Fantastic folks. Both our kids used Ride On. Mark is great, he does the scheduling. And Patti is AMAZING! Both our kids loved working with her. She is super knowledgeable, positive, and knows how to prepare for the test! Super safe and just a lovely lovely person. Give them a call! read more

Cintya is an amazing, funny, patient and overall the best teacher one could ask for. I was nervous as all heck getting behind the wheel but she calmly guided me and we worked multiple times until I finally got my license! Mark also is amazing at explaining the process and price point making sure all is well ready to go. Couldn't have gone behind the wheel and on the road without them so I highly recommend this school! read more

I had Cintya as an instructor from Ride on Driving School. She was very patient with me and was extremely helpful. I passed the licence test on the first try with no mistakes. Cintya encouraged me which really boosted my confidence. She gave me a very detailed description of what I would be required to do on the test. I felt very well prepared after my lessons with Cintya. read more

My daughter did her first driver training session with this school. It went ok, the instructor was personable. However I found the communication with the owner and the instructor painful at best. Always had to leave a voicemail and wait sometimes days for a call back. I sent a text once to the owner and he called 5 days later saying "don't text, i get too much spam and i don't read them". The driving instructor never replied to a text i sent. It was bad enough that I looked for another driving school. Found another local one with good reviews, was able to book two sessions immediately online (thank you, it's 2024) and the owner called me back just to verify everything i had submitted, super easy. More importantly though, my daughter had her first lesson with the new school and came home with the impression that she learned 10 times as much with this new school instructor than at Ride-on. For two hours the new instructor talked about driving habits, laws, tips, what to expect not only with her test but as a new driver. Not just idle chitchat to fill two hours of time. read more

Cintya is a wonderful instructor to work with and I'm happy to have received her instruction. Strikes a balance between personable and professional. Mark responds to messages in a reasonable time since he has so many customers. read more

Well, just got the second child behind the wheel. Can't say enough about how much we love Patti! What a great teacher. Both my kids loved their lessons, like really enjoyed it! She is the sweetest person, but also a great instructor. Relaxed, but full of information and makes sure the student understands the rules and can execute the task safely and confidently. Mark is also great-- we had so many schedule changes and he was very accommodating and flexible. Highly recommend! read more

Great driving experience for my daughter. Yes, you must speak personally with Mark, but leaving a message for him wasn't the worst thing, I just had to plan to wait a day for him to get back to me, after that, communication was not an issue. My daughter LOVED that the car did not have huge driving school advertising on it, or any "keep away new driver" signs, she wanted to be incognito. The car does have passenger side controls, a plus. I would recommend this driving school, but better yet, my child would. read more

Passed my driving test in one try! I don't often leave Yelp reviews, but they deserve all my praises. I have never learned how to drive before this year (mid-twenties), but Cintya was very helpful and patient throughout the process of learning how to drive defensively and safely. Mark has also been a pleasure to interact with and schedule lessons. Would definitely recommend if you need to learn how to drive for the first time or refresh your mind. One thing I have to mention would be that the driving lessons could be a little pricey (as they also acknowledge from what I remember), but you pay for the quality instructions and reliability -- I haven't found myself being as confident while contacting/looking at other places nearby. Thank you Ride On! read more

Ride On Driving School is WONDERFUL. Mark is responsive, great at scheduling and giving important tips in navigating the DMV. Patti is AMAZING; she taught all 3 of my boys to drive (over the past 5 years!) and I feel so very lucky to have found her. She is deeply knowledgable and skilled in instruction as well as incredibly kind and warm, knowing just how to build confidence in a new driver. Each boy gave her rave reviews and they are all great drivers. Highly recommend! read more

This is an absolutely wonderful driving school. I tried teaching my daughter myself but totally failed. After one lesson with Patti (amazing person) she started to gain confidence and was learning quickly. I chose this driving school because it only had 5 star ratings and I can see why. Great responsiveness from the "office" and wonderful instruction! My daughter passed on her first try at the Claremont office. THANK YOU Patti!!! read more

This is the BEST driving school and Patti is absolutely incredible. I have two teenage drivers. When my older daughter went through this process, we used another school because I believed it didn't make any difference. I was wrong. My younger daughter passed on her first try. Patti is kind, competent and so incredibly good at what she does. I can't say enough good things about her or the school. It's worth every penny. read more

My 16 year old son just passed his driver's test on the first try. We couldn't be happier with Ride-On driving school. Patti was very patient, professional, and enthusiastic which gave my son the confidence he needed. Mark was responsive in our scheduling needs. They had to cancel because of car trouble one Sunday which was not a big deal but he gave us the next lesson at half price! Very generous. We couldn't be happier and highly recommend them. Thanks so much Patti! You're the best. read more

Wonderful experience from each and every point of contact with Mark and two driving instructors Patti & Cynthia, both instructors were excellent and my daughter appreciated the experience of working with Ride On Driving School. I'm pleased to say she passed her drivers test with flying colors and felt very supported by the training and patient and calm/calming instructions received during her lessons. Lovely group of people who care about their students success and safety as new drivers. What a great convenience as well that they are able to bring the driving lessons straight to you. read more

I cannot begin to express my appriciation to Patti, who taught me to drive and helped me pass first time. As someone who has always been anxious about driving, I felt comfortable and safe with her every lesson we had. She has been a continuous support system for me and is always lively, enthusiastic, and makes learning to drive a wonderful experience. read more

I can't believe I haven't reviewed Ride on Driving school?! My son attended a charter high school in Berkeley and it worked out perfectly for him to take his lessons with this school. I liked how this school uses previous driving evaluators for instructors and emphasized defensive driving- something desperately needed when driving in the Bay Area! My son had the six hours, in 3 2 hour lessons. Just him and the instructor in their Toyota Yaris. My son is 6'4" tall and the Yaris is small, like really small but he learned how to drive and when he took his driving test with DMV the evaluator told him he gets like 3-4 drivers a year that pass with a 100%, and He was the third that year-late October BTW. I highly recommend this very popular, for good reason, driving school read more

My 16 year old Grandson had his 1st on the streets driving lesson this morning with Patti. They spent 2 hours together beginning in a parking lot for a short period of time before moving into the busy streets of Berkeley. , When they got back both had ear to ear smiles. Patti was awesome, super nice and professional. My Grandson was really proud of himself as Patti went over his lesson with me. She was sooooo supportive of him and so willing to share words of confidence she felt toward his skills. After she left I asked him about her as an instructor and he was 100% pleased with her. I had called other local driving schools, hoping to save some money but was feeling pretty uneasy about the conversations I had with them regarding the experience of their instructors. Although they might have been cheaper, none of them cared to spend the amount of time explaining each step of the way as Mark did when I called him. None of them had the great reviews that Ride On Driving School had. In the end there was really no decision to be made, I want my grandson to be safe and to be taught by professional experts, not inexperienced college students. So, although, I'm on a fixed income, my Grandson's early driving experiences and knowledge gained by them are more important than saving a bit of money. He will driving with me in addition to having 2 more lessons in the upcoming months, we will request Patti to keep it consistent, and then hopefully he'll be getting licensed this summer. read more

I've been putting off driving for YEARS out of sheer fear and lack of confidence with my inexistent driving skills. Now that I'm 30 and need to know how to drive to make my life easier, I wanted to make sure I could get driving lessons from a proper instructor who could also have control over the car if I were to get too nervous and try driving us off a cliff. After reading reviews from Ride On I called them to know a bit more about them and schedule an appointment if it sounded good. Mark replied right away, answered all my questions with a lot of patience and enthusiasm, and scheduled me for the soonest appointment available that matched my schedule. Patti came to pick me up with a couple of minutes to spare. Extra points already. She gave me a big hug hello because she could tell I was nervous. More points. She reassured me and she immediately trusted in me even though I was shaky and terrified, giving me the confidence to actually be in control of the car. Points points points. She drove us to the north Berkeley Bart parking lot, which was perfectly empty, to go over technical issues about the car and driving in general, and do a couple of loops before venturing out to the streets. We started with quiet residential areas, took to busier avenues, and ended up doing more advanced maneuvers by the end of the lesson. She had her own instructor pedals but didn't used them unless she had to, so I could learn at my own pace. She helped me realize my mistakes and, as silly as it sounds, I loved the fact that she celebrated every small milestone, showing her complete focus on my experience and reassuring me to give me more confidence. All the points. Lessons may be pricier than some other places, but it's SO worth it, specially if you're nervous and wish for an understanding and calming environment when learning how to drive. Patti helped me keep focused and was so so genuinely friendly that I feel that big, cloudy terror of driving I've been carrying for 30 years has dissipated quite a bit. To summarize, Patti was the best, and I can't recommend Ride On enough. read more

Highly recommend Ride on Driving School!! Was so easy to set up dates for my daughter and sons driving lessons. Mark called me right back and helped organize a good schedule before their drivers test. Both kids worked with Patti. She is an incredibly patient, sweet and amazing instructor. She was so positive, thorough and gave my kids lots of confidence. On the last lesson she took them through the various test routes of the DMV they were taking their test at. This definitely made them feel more relaxed when arriving at their appointments which they past on their first tries. Best driving school out there with wonderful instructors!! read more

Super responsive and professional. Called me back right away. And knew all the crazy bureaucratic details that we needed to cover. Reassuring too, which is a nice touch for folks who are nervous about this driving thing. Attentive to the things the DMV tester would be looking for. WE PASSED!! read more

Just got my license! Cintya was my instructor and she was excellent. She was patient, thorough and always on time, and more important was her sense of humor. I enjoy driving with her. read more

I highly recommend Patty. She is by far the best instructor! She is very sweet and kind while being stern enough to get your driving dialed in! All of her students pass their test first try and if your nice you'll get a treat with her along the way! She cares about each student and makes sure they are always driving at their best! read more

Patti was my driving instructor. She was very patient and encouraging when teaching, which really helped to calm me down! When preparing for the exam, I called Mark several times to check with him regarding the driving rules, and he gave me useful advice on how to practice for the test. In the end I managed to pass my test on the second try. :) I docked one star because I feel they're a tad bit pricey compared to other driving schools in Berkeley. But other than that they're great! Be sure to book your appointments early because their slots fill up fast. Good luck with your driving exams! read more

I've had previous driving experience but after failing my first driving test and being in a terrible car accident a few years ago, my comfort and confidence in driving was extremely low. Mark was very prompt in responding to my call and, upon hearing my past driving experience, he was very comforting and understanding. All throughout my 2-hour appointment, Mark was kind, calm and thorough. After my session, he said I wouldn't need anymore. After practicing a bit more I took my drivers test and PASSED ON THE FIRST TRY!! Marks help and advice was the reason I was able to pass my test with ease. read more

Mark is a brilliant instructor and I loved his focus on helping you to be a safe driver. I am from the UK originally where I had a licence, but after a long time of living in cities and travelling I had stopped driving and totally lost my confidence. I felt really scared and put off taking my test for nearly 2 years! After only 2 lessons Mark had reignited my confidence with his patience, honesty, sincerity and expert knowledge. Mark was really thorough in his teaching and preparation, so on the day of the test I actually felt totally prepared and passed it first time! Thank you Mark, so glad to have met you. read more

We love Patti at Ride On! My teenage daughter took lessons with Patti and it worked wonderfully. She said Patti made it fun and engaging but more importantly made the actual drive test at DMV "easy" (she passed first time) Mark is also fantastic to work with, he did all the scheduling and logistics. This is small, high-quality operation that delivers on a great experience for teens... and their anxious parents! I would tell anyone looking for driving lessons to call Ride On. read more

I just passed my driving test today! (Second time taking it) Thank you so much for your help and tips Patti! Mark I really appreciate you was able to squeeze me in on your super busy schedule! Best driving school ever! read more

Mark is a great instructor! I had no prior experience in driving. He started with the very basics and never rushed me. He would point out areas to improve on after each class and suggest ways to work on them. The defensive driving skills he insists on helped me a lot in my driving exam and am sure in the future. We also did a bit of freeway driving which helped boost my confidence. I just took my behind-the-wheel test a week back and passed with zero errors. Thank you Mark for a great learning experience! read more

I just passed my driving test today thanks to Cintya who has been very patient and pushed me to really do my best to pass the test! I invested so much in another driving school in the past and was really discouraged when I failed the test the first time. I started looking for other driving schools and found Mark. Mark has been super helpful from the very beginning and I'm so happy I ended up with Ride On. I agree, they are a bit pricey but it's so worth it! I wouldn't have passed the test if not for their professional guidance! I can't recommend them more! read more

Great experience. Mark was truly considerate of my requests and answered all my questions patiently. My instructor, Cynthia, was helpful and made it comfortable for me to drive with. Mark's follow-ups, friendliness, and promptness is something that driving schools nowadays lack; definitely feel like I'm ready to take the driving test soon. Thanks Mark and Cynthia! read more

I employed services from this driving school for my au pair who arrived from Columbia. I was really nervous about her driving skills, especially since she had to drive my kids around. I called Marc and the service has been exceptional. It is a bit expensive but really so so worth it. He would give me a half hour feedback session after every lesson on the au pairs performance and answered any other questions I had. He never tried to sell me on more lessons but was always honest about what he thought was necessary. I plan on having au pairs for several years in the future and will send every one of them to this school. Cyntia was her actual instructor and that was a blessing because she spoke Spanish. Thanks to their help, my au pair passed the test the first time which is a rare thing! I highly recommend this place!!! read more

We highly recommend Ride On. Our teenage daughter needed an extremely kind and patient instructor, and we were delighted with Cintya's gentle and thorough approach. We understood how difficult it can be for first-timers to pass the behind-the-wheel test at DMV, but our daughter was successful, much to our happy surprise. Thank you, Cintya, Mark, and everyone at Ride On! You made this whole experience 100% less stressful. read more

I am 58 years old and learning to drive for the 1st time. After I failed my behind the wheel test the first time, my confidence level was shattered. I called Mark in a panic. He promptly returned the call and offered calm reassurance and morale boosting I couldn't have gotten with a paid therapist. I supplanted the lessons I was taking with another instructor (who was tough but good) with Mark, who was, kind, patient and extremely helpful on my defects. He even taught me a technique that helped my turns enormously! The lesson before the test, we went through a test run, and he marked my errors, and quickly pointed out VERY helpful tips in getting my error score down. Low and behold I passed the test (with only 4 errors- you're allowed 15). I highly recommend Mark as a skilled and kind instructor. read more

Great, great, great experience with Cynthia! It was super easy to make an appointment over the phone. I talked to Mark and he answered all the questions I had about the lesson. Every time I met with Cynthia for the lesson, she was on time which I appreciate a lot. She is a very knowledgable and friendly instructor. I was nervous to drive but her personality helped me to stay calm. Her explanations on how to manipulate the car while driving were super helpful. She is so patient that she would go over and over whatever I was not getting. Even after the first lesson my driving got so much better and gave me confidence. Now I am not scared to drive! Highly recommend this school! Right on Cynthia and Mark! read more

Mark (the instructor at this location) leaves nothing to be desired. He's professional, courteous, and really fun to be around. He always calls you ahead of time to send multiple reminders, and makes sure everything is in order. The lessons are very relaxed, and he covers topics at a perfect pace. He doesn't try to cram too many things in one lesson, but he also doesn't try to go so slowly that you end up blowing a ton of money taking more lessons with him. His car (a Toyata Yaris) handles very smoothly, and is a great car to drive. More than anything, I felt that Mark always had my best interests at heart. He would honestly advise you on how he felt you were doing, and what you needed to do in between lessons, and how many lessons he felt that you should take. Mark was constantly giving me tips on how to improve most efficiently and get through the driving test as smoothly as possible; I never felt that, at any point, he was trying to make me take more lessons with him than I needed. Mark also took me to my driving test (which I passed on my first try, with near perfect marks). He was very helpful and walked me through the process, and gave me lots of tips and advice on how to handle it. He made the experience as enjoyable as anything DMV-related can be expected to be. There are driving schools and instructors out there that will offer cheaper rates than Mark. If you really want to be cheap, you might be satisfied with them; if you really want a solid, quality instructor, however, Mark is your man. I have absolutely no regrets in choosing him as my instructor. I started my first class with Mark sometime in the summer of 2012 and got my license about a month afterwards. Mark is truly a cool dude, and he made the entire experience very fun and easy. 5/5 would send my kids, parents, or any friend to take classes with him. read more

Mark was my driving instructor. Extremely patient and helpful. And a happy overall attitude every time we had a driving lesson. And I passed the driving test on the first try. Very pleased! read more

Brilliant! I had Patti and she was a delight. Coming here from uk shores already a driver of 11 years I needed some USA critique. Patti knew of my pain and frustrations of trying to undo what I've been taught in the uk and helped me into how it's done here, because she had lived and drove in the uk for a number of years, for that she's an asset and incredibly valuable. The price maybe a little out of reach for some but I would have paid double for Patti just for her experience alone. Thank you Patti for your patience and guidance, you were so helpful and encouraging. I couldn't have asked for a better instructor. read more

Mark is an excellent instructor. He is vary patient and meticulous. He really goes through everything you need to know to pass the behind-the-wheel test, and teaches you how to develop good defensive driving skill habits. I highly recommend taking one of his classes. It helped me pass my test. read more

Experienced instructors. Mark really goes the extra mile and gives you a lot of relevant information. He is also available for any questions you may have as you teach your child to drive. Mark admits upfront that there are cheaper places around, but this place is well worth a few extra bucks. They service the Berkeley area to El Cerrito. read more

I just had class with Mark last Saturday. He is such a great teacher! He made good use of every minute. He was so patient that he didn't raise his voice whole time. At the end of the class( even though the class was over), he gave me a paper and told me the exam points. He is not greedy at all because he told me that I don't really need another class, but it would be better if I take another one and it's up to me. Anyway, choose him as instructor! read more

Fantastic teacher, and a very good experience! I took a 2 hour driving lesson as it had been 6 years since I last drove (for only 10 hours total). Mark was really cool and made the experience enjoyable. Im now much more confident even after just my short lesson. Definitely recommended! read more