I booked a lesson with Berkeley Driving School after doing very little research, which somehow worked out for me. Signing up was easy and all online, and the website actually explains things clearly. I worked with Donald and he was the best. I'm an anxious almost 40 year old who had never had a license, and he never made me feel weird about that. He was always on time, very calm, and just a genuinely kind person. I had a few lessons with him and it was 100% worth it. I have a lot of driving anxiety and test anxiety, and he gave feedback in a way that didn't make me feel worse. Driving started to feel doable, which I did not expect tbh! I hadn't taken a driving test in over 20 years, but I did it! I passed! I have a driver's license now!! I spent years renewing my permit and trying to build confidence but it wasn't happening. Especially because practicing with a spouse or family member is... difficult (iykyk). But this was completely different. My driving was better than I thought, and I actually got comfortable behind the wheel. I really can't thank Donald enough. This genuinely changed my life, which feels dramatic but is also true. read more

Have had two kids use Berkeley Driving School to take lessons to prepare to be drivers. Great instructors and very easy to set up and schedule on their website. I felt confident they were in good hands and learning how to drive safely in the bay area. Donald and Amber Rose were two of my kids favorite instructors. read more

My son had 4 great lessons with Donald- and really enjoyed the instruction! Donald was always on time, communicating before and after - my son particularly enjoyed the few simple actionable tips shared after every lesson and doing a few pre test runs on the actual driving route was highly valuable. Based on our great experience with Donald would have no hesitation recommending! read more

My daughter had a fantastic driving lesson with Amber Rose at Berkeley Driving School. Amber was kind, knowledgeable, and friendly, and she created an environment where my daughter felt calm and comfortable right away. My daughter came home from the lesson feeling confident and even excited to practice driving with us. I will say there was a bit of a lack of communication when I initially scheduled the appointment, which gave me some concern. However, Amber showed up exactly when she said she would and was extremely professional. I would highly recommend Amber Rose and Berkeley Driving School, especially if you have a child who feels a little anxious about learning to drive. read more

BEWARE! They will take your deposit but not show up for the lesson. And won't return your calls or texts when you try to contact them. (And of course their voicemail box is always full). I had to contact my credit card company to reverse the charge. DO NOT USE!!! read more

I had such a fun, confidence-building experience learning to drive with Amber Rose Johnson. Learning to drive can be intimidating at first, and my own negative experiences in the past delayed me from getting my license. Amber clearly explained safe, defensive driving practices and what examiners look for during the behind-the-wheel test. She also made sure that even after I passed, I felt prepared to drive safely in real-life situations. Thanks to her guidance, parallel parking is no longer my most feared maneuver! Amber is also genuinely enjoyable to learn from - friendly, patient, and great to talk to - which matters during lessons that last a couple of hours and naturally become a bonding experience. I'm so glad I chose her as my instructor, and I highly recommend her to any aspiring driver without hesitation. read more

I would not use these guys again. Can't get anyone on the phone, can't leave a message, and most importantly they have not uploaded my daughter's hours. I also hired East Bay Driving School in Pleaston, and they were amazing, Picked up phone when I called, got back to me in timely fashion and were on top of uploading driving hours so the DMV knew she did the required hours. DO NOT HIRE BERKELEY DRIVING SCHOOL. waste of money. read more

My daughter had her first two lessons with them and it was fine, but the instructor didn't show up for the third lesson, which was scheduled just a few days before her driving test. The company was completely non-responsive to all of my attempts to contact them through phone text and email and as a result, we have not been able to get verification of the four hours that she did with them, resulting in my daughter most likely not being able to take her driving test as scheduled. We lost money on the third driving test since we paid in bundle and she never showed up. I will also add that despite their office hours saying they're open from 8 AM to 2 PM on Saturday, I went to their office twice in person to attempt to get the above situation resolved and the office was locked up and did not look like anybody had been there for a very long time . read more

They do not answer the phone or return your messages. This despite their instructions for rescheduling which say to call. My experience was when I tried to reschedule. They did not return my messages. I tried calling for two weeks and never ever got a response. They ended up keeping my deposit, even though I had followed their policies and instructions. read more

Amber Rose is absolutely fantastic! My daughter really enjoyed learning from her, and gave her all of the information she needed to be a confident, conscientious driver. Thanks to Amber Rose, my daughter just got her license today on her first try! Amber Rose is patient, clear, and thorough. She made it so much easier for me as the parent because my kid will listen to her and then do what she has learned. Amber Rose was great a communicating with me and letting me know what areas to work on in between lessons every step of the way. I'm very happy with the service and highly recommend Amber Rose. Thank you!! read more

They ghosted us for our son's second lesson. And have never responded to texts, emails, or phones. And they've kept our deposit, so we now have to hound them to get our money back. Something's gone wrong with these guys. STAY AWAY. read more

Instructor did not show up for a lesson booked in September 2025, company did not respond to texts and calls, and did not refund deposit.

Had a driving lesson from Donald and he was a wonderful instructor!! Arrived on time, listened to my fears about driving and knew that I've only had some little practice throughout the year. He gave lots of information while I was driving, tested me on some things, and even got me to drive on the freeway (which I never thought I would). He was patient, understanding, and a very good instructor. I would highly recommend Donald/Berkeley Driving School! They were very professional from start to finish and I'm very grateful for their support! read more

Awful experience. My instructor never showed up and never answered the phone or text and there was no way to leave a voicemail. We'd made a deposit already so we went to their office, which was empty in the middle of the day on a Wednesday. There was a note from another customer taped to the door who'd had a similar experience, but worse, because her lessons were abandoned right before her test and she never got her money back. DO NOT BOOK! read more

Decades after only halfway learning how to drive for the trip to Burning Man, squeaking a pass on the license test, and then only just surviving the trip, I barely drove for a couple of decades. When looking at helping out an aunt who lives in a transit desert (can't even get an Uber), I decided that I needed to finish learning how to drive properly. Amber Rose Janson is an *amazing* teacher. She was able to get me from full-on controlled panic at 25 mph, to freeway driving around the Bay. She was very good at finding the spots just beyond my comfort zone to aim for, and at walking me through how a particular process worked, and which parts are most important to pay attention to. Once I started getting some confidence in driving, she shifted to letting me go ahead and make my own decisions on lane changes and the like, and then checking in right afterwards to see if I'd noticed what I ought to be have looking at, such that I could learn what I wasn't seeing. Finally, when it turned out that, despite all these years in California, I had a Boston driver underneath, she had a lot of good suggestions for how to keep him on a short lead, and be a safer and less aggressive driver. In addition, I was able to ask her all sorts of questions about road rules, and what's legal, and what's safe, that would normally take a decade or two to pick up. Berkeley Driving School made scheduling and planning a breeze, at a fair price for lessons. But mainly Amber gets the props for this. I was looking at being That Guy on the road, the terrible driver who doesn't even know it, and, with her assist, I think I may actually know how to do this right. read more

As a parent who used Berkeley Driving School over 20 years ago, I knew to contact them when my daughter got her permit. They're easy to schedule with and affordable. Lule was her driving instructor every time and she helped my daughter improve her skills. My daughter passed her license test on the first try. Very well worth it and thank you! read more

company is 100% non responsive to customer. if you book online and deal with the instructor it seems ok, but whoever runs the company doesn't seem to care at all. we canceled and appointment well in advance and simply wanted a credit for a future appointment. tried calling, texting numerous times with zero response. setting a record fir owner who doesn't give a dam. I'd go elsewhere because if any problems occur no way to contact this company. read more

We were so happy to work with Donald after many bad experiences with other private driving instructors. My now-licensed 16yo wrote the following review: "Exactly the experience I would expect from a driving instructor, which is more then I could say about the ones I've had in the past! Donald was great, he was very clear about his instructions, never made me feel pressured, and was very clear about improvements I could make and what to work on." read more

Dee is great! I had PTSD after the car accident on highway. He helped me refresh navigating the curves on highway. He designed a route to perfectly fitted my training goals. The 2 hour lesson was a great confidence booster for me. I was able to drive at 70mph to take my husband out for dinner after the lesson- the highway dread is becoming highway ease for me now- so grateful for the great lesson! read more

We switched to this driving school after one lesson with another school. My daughter had one session with Dee a week before and one with Amber the day before her DMV test. She loved both instuctors and felt very well prepared for her test, which she did very well on. Great communication from start to finish, with the company and the drivers. Easy to book and pay online. They really pack a lot of information and instruction into those two hour sessions, making it well worth the price. Thank you! read more

Donald is the best! Both my kids had several lessons with Donald (in 2019 and 2023, respectively). Donald is a highly skilled driving instructor, a great educator, and such a nice guy to deal with. He targets each lesson to the level of the student while also gently pushing them to the next level. My kids loved their lessons with Donald and they both passed the driving test on the first try, with flying colors. read more

Berkeley Driving School is the best! This review is for Amber. She's patient and understanding. A great communicator - she'll draw diagrams, give you acronyms - anything to help you take in the information. She's knowledgable, experienced, and adaptable - everything you want in an instructor. Above all, she has a consistently positive attitude and uses her background in psychology to build up your confidence. So encouraging. Never pushy. I kept taking lessons with her beyond the point of passing my driving test simply because I learned so much from her each lesson. The owner of Berkeley Driving School is also very cool, so I can only imagine other instructors are as good as Amber. However, this review is specifically about my experience with her. read more

Excellent service!! My daughter took lessons here and Annette was super helpful and resourceful! Fully recommend!! Thank you Annette!

This is a long overdue review, but Donald is the entire reason I got my license! After 4-5 lessons, I felt ready and prepared to take the driving test. The option to have Donald bring you to your test was awesome, he was a very calming presence for my nerves and it was nice to use the vehicle I'd been practicing in. His calm and collected energy helped me feel confident while navigating the occasionally chaotic Oakland streets. Truly couldn't thank him enough for helping me achieve this milestone, highly recommend! read more

We did the three classes for our teen with BDS and the owners were extremely helpful, communicative and flexible. The drivers are great!

While in a previous review I was coming off the disappointment and frustration of a driving test, I think all around I would be remiss if I didn't give the Berkeley Driving School five stars. Scheduling is incredibly easy, and with the exception of a one-off experience, the instructors were all encouraging, informative and friendly. My first lesson was back in 2019; and even though I took two years off lessons due to COVID, I scheduled a single refresher plus testing assistance and walked away with my drivers license. If that isn't a testament to the effectiveness of the school, I don't know what is. Whether you have teenagers or didn't learn to drive until after college like I did, the Berkeley Driving School is an invaluable and affordable resource to get you on the road. read more

I had Amber for three lessons and she even brought me to my behind the wheel test. I felt prepared for everything and she also made me feel very comfortable and safe during our lessons when I was less experienced. On top of the fact that she gave me many tips on how to be a safe driver, you can also tell that she really cares for her clients and wants them to succeed. 10/10 experience! read more

My husband and I did not want to ruin our relationship with our teenage daughter. We decided to have a professional to teach her. She liked Amber's style a lot. She said Ms. Amber never made her feel pressured and she enjoyed all her lessons with her. We had our daughter fulfilled all her required hours with Amber. Due to daylight saving time, Amber went out of her way to switch our daughter's 5:00 lesson to 8:00 in order for our daughter to meet her night time driving hours. Amber also accompanied our daughter to her behind the wheel test. She passed on her first try. Thank you Amber for making driving a positive experience for our daughter! read more

Shoutout to Lulee for helping me pass my driving test on the first try!!! You created such a comfortable environment for me to learn & ask questions. Thank you for being there with me at the DMV too! :) read more

We found and ultimately selected this driving school for our teen because of other peoples' reviews. We had our 3 lessons, and loved every single one. I like that it's not a forced package with one instructor. You pay as you go, and there is no pressure to keep your instructor or to prepay for a certain package. You can walk away any time if you are not satisfied. That said, we requested the same instructor all three lessons so far, and we might pay for two additional refreshers before the behind the wheel test. We'll see! read more

Donald Sayvong is an excellent driving instructor. My teenagers passed their drivers license tests after the lessons from Donald. He is patient and encouraging. My daughter learned to drive well on the freeway through an extra lesson focusing on this. read more

I've had multiple lessons with BDS. As an adult driver who's NEVER had any formal driving training in my life, it was of course a very SCARY experience being behind the wheel the first couple of times. All the instructors are skilled, knowledgeable, and PATIENT (which is a very important quality to me). I enjoyed working the most with Shelly and Amber, I can't thank them enough! Shelly is very patient, skilled, and will absolutely stand up for you when you're faced with aggressive drivers in the Bay Area. Amber was a great instructor as well, she will teach you everything you need to know for the behind the wheel test. If you're ever thinking of booking a lesson with BDS, absolutely consider booking with these ladies! read more

Very professional instructors provided good training tips for the budding vehicle driver in our family.

Dee is the best! He makes sure to cover everything you want to in each lesson. We worked on getting on and off the freeway, 2 point turns, parallel parking, parking on hills (since I was nervous about driving in sf), and everything in between. He's very funny and gives you all the tips you need to be a great defensive driver! read more

I'd been putting off getting my license for years, usually my nerves getting the best of me but this year I decided to face them! I went with Berkeley Driving School from a friend recommendation, and I would highly recommend taking lessons with Amber! Amber instilled confidence, and safe driving skills which helped me get comfortable on the road. She would pick the best routes for me to slowly calm my nerves since I was scared of other cars. After taking 4 lessons, I was able to pass my behind the wheel test on the first try! I never thought I'd be able to get my license so thank you very much Amber and Berkeley Driving School! read more

Donald was an excellent instructor! He was always on time for each lesson. He is hilarious, calm, and patient, and he makes you feel comfortable during each lesson. Donald begins each lesson by asking you to show him your hand signals (left, right, stop) and proceeds to ask you about specific items within the car (lights, parking brake, etc.) just as the DMV will during the actual exam. Thereafter he will create a lesson based on your weaknesses in order to improve your skills as a driver. I took 15 lessons total with Donald and could not be happier with the results. I passed my exam with ease and now am a newly licensed adult driver. Thank you, Donald! 10/10 would recommend! read more

Berkeley Driving School is absolutely hands down the best driving school in the East Bay. We couldn't get in right away so my son took his first lesson with another driving school in Walnut Creek and didn't have much to say after his lesson. When he came back from his first lesson with Donald at BDS he was like, "THAT was what a driving lesson should be like!" and then proceeded to tell me all he learned in detail like SMOG: Signal, Mirrors, Over the shoulder, Go! He also confirmed that after Donald he realized he learned nothing from the other instructor at the Walnut Creek place. Donald for sure gave him skills, confidence and my son said his car was impressively clean and that he's funny and super nice. After 2 lessons with Donald my son is definitely in a good place behind the wheel to practice with us more and we look forward to one last lesson with Donald before his driving test. Also Annette, the owner, is amazing. She made sure we were on the wait list because they do book up fast. She also alerted me when Daniel submitted his hours for the following month so we could get right online and get a slot. We definitely had to wait a little bit, but it was well worth it and with Annette's help we got into the schedule. With all the crazy angry people on the road these days good, solid behind the wheel training is more important than ever. You'll get that at Berkeley Driving school without a doubt. read more

I highly recommend Berkeley Driving School and want to give a specific thank you to Amber Rose Janson for being an amazing instructor! She is friendly, patient, calm, and knowledgeable. She helped me feel confident about the driving test and pass on the first try. I took all three lessons with Amber Rose, and we drove around Berkeley, Oakland, and especially El Cerrito, where I took my test. I learned how to use the acronym SMOG for safe maneuvers, deal with unexpected situations on the road, and got to focus on areas I needed improvements on until I felt good about them. I learned many more skills than what were going to be on the driving test as well, including parallel parking and three-point turns. I also appreciate that she extended her availability to the weekends so it's easier to teen drivers to make appointments! Thank you Amber Rose and Berkeley Driving School! read more

The teacher was so kind and easygoing she assured me I was going to pass and I did I passed after 20 years of not having my license I finally got it yeeeeeeee. read more

Donald at Berkeley Driving School is the best! He taught both my kids and they passed with flying colors on their first try. He is extremely professional, knowledgeable, experienced and patient with new drivers. My kids looked forward to their lessons w him. We highly recommend him as an instructor. read more