Driving has always been something that gave me such anxiety over the years. I lived in Chicago for my teens/20s and didn't need a license (public transit is solid there), but moved to LA and you need to know how to drive here. After reading tons of reviews and contacting various driving schools in the area, I landed on Royals. It was so easy to get started and they had an appointment available the day after I called to inquire. I took 12 hours of driving lessons & the DMV exam with Jorge. I couldn't be happier with my experience. He was kind, funny, patient, and punctual. He taught me the rules of the road, how to be a safe/defensive driver, and gave me the confidence to take my test just a month after starting my lessons. I can actually say that I'm going to miss hanging out with him hahaha. Jorge, if you're reading this--thank you so much for everything! You're the best. Some other notes about the services through Royals: -Lessons are 2 hours (including pick up & drop off) -You can pay through check or Zelle -You WILL drive on the street your first day, so be ready. -They offer lessons as early as 6am which worked perfectly with my schedule. -The instructors have gas pedals & brake pedals on the passenger side of the car. -I learned to drive in a Prius C, but I'm sure they have other options. -After you get the hang of things, you can suggest to your driver what you'd like to practice more (although they're likely already aware). For example, I wanted more practice with parallel parking & freeway. -They go with you to the DMV (if you purchase that service), and are well versed in the processes--where to go, who to talk to. It was seamless. Anyway, highly recommend this driving school. I might even take stick shift lessons at some point, too! Thanks again! read more

Before anything, I will make one thing clear: I am that kind of person, who never leaves review despite how great the service was. However, this time it is different. I HAD to leave a review, because it was the most amazing driving experience I had. Trust me, I had to go through pretty much the same experiences in S. Korea but this one was way better. Today I passed my driving test with help of my beloved instructor -- Jorge. He is very patient and caring. When I started taking the lesson, I was really afraid. It's been few years ever since I was away from the car and I didn't want to kill anyone. However, Jorge was always there for me. Not only his skills calmed me down (He is great at driving, of course), but also he encouraged me to drive with courage. And I always hear the same saying from every driver I've ever met: "Safety is always the best. However, if you be a coward, it can lead to worse accidents." Jorge trained me to be brave, yet still cautious and skillful driver. I stayed with him for 6+a hours on the road in Hollywood and Koreatown (Personally I think these locations have the worst traffic.) and didn't even notice the time swinging by. It seems like I am only talking about good stuff here, so I'll be very honest: the only problem I had with Royal Driving School was communication. However, it is VERY MINOR and they came back to me very soon. And I absolutely had no problem with Jorge in terms of communicating. He will always be there for you. Don't be afraid to choose him as your instructor. He knows the best. I am really going to miss him. 5/5 read more

My instructor was Leo, and today I passed my behind-the-wheel test on my first try. The price of the lessons were affordable, and you are getting what you paid for. Leo is patient, understanding, and also provides a great learning environment where you don't feel stressed. I deal with anxiety on a regular basis, but I was calm and collected with Leo. Whenever he speaks, he has a soft voice, but you can hear all of his instructions. He takes total control over the car when necessary, which makes me feel a lot safer. Leo also gives you an advance warning when you are going to take a left or right, which helps me not panic. As you're driving, he gives you tips on how to improve that you can think about while driving. He is also very experienced in the driving exam and knows what you will be tested on. Nothing during the exam was new because I practiced it already with Leo. During the day of the test, we went around the area where the DMV is located to get used to the roads there. He knows which DMV's are good to take your exam at, because some are harder than others. I also made sure to look up DMV route videos on youtube, and ended up having the exam same route on my test today. This service is amazing, and I would recommend it to any new drivers. I had no experience driving a car, but now I feel confident to drive. I took 2 hour lessons for 4 days, and was able to pass the exam easily. Leo is a great instructor, and person. I enjoyed having conversations with him while driving. Thank you Leo so much! Praise God! read more

As someone who has been terrified of getting behind the wheeI, and on top passed my test on the first try after 3 months practice and confidence building, I must say I am so grateful for Jorge as my instructor. He truly wants all his students to succeed and become safe drivers. I get nervous on the road but with him, he just had a way of making me feel relaxed and most importantly make the experience enjoyable. Before the test, he gives you time to practice additionally and let me say he is very punctual, knowledgeable, patient, and funny. I would have still chose him as my instructor had I failed the first time because I really appreciate how much he cared and saw how nervous I was but believed in me in light of self doubt. Those driving test are nerve wrecking, the examiner has a tough demeaner, you get scared, you never know what the roads are going to be like with traffic and unexpected situations. All you can do is do your very best because it is your time, effort, consistency, money invested, and most importantly freedom. I never thought I would ever make it. He believed in me and when I was confused and did not know what I was doing, he did not shame me for anything. On the contrary, he would explain everything multiple times until you get it right. If you are apprehensive due to the pandemic with the cleanliness, worry no more! He kept everything cleaned and sanitized. I definitely recommend Jorge. His driving skills and techniques are indubitably the best. read more

I'm an on and off student driver who's had previous lessons years before and only last year had the courage to get a driver's license, and only a month and half left before the test day. Was super nervous as this was also Los Angeles and I was really intimidated by traffic so I decided to get driving lessons and found the Royal's Driving School to be close to where I live and also within my budget. I really appreciate how easy it was to contact them both by email and by phone, get a pricing range and a recommendation of hours (instead of say pushing for the maximum) and setting up a 3 lesson/6 hr scheduled appointment. Was very fortunate that I was assigned Jorge as he was punctual, cordial, and as a teacher very calm, patient and encouraging. If I made mistakes with my turns he'd immediately repeat the exercise so I wouldn't forget, and also pointed out the important practices the test instructor will be looking for me to do when I take the test (like checking mirrors and blind spots when I change lanes, etc) I had also paid to rent their vehicle for my test day so what Jorge decided we should do was split up my third lesson: That way he could pick me up an hour and a half earlier and I could have a warm up practice right before the test. So after driving and a 25 (?) minute test run (was too nervous to pay attention to the test time) I passed on my first attempt! Thank you very much again for the lessons and service. read more

Leo is changing my life. First off, I never leave Yelp reviews but this driving school warrants the creation of a Yelp account. Secondly I went to two different Los Angeles driving schools. And no disrespect to the other school, but their teacher's style was kind of hard and fast. I'm a slow learner with massive driving anxiety and I felt stressed with him. I thought about quitting entirely because the whole ordeal just seemed impossibly hard. Then I decided to try a different driving school, just in case a different teacher could help a lost cause. And it worked. Leo changed everything for me! Leo is the Mister Rogers of driving instructors. He's very alert, so he's 100% driving with you. He's never spaced out, he's 100% focused on the road. But he's calm and peaceful and he's constantly giving you helpful tips. I've had 7 lessons with him and I'm still learning something valuable every time we go out. Every dollar is well spent with this man. He makes little jokes like "I see you stopped hating the little arrows on the ground." So a very big thank you to Leo and to the whole school. And honestly, a shout out to EVERY driving teacher in EVERY school. What an admirable unsung profession. These people literally risk their lives every day to teach us newbie greenhorns. Not everyone has parents who can teach them. Thankfully Royals Driving School exists. Leo, if you ever read this, I appreciate you! read more

Mastering the Road with Jorge - A 5-Star Experience! From the very first lesson, Jorge's friendly and engaging approach made me feel at ease behind the wheel. He possesses a combination of patience, expertise, and a fun humor that transforms each driving lesson into a fun and enriching experience. Jorge's teaching methodology is exceptional. He has a keen eye for detail and provides constructive feedback that is both easy to understand and implement. His tips and techniques are practical, ensuring that you not only pass your driving test but become a confident and safe driver. His lessons cover all the necessary aspects of driving, from the basics to the more complex maneuvers, all delivered in a calm and reassuring manner. What sets Jorge apart is his ability to instill confidence in his students. His constant encouragement and belief in my abilities pushed me to excel and ultimately helped me pass my driving test on the first try! He's not just an instructor; he's a mentor who genuinely cares about his students' success. In conclusion, if you're seeking a driving instructor who can make learning to drive an enjoyable and rewarding journey, look no further than Jorge. His professionalism, expertise, and charismatic personality make him a standout instructor. Thank you, Jorge, for not just teaching me to drive, but for showing me how to walk like JLo!!! read more

Escribo esta reseña en español para los posibles hispanoablantes que se decidan a aprender a conducir bajo las instrucciones de Jorge (Igual lo pueden hacer en inglés en caso de que no dominen el idioma español). I recommend to translate this review into English too if you want to know more about Royal Driving School. En mi caso solo necesité reforzar las clases prácticas de manejo porque ya había aprobado el examen teórico y además había tenido un poco de experiencia previa detrás del volante. Mediante 2 citas de 2 horas cada sesión, me sometí al examen práctico y pude obtener mi licencia de conducción en el primer intento. El proceso para comenzar a recibir clases fue muy rápido, solo tuve que llamar por teléfono para agendar la primera cita. No puedo tener mejor opinión de Jorge, podría decir que es mi amigo a pesar de solo haber pasado aproximadamente 6 horas en total bajo sus enseñanzas. Esas cosas solo se logran cuando una persona hace más que bien su trabajo, pues no solo atiende clientes, hace que vuelvan y recomienden hasta su propia familia por la confianza que generan, es invaluable contar con un instructor como Jorge en esta empresa, se los aseguro, de hecho, mi esposa también aprenderá con él. Si te decides a llamar a Royal Driving School para aprender a conducir, solo pregunta por Jorge y te acordarás de esta reseña. read more

One of the best services I had! I had a huge fear of driving esp the city of LA is too busy! But i had the best instructor- Sir Leo. He was very patient and taught me well w driving. I actually had a different instructor at first (Patrick) - Didnt like his service- he wasnt teaching me, just eating and texting while on lesson. Had to call them to change my instructor and they gave Sir Leo! Had a 8 hrs lesson with Sir Leo and passed my driver's license! He explained rule of the roads well and everything. He is just the best!! You wont be nervous around him bc he knows what he's doing and the best on what he do! THANK U SIR LEO! Got my license now. I actually thought i wont be driving in my whole life! Also recommend Jonathan - he went to dmv with me for road test. Had an issue with dmv and we had to wait 2 hours for them to fix it, and Jonathan was very patient and understanding about everything. My appointment was at 11 am and went out to dmv by 2pm! But Jonathan was very patient, really went through everything with me! He was a nice guy! He has a motivational words for you to lessen your nervousness during the drive test! He has a funny personality too! Great guy! ALSO, This is the cheapest driving school you can get if you live in La county! Affordable driving school with great quality service! 10/10! read more

To whom it may concern, I am pleased to highly recommend Ray Maldonado as a driving instructor at Royal Driving School. During the time I had the opportunity to work with Ray, he consistently demonstrated professionalism, patience, and a strong commitment to helping students become safe and confident drivers. Ray has an excellent ability to explain driving concepts clearly and calmly, making learning easy and stress-free for students of all levels. His patience with nervous or beginner drivers is truly admirable, and he always ensures that his students understand not only how to perform a maneuver, but why it is important for road safety. In addition to his strong technical knowledge of traffic laws and defensive driving techniques Ray stands out for his positive attitude and respectful manner. He creates a supportive learning environment that helps students feel confident and well prepared for both their driving test and real- life driving situations. I highly recommend Ray Maldonado as a driving instructor. Any student or family who chooses to work with him be in excellent hands. Sincerely Raul S. Garcia Lance. read more

I can't recommend Jorge enough! He was an incredible driving instructor and I truly believe it makes all the difference who you're in the car with. From day one, he never made me feel nervous, intimidated, or judged. Instead, he created such a calm and encouraging environment that helped me build confidence behind the wheel. What stood out most was how much he believed in me. Before my driving test, he constantly spoke words of encouragement and reminded me that I was capable and ready. Even after the test, he continued to celebrate my success. His confidence in me gave me confidence in myself. During our lessons, he always praised me when I did things well and corrected my mistakes in a very patient, constructive way that never made me feel embarrassed or discouraged. I genuinely enjoyed every lesson because I felt supported and comfortable learning with him. Thanks to Jorge's guidance, I passed my driving test on my first attempt! I'm so grateful for everything he taught me and would wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, patient, and uplifting driving instructor. read more

As of the time I'm writing this I just recently received my drivers license, it had taken me a long while to do so, me coming to Royals Driving School was not only because they have some of the best prices or drivers! But a last ditch effort for my drivers license, my first instructor and I weren't ready a fit, no problem though, I got on the phone with operator the same day about my instructor, the following week I had a new instructor, Raymond Maldonado. From my very first lesson with him, I already knew I was going to get my license, this instructor is so polite, extremely courteous, and very accommodating with your learning speed. He has a very structured learning plan, and with phases and little sayings to help you remember, making learning way easier, this in particular helped myself the most. He has no issues repeating or going back over a teaching point, while demonstrating and clarifying clearly for your understanding. With a very flexible schedule and an extremely friendly approach, if you're thinking about Royals Driving School, ask for Raymond Maldonado, or (Ray) specifically! read more