesson. She is experienced and will assess which level you are on and what necessary step you need to take before going to the DMV.
I have been driving for 10 years in another country and I just wanted a quick check if I could go for CA drivers test. The lesson I took was worth it, a refresher lesson. (gotta fully stop at those STOP signs!!) She knows what the DMV inspector look for and what will make a fail.
Judy will take you around the area where the DMV inspector takes you during the test. There are a few tricky, local places - yes, the DMV inspector did take me through them - so it was all familiar during the actual test. I passed :)
Like many typical born and bred New Yorkers, I never had a desire or a need to learn how to drive. I can even see getting around San Francisco without a license, however, after moving out here last July and getting a teaching job in Fremont, it became more and more of a thing that I finally HAD to do. So I took my permit written exam, passed it, and held onto that puppy for seven months without doing a damned thing.
February rolled around and I started to freak out. My permit was expiring in five months and I still hadn't gone behind the wheel. I looked around for driving school's in the city that catered to adults and my schedule. Ann's was by far the most recommended but also the most expensive. Judy, the owner, called me back within 24 hours after having left a somewhat shaky and nervous message.
From February to May I took four lessons, totaling eight hours of instruction. This past Thursday Judy had me scheduled for my road test and I was nervous. She put me at ease and explained that if she hadn't thought I could pass she wouldn't have suggested it. Well, the van that was blocking my initial right hand turn out of the DMV parking lot moved, all of the double parked vans suddenly disappeared and I took my road test and PASSED!
Judy is amazing, she explains everything and is extremely patient. She realizes people's anxieties and calms them down. I'm still a little nervous about driving by myself but I feel confident that I CAN.
JUDY ROCKS!
Pricy lessons, but absolutely worth it if you have driving anxiety. I had a couple of driving instructors when I was in my teens, but I had such an aversion to driving, I didn't follow through after the requisite 6-hours behind-the-wheel training and never got my license, using the old San Franciscan excuse of, "I don't need to drive if I live in the City."
However, I don't like carrying big packages of toilet paper on the bus, so earlier this year, at the ripe age of 25, I decided to bite the bullet and get my driver's license. I searched for a driving school that worked with adults and found Ann's Driving School.
Why is it called Ann's when the owner's name is Judy? Beats me. But, it was all a moot point because my instructor was a guy named Joe. He was the essence of patience and empathy and we figured out together that my anxiety around driving was rooted in perfectionism: I was mortified to make driving mistakes. But, it's a necessary part of the learning experience, and an experienced, talented instructor like Joe knows the appropriate time to introduce new driving situations so you're not overwhelmed and how to be encouraging and supportive when you do make mistakes.
I ended up taking about 15 lessons over 4 months before feeling ready for the driver's test. Again, it wasn't cheap, but I had saved up for lessons/car/insurance the previous year so I would have no excuses this time. And, it was absolutely worth it since I feel comfortable driving anywhere in San Francisco in all kinds of weather and traffic situations.
After a very messy experience with another driving school, we picked Ann's based on the reviews here at Yelp. Our son had several lessons elsewhere with a variety of problems, including missed appointments, showing up in the wrong place, and generally rude and unprofessional behavior.
Everything went smooth with Ann's, Kim showed up in the right place at the right time and we expect that our son will pass next week.
It seems that the school is aimed at a slightly different clientele, people who are having trouble with driving, but they did fine for us as well. Five stars for professionalism, responsiveness, and quality.
Update: He passed his test on the first try.
Colleen is just the best! She taught my teenage daughter to become a safe and confident driver in the most reassuring way. Made the appt and accompanied her to DMV for driver's test, too. Passed first time, no problem.
The level of commitment is so high, as is the level of instruction, that it is well worth the price.
This is the real deal--absolute excellence.
One of my stereotypical New York traits (besides impatience, inability to stop swearing, elitism about diners, bagels & pizza) is that I don't know how to drive. New York kids don't care about cars and you can't even legally drive in the city until you turn 18 (there is this whole "junior license" thing) so it was never something that crossed my mind. Upon moving here, I began, and then stopped a quest to obtain a license twice. After 4 years of living center city, I've decided I've had it with the whole urban lifestyle MUNI slave thing and I'm gonna become part of the problem and finally learn how to drive. The problem is I don't want to kill any of my friends (or make their insurance rates increase) by learning how to drive in their cars so I needed to call a professional.
Thus far, I am enlisting the help of the pricey but fantastic Ann's Driving School. My teacher is a fabulous woman named Judy who, after a short orientation session, will make you drive for your entire lesson. Right now, I feel pretty accomplished at having driven down the Great Highway, through the western part of the Presidio, down Arguello, learned 3 point turns, through the Outer Richmond and to my place in the Haight. I've even done some parallel parking! My right turns need work but I feel very confident that they'll only get better. No kid gloves here - Judy will throw you right in there with the rest of the SF psychos driving, which is exactly the kick in the ass that I needed.
Like I said before, it IS pricey, but considering you're undertaking a task that kills and injures so many people, it is totally worth it. I can't wait to get my license, a cheap little car, and start paying back all of my airport rides, trader joes/ikea/target rides, midnight runs to in & out burger, etc. Put in your requests now, folks!
I am English and not used to driving on the right side of the road. In fact I am not used to driving much at all as, at the age of 36, I had never passed a test. I used to stress out during lessons, in England, and once got out of the car in the middle of a lesson and walked home in the rain!! It was going to take a miracle to get me to drive here.
Thankfully there is Joe Scott . The guy is calmness personified and made every lesson easy and panic free. He is very quick to praise and keeps your self confidence way up there. You are frequented with the test area early on, so there are no surprises on the big day.
I passed first time and I am now raring to go, with a new found belief in my ability as a driver.
My aim was to pass my driving test as quickly as possible whilst at the same time actually learning to drive. It took me about a month and now I'm zipping around like a pro. Jay was my instructor and he was brilliant: patient, really easy to get one with, and always calm. I've had driving lessons before but I've never enjoyed them. With Ann's Driving School I really looked forward to the lessons and was actually a bit disappointed when I passed my test because it meant no more driving around the city shooting the breeze with Jay. I completely agree with Juan C that this school is testament to the saying 'you get what you pay for.' I'm recommending them to my non-driving friends left, right, and center.
Ann rocks!!! She was so nice and super patient, she is also really funny and i think that matters a lot. She has great tips for on the road, she also will meet with you on your schedule and wants to make sure you pass the test. My only regret would be that she doesn't teach you how to park, she really only focus on helping you pass your driving test. But other then that, Ann's Driving School rocks!!!!
Judy L. of Ann's Driving School is simply, a MIRACLE WORKER!
Since my 16th birthday, I have been in sheer terror about driving. Although I fared well with public transit living in Boston and the bay area for 20 years, I was really dependent on family members and friends to get places. As my 36th birthday came around, it became my wish to experience a new level of freedom.... to go anywhere at any time dependent on no one for a change. Judy of Ann's Driving School truly enabled me to overcome my fears (to make it a sweet 16, 20 years delayed) At 36, I finally got my drivers license and am driving the car of my dreams.... Judy had me envisioning my dreams and we'd chat about it while we practiced over 4 lessons. Lesson to lesson... left turn, right turn, lane change, u-turn... Judy had me chit chating about my dreams of driving as turn and intersection negotiations became routine. All the while, my phobias started to just fade away. Judy was so good that she had me weaving through traffic, bicyclists, and pedestrians in north beach, the marina, and the embarcadero on a saturday morning (this at the end of my first lesson!!) She's encouraging, patient, calming, and knows how to get students to believe in themselves. She is a fantastic teacher (and i work as a teacher trainer...she is truly at the top of her craft).
Before the DMV behind the wheel test, I got so nervous about not passing. But Judy encouraged me to envision the drivers license already in my pocket while doing practice tests. I passed my test with only two errors! I am in my third month of driving... and am feeling freedom like I have never felt! I pick friends up from the airport (returning the favors finally), I drove I-5 to LA, I can drive my mother to the hospital, and I don't have to worry about catching the BART train before that last train leaves the city. Judy's teaching and mentoring have meant incredible transformation in my life! I will be forever grateful!
After 7 months of safe and absolutely independent driving I finally got to writing a Thank-You review to Joe Scott, an excellent driving instructor. Other reviews have already said it all. I just want to add that Joe is a very interesting personality and I truly enjoyed his company.
If I could give them 100 stars I would! Ann's driving school is the BEST. I moved to SF after living in NYC and internationally, so admittedly never drove (i'm 30 now, kinda embarassing)... and for those of you who are new adult drivers, you know how much harder it is to learn at this age... we have much more anxiety and fear than these reckless teenage drivers! anyway, i first took classes at a driving school in the east bay which was very mediocre, but then moved into the city and found ann's... what a difference!! my instructor, eugenia, was nothing short of FANTASTIC. she was kind, patient, professional, and also happened to be a wonderful person- the lessons were actually fun! she was direct about my mistakes but never in a reprimanding or punitive way- all her directions were on target and she never failed to be encouraging, even on my worst days. she really knows her stuff! whats more, i passed the driving test on the first try - complete shocker bc I was so nervous that day! and although this school is pricier than others, its worth the money... plus, i never felt taken advantage of-- eugenia knew when i was ready to take the test and she pushed me to do it, rather than dragging out the lessons...
anyway, i highly highly recommend ann's!
Judy rocks! I already have my british license, but took a lesson with her this week to get used to U.S roads in prep for my test here. She went through everything at just the right pace and explained things really well. Turns in the road, the craziest hills and...parallel parking, (something I can't do no matter which side of the atlantic I'm on) but her formula for it worked a dream. Am loving not having gears to worry about too. Thoroughly enjoyed it and looking forward to my next lesson on the freeway!
More kudos to Ann's Driving School and a special shout-out to my instructor, Joe Scott. After some early automotive trauma, I hadn't driven in two decades, and I'd developed quite the phobia of getting behind the wheel. Joe had nerves of steel and knew his stuff, inside out and upside down. After eight lessons, I braved the DMV test (with gentle prodding from Joe), passed on the first try, and actually got props from the examiner! One of my happiest moments in 2007. A follow-up lesson with Joe was what it took to get me on the freeway.
Learning to drive has changed my life and Joe made that happen for me. Yes, it had a price tag, but the investment was worth every dollar.
I had a wonderful experience with this driving school. I was so nervous to drive in the city and especially to take the driving test. After practicing with Eugenia, I felt SO comfortable and most importantly, confident, about my driving ability and the test. Eugenia is an amazing teacher. She is very personable and extremely understanding. She is able to pinpoint your areas in need of improvement and focus on those. I had absolutely dreaded getting behind the wheel and taking the test, but Eugenia's encouragement and positive attitude made my experience actually totally enjoyable! No one likes hanging out at the DMV and waiting in lines but going with an instructor makes the experience so much better. Their day of the test service is awesome...You don't need to worry about having a car to take the test in and insurance, etc. Plus your instructor is there to calm your nerves and give you tons of encouragement. I passed my driving test on the first try and I owe it all to this school and to Eugenia. It seriously was worth every penny!
This school is great. If you've tried to pass the San Francisco DMV test before and failed, give this place a call.
I for a very long time did not need a license, did not need to drive being a city gal and all, none of my friends had cars or licenses either, so it was no big deal.
So finally I decided, time to get a license. I tried other driving schools and they never ever took me around the DMV to give me a sense of what you need to do to pass the test, they'd yell, they'd scream, miss appointments, never call you back, tell you you're ready but nope, no pass.
So after doing some research and reading the reviews I gave Ann's a call. I was called back right away, my instructor was Joe. He was great, patient and definitely a confidence builder. Very calm, never yells and builds each lesson as you get better until you're ready to pass. He lets you know what to expect on the test so any nerves you've got fade away and what do ya know, passed my first time with a near perfect score. It's on the pricey side, but I would say if you want to be a good, safe driver; if you want to feel safe handing your 16 yr old the car keys and know they'll come back in one piece, call Ann's Driving School!
Let me set the scene for you - I am 24, have lived in California my whole life, and - until recently - did not know how to drive. I'd heard good things about Ann's Driving School (aka Fearless Driver) and it seemed as though they would be equipped to deal with a somewhat scared driver like myself. The experience was nothing but positive. Joe Scott was an excellent teacher. First and foremost, the lessons prepared me very well for the driver's test covering all the possibilities of the actual San Francisco test route almost perfectly. But more important, I felt like the lessons prepared me to be a good driver in San Francisco. I learned far more than was on the actual test and I feel very prepared for all types of driving. Joe was very patient and provided lots of great insight and wisdom. On the actual test day, Joe picked me up 90 minutes beforehand and ran through the test route with me. I was able to use their car for my actual test, which I passed, and then he drove me to work. For a time, I thought I would never be a driver, or that I would be too afraid to drive in San Francisco, but this driving school helped me get over both of those fears.
I will start from the bottomline addressing two main issues:
1) For cost conscious readers - this is one of the rare cases when you get more than you paid for. One may laugh by looking at the price/lesson, which is higher than any other school in SF, but... you really need just a few driving lessons with this school and you are ready for the test versus cheap endless meaningful driving over and over Sunset and Richmond without an explanation as to "why and how" (if you get lucky to understand each other with driving instructor).
2) For those who have never driven in their lives ...and decided to learn how to do it well (as well as pass the test at a quite mature age (30's) - ask for Kim as your first instructor. Kim has a unique combination of being an experienced driver and an excellent teacher. She gives you all you need - reference points on where you should start turning, makes your turns sharp and flawless, explains in a very subtle and patent way things behind driving. She does not make you just spin the wheel mechanically.
I was lucky to have both Kim and Judy as my tutors, took 5 classes and passed the test on the 6th. Judy is a pro, an ace..a very supportive one in addition to be amazingly strong-minded and pleasant person. Important to know - Judy is well known at SF DMV, so examiners treat you with respect knowing you came from THAT school (unless you blew the exam completely).
Coming from NYC and having experienced all types of the expensive services whether they were worth it or not, I wish I knew this school earlier.
They are experienced, professional , fare and very accommodating. Take my word for it.
Kim and Judy - a very special thanks!
