Do NOT 🚫 go take your skill test at this location. They are really bad and unprofessional. They will fail you intentionally so you can come back to pay them again to retake the test. Stay away from them. Look for other driving schools. There are many other good schools in the area. Don't wast your money!
I am about to take my finals with the Oak harbor Defensive drive school. It has been a great experience and Stanley is the BEST. I had a lot of fun these four weeks and made some new friends.1000/10.
I took the written and road tests with them. Marty was great during the road test. He was very calm and even when I lost some points, I didn't hear it in his voice, which allowed me to keep going and not get more nervous. Thanks!
I got out of and passed the driving test today - alive, of course.I am from Vietnam, just moved over to the U.S and have never driven a car before. But Josh Johnston (my instructor) was super helpful and gave me confidence behind the wheel. When he gave me the driving lessons, he explained things clearly and in an easy way to understand. He didn’t touch the steering wheel, didn’t crush the brake (and didn’t scream) when I’m driving . He didn’t make me feel like I’m an idiot making mistakes. He explained why I didn’t do it correctly and asked me to do it again to correct. He told me: “I’m not worrying. If I worry, we’re in trouble; but I’m not worrying, you’re doing just fine. Keep doing what you’re doing and you’ll be ok!”.Recommended Defensive Driving School (especially instructor Josh).Good luck everyone and drive safe!
This would have been five stars because Anna was a great instructor for the time I had her. Unfortunately however I ended up missing one of my lessons due to work and sickness, and the instructor reassured me over the phone that I could reschedule the lesson in the system and that it would just be a cancellation fee, which is standard. However when I went to reschedule the company refused to honor this and did not allow me to reschedule this lesson, charging me both for the price of the lesson *and* the cancellation fee, and I did not get the lesson back. Not only that but when I told them what the instructor said over the phone, the representative told me, basically, "no he didn't". I later discovered they have a 48 hour cancellation policy, which is unreasonable especially in COVID times imo as the standard is typically 24 hours. For poor customer service and customer misinformation I have to take off four stars. If I can't trust the instructors to give me the right information, and can't trust customer service to correct this mistake, then I am wary about continuing to give them my business. I switched to 911 Driving school instead and got my license there.
The Wiser Driver.com Driving School in Powder Springs, Ga., offers a defensive driving class. Save your money and move on to another school. I paid $405 for my daughter to go through driving school and get the defensive driving certificate. They lied and said she kept cancelling for that class, even though they cancelled twice. If they do not have enough students to fill the defensive class, they won't have one. I stutter and 2 employees thought they would talk all over me. They put me on hold without asking me to "hold on." The driver showed up early and expected her to come out the house early. I had to complain! When I fussed about the defensive driving class, they told me that they offered that free anyway, it was just included in the $405. When they finally agreed to giving her the class, they put me on hold forever, so I just hung up. After such terrible customer service, I wouldn't trust the class after our experience. I was glad that she finished the school to get her license but I can get a defensive driving certificate with a business that has better customer service skills.
The instructors were very nice and helpful in learning how to drive, and even though the classes were online, the class didn't feel boring, you are always learning something new! Definitely recommend!
I had a 30 min lesson and Skill test with Tyson Williams today and it was great. Tyson is a really good teacher and is very calm, patient and clear with his instructions. Would highly recommend taking driving lessons here.
Results vary on the proctor.One proctor gave an automatic fail for a mistake while another proctor took off points for the same mistake. Different grading makes it seem like they're just after your money.Edit: the proctor referenced failing to stop at the stop in the parking lot in both tests.
While the instructors are really nice and skilled folks, the school management is not great. They don't show the availability of slots for drive class until you pay the money. Also getting slots even after paying money seems to be our headache and they don't help you at all.The worst thing is they have no accomodations for emergencies for rescheduling and expect you to have knowledge 24 hours prior to the emergency!Edit :Reply to what the owner wrote:Yes I made it to the class but that doesn't change the fact that you are not helpful.
Defensive driving is a great school and Anna was a great teacher. I moved from out of town and already had 10 years of driving experience. I took a 1-hr session and did all the tests with defensive driving. Anna was very professional and very calm and taught so well! She taught me so many useful driving skills along with helping me understand the DOL licensing process. I highly recommend defensive driving in Redmond!
I went for my driving test today. I took the 30 min warm up session followed by the driving test. Anna was my instructor. She was very helpful and very clear in instructing me the details of the test. I did not understand some of the usual slangs like backing around the corner etc.. but she was patient and explained me everything in a clam manner. I would recommend this place to all first time drivers.
The driving course was great, though classes were chaotic, I enjoyed the experience. My favorite part were the helpers that did role call because they somehow knew your name everytime you went to class. The only eh part of the class was the confusion on whether you needed to get 50 or 10 hours.You needed ten hours.
I would highly recommend defensive driving school for everyone. All instructors are really helpful (Especially Anna).Let me summarize my experience. When I started taking classes I was a new driver, hardly have driven anywhere. I took around 10 classes and within those classes the instructor taught me various driving skills (parallel parking, backing round corner, pull over and many more). Even if I ask the same questions multiple times, they explained very well and stayed calm. These skills made be very confident in driving. Now I drive on my own everywhere.Special thanks to Anna (my instructor) for teaching me.
I would highly recommend this place. I was a very nervous learner, and after my lessons here I am now a qualified, confident, and safe driver! My instructor was Anna, and I really enjoyed my lessons with her. She was professional, knowledgeable, calm, patient, clear and friendly. She managed to find the perfect balance between helping to build my confidence, whilst at the same time helping me recognize and work through my areas of weakness. I took the knowledge test and skills test with DDS, and both experiences were great. I passed both on my first attempt. I also found the customer support team extremely helpful. I emailed them with a lot of questions, and they always responded to me in a swift, helpful and friendly manner. Overall, I'm super happy I chose DDS as my driving school!
I had good experience with Herton. She's been teaching driving for 40 years. In addition to improving my driving skills, she also taught me valuable lessons she's learned or mistakes she's seen her students make.
Anna is easily the best in the business! I took my driving lessons from her and was able to pass the skill test with a lot of ease and confidence. She is very patient with her students and maintains her composure at all times. Even when you do a mistake, she doesn't panic and doesn't let it affect the student's confidence either. I will highly recommend her as a driving instructor for students with any level of expertise (from beginner to advanced).
As others have said, Anna is an incredible instructor. She is both knowledgeable and reassuring, constantly offering feedback throughout a drive. When I explained I needed refresher lessons to feel comfortable behind the wheel after several years of infrequent driving, she created a plan to meet my goals over the few sessions we had together.
Anna is an excellent Driving Instructor. Her methods are simple and easy to follow. She provides full detail analysis of your driving and suggests improvements based on that. Highly Recommend ||
Anna is a five star trainer. She is very calm and composed so accepts your mistake as your opportunity to learn and she keeps guiding you throughout training on the wheel. Her way of teaching is amazing! The best part is that you don't feel intimidated in actual driving test while she still performs her responsibility with full professionalism. Thank you Anna for warm-up session and reviewing my driving test. You are the best!
Amazing driving teacher. Very patient and compassionate, but also has a well-developed system for teaching. Lots of positive encouragement to go alongside constructive criticism. Focuses on developing good, safe habits for new drivers.
Anna is the best instructor ever! After 5 classes, I was able to pass my road test!!! The way they explain is excellent and they provide very good tips and techniques to remember certain things on the road. I recommend this place without hesitation!!!
Anna is a great instructor! She is kind, patient, encouraging & supportive. Each class was well planned in advance. Anna maintained a checklist and gave me constructive feedback during & after each driving session. For anyone who's new to driving in the US, I highly recommend practicing with Defensive Driving.
I had an amazing experience while learning to drive with instructor Anna at Redmond location. Anna was knowledgable and patient. She gave clear explanations about various road rules and driving scenarios. I received a lot of useful tips which helped me feel more confident about my driving. During each class I felt comfortable asking all the questions that I would come up with. Anna was always calm and friendly. I enjoyed every class that I took. When I went to take the test I was confident and relaxed.
Really good experience and Anna is a great teacher. Took five 90 min classes at this school. It has been 3 years since I last drove and completely new to left hand drive. Was nervous in my first class and made a lot of mistakes but Anna was really patient and helped me recover from the mistakes. Each class was tailored to go over from the basics and cover all the essentials, the different maneuvers, lane changes, city driving and freeway driving. Highly recommend taking a class here before giving skill test.
I purchased 5 90-minute lessons over the weekend. Upon logging into the scheduling system, however, it became apparent that the school has almost no availability whatsoever - they had only 4 days with drives available in the next 40+ days.Mind you, my schedule is quite flexible, but it's impossible to schedule lessons if they have no availability, and yet they continue to sell lessons over their website - i.e. even if I could make it in all 4 days, the earliest I would be able to finish my lessons would be in the second half of September.What was even more outrageous is that when I requested a refund, they stated that I have to pay a $15 fee, even though the school is clearly at fault here (selling packages even though they don't have any availability to speak off). And of course I had no choice but to agree to it.Overall, very unprofessional and disappointing, esp. given how accommodating some of the other schools in the area I had experience with can be.
They were super nice and patient with me. I originally signed up for automatic driving classes, changed my mind to do stick shift, and then went back to automatic. I wasn’t charged extra for all these changes and they were really understanding.The instructors, Anna and Stan are super nice too and made a nervous wreck like me feel at ease.If you will be have someone to practice driving with, I recommend the 5 90 min lessons.They are a good price and were enough to go over everything I needed to learn to drive.I also took the test with them and it was super easy!
I already had a driving license from abroad when I moved to Redmond and needed to get Washington license. I took one hour lesson and both knowledge and practice tests in Defensive Driving School. Anna is very patient instructor who welcomes any kind of questions concerning driving and traffic rules and answers them clearly. She gave me some useful remarks that helped me to pass my test from the first try.Having had license tests in two other countries except for the US, I want to emphasize particularly positive, encouraging and calm atmosphere during the practice test.
My experience with the place was pretty seamless. I was done with my lesson and test within an hour and a half. Anna was my instructor during the lesson as well as the scorer for the test. During the lesson, I asked Anna to help me practice parallel parking and backing into the driveway and she gave me few simple thumb rules. She also explained the scoring scheme well. She was patient and positive during the driving lesson. I Would highly recommend her to all.
Overall - I'm happy I chose this school, my experience is quite positive and I recommend this school.I already had a driver experience and license, issued by another country, so I just needed to pass tests to get WA license.Although I'm quite experienced driver, I decided to take one lesson to understand what to expect from the test. Anna is awesome instructor, we tried all maneuvers, she gave some very useful advice and explained what to expect on the test. She didn't try to sell me more lessons and I passed the test from the first try. So I'm very happy with the school
Anna is extremely patient, calm and brings in positive energy during the driving lessons. She has a passion for teaching and I am glad I decided to bring my daughter here . I Would highly recommend her to all.
The classes teach knowledge that some or most drivers forgot about or never knew about driving. Teens are learning specific information and techniques on driving so when they become experienced drivers they can be safe role models for others on the road.
We have a good driving instructor. Learning a lot. Instructor is a little politically incorrect, but they try. Made class entertaining. Would recommend.
Defensive driving is amazing to learn how to safely drive around. There were so many situations introduced that I never would have thought of. Anna is so sweet and makes the class fun!
Heaton was an absolute delight to have in the car with me when I renewed my driving license. It has been two years since I had driven in the US, but she was patient, kind, and calm as she directed me during the driving test. I was never stressed or anxious with her. Her feedback at the end of the test was detailed, constructive, and helpful. Overall, I would highly recommend taking your test through Defensive Driving School in Bellevue. It was easy to make an appointment with them, all communication was clear, the emails were helpful, and on the day of the test the staff were incredibly friendly, which calms any nerves. Thanks for your help!
I had a lot of fun at this school; even if it was during the summer. We played game and watched a lot of videos that made us gasp. 😁Thank you Anna for allowing me to have fun and make friends at Defensive Driving School.
Anna is a great instructor who makes the class very fun while still teaching all the information well. She’s very nice and always plays informative games with the class. We tried doing quizzing in pairs and it worked really well. Great teacher (deserves a raise)
Anna is a fantastic teacher. She is very patient, relaxed and friendly, which made the driving lesson an exiting and enjoyable experience as opposed to stressful for a new driver. I would definitely recommend Defensive driving school for anybody learning to drive for the first time or trying to improve theirs skill.
I had a great experience with the Defensive Driving school. The instructor Christian was very professional and understanding. He helped me understand the common mistakes, rules etiquettes, etc and provided the steady and focused environment that I needed to pass the test and get my driver’s license. Thank you !!!
Don't choose Kirkland for your skills test. You're forced to use their vehicles, but they look for something to fail you on. For all of 2 seconds going down a 40-degree slope, I hit 36mph in a 30mph zone, and I was failed for 'violating the law'. No point tally was even given. It was a full fail for that and that alone.From the things I got marked off for, the 'backing' was legit. It was a bend with poor visibility and I tapped the curb not once, but twice. Can admit that those marks are valid. However, the 'parking on a hill' was not done on a hill, nor was I told I should simulate being on a hill, but I was marked off for not using the parking brake. I'm also 100% confident that at no time did I stop beyond the line for a stop sign or traffic signal.You pay for every single test - no free retakes like with the knowledge test. They just want to get more money from you. Go somewhere else.
We enrolled our youngest child in Defensive Driving School in Snohomish. My son’s classes were online. We were unsure if a two hour zoom class would be beneficial. It was much better than we anticipated. He drove with Cameron and Tyson. They both did a fantastic job with our beginning driver.
My daughter had a great experience with Defensive Driving School. She drove with Issac Kim in Issaquah, and he was amazing with her. He had the perfect sense of humor to make her at ease and was always very reassuring to her. He gave excellent feedback to her on ways to improve. Overall, we had a phenomenal experience with this driving school and will be returning with our son.
Overall student experience is poor for price you pay (that are higher than other counterparts who provide driver training in the area). Low empathy for helping newer learners navigate the process and understand how they can avoid redundancies. There are other options in the area like 911 driving school whose drive test price is cheaper, and the instructor gives a thorough run down of why you failed the drive test instead of a plain, opaque 'You failed'.
After having car service for the last 35+ yrs I needed to get my license , after speaking with several different driving schools I felt this was the right place to to take my business. I have had nothing but a 100% positive experience and the young people that I saw while I was at this school all had a smile on their face ( some maybe a little bit of a nervous smile but a smile none the less ) . I have a high profile job and life style, and was treated very well without the knowledge of this information. Thanx for the help! SD Howell / Rock Int'l Playboy
After having car service for the last 35+ yrs I needed to get my license , after speaking with several different driving schools I felt this was the right place to to take my business. I have had nothing but a 100% positive experience and the young people that I saw while I was at this school all had a smile on their face ( some maybe a little bit of a nervous smile but a smile none the less ) . I have a high profile job and life style, and was treated very well without the knowledge of this information. Thanx for the help! SD Howell / Rock Int'l Playboy
After hearing about other programs in the Ballard area that friends were not very pleased with, we wanted a better experience all around. After speaking with someone at Defensive Driving School, we found the process to be straightforward and easy. Additionally, when we had questions, the team was quick to respond. We felt our needs were taken care of on all fronts. We went to the University District location and highly recommend Defensive Driving School.
I have had a great experience with the classes, they are always very easy to understand and keep the class involved and learning- shout out to Vincent & Paul. With the drives I would HIGHLY recommend James. He has a very informative and calming demeanor which in my opinion is the only combination to have for a driving teacher! He was able to detect what type of personality my daughter had and engage with her as a person, she was able to relax and just focus on learning! It was amazing to watch; also I had some trouble with the scheduling agent site and Clay could not have been more patient even though I was panicking. I don't know if anyone in charge reads this, but if you do- these people I have mentioned all deserve a raise. This is my first experience with a child in drivers ed and I could not have been happier. Highly recommended!
Don't go to defensive driving school they don't teach well, make you hard and confusing...., and calling customer service not going answer all of ur questions and treat you like no body. The instructors there to get paid not to teach you. She says do anything u want with ur car but don't break this car, how I'm going learn anything if I don't make mistakes?
I had a fantastic experience at the Yarrow Point location! The instructors are always on time, professional and are able to put you at ease. I would highly recommend Marc Eilers as well as Tony Nguyen. They were both fantastic and are great with teenagers and adults alike. Thank you so much for all the time and effort!
Both of my daughters learned how to drive through defensive driving school at the Yarrow Point location. They are very organized, professional and positive in their approach. A special thank you to the instructor Mark and Carol for teaching them how to drive.
I just finished a course with Whitney and Michelle and they were amazing. The class is fun yet informative and I now feel confidant moving forward with driving. Would give more stars if possible
Just finished my Driver's Ed class with Whitney and Michelle online and the class was great! Very clear classes, the workbook was useful, and all around a great experience! Thanks
I was a 16 year old who didn't know anything about driving. Signed up for this course. Got in Whitney's class. Best instructor out there 10/10. Classes help with facts you need to know. Issac is really good at teaching the actual driving. He makes stressful situations fun.
Best money ever spent on classes. Took driving lessons from Marc and Tony both are great instructors, very good at building confidence and they go an extra mile to teach you safe drivng.
I've had two kids learn to drive through the Yarrow Point Defensive Driving School, and I would recommend them to anyone. They taught my children to be very aware, very safe drivers. Most recently, Marc did all of my son's in-car instruction, and it was a fantastic experience. He's a such kind guy and a great teacher, and he made what could have been an anxious experience into something really fun, and also extremely instructive. Thank you Marc and all for teaching my kids well!
Instructors are nice and cover the material very well, and manage to keep it pretty interesting. This probably varies from class to class, but the other people in the class I'm in are all pretty awesome too. All in all a pretty solid experience thus far, definitely recommended
I had a great experience learning to drive here. All the instructors were patient, gave clear instructions and made me feel confident and safe all the time. Marc is awesome! I definitely recommend you guys!
Marc was my driving instructor and I felt very confident driving after taking the lessons with him. He is very professional, patient and easy to communicate with. Would definitely recommend.
Highly recommend. We have three children who have completed the driving course at Defensive Driving, and each one has had a positive experience. I have recommended them to friends in the past, and will continue to do so.
Highly recommend. My 82 year old mother thought she was ready to start driving again after not driving for several years. I took her to DDS for a two plus hour evaluation. After testing at both the office and driving, they recommended she not drive again.Using an independent, qualified service, helped her to make an informed decision on whether or not she'd be safe back on the roads. We appreciate their professionalism and care during the process. It was worth the money.On the other hand, the department of licensing recommended she just start driving again. Thank God for the pedestrians and other drivers on the road, we didn't take their advice.
The owner JC was very calming and reassuring. He gave me clear instructions during the driving test. It was a pleasant experience and I appreciate his service.
Deep is a great instructor! I scheduled 2 drives with him and they went great! He is great at teaching Parallel parking and backing around a corner! I took my final with him and passed. Overall a great instructor!
Helpful instructors. I did my courses during Covid-19. Which required the lessons to be online. They made it very easy to stay engaged while learning and taught very well even if they were online.
I had a great experience learning from all of my instructors, and the office gave great support when there was an issue that needed to be fixed. I would highly recommend going to DDS.
I have tried 4 schools and a few instructors in the area and Marc Eilers who works out of DDS Kirkland is the best out of the lot. He is patient, kind and very thorough with his teaching style. If you are looking to get your license, go to Marc!
Each and every teacher I had during my web-based instruction made sure to be thorough and clear on what I needed to know! This class was definitely worth the $500 🙂
Marty at West Seattle location was wonderful and delightful and friendly and non intimidating. My daughter relaxed and he made it easy to learn and removed her anxiety.
The instructors were very nice! Even though the classes were boring at times, they made them way more fun and enjoyable! I would definitely recommend this to my friends!
I completed the online course during April to May, I had vallare and Kyle both exceptional people and exceptional teachers! Both so sweet! I recommend defensive driving school! It had too would do it again there. 10/10!
My son took the web-based DDS learner class during the covid shutdown. It was the first webinar version of the course, and they were really well organized. He found it very informative and really liked instructor Kyle. The condensed format was terrific. Looking forward to in-person drives when everything opens up again.
I did half of my class in a classroom and half online due to covid 19. The online classes were just as good as the in person ones. Everything they teach has a purpose and is very helpful in knowing what to do on the road. All of the instructor are very nice and experienced. I would highly recommend this driving school for anyone learning to drive.
My husband and I took driving lessons from the kirkland branch. Marc taught both of us. He is a very good instructor who was patient with us and gave a very detailed feedback after each class. I would highly recommend Marc to anyone who is learning to get behind the wheels in a safe way.
Issaquah location was outstanding!! Isaac was an outstanding instructor who has the gift in teaching a dry subject and making it memorable for the kids. Highly recommended!
I’ve had four children take classes through DDS. The instructor makes classes enjoyable and is great with the on the road instruction. Highly recommend them!
Mr. Brett is the best instructor here. He is quite fun, but I have also learned a lot from his instructory manner. I now feel much more confident behind the wheel after taking this class. Thank you for this experience.
Wonderful place to learn Driving! Marc Eilers was the instructor. He was great instructor and helped me a lot on improving my Driving Skills. Highly recommend this place to anyone who's looking to learn how to drive.
Wonderful place! Marc Eilers was the instructor i had and although i stalled the vehicle a number of times he never made me feel pressured. Such a good guy. Highly recommend this place to anyone who's looking to learn how to drive a stick (or learn to drive in general).
Great experience with DDS in Poulsbo! Very thorough teaching and learning and I felt that my child was very equipped with the knowledge he will need to be a safe and conscientious driver. 🙂
I took 10 lessons at the Kirkland/Bellevue (Yarrow Point) location, and did most of them with Marc. He was very patient, and explained things well. The commentary driving helped a lot. I passed my driving test first time round, and couldn't have done it without these valuable lessons. Definitely recommend!
Kyle, who instructs the stick shift course, is great! Kyle was patient and had great techniques to help learn driving with a clutch. My son was able to drive the manual car within the 90 minute instruction time. Thank you, Kyle!
My husband and I were pleased with the instruction our son received at Silverdale DDS. We appreciated being able to each do an observation ride along which allowed us to hear the feedback given to our son and follow-up outside of the class. Mitch is great and has a very engaging teaching style.
DDS of Factoria was an exceptionally positive experience! Highly recommend this location as Jim Freaney was a great classroom instructor and also very calm and helpful during the instructional drives, teaching proper maneuvers and rules of the road. Michelle and Kristal in customer service were also very helpful and quick to respond to questions and rescheduling needs. So appreciate the dedication of this team to provide proficiency to these new drivers on the road.
The school did what they were supposed to do. I went along for a ride with my child's classroom instructor and he was kind, instructed well, and explained differences from what we learned to what they were teaching the teens today. My son said classes were boring, but every school is boring to the teens that we know. What I like is that he actually learned a lot and became more comfortable behind the wheel of the car. The rest is up to me.
We never had a single issue with DDS. They were superb! Customer support from the Kirkland office was really good. Asked them lots of questions during the 6 weeks. Really helped us understand the process at DOL as well as what the driving school provides. All the instructors in the University District were very good. I rode two times during my grand daughter’s training. Impressed and learned some ways to to help in between scheduled drives. I have no hesitation with my 5 star rating.
I had a great experience taking a stick shift lesson with Kyle. Never driving stick before, Kyle was able to cover the basics and get me moving quicker than I expected. He was motivated to make sure I got the most out of my lesson, getting me out of the parking lot when I felt ready, and asking about any specific things I wanted to learn when on the road. Kyle is professional, knowledgeable, and supportive.
(Renton location) Elizabeth is a great teacher and is very nice and down to earth person, I’m learning a lot in her class! Would rate her 5/5 stars as a driver ed teacher and person!! She’s really good on drives and teaching the ways of the road! Gayan, I have done 3 drives with him and every time he has been on the phone talking with other people, and even made me wait 15 min so he could finish a call! Wouldn’t recommend him.
Jimmy (the instructor in Lynnwood) has a calm disposition and when I went on a drive along with him I was amazed at his abilities. He keeps the dialogue comfortable in the car putting the student at ease, but not distracting. He was fully engaged in the instruction and was careful not to criticize. I liked how he repeated phrases of instruction ingraining them in the student's mind for future driving. These words quickly became habits that insure good driving. Even with more nerve wracking drives where my daughter was nervous before hand (the freeway drive) she returned home confident and encouraged feeling capable because that is what he instilled in her in the process. Jimmy is a true asset to the experience. He is exceptional! We will be back with our third child.
The classes were interesting and taught very well. The staff were very polite and easy to work with. Fey took me on my drives and did a good job of making me feel comfortable while also helping me be aware of my surroundings using commentary driving. Carol was my teacher and she did a great job teaching the class.
My son just finished his drivers ed with Defensive Driving in Issaquah and I am so happy, grateful and impressed with the lessons he received from Mr. Issac Kim. He was an incredible instructor who taught my son how to be a good, safe and aware driver. His patience, attention to details and amazing way to explain things are some of the few things we really appreciate about him. I went to all the drives with them and I took lots of awesome tips on how to continue supporting my son in the future practices. Thanks a lot for this incredible experience. I highly recommend the school and Mr. Issac Kim .
This was by far the best driving school that I have been to (and I have tried two other schools in the Greater Seattle area).All the people I encountered here were kind, calm, and helpful.I took the vast majority of my lessons with Isaac Kim. And like the other reviewers mention, he is a great instructor. He was patient, kind, and observant, and provided constructive feedback with a calm demeanor. He also offered several useful tips while driving, which I've found very useful.I also took my license test at this school. I had a good, stress-free, calm experience with the instructor who oversaw the test, Tyson Williams. I found the pre-test warm-up pretty useful as well.
Jo is such a great instructor! To be honest, I’m scared of driving because of some bad experience and haven’t driven for over seven years after I got my driver license. But I know I have to get the skill. So I came here to recap my driving skills when I saw it on google. It didn’t let me down. As my instructor, Jo helped me build confidence. She is so nice and patient. I highly recommend her and this driving school!
I took lesson from Mr. Issac Kim few weeks ago. I must say he teaches really well !! I used to drive before as well with my instruction permit but after taking lessons from him, I feel more confident and under control while driving. Some of his statements like “ your eyes should be guiding your hands” are always at back of my mind while driving. His way of teaching is very unique wherein he will make you comfortable and thereby remove any driving fears.He is truly a gentleman. Way to go Kim!!
It was a great experience with defensive driving school. Isaac Kim (my instructor) is very skilled and professional guy with lots of patience. I would definitely recommend this for learning sessions as well as driving test. Thank you Isaac Kim..:)
I had a great experience at Defensive Driving School, Issaquah! The instructor Mr. Isaac Kim was really patient and made me understand all safe driving practices. He also accommodated my test immediately so I got my license earlier. 10/10 would recommend taking driving lessons from this school.
Highly recommended! I took my diving lesson and test with instructor Kim. He is very professional, experienced and kind. He would make sure to cover as much as details in the driving and made sure the environment was safe and fun. It is for sure worth it driving to Issaqua and taking the class here.
I had a great experience at DDS. Isaac Kim (my instructor) was extremely professional, kind, and very helpful in my journey of learning to drive. From basic turning to the final skills test, he has always been there to make sure I keep myself and others safe. Mr. Kim made sure the environment I learned in was fun and safe. Thank you so much Mr. Kim!
The driving school at Issaquah was awesome for my driving lessons. Issac was very patient, a great instructor and focused on getting my driving techniques be perfect along with ensuring that I am following all the safety protocols. He provided me with enough amount of practice before recommeding me to take the test. I would highly recommend Issac.
The online lessons and in-person training were both taught at an excellent pace and by understanding and qualified teachers. The administration also keeps in touch with the student so that they do not get too overwhelmed in what can sometimes seem like a daunting process. It is rare that I feel this confident in a 5/5 rating.
No wonder this place got 5 star reviews, especially Mr. Kim. I am glad that I found Mr. Kim as my instructor. He is always encouraging and very knowledgeable. He works with your pace and builds confidence. Finally, I could take the fear of driving out of my life, that was only because of Mr. Kim. I would 100% recommend this place and Mr. Kim.
I benefited a lot from my driving lessons with Mr. Kim. He is not just a great instructor but an amazing human being as well. I am originally from India so I used to driving on the other side of the road. And Mr Kim was very understanding of my paradigm shift and gave me time to overcome that. Also, he always looks out for my best interest.This was my first learning/ driving experience in the United States and I couldn't have asked for a better teacher. Thank you Mr. Kim for being so amazing.
Good Drivers Ed school; however, the reviews here are all skewed by the fact that the lead driver asks for a 5 star Google Review to be done in the car at the end of the last drive. Please take these reviews with a grain of salt due to this as it is a very manipulative move that helps bring in new students - me being one of them.Other than that, they are a great drivers ed school; however, I cannot post a 5 star review in good conscience, as I don't want the school's rating being skewed by their ask for a 5 star review before you leave them for the final time.
I have had two teenagers take lessons at two different driving schools in the Issaquah area so I’m in a good position to compare. I wholeheartedly recommend Defensive Driving School over the other nearby school (won’t name them) to anyone looking for a school. The best part was the behind the wheel instruction provided by Isaac Kim. My son took all 5 drives with Isaac and I observed from the back seat. In each drive, he was very thorough with instructions and gave reasoning for all explanations. He also took the time to illustrate on paper for the visual learners. The most impressive part was his ability to keep the lesson stress free by trying to make the students relax and provided lots of humor throughout the lessons. I am very happy with my decision to sign up at DDS and my only regret is not having had my daughter go here two years ago. The other school she attended made her feel so anxious that she left one drive crying. No need for that. Trust me, go to Defensive.
I moved to Seattle recently from India. Heard about Defensive Driving School from colleagues and read reviews on Google. I have enrolled for Knowledge test, Skills test and driving classes. I must mention and thank Mr Issac Kim, the expert instructor, for teaching me the basics and also advance topics as I mature class by class. His sense of humor is great and examples that he provided are apt and resonate well with the situation. I am happy to mention that I passed the driving test and glad to recommend Defensive Driving School to anyone wanting to learn driving be good at it. Thank you Mr. Kim.
I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed my 5 day driving class with Isaac Kim. I took classes with this instructor after reading all the positive reviews. He was excellent, extremely knowledgeable and patient. He made the class extremely fun and made the stress of learning easy. Had an awesome experience overall. I am very impressed.
Isaac and Jo are great instructors. Isaac has great attention to detail and focuses on all the important and necessary aspects to make a good driver. I enjoyed my lessons with this school. They are very thorough and help you prepare for your experience on the road.
The DDS online courses and parent communication were highly impressive and went beyond our expectations. The teaching staff are engaging, passionate, and truly care - all the staff I've encountered are helpful and kind. And then we met Mr. Isaac Kim. What a genuine gift to humanity. He helped my daughters build confidence and awareness behind the wheel with a unique kindness, patience, and humor. My daughters didn't want his lessons to end, but in a sense, they never really do, because he's a part of their subconscious now. Driving lessons with Mr. Isaac Kim are life lessons. He takes the stress out of the most stressful milestone and makes the roads a lot safer. I'm a better driver now, and I didn't even take the class. Thank you for your generosity! 500 stars out of 5! I wish DDS had Mr. Isaac Kim merch to display in the car...
Make sure you book your class with Isaac Kim, he is a fantastic driving instructor. I had a fear of driving but his calm and reassuring teaching style made it so easy for me to learn and pass the test. I couldn't have asked for a better learning experience.
Very helpful and supportive. Also very kind and funny to create a stress-free environment. Helped me in adult lessons and moved my test earlier. He is very flexible and understanding. Best experience I could've had!!
I had Issac throughout my time there and he is AMAZING. He’s patient, kind, and best of all is his jokes haha. He genuinely cares and wants you to pass. I would definitely recommend Defensive Driving School for anyone looking, and try to get Issac to be your instructor!! You won’t regret it!
Mr Issac Kim is an amazing teacher and extremely patient human. He really helped me get from zero driving skills to becoming a pretty decent driver in 10 classes. I highly recommend taking all your classes with him. Overall such a smooth and fun experience learning from him.
Outstanding Drive and Class Instructors!Tyson is a great class instructor that really provided an enjoyable learning experience backed by clear years of expertise.Isaac Kim is an enjoyable, well-versed instructor that provided a great, safe environment.Nothing but positives about this school.
I’m extremely impressed by Mr. Isaac Kim. I had a driving license from another country and Mr. Kim helped me obtain a Washington drivers license. His unique teaching style is super engaging and fun and he provided so much invaluable driving knowledge and confidence. Loved his funny stories! Highly recommend
Nothing but great things to say about Mr Isaac Kim and my experience with DDS. I am an experienced driver used to driving on the left side of the road but chose to take a package of 10 lessons to get used to driving in Washington (Right on red isn't really a thing where I was from). Mr Kim was amazingly supportive every step of the way and never once belittled me when I made mistakes or showed signs of boredom during lessons like driving instructors I had in the past. He always kept lessons light-hearted with his very wry sense of humour, and I always looked forward to lessons for that reason. He offered tips in very 'easy-to-remember' anecdotes, like, 'UP, UP, and AWAY' when parking UPhill, so that you'd remember to turn your wheels AWAY from the curb. It was a bittersweet moment when I passed my test on the very first attempt, as I will no longer get to drive with this very spirited personality in the passenger seat, who made driving all that less daunting 🙂 Thank you, Mr Kim!
Isaac taught me really really well. Broke down the tough stuff into simple steps. I’ve been driving for 25 years, but now I finally get the right and systematic way to parallel park! Highly recommended! The kids are coming here to learn from Isaac! Thank you.
It was really good and I was able to learn a lot in a short period of time despite taking the class online. The instructors were really nice and helped me learn a lot. I would recommend this school to anyone looking to learn to drive!
Instructor Kim was really patient with me all throughout my lessons. He also gave me concise and thorough instructions on driving. It is also a very friendly and easygoing environment for a first-time, nervous adult driver. I was able to pass my test within the allotted package lessons! I would definitely recommend instructor Kim and DDS to others.
We have had three children at Defensive Driving School over the past 10 years. Instructors are professional, communicate easily with teens, and make the whole process safe and fun. Worth the money! Can't say enough good things about Mr. Kim! Such an asset to our community.
I really enjoyed doing Drivers Ed with DDS. Online was a little rough, but they compacted it to only a few months which was nice. I did all of my drives/tests with Mr. Kim and he is amazing! He makes everything pretty fun and relaxed, recommend him/DDS to anyone looking to take driver’s ed
When I joined Defensive Driving School, I was an adult with no prior experience with car driving and the adult driving lesson package was really helpful to learn the basics. Spl mention to my instructor Douglas Erickson - I really loved the way he encouraged me to learn driving with continuous appreciation when I do something good and careful instructions when I do something wrong. Would recommend to choose him as instructor
This school is amazing, especially the instructor Isaac. His teaching methods provided clear and concise instructions while still leaving room for humor. Some of the tips that he’d give will forever remain in my mind as I drive.“Sometimes life doesn’t make sense, for example, why do they call it a drive way where you park and a park way where you drive.”-Isaac
DDS was great! My instructor Isaac was awesome and helped me a lot with improving my driving skills. My mom said scheduling classes was very easy. I highly recommend the collision avoidance training. I’m very glad I chose this program and recommend it for any other student drivers!
When I decided to learn driving, I picked this school based on the Google reviews. I read a lot of good things about Mr. Isaac Kim. I am so glad I picked up this school. I took the 5 class package. When I started learning, I knew almost nothing and was extremely scared to be behind the wheel but over the last year, I have become quite confident and I would say all credit goes to Mr. Kim. He has been most kind and patient with me, answered even the most basic questions and guided to learn the right thing. He has really taught me well. I passed the test and have become more confident driver. Whenever I scheduled a class, I always made sure I had him as my instructor. Mr. Kim, I was lucky to have you as my teacher. Thank you very much for all the guidance.
Great experience for our young driver. Isaac was a calm reassuring presence and helped build confidence and provide great feedback on areas to focus on when driving with us.
Issac is super helpful in getting me comfortable on the wheel! Really informative and nice instructor. He not only teaches me how to pass the test but also always reminds me how to safely drive on the road. Highly recommended!
I can't praise Isaac highly enough for dedication to his students, professionalism, good communication and focus on safety. I also appreciate the extra effort Isaac takes to keep his classroom and cars clean and sanitized during COVID-19 pandemic.After a few lessons with Isaac my teenage son became more confident and observant on the road. I highly recommend Defensive Driving School Issaquah location.
I picked this driving school based on the reviews and I am so glad I did. I had an amazing experience learning how to drive. Mr Kim was my teacher, he is thoughtful, patient and kind. Not judgemental at all! I was worried and nervous to go to driving school, I am not a teenager and had a fear of highways. Honestly I wasn't sure I could ever drive. But all the work, encouragement and support I got from Mr Kim and the school (including scheduling folks that worked with me and accommodated my request) was so amazing. Now I am with a driver license, able to take my dog to park and vet on my own, and I can not be happier! Thank you Mr Kim for teaching me ☺️ I am very lucky to had you as my teacher.
Mr Kim is amazing! Instead of being boring I looked forward to going to drivers ed every day. Very forgiving and understanding for lessons, would highly recommend!
I took a one hour class with the skills test combination with Mr. Isaac. It was a great experience. I was very nervous for the class, however Mr. Isaac was very patient and gave me many tips on how to crack the actual test. He made it a fun experience and also gave good feedback for the new/student driver to overcome our fear and drive better. I would definitely recommend defensive driving school and Mr. Isaac. Thank you.
I trained with Issac Kim at Defensive Driving School, Issaquah. It has been a tremendous experience for me. Issac is patient, thorough, keeps his calm at all times and makes it a fun learning experience. Issac provides objective feedback to help improve overall driving and at the same time helps the student overcome any driving related fear. I would highly recommend the school and Issac Kim. Thank you:)!
Isaac is a wonderful instructor! I didn’t think I would be able to conquer the fear of driving but he helped me overcome my fear and encouraged me. He is also very patient and calm. He gives clear instructions. He is an excellent instructor!
I had an amazing experience driving with them. They taught me all the skills I needed to pass the test and even taking the test with them was a pleasure.Highly recommend
Thank you Mr. Kim for being such a knowledgeable instructor. You made me a more confident driver. you are the best. This driving school is great. Again, thank you! Best of luck to you and the school. Awesome learning with you!
I took driving lessons and the skills test here with Isaac Kim. Before my first lesson, I thought I would always be anxious and could never be a confident driver. After taking lessons with Mr. Kim, I have become completely comfortable behind the wheel. Mr. Kim is incredibly patient and keeps the atmosphere light and positive. No matter how many mistakes you make, he stays cool and shows you how to correct them. Not only does he show you basic skills to pass the test, but he also shows you practical skills to help you in everyday driving. If I had come here years ago when I was first learning to drive, driving would never have been an issue. Isaac Kim is the best instructor anyone can hope to have. If you are looking for a driving school, stop looking and come here.
Issac was a wonderful instructor and taught the class very well. He kept the content interesting and accurate. He is a wonderful driving instructor and is always very professional. I highly recommend Defensive Driving School and give a huge thanks to Issac for the experience.
This was our second experience with Defensive Driving School. Our first daughter also took her driver’s ed class with DDS. We had great experience this time with DDS at Issaquah. Isaac Kim was a great instructor to our second daughter - always helpful and humorous. My daughter enjoyed his and Doug’s lessons very much. Not surprisingly, she passed the written and skill tests without any problem.Thanks DDS.
Isaac Kim: This review is for my driving instructor Isaac Kim. He is the most patient instructor who not only teaches you how to drive safely with all the rules and regulations but also to how to drive elegantly and effortlessly. He is simply the best. I have tried learnig driving multiple times but never had the confidence. With him i have felt confident for the first time. A big thanks to him.
Very enjoyable experience, instructor Isaac Kim was extremely helpful in the classroom and especially on the drives. He always tries to make the class more exciting with jokes that may or may not be funny. I am more confident in my abilities now and feel like I have learned a lot.
My teacher was Isaac Kim and he really made this class amazing. It was fun, and we also learned what we needed to at the same time. He's an awesome teacher, and I'm happy he helped me through this! 🙂
Took my driving skills test here today and passed on my first try! Mr.Kim was an amazing examiner and goes above and beyond by giving you a pep talk before the pre test! He gives clear directions and instructions during the test, and before you know it, you’ll be done!
We are happy to report that we have had an excellent experience from beginning to end with Defensive Driving School of Issaquah. This is our second child to work on the milestone of driving. We knew better this time to start our experience with a high quality program that would support us through the entire experience, even if our teen driver needed extra help. In this case, we did not end up needing the extra help, but every student is different. In our experience, not every local driving school is prepared to help students who do need extra support. This added support is not free, but it is worth every penny. During our recent experience, Mr. Kim provided engaging instruction, both in class and behind the wheel. Our young driver would come home with funny stories from class, indicating that Mr. Kim used language and instruction techniques that were memorable and related especially well to teens. As a parent, I was invited to sit in the back seat for every driving lesson. This allowed me to learn the lingo that the instructors use with the students, so I was better prepared to be a good teacher to my young driver during all of our practice drives. Mr. Kim is an outstanding instructor for both the teens and their parents. As far as supporting a child through milestones, I would rather go back to diapers than have to sit in the passenger seat during driving practice! The good news is that Defensive Driving School and their instructors help make the experience as pleasant as it can be. Highly recommend!
I took both the teen course and the driver's license test here. Mr. Kim was a great instructor throughout the course and throughout the exam, and always maintained a positive attitude. I was very comfortable during my drives with the school and learned many useful techniques that I will take with me on the roads; I am confident that I can drive safely on the roads thanks to this course.
My driving instructor Mr. Kim was one of the best teachers I’ve ever had. Extremely patient and understanding he really focused on making sure i understood everything, and taught me very well.
Defensive driving school really helped me learn all the rules of the road. Mr. Kim is super nice, funny, and makes learning fun. I was scared at first to take the class and drive but he made it very fun and easy. The whole month passed by in a flash. But now I am confident in driving then I was before. I highly recommend taking the class for this will help you in learning how to drive.
Mr. Kim was the best instructor! His class was engaging, interesting, and really fun to be a part of. He made every day an easily comprehensible experience and he made the drives less stressful due to his enjoyable demeanor. I highly recommend Defensive Driving School!
could not have had a better experience here! The classes (taught by Mr. Kim) were very informative, and yet entertaining! would HIGHLY recommend this place, and my teacher Isaac Kim!
Mr. Kim is patient and clear in his instruction. He communicates well with students and parents about skills to practice and next steps to take. The entire experience from driver's education through testing for license was positive. I highly recommend Defensive Driving School.
Mr. Issac Kim is an amazing instructor. He encouraged me through my thick and thin and pushed me to perfection. His caring attitude made things a lot easier, exactly what anyone would need in a new learning experience. I am glad I was a part of DDS. 👍👍👍
I had a great experience with Sir Kim Issac. He is a great instructor. I was very tensed and hesitant to drive on road. Sir Kim Issac taught me proper ways to drive and boosted my confidence too. Thank you sir for all your help.
Mr. Kim was an amazing teacher and he really helped me (and my parents) get over my fears about driving. The classes were enjoyable and I learned a lot from drives in particular. Highly recommended!
Isaac was a wonderful teacher- very kind, patient, and well-educated. Very funny and never was there a dull class. I really enjoyed taking drivers ed from him!
I have always been fearful of driving, especially merging onto the highways. I took lessons at Defensive Driving with Mr. Issac Kim. He was very patient with me and gave me time to learn and improve on my mistakes. He is an amazing teacher and helped overcome my fear of driving and made sure I was comfortable enough to get onto the highway. He gave me enough practice with the mock tests that I knew what I would be tested for during the driving test. I am grateful that I found Defensive Driving and Issac helped me learn. If possible would give them more stars. Can't recommend Issac enough!! 🙂
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john P05:34 18 Dec 22Do NOT 🚫 go take your skill test at this location. They are really bad and unprofessional. They will fail you intentionally so you can come back to pay them again to retake the test. Stay away from them. Look for other driving schools. There are many other good schools in the area. Don't wast your money!
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