Oscar helped me pass my behind-the-wheel test after three lessons. He was patient, professional, and even fit me in the morning before my test so we could review everything. I went in feeling prepared and confident. I also took freeway lessons with David, who brings diagrams and walks you through exactly what you'll be doing before you get on the freeway. That made a huge difference and helped me feel more comfortable with something I'd avoided for a long time. Both instructors were encouraging, easy to schedule with, and genuinely great teachers. I'd highly recommend this school! read more

David has taught both my kids. He was always on time and very accommodating. My son has learn a lot from him and is more confident driving. I highly recommend this driving school!! read more

Love this driving school!!! I had my 3 kids here. David Sanchez was so patient and supportive!! My kids loved him. Staff were excellent!! I highly recommend this driving school and David!!! Thank you read more

This is hands down the best driving school ever! If you are or have a nervous or anxious driver this is definitely the best driving school to use. The instructors are excellent and go above and beyond when giving feedback, tips, and tricks on how to improve. They are patient and constructive giving you the confidence to drive safely. Prices are reasonable and you learn a lot from the 3-5 lesson packages. Definitely give them a try, you won't regret it! read more

Amazing instructors! My child had the opportunity to drive with Oscar and David. Super chill, very professional! She passed her behind the wheel test. Thanks guys, highly recommend them read more

Two thumbs up for instructor Oscar, he is puntual for every class, easy to communicate with, gave great advice to my son before his behind the wheel test, and my son passed within the very 1st time and only got deducted 3 points After got his license, we had another class for the fwy driving lesson, now my son is more confidence when driving on the fwy. I highly recommend Student 1st Driving School to anyone who is looking to learn how to drive. I am so glad I made the right choice choosing the best driving school for my teen. read more

Student 1st Driving School - Driving Schools Near Me - South El Monte, California

Here is my long overdue review - I found this driving school on Yelp and have nothing but great things to say. Working with David to set up initial logistics was very easy. Oscar was my daughter's assigned driving instructor and working with both David and Oscar throughout the entire process made me and my husband very comfortable with the process of having a new driver who was initially somewhat nervous. After returning from each lesson, they will talk to the parent and give you feedback on things you can focus on with your child when your are practicing with them. Additionally, if there were things I noticed when driving with my daughter, I felt comfortable reaching out to Oscar asking for tips that I could give her when I was driving with her that she could put into practice in between her scheduled driving lessons. We opted for the 5 lessons and while there was a minor mishap with getting the slip for the permit test, everything was done to correct the situation and Oscar went above and beyond to make sure my daughter was prepared for her driving exam. Once our daughter received her license, we did opt to pay for the additional freeway lessons and will be using the school again for our son when he receives his permit. During the day, they may not respond immediately to a text message, but assume that is because they are taking their time focusing with the students they are currently with (if they are in a lesson) which is what you would probably want if they are with you or with your child. Overall, a great experience and I would recommend them to anyone looking for a driving school. read more

The instructor David was awesome! My son learned so much from him. The company works with your schedule and they will answer all your questions. My son pass his dmv driving test the 1st time. Thank you! read more

I just finished three driving lessons with David an hour ago, and the tips he gave me actually stuck and will help me for the rest of my life. The first lesson focused on steering techniques for making right and left turns on small residential streets. The second covered left turns at T-intersections, how to handle unprotected green lights, and how to deal with protected left-turn signals. My third lesson walked me through making right turns on red and handling right turns on heavily congested local streets. Each session had a clear structure: David introduced the concept at the start, then we practiced it in real driving situations. Throughout the lessons, David made sure I felt comfortable. In lesson one, he assessed my current skills and gave targeted feedback. He never pressured me into moves I wasn't ready for, and he always made sure I understood a concept before we practiced it. Even though I pick things up pretty fast, David was happy to slow down or adapt to whatever pace I needed. A major takeaway was his focus on mindset and decision-making. He ran hypothetical scenarios and walked me through how to react. For example, he taught me the two positions for left turns: Position one, inching forward to prepare for a left turn while yielding, and Position two, staying behind the crosswalk when you're the second car. He also taught a simple pattern for right turns and navigation, "1, 2, you, 3," which helped me with timing and positioning at turning right on solid red lights. On top of that, David drilled the habit of turning your head for shoulder checks at intersections; he trained those movements until they felt like muscle memory, something I didn't have before. My driving test is tomorrow, and David made sure I understood the DMV environment and when to expect lane changes. Because of David, I am confident that I will pass my driving test. I also loved the communication from S1 Student Driving School. They always reminded me a day before my lesson and alerted me when the instructor arrived to pick me up. My third lesson was postponed because of a minor vehicle issue, and they were quick to help me reschedule. Small problems happen, but how they handled it showed they prioritize safety and comfort over profits. S1 is a small Latinx-owned business, so please support them. My experience was with David, but I'm sure Oscar would be just as excellent :) read more

Both my daughters learned through this school. We've had Oscar and David. Excellent teachers and I absolutely cannot recommend this school enough!!! If you can request David, DO IT!!! He is patient and professional. I'm sure his chill personality also helps teens relax behind the wheel. read more

I'm so glad I went with Student 1st Driving School. They were professional, reliable, and helpful at easing my parental anxiety. I would recommend this driving school. In fact, I will use them again for freeway teaching. read more

I took driving lessons here with Coach Oscar and passed my behind the wheel test. Then after I got my license, I went back to take freeway lessons. Coach was very patient and understanding, as the instructions and feedback given to me during the lessons, was delivered in a way that was exactly what I needed to hear to improve. The feedback was very precise in pinpointing exactly what mistakes or bad habits I might be making. It also included things I needed to keep in mind to be safe on the road. Honestly, I was very nervous to drive at first, but developed my confidence as I started to trust in both myself and Coach. So, definitely recommend this driving school, whether you're a beginner or intermediate! Also, the other part of the experience like reserving the lessons and communication was pretty straightforward and nicely done. read more

David is extremely patient and possesses a quick eye for technique error--and most importantly, can easily and succinctly explain a path to correction. As a late new driver, David's approach was crucial in helping me build the road confidence I severely lacked before beginning lessons. Wholeheartedly recommend and well worth the price. read more

As an adult driver, finding the perfect fit for driving lessons was a worry of mine. I saw the positive reviews Students 1st had and took a chance. Within a matter of minutes, I was able to book my first lesson with David. I'm so glad I found this school! After disclosing my experience/past from a childhood crash and obstacles that prevented me from moving forward mentally, David was able to gauge my comfort behind the wheel and before you know it, I was driving residential through my own neighborhood. Students 1st not only prepared me mentally but they've got great resources on their website that keeps me studying in between bookings. Thanks to David and the team at Students 1st for helping this new driver feel empowered to take charge again! read more

I had an amazing experience .From the beginning, they made me feel comfortable and confident behind the wheel.

Eric was my son assigned instructor. I loved that fact he was communicative with his inputs as well hearing my inputs as well. Per my son, he felt confident, comfortable and knowledge improvement. My son passed in the first try!! Thank you Eric and the team, I will definitely recommend this company to family and friends! read more

Just passed my behind the wheel test! I couldn't have done it without the help of this driving school and their curriculum. I am a very anxious driver and initially went to SPass driving school because I wanted a female driving instructor but I learned nothing and wasted a lot of money. My driving instructor here was very professional I never felt uncomfortable and I learned so so much. If you can I urge you to pick and invest in this school to be a safe and prepared driver, especially if you're an anxious person with no experience. I am literally someone who wanted to cry every-time I got into a car. That did not happen once during my lessons with David. Beyond that they have excellent customer service skills and do not waste your time or money and if something does happen like a scheduling issue they accommodate you and even reimburse if the mistake occurred on their end! read more

My brother, a new migrant, a licensed and experienced driver from another country failed the DMV driving test twice and only left with one last chance to pass or had to wait another year to reapply. We want to minimize the risk of blowing up the final chance so we opted to get professional help so we contacted S1 Driving School. Instructor David was spot on the previous failed tests results and focused on correcting the failures during the 2 hour driving package. He was thorough and told the student he has 90% chance of passing the DMV test already scheduled the following day which is today, the day of this review. Thank goodness the student passed and very grateful to Instructor David. read more

I cannot say enough good things about this driving school. After not having driven a car in many years after an accident, I signed up for a set of refresher lessons (6 hours total). David was great - went into a lot of detail, breaking things down into steps, and actually taught me how to drive "defensively" with more patience and awareness of what other drivers were doing. I was amazed how much I was never taught when I first learned to drive. I have regained my confidence and am a safer driver today! Highly recommended! read more

I am someone who was extremely anxious about driving. So much so that I'm in my 20s without my license. After a few classes with Student 1st, I find myself being myself more confident and willing to drive. My instructor was extremely patient and calm which helped me to ease my anxiety behind the wheel. Not only did he provide me with examples of how to do things, but he would clearly explain it using diagrams which really helped me. If you have a child or even are an adult who needs a support system to drive, this place is a must try! read more

I'm glad we trusted Student 1st Driving School to help our son learn to drive and to help him pass his driving test. David had a lot of great insight about the whole process of the driving test and about instructors out of the El Monte DMV. He gave my son a lot of great feedback and advice and encouragement where he needed it and therefore there were no surprises throughout the whole process. My son felt comfortable working with David which was the most important thing to me. My son was extremely happy when he passed his driving test. Thank you!! read more

I highly recommend Student 1st Driving School. They are very professional, great with communication and sending out reminders, and they work well with their students. They're very patient and have great customer service! My son passed his drive test on his first try. I'll be back next year so my other son can get his driving lessons with Student 1st Driving School. Thanks again! read more

I'm generally an extremely anxious person, and David helped calm my worries about driving. He is extremely patient, kind, and personable. He goes extremely in-depth about the driving test itself and helps you get comfortable with the area before hand. I passed first try :) Would recommend to anyone who's looking to get their license. read more

If I could give these guys, Oscar and David a gold medal, I would. With patience, they gave my grandson the confidence he needed to move forward to achieve his goal of obtaining his driver's license.. They established a schedule for picking him up, the lessons are 2 hours each..They scheduled his appointment for the DMV and took him for his behind the wheel driving test..I very highly recommend this driving school..you won't be disappointed. read more

Outstanding! Highly reccommended!! I am a senior driver who had to retake a road test after failing the first time. My instructor at Students 1st, David, was terrific. Knowledgeable. Patient. Professional. Personable. He was always on time to pick me up. He was able to accomodate my schedule for lessons and I was even able to use the Students 1st car for my test. I felt fully prepared for my test and passed it easily. I could not have asked for better preparation or a better experience. read more

Excellent!!! My co-worker referred me and I could not be happier. My daughter needed driving lessons and we were looking for a trusted service. As the mom, I sat in on the first hour of the 6 hour lesson series. This was very valuable. I learned the needs of a new driver and was reminded myself of all the appropriate procedures. I felt very safe letting my kid learn with this company, especially since our instructor David was amazing!!! He provided just the right amount of instruction and allowed ample time for learning. His patience was so impressive. Many thanks!!! read more

Dave is an excellent teacher!!! He helped me a lot to focus on my driving and build my confidence to pass the driving test. I want to thank you for everything!!!! Student 1st Driving school is awesome school!!! read more

I found this school because I saw it had many good reviews. I hope this review will be as helpful to you as it was to me. The structure of the company is very good, very well explained, and they respond in a timely manner. But what absolutely exceded any of my expectations was the driving instructor, Oscar. Oscar was always on time, flexible to my schedule, and provided feedback that genuinely aided my daughter in progressing her driving skills. But what I liked the most was how my daughter felt confident and comfortable throughout the course. If you are looking for a driving school, without a doubt, choose this school read more

I highly recommend Student 1st Driving to any parent or person that requires driving lessons. The team at Student 1st are very accommodating to work schedules and/or needs to meet a specific deadline. Their instructors always arrived on-time with a clean and safe vehicle. In arranging lessons, you will receive clear instructions and information to make this a hassle and stressless process. Reach out to Student 1st and you won't be dissappointed. Raul M. read more

From start to end they were super transparent, flexible and helped me work through my goals of becoming a safe driver. As someone who started driving later in life they really made it easy without feeling condescending. The instructor adapted to my learning style and gave me constructive feedback to correct/break certain bad behaviors. I saw significant improvement in my driving. I recommend that you supplement their classes with your own driving when possible to maximize results. Also, my instructor David took the time to diagram scenarios and explain why certain habits are dangerous which helped cement the knowledge. I also appreciated that they picked up and dropped me off at my house since they're local. Worth the investment. read more

Can't say enough great things about Students 1st Driving School. Both David and Oscar are fantastic instructors, so patient and knowledgeable when it comes to the rules of the road. I went from a non experienced driver to a licensed driver within 4 months. I'm so happy I chose this company. Highly recommend! read more

Great driving school, highly recommended!! Oscar gave three two-hour lessons to my teenage daughter. He was very patient and gave very clear instructions. As a result, my daughter was not nervous during the lessons, and was able to learn a lot. She is now able to drive confidently with me sitting on the passenger seat. I am so grateful that she had such a good start in learning to drive, which is also an important step in becoming independent. read more

Thank you for teacher David! He makes me a confident. He is a really good teacher I recommend David to people who want to practice driving Thank you! read more

The best of the best...I highly recommend this school to be a good driver ....the teacher David Sanchez is very professional and helpful with every detail for the road ...my best wishes to the school and the future students read more

Every parent wants their child to be a safe driver. That's why some send them to driving school, but not many driving schools allow a parent to sit in the back seat to observe the lessons. S1 Driving School let me be part of the driving lesson which not only allowed me observe my daughter and the instructor, it also gave me insight on the instructors approach and techniques used to teach her. Our driving instructor was Oscar. From the moment we entered the car I was VERY impressed with Oscar's professionalism, how he explained the lesson plan, and instructed my daughter. His knowledge of the driving rules and regulations are spot on and he knows the area like the back of his hand. As the lesson goes on, Oscar will address situations that need attention and ask the student to park in a safe area so he could explain the what he saw and how to correct it. Oscar will have the student repeat the situation until he feels it was done properly. His calmness and mellow tone is reassuring which builds confidence with the student. FYI, we chose to have the last lesson on the freeway which was a real bonus. Here's the bottom line. Your child or adult will learn tremendously from S1 Driving School. The benefit I got as a parent being an observer was I could use the same terminology and language when taking her out on her own. As experienced drivers, we tend to take few liberties when we are driving. These will be marked against them when they take the driving test. Teach them the right way and send them to S1 Driving School. I told Oscar I will be asking for him again next year for my other child. read more

Incredible driving school, passed my driving test first try. My instructor was Oscar, he was always very patient and calm. And very helpful considering my previous nervousness and anxiety with driving. Now I actually enjoy driving! Attended a different driving school before, then switched over to this one. Best decision ever, was definitely a major upgrade. I cannot recommend Student 1st enough! read more

To say the least, S1 Driving school has made me a confident and safe driver. Oscar is very professional and approachable. I've seen multiple driving schools and going through S1 is by far the best in all honesty. If you have a teenager or are a young adult this is the driving school for you! Trust me, all the skills you need are here and they're very student driven. read more

My daughter took a two hour lesson to prep her for her driving test. The instructor David was awesome and gave her so many tips before. I highly recommend. Rates are very reasonable as well. By the way she passed. Thank you. read more

This driving school was extremely helpful! I needed some last minute classes before my behind the wheel license exam and my driver David, was so helpful and reassuring. I loved being able to learn from him and notice right off the bad his experiencing not only in driving but in teaching. I strongly recommend this school for anyone interested! read more

My son had Oscar as his instructor and he was great! Very patient and calm. Setting up appointments was pretty easy. They told me upfront that they're scheduling out a couple of weeks. I liked that they're transparent. When it comes time for my next kid to start learning I'm definitely using them again. read more