Super happy I decided on the Defensive Driving School located in Silverdale! Three things made my…read moreexperience at Defensive positive, stress-free, and successful (as I passed my driving test on the first try!)
1. The instructor: Mitch is such a rad guy. He is patient, laid-back, and upfront-- if you are doing great, he let's you know what you're succeeding in which increases your confidence in driving and reinforces GOOD "habits" (driving techniques)! If you're struggling, he will also not hesitate to let you know where you need improvement without condescending or belittling you. I made some pretty embarrassing mistakes during some lessons, but he never once made me feel silly or discouraged for messing up, instead he provided insight and tips which alleviated a lot of pressure. His style of teaching also makes it so much easier to learn because there are no surprises and there is no awkwardness either. Ultimately, I believe his teaching style would work for anyone because he adjusts his lessons to fit his learner and what works best for them, whether that is more verbal guidance or taking you step-by-step once, twice, fifteen times. I really enjoyed my time spent with Mitch and his success in teaching really reflects in his students' vast improvement-- I never thought parallel parking would be such a snap for me as it is now! Additionally, because he is the main instructor at this location, more often than not you will end up taking your skills test with him which really is a huge benefit for anyone taking the skills test the first time around-- I wasn't nervous at all and my confidence showed because I knew he had given me all the tools I needed to pass.
2. Flexibility of hours and Variety of driving packages: As a recent college grad just getting their driving license, I am so happy I was able to skip the classroom sessions and group car rides and instead get one-on-one lessons with Mitch. I am a much better individual learner than I am group learner, so this contributed to my comfort, lessened my anxiety, and allowed me to really grasp the skills quickly. From browsing around, Defensive is the only driving school I found in the area that had so many different packages, from classes with driving practice for teens to those like me who want multiple 1-hr or 90-minute one-on-one lessons. I liked that I could shape the lessons around my schedule, as someone going through lots of changes-- something which was not offered at other competitors in the area.
Additionally, as an adult, there are options of booking lessons as closely/far apart from one another as desired which may be a helpful note for folks like me who are not teens-- just call their customer service hotline and let them know you need them to change your profile to fit this feature. However, it's important to note that teens cannot book lessons any closer than 5 days apart.
The schedule agent online booking site they use makes appointment bookings easy as can be. You don't have to wait to call to book lessons and there's no need to walk in with a check, which was convenient for me. If you ever need to reschedule or made a mistake on the site, Defensive's customer line is just as impressive as everything else, as they were always super kind, clear, quick (but not rushy), and helpful on the phone.
3. Price: For my 5 lessons, I thought what I paid was fair and every dollar was well spent. Some people may look at the classroom/driving packages for their teens and be tempted to not book with Defensive and go for a cheaper competitor, but I cannot sincerely say enough that you cannot compete with the level of professionalism and skill that they have here!
Overall I'm a happy and safe new driver thanks to Mitch and would recommend Defensive @ Silverdale for new drivers!
