My experience with Cities Driving School is the equivalent to that perfect hole-in-the-wall restaurant that you don't want to tell too many people about, because you are worried that business will become too good and they will be too busy. However, this review is for a driving school and not a restaurant! I can't hope to tell enough people! ***AS ALWAYS, LONG STORY SHORT, SKIP TO THE BOTTOMLINE*** Driving schools and driving instructors are not like a restaurant in that you hope that you don't ever need to go back to paying for their services. If you do, it's either because the instructor is no good, or because the student is struggling. Well, I just got back from two hours of training and I feel so great about what I learned today. I am never going to have to pay for a Class C training ever again! I called about a week ago to schedule a behind-the-wheel training and I rescheduled for this week. First of all, I am an experienced driver with a clean driving record, with no major accidents. Coming from L.A., I know what an angry/aggressive driver looks like, and how to drive defensively (will return to this in a moment). Why am I doing behind-the-wheel training? To learn how to operate a standard (manual/stick) transmission. We scheduled to meet at JLSquare, but I was running late, so Steven picked me up in front of a corner coffee shop along the way. He knew exactly where he was going and as soon as we got to a spot off Broadway where there was zero traffic, he pulled over, checked my current driver's license and we got out and switched seats. He had a sheet of handwritten notes already prepared and went through the basics of how to drive stick. I know, it's late for me to learn, but better late than never! Just a few minutes and we were off! Starting off, I didn't stall too many times, but as I got the hang of it, I started stalling more and more, until we got stalled at an intersection! !__! Bad news! But, Steven was very calm, very patient and knew how to relieve the anxiety and pressure of learning something new while actively doing it. Still, I was having a hard time, and ended up stalling again at a stop sign. I have a habit of checking my rear view too often and noticed when the guy behind us was following too close. He starts honking as I'm turning the engine over and pulls around us (in a one-lane road) and stops after the intersection, waits for us to get behind him, and gets out! He starts to yell about how I like playing games and comes up to my window. Neither of us really know what's going on and just stare at him as he's going off on us. The guy comes up to my window and punches the glass a couple times and storms off. Before he gets in, I yell, "Hey man, I'm just learning!" He speeds off. I got his plate number, but what good does that do? No harm, no foul. (But really this was an indisputable moment of legitimate assault). Needless to say, I was in disbelief that someone in the Bay would have an attitude like that and said, "What if I had a gun? Man, he's brave" Steven replied, "You know, if he hits you just a little bit, I would rather sue and make him pay big." We started making jokes and laughing about it and after this, somehow the tension is released and what he's been telling me the whole time just clicks. I can feel what brings the engine to stall, and I get what he means by "Hold! Be patient, man!" BOOM, and just like that (in the aftershock of the crazy guy) my brain understands and my body reacts and there's no more problem! No trouble at all! We even took it to the busier parts of downtown Oakland and the clustered mess by the lake. Steven does a really good job of relaxing you and convincing you not to worry about the other drivers around you, and just focus on your driving. We left it at a very good note and I feel confident to take to the streets on my own. ***BOTTOMLINE: If you need Class C behind-the-wheel driver's training, Cities is the place to call. No hassle, no bullshit. Just an experienced, relaxed and friendly instruction at a very affordable price -- cheaper than any other ones that I've found online. The catch? You won't ever need to go back as a return customer.*** read more

BAD BAD BAD PERIOD. Six hours= 3days. LATE FOR EACH APPOINTMENT EVERYTIME APPROXIMATELY 15MINS. Very disappointed, rush teaching, not much hands or foot on training. She step on the accelerating pedals rather than letting them feel how are they supposed to drive. Her teaching is so last century when the DMV is literally updating their guildlines every other years. Never says Hi or steps out the car to greet, give handshake customers at all. Please choose a different driving school than this. Not worth your money at all. Waste of time didn't learn anything other than what I've read and youtubing. read more

Sitting here at El Cerrito del Norte BART station writing this review. I was given a DMV appointment for today with a one-week turnaround. I made an appointment for the road test service and was told that I can be put on the schedule and so I texted and revived confirmation for pick up location and time. But it turns out that the instructor forgot about it today until I called him around pick up time. He said he is going to be 20-25mins late, which leaves me stranded for the time being and significantly decreases my ability to practice ahead of time and prepare for my test since we had agreed to meet up an hour beforehand to practice. Waiting to see if he is going to charge me the same rate or if there is going to be a discount. More on the saga in an updated review. read more

Great instruction from Steven. I learned not only to pass the test, but to also drive safely to prevent accidents. He makes sure you improve your weaknesses and even summarizes and draws on a piece of paper to make sure you understand. Would recommend young drivers to learn from him. Not only did I pass with no mistakes but I feel much more safe on the road. read more

Took a refresher course. I hadn't driven in 10 years and had a road trip coming up. I called and was set up with an appt immediately the next morning. Mr. Shieh picked me up, gave me pointers on my weaknesses and made me relax behind the wheel. Sometimes he starts talking fast when you make mistakes which gets a little stressful. I did have a two hour class and a list of things I wanted to learn but we didn't get to cover all of it. At the end of 2 hours I asked if I was ok to go on a road trip and he straight up told me I would get in an accident and I would need more lessons. Obviously I'm still alive writing this review. Dude needs to work on his sales pitch. Go for great cheap lesssons, ignore the standard Chinese businessman routine. read more

The instructor Steven is very patient and helpful. In the very first lesson, he watched me drive for a while and point out my weakness, the practices afterwards was very focus and helpful. He summarize the tips for me from time to time and draw on the paper for easy understanding, then we practiced these tips again and again. He was always punctual for the lesson and picked me up almost 2 hours before the test so I spent 1.5 hours to practice before I took the test and I passed it pretty easily! The key is he is not only telling me how to pass the test but teaching me how to drive safely. read more

I had heard this place was good and cheap. And i realized why the price was so cheap. My instructor was Phu, an elderly vietnamese man. We had arranged that i would get unlimited lessons, until i pass my drivers test for only $400. He had given me 2 lessons, then asked that i pay half of the money up front. And so i did, i gave him $250 because he seemed like a nice guy. After my 2nd lesson, i asked him when my next would be. He said he would call me later that night. But he didn't. I though, ok, he might be busy, so i called the next day. No answer. I waited that night to call again, and he picked up this time. I asked when my next lesson would be, and he told me he was on vacation for the the entire week, and asked to call him back another time. Me and my family made jokes that he went on vacation with the money we gave him, as it seemed funny with the timing of his vacation, but nothing was funny at all. I called back thr next week, at a reasonable time, around 5-6. He picked up his phone, but he said he was driving and couldnt talk, and that he would xall me later that night. Again, i did not recieve the phone call. At that point i knew something was sketchy, as he did not give us a reciept for the $$250 we payed, we knew what happened. The next few days we tried calling him with no success. A week and a half went by until he finally called us. My lesson would be the next day, i felt sort of relieved. He came and picked my up for my lesson, but unlike the previous 1-2 hour sessions we had, this session was only 30-45 minutes at the most. And all we did was drive in circles in redidential area, to "practice my turning". But i already know how to drive, as i leanred with my parents, all i needed was 6 hours of legit behind the wheel training. For 30-45 minutes all he said was "turn left here, turn left, left, left, left, left. Ok turn right here" you get the idea. All we did was turn in circles in my neighborhood. After the session was over, i asked when my next lesson would be. He said he would call me.., and you know where this goes. I did not get a phone call for an entire 2 weeks, and i called him within that time. After 2 weeks he finally picked up, but said he was busy and i would have to wait even longer for another lesson. I was done with this and had my uncle, who has relations with gangmembers call and harrass the guys phone number. And he finally picked up, and i talked to him. I demanded a refund of only 200, as 50 for gas seemed fair enough. He came the next day, only paying $100, and said he would mail the other $100 another date. That was the last i saw of him. Its been about a week since then, and i have not recieved the other $100. Sorry for the long story, but i really wanted to warn you guys before you come here. read more

If I could give a lower rating I would but I guess one star would do. I called this school on 09/11/12 and spoke to Steve (one of the instructors). I explained to him that I have my driving test on 09/17/12 and need to use of their vehicles for my test. he said it was ok but I still needed to take a practice lesson a few days before the test. I didn't really want to do this as I know how to drive and all of the traffic laws and been driving around for a while with my permit but he said I must take the practice lesson first. He asked my location and said it would be $ 40 for the lesson and $ 95 to use their car for my test. I seemed reasonable to me so I agreed to it and setup the practice lesson to take place on Thursday September 13 at 7pm. Fast forward to 7:15pm on 09/13, I'm seating at home waiting for Steve to pick me up. I called him and when I explained to him that I was waiting for him so we could have the lesson, he tells me he is with another student and can't help me out but would see if another instructor was available to pick me up immediately. He did not acknowledge knowing or remembering the appointment we setup two days before nor apologized for left me waiting. Thankfully I did not lose my money as they did not require me to pay a deposit for the class (which should have been my first sign that sometime might not have been right). Obviously I will not use their services for my driving test and contacted a different school. I completely disagree with the previous reviewer as I did not have a satisfactory experience with these guys. Maybe it was the fact that I'm not Chinese or these guys are just that careless. Anyways, stay away from these guys. read more

so I was thinking of a reason to give them a 4 star, but I really got no reason to give them 4 stars. First of all, when people hear that this is a driving school at Chinatown taught by Chinese, they'd rather pay hundreds to get Caucasian instructor. I'm speaking from what I know, not stereotype. I had Jeffrey Li who taught me at Pleasanton. The school charges only $70 for TWO hours, and if you're taking the test with them, they'll charge you $110 for a test(along with warm-up for an hour before the exam). I did not take the test with him, I was already ok with driving before taking the lesson with him, so I only asked him to take me once to get used to the test route and some traffic rules. He's extremely clear with what the proctor wants, he gave me two lists, and drew diagrams for me, took a whole page of notes while explaining. Very professional, on time and patient. He gave me a lot of tips on how to drive to satisfy the examiner, I passed on my first try. This is the CHEAPEST certificated driving school I know, AND they are great. give them a try! read more

I called this school to use their car for my driving test, they gave me one hour lesson in driving which added a lot to my driving test, in the end I got my license . read more

steve is a great instructor. he has over 20 years of experience and is really good at making you relax and feel confident. being 16 and driving is scary. but i really felt a lot better after my first lesson. he even took 5-8 minutes giving me notes on how to pass the driving test. and at just 35$ an hour, they cant be beat. they are totally worth it. read more

I would say the instructors are very professional and work their best to help students prepare for not only the driving test but also for driving (just simply how to be a good driver with good driving skills). I had Steven Xie as my instructor. And we drove around Berkeley neighborhoods. Not only did he give clear instruction, he also wrote notes for me to 'study'. Those are really helpful! read more