Highly recommended testing center. Today, I had my warm up session followed up by driving test. The whole experience was very smooth and informative too. The instructor gave me exact pointers where I need to work more. In the past, I had a pathetic experience in one of the other driving licensing center. Therefore, I was having very low expectations but the whole session definitely surprised me in a good way. read more

I did both my knowledge test and driving test with them and had a very good experience. I took 5 lessons with Ian, and he is such a great teacher, I have extreme driving phobia and he taught me how to ease into it. read more

I took the English drivers test, and I can't say much about Bob because Joyce took over as the substitute examiner for the day. I've been very nervous about the test since this was my first but Joyce was very nice in letting me know those feelings are normal, while keeping the test professional and structured. Despite passing, Joyce still gave me a lot of great pointers on the mistakes I made which I really appreciated. I've had bad experiences with driving instructors being very rude and aggressive when it comes to making mistakes, but I felt Joyce kept it friendly but also straightforward in giving constructive criticism read more

My teen took drivers edu here and this place tracks nothing. If your kid misses a class or is late you won't know until they finish the course. My kid missed one to many classes and failed. The school never notified me he missed a single class. I have 3 teens and the other 2 went to ABC and 911. Both of these schools are better than IDA. If IDA was a free program I would still chose to pay at a different school. read more

As expected, no response from the business. Reading another 1 star review most probably this was also racism.

I really like the IDA driving school. I had 6 hours of driving lessons, knowledge test and driving test here. Both Nick and Joyce are super professional and responsive. I feel their goal is not just help you pass the test, but more important, to be a qualified and better driver who can handle all the different traffic situations even at high pressure conditions. I highly recommend IDA to everyone who wants to master driving in great Seattle area. read more

I would never recommend this business to anyone. I would give it a zero-star rating if Yelp allowed me. My test took place at 9 AM on May 10, 2024, after a 30-minute warm-up session. Throughout the entire process, Joyce was unprofessional, impolite, and displayed blatant racial discrimination. Her behavior was extremely distressing and made me feel uncomfortable and nervous during the test. I have already filed a formal complaint with the DMV. Here are some details: When Joyce instructed me to make a left turn, I complied, but she heavily criticized me, stating that it was entirely wrong to make a curved left turn and that it should be a straight-line L-shaped turn. I have never seen any driver make a straight-line L-shaped left turn in my entire life, neither in any DMV-provided videos nor in real traffic. Joyce then said, "Don't bring the bad driving habits from your country to the United States; it's very selfish." She repeated this phrase at least four times, deeply offending me and revealing her severe racial discrimination against me. In reality, although I obtained my driver's license in my home country many years ago, I have not driven a car since then, not even once. I relearned traffic rules and driving skills in the United States. Her accusations against me were entirely baseless and discriminatory. While reversing close to the right side of the road, she claimed it was incorrect and that the car should be in the middle of the lane. However, I have seen demonstration videos on the DMV website showing cars reversing alongside the roadside. As we drove through a residential area, I noticed an elderly person walking very slowly towards the road, appearing to want to cross the street. I stopped the car and gestured for him to proceed, but he gestured for me to go ahead. Joyce then criticized me for not smiling and for having a serious expression. After being subjected to her bullying for an hour, I was extremely nervous. Although I did smile, it may not have been a broad smile. She remarked, "We Americans are all friendly and kind," accusing people from my country of being unfriendly. read more

International Driving Academy or IDA at Bellevue is great. Master Joyce is awesome, kind and understanding.

I had such a wonderful time learning how to drive with Joyce! I'm based in the U District but opted to enroll with IDA specifically because of all the glowing reviews I've read. It was a bit of a commute for me each time but definitely worth it. Prior to this, I had gotten my license in Asia several years before but never felt confident enough to drive on my own. I signed up for the 10-hour package and felt that Joyce was really able to maximize my learning. Over the 5 sessions I had, she made sure to have me drive in a variety of locations so I could really practice and gain confidence doing different things in different settings. She also let me observe her driving and another student's driving, which was very helpful in terms of picking up useful tips and common mistakes. Overall, I very much appreciate how patient Joyce was and how she was able to make me feel comfortable while also giving me points to improve on. After my package was over, I was able to take my driving test with Joyce and thankfully passed on the first try. It was super convenient that the DOL was just a quick walk away from IDA, so I was able to sort out my license immediately after my test. If you're looking for a driving school, look no further! :) read more

Took my driving test yesterday, after a preliminary warm-up. The warm-up offered turned out to be so much more: an incredibly efficient and helpful lesson based on the observations made by Joyce, whose approach to this portion was that of an inspiring pedagogue truly committed to tailoring her advice and guidance to the unique needs of the individual she is instructing. I cannot praise her enough for the way her skillful teaching and insightful observations boosted my confidence and ironed out some wrinkles. Her calm, firm, and kind manner had a transformative effect, enabling me to absorb and process her suggestions even in this short time span. As the examiner during the test itself, she was equally clear and effective in her communication, and afterwards took the time to repeat key messages, even drawing them out on paper. I passed, but even if I hadn't, the things I learned would have been worth every single cent. I heartily recommend IDA and Joyce. Moreover, if despite long practice you find yourself still hesitant or fearful, I can say from personal experience that Joyce is a rare gem. read more

I had a very good experience during my warm up session and skills test. The lady who was my instructor/examiner was outstanding. She helped me correct all the mistakes that I was making during the warm up and explained certain things using a pen and paper. That is how sincere she was. It is suitable for anyone seeking a calm and professional examiner. I can't recommend this school enough. read more

I was a very nervous student and Joyce had clever techniques of dealing with my stress. She helped me understand what's going on on the road much better. It was a great experience and I have learned a lot. I did pass the test, but more importantly I got more confident over the course of six lessons. Thank you, Joyce! read more

I took a driving lesson and road test here and was very impressed by how informative and helpful it was! I was so nervous but Joyce helped calm my nerves with her patient and friendly demeanor. During the lesson, Joyce gave me tips not only on the maneuvers but also on how to be a defensive driver, which is super important for driving. Her tips and feedback has stuck with me to this day, which I am super grateful for. Joyce is also very flexible and is willing to work around your schedule if need be. As someone who works until the evening, I appreciated her willingness to spend time after hours conducting the lesson and road test with me. I can't say it enough but I highly recommend IDA for all your driving needs! read more

Is you are taking the English driving test their instructor seems confused and doesn't seem aware his environment. Took $160 and made excuses for failing the test by 2 points twice with "your hands weren't at 9 and 3. read more

We passed the knowledge test and the practical exam in a week. Thank you to Joyce who is very well organized, kind and welcoming! She knows how to make people feel comfortable! We highly recommend this driving school! read more

Joyce has been the best instructor, and thanks to her guidance I was able to finally get my driver license after years of trying! She gave me great tips and advices that help boost my confidence and get over my fear of driving. She was very patient and reassuring with me. And also really accommodating for the driving lessons. The whole process of getting the written and then the driving test was easy and smooth. I highly recommend using her services! read more

I highly recommend any new driver to learn from Joyce! She was very good with making sure that I was calm both during lessons as well as the drive test. Also, she goes into great detail about the logic behind certain traffic rules, and goes over the many scenarios that can happen at every intersection, stop sign or parking action. She also made sure that I properly understood all of the above. Her instructions for parallel parking were particularly helpful; she broke it down into a series of steps, along with instructions on how to course correct at every stage without having to start over- now I'm no longer worried about being to close to the car ahead or behind, or going over the curb. I would recommend a lesson or two even if you have a license, but just want to improve your skills. read more

I used to drive on the right and had to learn all road rules here again. Joyce in IDA is excellent in bringing me up to speed and alerting me all the main issues most drivers have. She is very good at explaining how to drive safely and what to pay attention to. I definitely recommend IDA! read more

I had a warm up and driving test yesterday and I was hoping for Joyce to be there, instead the office was closed and had to wait outside for 10 minutes and Instructor Bob appeared, the Warm up was for only 20 minutes and for the test he took me the other way, may be I failed due my mistakes, but IDL should have friendly Instructors. read more

Before I met Joyce I didn't have enough confidence in my driving skill although I have had my driver's license for many years in my home country. Just as many people who left the comments here, I found IDA in Yelp, and then took Joyce's driving classes. I learned a lot from her and started to establish the new good driving habit. I totally agree with the concept of IDA: Getting a driver's license is not the ultimate goal, but safe driving is. You won't regret to meet Joyce. read more

Joyce is absolutely amazing an instructor and person. She's incredibly patient and helped me get over my hesitation while driving. That while also being incredibly thorough with all she covered in her lessons. read more

It was great experience which I've got in this driving school. I've passed here knowledge test and took some driver lessons before driving exam. All were super smoothly and I've passed all exams from the first time. I've got nice experience how to feel myself on the road. My driving teacher was calm in every situations and describe me every step if I've driven wrong. I'm super thankful to this driving school that I've got my driver license and would to recommend this school to everyone who want to drive a car safely. read more

I passed my test on the first try! Instructor was very patient and knowledgeable. A pleasure to do road training with. I was nervous on our first drive but her calm demeanor put me at ease. Will recommend to friends and family for sure! thank you! read more

Took a warm up + driving test here and I was pleasantly surprised to encounter a patient and friendly instructor/examiner in Joyce. Knowledge test and practice sessions in Seattle got me used to dismissive to downright rude ones. Recommend the warm up session to get used to the surrounding area. I also got great feedback during the warm up and it helped calm any nerves. I was able to pass the driving test with ease. I never write reviews but felt compelled to write one for this so any new drivers (esp in Seattle) understand that there are patient, friendly people in this business. read more

Was initially planning to just take the test, but so glad I didn't! Joyce taught me so much I didn't know about the regulations here, I felt extremely confident the first time I hit the road after getting my license. She's very efficient with her lessons, knows exactly what to focus on and when. read more

I found this place on Yelp and recommended it to my mom because of the high rating and the instructor's ability to speak Chinese (my mom's not good at English). My mom cannot speak highly enough of her experience here. She wants me to post her review here and translate it for her, so here it is. "很幸运遇到了这么好的教练。非常专业，人非常好。教学很细致。让我度过了一段非常快乐的学车时光。而且让我克服了畏惧心理，终于敢自信地去驾驶。很感谢Joyce。" I feel so lucky to have such a great instructor. She is very nice and professional with really detailed instructions. I had so much fun driving with her. She made me overcome my fear and finally become confident in my driving skills. Thank you, Joyce. read more

My parents are making the move from overseas to Washington. They have been driving for many years in different countries, however, my siblings and I were still worried about them getting used to driving in the US. Although they were resistant to taking driving lessons, I finally got them to agree. After the two hour lesson, they came out saying it was a worthwhile lesson, as they learned how to finally parallel park! In addition, they felt that Joyce provided good tips and reminders when driving. I appreciate that Joyce could communicate to my parents, and make them feel comfortable throughout the process. I would recommend Joyce to beginner drivers or otherwise! read more

Highly recommend!! You'll gain safe, defensive driving skills and habits that will stay with you forever. After having learner's permit from two different states and having to do two renewals since I moved to Seattle (tip: permit expires after one year, knowledge test score expires after two years) mainly due to laziness and fear of driving, I have determined this is the year I'm going to learn how to drive! I am so glad I found Joyce :) I first called those big driving schools but I called multiple times and no one picked up. I did some searching and called Joyce, she picked up right away and scheduled first lesson after discussing my (lack of) driving experience. She sends google calendar invites for each lesson, which I found very helpful. I have heard horror stories about other driving instructors yelling at students, which I was really worried about, but Joyce is very patient, friendly, knowledgeable, and good at explaining and breaking down complex concepts into smaller steps. Joyce worked as an examiner at DOL before opening her own school, she is an expert! And she makes driving fun to learn! I always look forward to her lessons. I did the 15 hour package, the knowledge test and the driving test with Joyce. I learned: - how a car works and what all the controls do - read the road signs and "read" the road conditions with all the cars coming/going - importance of and developing a habit of signaling, checking mirrors and blind spot - gas/break gently - make smooth left/right turns - parallel parking - backing up a corner - parking on a hill - freeway driving .... and much more! Joyce has a check list of things that she teaches each student. I find observational hours helpful because I could see what other student drivers were doing and take mental note: "do I make the same mistake when I drive?". Also, I find it helpful to talk out loud during the road test (like a technical engineer interview) that reminds myself what I need to do. Driving is a serious matter - yours and others' lives are at stake, I am grateful to have learn from Joyce, who truly cares about her students learning the correct and safe way of driving. read more

International School is a perfect place for mandarin -speaking people to get the license. Joyce can deliver the instructions both in English and Mandarin. Joyce is very nice. She gave me a lot of skills I had never heard before. She also gave specific instructions to correct my old wrong driving habits. I really commend this school!!! read more

IDA is a great place to learn driving. Joyce is an excellent teacher. She is very skilled, patient and experienced. I had zero driving experience. She made me feel comfortable and confident from day one. I took 5 classes from her and passed my driving exam. Joyce enjoys teaching. At IDA they not only teach you about driving but also about good driving practices and how to be a safe driver. I would highly recommend IDA to anyone who wants to learn to drive. I had a great experience at IDA! read more

Did a warmup and drive test here, and felt that I learnt something new during the warm up, and Joyce even drew diagrams to share tips on how to improve. Very pleasant experience! read more

Excellent teacher and help me from the very beginning to pass the exam with 6 lessons!

As a European driver who is new to the U.S., I was nervous about taking my practical driving exam. IDA caters to foreign drivers who know how to drive, but have not spent the time to learn all of the subtle differences between rules in our previous countries and WA laws. For instance, turning right after stopping at a red light is never allowed in any other country where I've driven. I took my written exam on the first day. Note that they sometimes set appointments later in the evening and meet you there at the time of the appointment. In my case, it was at 7:30 pm. There was a sign in the window saying they would be back shortly, but some people may miss it. The second day, I scheduled a one hour refresher course with an instructor in an IDA car. I wanted to take the test in their car instead of our own. It was cheeper than renting a car and cheaper than other schools that I researched. The refresher helped get me extra familiar with their car as well as very helpful instruction from Joyce. This was 100% worth it. I highly recommend at least an hour for any foreigner taking the test, even if you've driven here. And if you haven't driven much, they have more extensive options. After a break on the second day, I used the IDA car to take my test. Everything went smoothly with good clear direction provided by the tester. It removed the nervousness of taking a test and allowed me to focus on driving. All in all, it was a great experience for something I dreaded doing. I highly recommend this company when taking your tests as well as if you need training. On a related note, my husband took his driving test from the WA DOL nearby years ago when they performed their own tests. He visited IDA with me and was very impressed as well. He said he'd also recommend IDA for anyone needing a driver's license. read more

Joyce is such a kind person! And I rarely give out five stars. This woman is so patient and so kind and understands that people are anxious and helps you get thru it. She is calm and peaceful which helps a lot!! It is a very nice small place that really does care about the students. I did drivers ed at Defensive, and man was that unpleasant. I am so so glad I took my tests with Joyce. She goes over anything that you did wrong to help you get better. read more

Joyce is very accommodating, has copious amounts of patience and knowledgeable about the whole procedure. I will recommend this place to everybody. read more

Just took a driving test with a warming-up session this weekend at IDA. Joyce not only pointed out what you need to pay attention for the test itself, but also gave very useful tips on driving habit, from driving rules differences in different countries to small things like how to apply brake safely when turning. In the warming up session, I already regretted that I didn't take my driving lessons here. She is very professional, and mostly importantly very very patient. I was nervous at first, but 10 mins into the warming session, I wasn't any more. Thanks to Joyce! If only all the driving instructors were like this!! read more

4.5/5 stars I had called a week earlier and scheduled for a knowledge and driving test. Joyce was very open about the times available and worked around my schedule. She mentioned that knowledge tests were generally available once or twice a week in the evenings. I bombarded her with a list of questions regarding the two tests and she answered them patiently and detailedly. The knowledge test was conducted in a room in the back of the office. There were two others already writing the exam when I got there. The two of them chatted a little during the exam which was a bit distracting but they eventually stopped so I was able to finish my test. Joyce did try her best to stop the two from chatting. For the driving test, I opted for the 35 minute warmup to familiarize myself with the car and route. I had already been driving for 8+ years so I figured the warmup would refresh my memory. Joyce took me around the roads and pointed out key signs and markings that I should look out for. I particularly appreciated her pointing out the habits of local drivers that are different from the east coast. After the warmup, we started the driving test which was straightforward. Joyce gave clear directions and it was over before I knew it. Overall, I recommend coming here for your WA state tests. read more

I only take a driving test over there with Joyce. She was friendly, nice, respectful instructor. Even though I did not take classes with her, I still get some helpful tips before taking the test. She gave you a comfortable environment to take test or learn. I ended up pass the test, and she gave me some helpful suggestions for me to drive in the future. I think this is the best driving school in Bellevue area, and it is better than 911 driving school !!! read more

Joyce is a very responsible instructor who makes sure you are 200% ready for the exam. She explained very well on the theory lessons and gave out feedbacks of my driving skills. Never had one time she would provide a stressful environment during the lesson, but consistently being a positive and encouraging friend. I was lucky enough to have her by my side the first time I hit the road. She was always clam and patience when it comes to student freaked out situation. I was amazed by the fact that she can speak three languages and that is pretty impressive! Highly recommended! read more

Great instructor! Joyce is super flexible and is super helpful especially if you're getting used to driving in a new country