AVOID TAKING LESSONS HERE
UPDATE 2: MAJOR RED FLAGS:
Following this review, the business sent me a formal cease-and-desist letter threatening legal action for defamation/slander unless I removed my honest feedback. I believe sharing my honest, personal experience with a business is protected speech, and I will not be intimidated into deleting my review by legal threats. I believe future customers have a right to know how this business responds to honest consumer criticism.
See my full review below for context:
Brian Polte, the CEO, is rude, unprofessional, and self-righteous. I felt that half of the 2 hour lesson with Brian was just wasted sitting still and hearing Brian yapping about himself. I was very disappointed by short time driving on the road. Out of two hours, it felt like 45 mins is actual on the road practice, and 15 mins is him showing techniques which he doesn't let you practice after showing it once.
Brian is unprofessional. During my lesson at the DMV, he left me to solicit strangers at the DMV losing paid driving practice time. Brian has repeatedly made demeaning comments about how I take notes and ask questions, and about my learning pace, while also lecturing about how good he is with students who learn differently. Based on my experience, he was not accommodating of different learning styles. He also repeatedly brought up, unprompted, that he thought I might have ADHD, and expressed frustration about how it affected my learning.
Brian is not flexible. When asking to spend the final session I paid for to practice at the DMV, he refused. He complained that I asked to practice the DMV route, followed his own plan, and verbally put me down for taking notes.
Going with driving lessons for you is a waste of time and money. You would have more flexibility, patience, and kindness practicing with a family friend.
The positive of the business is the scheduling. His step daughter whose in charge of scheduling does a good job with scheduling and sending notes on improvement. I found the notes helpful.
Overall, taking lessons with Brian risks feeling put down, and gaining little on-the-road driving practice. His final words made me feel like he was saying 'you suck' as he talked about how I wasn't good enough and should spend almost another $400 for 3 more lessons. I felt like he wasted my time talking instead of driving, and I left feeling pressured to purchase more unhelpful lessons.
I ended up feeling like I wasted my time and money. Would not recommend. If you choose to go with them, the most I'd do is only one lesson.
Tldr: Rude instructor, little behind the wheel time, little flexibility with the lessons you pay for. Would not recommend
Update 1: RED FLAG
After I left this review, the business publicly responded by disclosing my driving test results and personal comments about my learning challenges and cognitive struggles, which I found inappropriate and extremely unprofessional. Avoid doing business with them. read more