We had a great experience with this driving school! The instructor, MICHAEL ALCALA was extremely professional, patient, and thorough. He made sure to go over everything needed for the driving test and explained things in a way that was easy to understand. My son passed his test on the first try and scored 100%, no driving errors! I would definitely recommend this driving school to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and encouraging instructor! Book with Michael Alcala! read more

The front office here is a complete mess. Unfortunately, I can't even review the instructor because we never made it that far. We purchased a 6-hour lesson package for our child and called to schedule the first lesson. The appointment was confirmed with a specific date and time. Simple enough--or so we thought. On the day of the lesson, the scheduled time came and went. After waiting 30 minutes with no instructor and no communication, I called the office. They had no idea where the instructor was and told me they would call to find out. Fifteen minutes passed without a callback, so I called them again. That's when they casually told me, "Oh, the instructor wasn't feeling well and decided to go home." Seriously? Not a single person thought to call us before the lesson to let us know the instructor wasn't coming. Instead, they were perfectly content to let us sit there waiting indefinitely until *we* called them. And after supposedly contacting the instructor, they still couldn't be bothered to call us back. We had to chase them down a second time just to learn what had happened. The most disappointing part was how they handled the situation afterward. There was a meek apology, no attempt to find another instructor, no effort to accommodate us, and no ownership of their mistake. We were simply told that they're busy and the next available lesson would be in three weeks. And oh yea, they also said, it's busy everywhere so that's that....now do you want a refund or what? In other words: **their scheduling failure became our problem.** At that point, I requested a refund. Hopefully, processing that is more organized than scheduling a lesson. If this is how the front office handles something as basic as communicating a cancellation, I'd be very hesitant to trust them with anything more important. Customer service isn't just about being polite--it's about respecting your customers' time. Unfortunately, that seems to be completely missing here. read more

Very professional, easy to schedule, my teen liked her first lesson with Noel. What impressed me most is that when I paid 3 session and could not find the time i want ( my mistake), they refunded me and let me schedule one at a time. Again, i underestimated that summer is a busy time, I could not find any time to finish the rest before my kid's test next week. So i had to go to an individual instructor. Advantage had no issue to send a letter for the one lesson completed by them. I think a business shows true character when spending time for things not bringing revenue, but helping clients, 100% recommended! read more

had a good time and learned at lot, thank you Michael Alcala. I passed my test and the person who brought me

Advantage Driving School is a great way to begin your driving journey. With the help of Michael Alcala, I was able to pass my driving test on the first try. Michael is an excellent driving instructor and is very encouraging and engaged in teaching all the requirements for the DMV test. I would recommend booking your lessons with Michael! read more

Michael Alcala was the best instructor! I had all 3 of my lessons with Michael and he gave me super helpful tips for the test and really boosted my confidence. Myself and my friends who had Michael as an instructor passed on the first try! I definitely recommend Advantage Driving School for anyone wanting to drive :) read more

I had a great experience! The car was clean and easy to use each time. I had lessons with Nick Blozan, Jef Ramirez, and Michael Alcala. They all showed up exactly on time for my lessons. They were all very fun to talk to, patient, and instructive and I left each lesson feeling very confident. They were also very encouraging. They all teach real-world driving and leave good tips that are not only useful for the driving test, but also life-long lessons for navigating the road. I felt that Nick went above and beyond when it came to my first lesson. He talked to my parents about what to do next after our lesson was over, even going into overtime. Thanks to their teachings, I was able to pass my driving test in one try! I highly recommend this school. read more

Michael Alcala taught my daughter how to drive. He was amazing! He built her confidence and gave her really great tips. He is a real expert at teaching teens how to drive! read more

Micheal and Jeff N were fantastic instructors, clear, kind, instructive! Our daughter had a great experience and passed her test !! Thankful to you for also accommodating a last minute teacher when one was sick, days before her driving test, Thank you!! read more

I did lessons and my DMV test with Amar. He's very experienced and knows the ins and outs of the bay area and the DMVs. He also gives a lot of tips to ensure safe driving for the test and for the real world. The car you get to practice with is clean, new, and easy to use. One feedback for the school is that I'm never able to successfully pay on the website, I always have to call and give my credit card number. The person handling the phone is very quick and straight forward but I still rather get this paid through a secure payment method on the website. read more

Keith is a great driving instructor very patient and knowledgeable. He had great advice and encouraging. I would recommend this place and Keith as a driving instructor. read more

Five stars for Advantage Driving School! Christin and the office team are amazing and helpful. My driving improved after just one class. They pointed out my mistakes and guided me until I got my license. Highly recommend! read more

Like any good business, Advantage Driving School works with their customers to resolve issues. 5 stars!!! I had a scheduling issue and I spoke to Randy who helped me out. It was an uncomfortable situation but after speaking to Randy we were able to solve my issue perfectly... thanks Randy!!! Both of my children have and are taking driving lessons with Advantage Driving School, and yes, I would ABSOLUTELY recommend ADS to my friends and family. Thanks for going above and beyond. Michael read more

I am posting this for my child: Nathan gave me lots of good tips for my driving test and the lesson was really helpful for me. We went over how the test was going to be like which helped me feel more prepared and less stressed. I was able to pass the behind the wheel test on the first try without trouble, keeping in mind the tips from the lesson. From a parent perspective (based on my child's view of the experience), the instructors all vary. I was expecting the first one to provide guidance and tips but he did not. The second kept saying "automatic fail" which created some stress (he was a previous DMV tester), but at least he provided useful tips and taught something. The last instructor (Nathan) was the most comfortable and my child actually enjoyed the lesson. read more

This is our 2nd time using advantage driving school and we've found them to be very helpful with making sure our kids gain the necessary skills to pass the driving test. I especially appreciate their brave instructors for taking the kids into expressways like San Tomas and Almaden and the larger roads like El Camino, Bascom and Camden. This is my student's 2nd lesson so they were even taken on the HW. My student really liked Noel Estillore a their instructor because he was very informative and detailed in his instructions. Booking for lessons is also a breeze over the phone, not so much online. read more

Highly recommend this business for your child's driving lessons. It was easy to book lessons online. Michael Alcala was our child's driving instructor. He was patient, calm, and really helped build her confidence for driving. She felt comfortable asking questions and learned a lot from Michael. read more

I had the pleasure of working with Michael Alcala as my driving instructor. I came into my first lesson with no driving experience and was extremely anxious to drive. (I'm 23 years old and have always dreaded getting my license). Michael helped me feel confident on the roads and he taught me exactly what I needed to do in order to be a safe driver and pass my test. After 2 weeks of lessons, I passed my drivers test on the first try. I highly recommend Michael as an instructor, he's patient, kind, intelligent, and funny (which helped me feel less anxious on the road). I'm very grateful for his help and highly recommend you book lessons with him! read more

Micheal Alcala, the best instructor I could've asked for. He is extremely patient, professional and an extremely good driver making sure you are ready to pass the DMV test first try. He built up my confidence quickly on roads and made sure I was prepared and the best driver I am. I highly suggest him as he is a great person and skilled instructor. Student Drew read more

I had been trying to get my driver's license for several years but kept postponing it because I was so nervous. However, Instructor Nathan Kim helped ease my driving anxiety with his patience and calm personality. I took four lessons with him, and every session helped solidify my skills while addressing my weaknesses. He provided useful tips to bridge those gaps in my driving. I truly appreciate his patience and guidance--he boosted my confidence and ultimately helped me pass the behind-the-wheel test! read more

My 16 year old daughter took 5 total lessons from Advantage, the last 3 were with Michael Alcala. Michael was a fabulous instructor, he is patient, kind and helped her become a more confident driver. She passed her driving test today on the first try! I highly recommend Michael Alcala when selecting an instructor. Thanks Michael! read more

I chose Micheal Alcala as my driving instructor, he was super kind and easy to talk to. He helped me with everything I needed to know for my test and went around the dmv area with me. He also made me feel super comfortable driving and made me feel confident to drive and also do a U turn (which I never done until the lesson). It was overall a great experience, and I finished the lesson feeling confident for my test that was in a couple days and passed today! If I could go back and do more lessons, I'd do it with Micheal Alcala! read more

Nathan Kim was the instructor for my son for his 2nd and 3rd driving lesson. My son felt he was a very patient, helpful and helped him gain the confidence and skills that he needed to develop as he learned how to drive. As a parent, I appreciated how he always followed up afterwards with things to work on and provided a lot of tips for him. He passed his test with only a 2 point deduction (out of 15 allowable) so Nathan clearly did his part to prepare him! read more

Gilberto and Noelle were my instructors, and they both helped me so much! Gilberto was extremely patient, and calmed my nerves about driving. He was accommodating when I needed to change my pickup address last second, and he always gave good, clear instructions. Noelle helped me prep for my test a few days before, and he made me much less anxious about testing. Practicing with him gave me the confidence I needed going into my test. Highly recommend both of them! read more

I had failed my behind the wheel test several times, and I decided to have another behind the wheels test, this time I decided to get help from Advantage Driving School. This is my first time working with them , and Jeff Ramirez was my instructor... he is a very patient guy and really taught me a lot , today I am so happy because finally I got my driver's license. Thank you so much Jeff for being patient and understanding. God bless you and the whole staff of Advantage Driving School. read more

Thanks to Michael Alcala for making driving so much easier!! He explained everything carefully, and was a great instructor.

Had Michael as my instructor, everything went great and he guided me to passing my drivers test. Very happy with the experience.

I had a great experience with Advantage Driving School! They did a really good job from start to finish super professional, well-organized, and helpful throughout the whole process. A specific shoutout to my instructor Nathan Kim he was awesome ,super chill, easy to talk to, and explained everything in a way that actually made sense. Driving with him didnt feel stressful at alll and I appreciated how calm and interesting he was as a person. He made learning to drive a lot more enjoyable than I had thought i really really recommend him as an instructor. read more

Just passed my driving test and my instructor that prepared for the test right before was Michael Alcala. The best driving instructor i've ever had, i felt nothing but confidence, calmness, and excitement. He helped correct me in the mildest way possible, eased all my nerves. Such an amazing guy! So calm and friendly. I felt like i was just driving around with a friend . Whether i passed or failed i felt confident Michael was gonna bring me up. Once the test started i felt this insane calmness. Thank you Michael! I hope you stick around so my little sister can get trained by you too read more

I'm going to take my driving test soon and after only two lessons, I feel absolutely confident that I will pass with flying colors. My instructor, Nathan, was excellent with telling me the basics and more and even taking me on the freeway all the way to Los Gatos. He was very friendly and interesting to drive with. I 100% would recommend this school to anyone who wants to improve their driving and knowledge of the road! read more

Michael Alcala helped me pass and I highly recommend him he's very calm, I was confident to get on the freeway with him, and I was confident to take the test after driving with him a few times. read more

Very good service I was a student learner who just recently passed his driving test with only 1 minor mark. I had two instructors Noel Estillore for the first two lessons and Michael Alcala for the final lesson right before the test. Noel was quite nice and taught me quite a bit especially during the second lesson where we already went through the DMV route. Michael Alcala was absolutely fantastic and is my personal recommendation, he was quickly able to figure out my level, and trained me on my weaknesses right before the test allowing me to greatly succeed. He was also just so fun to be with and had some very funny personal stories. read more

My review is for Gilberto at Advantage. He was an excellent driving instructor for my son. He was calm, patient, and great at explaining everything. Before and after each lesson he made sure that he answered any questions we had. My son passed his test on his first try. read more

Micheal Alcala was a great instructor that taught well and explained things in a way I could understand.

Professional always on time and very helpful to illustrate where my daughter needed to improve

I had a great experience with my instructor Nathan! He was very welcoming but also really helpful with tips throughout the drives. I HIGHLY recommend! read more

we had a lesson scheduled yesterday evening. Right off the bat, the instructor arrived 5 mins late and dropped off 13 minutes early, 18 minutes might not sound like much but at $188 for 120 minutes, nearly 20 minutes adds up. and total driving time that the student actually drove was like an hour max. not worth the $$ for a 2 hr lesson to only have them drive for an hour. And trying to get feedback from the instructor at drop off was like pulling teeth, I literally had to pry it out of him read more

I had Jef Ramirez as my instructor for my first two lessons and he was great. He was a great teacher and seemed to care a lot as I was clueless my first lesson. He let me know that if he did yell it was out of concern for our lives rather just because he hated me hahaha. He was very accomadating and was a great help and definetly played a big part in my getting my license. I wanted to schedule my third lesson with him too and I did but my lesson was canceled and rescheduled at a time that I could not make it too. Which was very frustrating as they just sent me a email that my lesson was rescheduled but didn't say that my instructor changed and there was little information given. Fortunately I was able to schedule another lesson with Nathan Kim who is my goat. He was a great help taking me around the area my test was going to be at and he helped my a lot keeping my nerves down. Great conversation topics too! Both instructors rocked and I am extremely grateful for everything i learned from them. My update is that I passed the test with 4 errors total! Thank you to Nathan and Jef! I would 100% recommend both of them if you are looking to pass your test. read more

Michael Alcala did an outstanding job of teaching my son how to drive! He was prompt, polite, patient and personable. My son learned a lot from him and greatly enjoyed having him as an instructor. He passed his driver's test easily on the first try. I highly recommend Michael! read more

I setup an appointment for 3/14 with Elisabeth on 3/5 for my daughter who attends a boarding school and was only home for 1 week. It was important to start her lessons so she can drive with me later that week. The appointment time came and no instructor, so I called the company hotels me Elisabeth had to cancel yesterday due to an emergency. I never received any correspondence back n the cancellation so now I'm stuck scrambling trying to find another appointment short notice. This is very frustrating and I won't be calling Advantage driving school again. I understand plans change, but the lesson was non-refundable for me, yet easy for the company to cancel. I was asked whether I wanted to reschedule the appointment, I've read other reviews where this same thing happened, so please beware when booking with this company. I'm sure Elisabeth is a good instructor, but this is very frustrating. Update (after reading Randy's response): 1) When I stated the lesson was "non-refundable for me", I meant that I couldn't cancel the lesson after I booked it. I never said I didn't get a refund after the lesson was canceled (actually a no show since I was never notified that the instructor couldn't make it). I did get a refund which of course I should get since there was no service. 2) Randy's first message (attached to the review) states the "employee calls in sick", yet the person I spoke with said she had a family emergency and tried to reach out to me yesterday. It is your company's responsibility to reach out to customers when you have a cell phone and email address. Best practice is to get a response from a customer for these "rare" occurrences. I happened to call a few minutes after the appointment out of courtesy as my house is hard to locate, which I am glad I did since no one was showing up, nor contacting me! It seems your company has gotten too large (700 lessons per month) as you should invest in a CRM system to notify customers when these things happen. 3) You state "less than 10 lessons have to be rescheduled", yet I count 3 including mine which have been canceled in the past 12 months....the other 2 are just the ones I count on Yelp. I am sure there are others who didn't take the time to write a review. Again, I understand that these things happen, but I felt others should be aware of this as they are looking for a driving company. My review has NOTHING to do with driving instruction as I felt comfortable making an appointment for my daughter. read more

Advantage Driving School - Driving Schools Near Me - San Jose, California

My two children took their driving education classes through Advantage and both passed the driving test on their first attempt without needing to retake it. They are responsive. We were able to schedule online and via phone. The instructors are always on time and knowledgeable. Their fees are reasonable. read more