I loved my instructor. She was so sweet and really helped me! Still a couple more months until my driver's license test, but I feel prepared because of her! read more

We had a wonderful experience with Viva Driving School! They came right on time at each appointment and instructors Sam and Dean taught my son everything. They were very patient and informative. When it came time to take his behind-the-wheel test, Sam really guided my son on what to expect during testing and every small question he had. My son passed his test on his first try. Highly recommend! Thanks Viva! read more

Sam is great! Knows the ins and outs of driving and will let you know what you need to improve on.

I had Sam as my main instructor. I purchased the 6 hour session plus an additional 2 hours for taking me to the DMV test for the driving exam. I passed my first try! Sam is a friendly, knowledgeable instructor, and was patient with me being a total driving newbie and teaching me how to be a cautious driver. He made sure I learned from the critical errors I made and what not to do on the road. Additionally, he took me on the freeway to practice getting comfortable with it, even though its not on the exam. I loved that Viva picked me up and dropped me off from my house, which was super convenient. They were always on time too. In the end they helped me build my driving confidence and helped me prepare for my driving test. However, the reason I docked off a star: On the day of the test, a different instructor, George, came to pick me up, but was at the wrong address 5 minutes away (an honest mistake). After arriving, the car would not start again (out of gas? I'm not sure what the problem was). We had to wait an additional 15 minutes for someone else from Viva to bring a working car. So in the end, about 20 minutes of the time I payed was wasted that I could've been using to practice before my test. I still got a little time to get warmed up before my actual test though. George was very nice and helped me breeze through the Pasadena DMV for my driving exam appointment. Overall, my experience for Viva was great and I recommend them to new drivers, or if you just need to brush up on your driving skills. read more

This place sucks never use their services! My daughter had an appointment scheduled today at 1:00 PM. I called their office to confirm my appointment at 11:30 AM, which they confirmed. At 1:15 PM no driver had Arrived nor did we receive a call. I called their office to see what happened and and was told the drivers running late due to traffic and still had another student to drop off before coming to our appointment! If I had not called them they would not have called us! read more

I made the right choice with this driving school thanks to reading Yelp reviews, so here's mine to add to the collection . I needed some confidence boosting lessons as a mature driver, despite having two out of country licences under my belt. I had 3 lessons with George and 1 with Sam. Both are thoroughly recommended. Calm, kind and professional instructors. Owner David, friendly on the phone and lovely receptionist Stephanie, the same. Thanks particularly George: WE DID IT! read more

We had very positive experiences with Viva. The instructors showed up on time. They seemed to answer all of my child's questions.

Big shoutout to Sam, Robert, and George. Got 4 lessons and they drove me to the DMV. Passed first try. 10/10 recommend any instructor here but especially Sam. Thank you Viva. :) read more

Viva Driving School - Driving Schools Near Me - Pasadena, California

Got the six hour package of lessons for my son. His instructor was Edwin, whom my son really liked and had a good rapport with. I was pleased with Edwin's timeliness and the respect with which my son says he treated him. I chose Viva just because they were the first to call me back. I liked the straight answers I got on that initial call. When I had an issue with length of time between the 2nd and 3rd lessons I vocalized my concerns and the gentleman in Viva's office called me back and right away changed the appointment to fit our schedule. Overall, my sense is that the people here are honest, hardworking businesspeople that honored our choice of them. Edwin was an excellent instructor who prepared my son well for the test. Definitely recommend Viva. read more

Sam was a great instructor for my daughter. He was very clear and detailed. She passed the retest on the first try. All of the instructors were on time. read more

David the owner is completely bananas!! He send a driver to hours before the appointment and the cars are in horrible condition! It is unsafe to drive a car with brakes that don't work work . The steering wheel is completely out of alignment, loose and accelerator gets a stuck . Cherry on top is over price ! I found a fantastic school for a half price, great cars and excellent professor named , Zoan. read more

Only have great things to say about my instructor, Randy. Super nice guy, very chill, and went out of his way to make sure I felt confident. Not so great on the business side of things though. The world's tough these days so I really don't want to be mean or rude, but just some observations. You have to pay upfront before you're allowed to schedule lessons or even know who your instructor will be. The prices are also quite high - I paid over $600 which, without knowing when you'll be able to book the lessons, is a lot. You also can't leave an email because the inbox is always full. You also can't leave a phone message for the same reason, but they're pretty good at calling back. The owner, David, is very friendly but seems overworked. Overall I would recommend, but these are definitely things I wish they would change or I'd known before paying. read more

I wont get too in details about the driving instructors as it really depends on who you get to determine your driving experience. My five stars goes to Stephanie, the lady who takes care of most of the calls for Viva. She goes above and beyond in making sure you get your appointments. Her kindness and ultimate patience is to be noted for. if it wasn't for her ability to solve my scheduling problems, I may have not passed the driving test. She definitely cares about the students she deals with and I'm very thankful for her instructor recommendations. Thanks Stephanie for keepin' it real :) read more

Viva is supposed to have well trained drivers. When I hired you to teach my son the basic, I meant all the basic. Well, you missed that. I paid 6 hrs of driver's training, ($500) and what did you say before, 99% he will pass. Lies, all lies. The only reason I knew that is because my son, took the driver's test and didn't pass because of those specific important info you missed teaching him from the start, where his foot is supposed to be while using the gas/brake pedals, the middle yellow lanes that he is supposed to look before merging, and etc. He was marked as an unsafe driver. Really!?! Viva wasted my time and money. They are crooks. read more

I had a bunch of wonderful drivers but the one i took right before my test, Sam, was amazing. He brought me to where my driving test was, and helped me drive around and gave me tips. We had great conversation as well, and it made it a very good environment to learn. Would recommend. read more

Thank you Viva Driving School and my instructor Sam for helping me pass my behind the wheel test on the first try! I had a lot of fear and anxiety about learning how to drive (like a lot, I was a mess during my first lesson) but Sam really put me at ease and helped me build up my confidence on the road. He was kind and patient with me when I made mistakes, and always took the time to explain things to me when I wasn't quite sure what to do (he'll literally draw the explanation out for you, with the pen and scratch paper he always has on hand, so you'll truly understand). He's very knowledgeable on what the examiners will look for, knows the test routes really well, and will make sure you have all your driving maneuvers perfected. As a company, Viva is fantastic -- signing up and scheduling my lessons was a breeze, those who I spoke with over the phone were always friendly and helpful, and I always appreciated the reminder calls the day before my lessons/test. I'd recommend Viva to anyone who is looking for great driving instruction, and especially Sam as an instructor who's awesome and encouraging. I couldn't have done this without you guys! Thanks again! :) read more

I really dont like giving bad reviews but I want to warn anyone else who wants to use Viva. They'll glady take your money but not be available for what you signed up for. I paid for my son's driving lesson but we can't get a hold of them to schedule the lessons. Email doesn't work. No one picks up the phone. Can't leave a message because the mailbox is full. Their Facebook link doesn't work either. Guess I'll call up my credit card to dispute the charge. read more

We paid for 10 hours worth of lessons for our daughter when she got her permit. The first 2 lessons were pretty easily scheduled, but the last 3 were much more difficult. As it turned out, she had her final 2 lessons on back to back days, just to fit them all in before her driving test. In the end, she did pass on her first try so that's definitely a positive. However, in spending $500 for 10 hours of driving lessons, I really wish they would have taken her on the freeway at least 1 time, but they never did. read more

Ted is very helpful and assisted me in gaining my license. He is very knowledgeable about the DMV and it's policies.

Best driving school ever. We tried a bunch of different driving schools and different instructors . The more expensive ones we tried, most of the instructors were on the phone during the lesson. The school is so organized that they call you the day before just to remind you about your lesson. They are not money hungry and the instructor door is great. We had Dean and love him. Totally recommend the place. They are very professional and organized. read more

Viva was recommended to me by my friend. The person on the phone is always so nice. One thing I like about Viva is they call you to remind about the time and date of your driving lesson. To start, I purchased a 6 hours driving lesson with them. And my first 2 hours lesson was a bad experience because of a mean instructor. I wanted to pull out my lessons after that, but then I remember my friend told me to request for instructor Randy, and I did. Instructor Randy was very helpful, since I never driven back in the Philippines where I am from, it was really hard for me to maneuver the wheel. And Randy helped me a lot on how to use the steering wheel and be comfortable driving. He will point out your mistakes and will help you get better at it. I did all my lessons with him, and purchased another 10 hours after my 6 hours to prepare for my driving test. I had my driving test scheduled today and I passed. I highly recommend Instructor Randy if you really want to be a good driver and get your license. I'm so thankful that I followed my friend recommendation to request for Randy. Thank you Randy and Viva. I will for sure recommend you to my friends. And I will get more hours so I can practice more. read more

I signed up for viva driving lessons out of the Pasadena and Ted was my driving instructor. He was very professional very knowledgeable. I felt comfortable driving with him never felt nervous. He makes the lessons enjoyable but also right to the work. I highly recommend viva driving school and Ted as your instructor. read more

Viva Driving School is a great program for driving! I had the instructor, George, for all of my classes and he was the most patient and helpful teacher for me when I was learning how to drive. He would go over good habits to have on the road, techniques to practice, and going though real life situations. We also went on the freeway and he gave me tips around there as well. Make sure to always practice by yourself though (for me I practiced almost every day for a month about 30mins-60mins a day)! I had 10+ hours of lessons but I still needed to heavily practice. Also prepare some questions about driving, the dmv test, and etc, they have a lot of valuable information. If you live near Pasadena, they go over dmv routes there. I had the instructor, David, for my actual driving test and he was also great for last minute advice about the actual driving test! I was able to past the driving test even though I had a very strict examiner on my test day. (Rene was my examiner if anyone is also going to Pasadena. He's one of the most toughest examiners there.) read more

We had a great experience with Viva. My daughter had 10 lessons and they took her for her test and she passed her driving on her first time. The instructors are very calm and experienced. I was very pleased. 2nd time using them and I would recommend them. read more

Wanted to write for a very long time. Now before I found this school I had a major issue with another teacher (from another school) that was very disrespectful towards me so when I met for the very first time my teacher from this school I was pleasantly surprised. Everyone here is so nice and calm that automatically you are feeling yourself more confident and comfortable. Absolutely recommend this school to anyone who wants to get qualified and very knowledgeable instructor. They worth every penny I spent here. Would definitely give 10 stars if I could. Thank you guys very for everything. read more

I could not thank Viva enough! I have always been terrified of driving and had so much anxiety. I took all my lessons with Sam and he helped me become a confident, good driver. He was very patient with me no matter how many mistakes I made in the beginning. He would always thoroughly go over my errors and help me correct them. The day of my driving test Randy took me and he was also a great instructor. He really made me feel confident that I would pass. An hour before the exam we practiced around the dmv area which really helped. I passed on my first try!! Thank you all so much!! 100% recommend Viva Driving school. read more

I want to thank Viva Driving School for teaching my son all the important elements of driving (especially in Los Angeles). He just took his driving test yesterday and passed! We mainly had two driving instructors, George and David. They both were very respectful, calm, and taught my son how to drive. Whenever I called the office, Jackie was cheerful, and she was great at helping us book the appointments to fit my son's schedule. I will definitely refer Viva to parents who are looking for a great driving school for their 15+ year old's. read more

I wholeheartedly believe that your driving instructor shapes your experiences with Viva Driving School. The first package I purchased was with a driving instructor who was completely inappropriate, Hovik. During the latter two of my four lessons with him, I experienced inappropriate behavior. Hovik would unnecessarily touch my thigh and ask me personal questions such as if I had a boyfriend or if I knew how to cook. He would also make me stop in residential areas so that he could have a smoke break and try to buy me things from Starbucks, despite me feeling uncomfortable. For someone paying $500 for driving lessons, this is not the service that one deserves. During my fifth lesson, I requested a different driving instructor, after having accepted to myself that the treatment I faced from Hovik was undeserved and improper. My new instructor, Veronica, is by far the kindest and most patient instructor I've had. I highly recommend requesting her for lessons as she talks and instructs with a calming presence and demeanor. Having her as my instructor definitely lessened the bitterness I had towards Viva Driving School during my first couple lessons. In short, my recommendation is to choose your instructor carefully. Viva's response to my report on Hovik was not satisfactory or helpful. Do not be like me where you do not address discomfort in a timely fashion and make sure to hold Viva accountable for the behavior of their drivers. All I got was an apology. read more

I needed some more practice before my driving test and Viva gave me the practice I needed to pass. The instructor was very helpful when it came to scheduling and what I could improve on in terms of driving. They even texted me the day of my exam to remind me what to look out for. They also trained me in hand signals, straight line backing, and positions of important car features. They train to drive exactly how the DMV wants and if it wasn't for them I don't think I would have passed the test on my first try. read more

I've used Viva for my three kids with great results. My son had Sam as instructor and they were a good match. I also paid to have a "lesson" on day of driving test, and it was super helpful to have my son test in the VIVA car and with the instructor giving tips in the DMV area. My daughter had Lyn as instructor this summer and she also got her license. Now, my oldest is taking driving lessons with Lyn and she's so nice and patient and calm. I highly recommend VIVA driving school on Foothill in Pasadena. read more

Viva was the only place I could find that offered class room instruction for Driver's Education, which was what we need for our daughter. One weekend and done! She passed her written test on the first attempt. Their behind the wheel training has also been great. Great, friendly instructors. They came to our house and picked her up and dropped her off. I highly recommend using Viva. read more

One of the best schools! I was considering canceling my dmv test appointment as i had never driven much before and i was so nervous, until I had a class with Adis! He is hands down one of the best instructors and i passed my test in first attempt! I highly recommend this school. read more

Great school! My daughter felt comfortable with david and she learned lots of new skills on the road

Felt at ease from the minute I got in the car. Thanks to some great instructing, encouragement and brilliant answers to all my many questions; I passed my test today with Viva! Highly recommend their services! read more

Viva is the best driving school I could ever look for. The instructor I always request is Sam. He is the most patient, kind, and knowledgeable instructor at Viva. Every time I make mistakes, he is quick to tell me and go over them. I took my driving test at Pasadena DMV and passed on the first try! There are other instructors as well such as George, but I did not learn much from George (not a bad instructor at all). Sam took me to the DMV and from there I got my license! Always thankful to Sam. read more

Love that they pick up. I live in Monterey Park; the most southern part of their driving area. On first lesson the instructor asked if we can make it a shorter lesson because he had another student right after and didn't want to go all the way back to drop off my son. Then I would be getting 4 1 1/2 hr lessons instead of 3 2 hour lessons. I agreed. But when I scheduled the next lesson the person taking the call said the instructor didn't have the authority to do that. They tried to honor it, but of course it didn't work out. I lost out. Make sure you get the full 2 hour session. read more

David was very accommodating for last minute driving appointment. My child's prior driving school cancelled her dmv appointment but good thing that instructor was able to get her appointment back. So happy that i found this school!!! read more

I recently moved back to California from New York and thus needed to get my license. I decided to buy a 5 session package to practice for my test and it was definitely worth it! I mainly drove with the instructor Matt, who is just the best. Really funny, nice, and super chill, but you can tell he's paying attention and won't let you die lol. Pretty sure he saved our lives on several occasions (sorry), thanks Matt! I had Edwin once who is also awesome! He is very friendly and I felt comfortable driving at night for the first time with him. Annnnd today was my driving test at El Monte dmv! I used the last 2 hours of my package to do this and I had the instructor Gina. She is super outgoing and sweet and was sincerely happy for me when I passed. All in all, I didn't have any bad experiences with any of the staff. Thanks Viva! Definitely going to look into getting more lessons so I can practice with them on the freeway. :) read more

Sam is such a great instructor! He is patient and understanding and gives great feedback and direction. Mary Jane has been really enjoying her lessons and feels a lot more confident in her abilities now. Tomorrow is her final lesson, so we just wanted to give Sam props for being a great teacher! Our other two kids enjoyed Viva and had great experiences too, so this was no fluke! Viva is just a great school! Thanks Viva! read more

Amazing lessons and full support and understanding for what ever type of driver you are! Every instructor I had was super attentive and informative. They keep track of what your strengths and weakness are and want the same thing as you do; to get your license and to be a confident driver. My schedule was a bit all over the place and they understood and booked my lessons accordingly, which I was super appreciative of. Major plus. Get your lessons here folks! read more