12 Best Driving Schools in Oakland | Review

Driving in Oakland can be tough because of the many requirements to obtain a permit and a license.

This has somewhat instilled fear in the minds of drivers.

According to one of the best driving schools in Oakland, even the most fearful of its students have gone on to obtain their licenses because the teachers were patient with them.

Enroll in the driving school where the lessons are personalized and teachers are kind for you to learn properly.

These are the best driving schools in Oakland you can enroll in for the best education.

12 Best Driving Schools in Oakland | 2023 Review

These are the best driving schools in Oakland. They include;

  • Berkeley Driving School
  • Swift Driving and Traffic School
  • Universal Driving School
  • Academic Driving School
  • Universal Driving School
  • Driving School Express
  • Swift Driving School
  • All in the family Driving School
  • Go-Green Driving School
  • Connie’s Driving School Bills Defensive Driving School
  • Lada Driving School Training

1) Berkeley Driving School

Berkeley is located at 4154 MacArthur Boulevard, Oakland, CA and 510-530-1938 is the number to dial.

This driving school has knowledgeable, friendly, and entertaining instructors who will put you at ease even in the most stressful situations.

Berkeley Driving School has a large and knowledgeable staff that can provide you with instructors to meet your driving needs.

They prioritize safety, and their thorough and patient teaching methods have resulted in many safe and experienced drivers.

Berkeley Driving School is one of the best driving schools in Oakland that you should consider if you live nearby.

Website

2) Swift Driving and Traffic School

Location: 411 E. Oakland’s 18th Street, Suite D.

Phone number: 510-839-3819.

If you have a tight schedule, this option is ideal because of the convenience of pickup and drop-off services and flexible timings.

Vincent, the instructor, is well-known for being a patient and understanding teacher who strives to put you at ease while driving.

This school aims to make you a well-rounded driver by preparing you for various situations through the various scenarios they train you in during lessons.

Although they may not have the best website, if you’re looking for a quality instructor, this school is a strong contender for the best driving schools in Oakland.

See also: 15 Best Driving Schools In Lakewood | 2023 Review

3) Universal Driving School

Address: Oakland, California, 5627 Telegraph Avenue

Phone number: 510-847-3323

This is one of the best driving schools in Oakland run by Joseph, a well-known calm, and pleasant man.

If you’re on a tight budget, this course is for you because it has the lowest hourly rates at $35. Actually, this is one of the cheapest driving schools to enroll in.

Because Joseph has no official website, you will need to call him to schedule a driving course. He only has a Facebook page.

4) Academic Driving School

Academic Driving School is one of the premier and best driving schools in Oakland. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) licensed this school.

Academic Driving School has taught new drivers knowledge, skills, and techniques in all California communities. The school is committed to providing high-quality services and maintaining client satisfaction at reasonable prices.

Academic Driving School is one of the best driving schools in California, serving the community for over 7 years.

Their primary goal is to reduce traffic accidents by providing high-quality driving instruction (in the classroom, online, and on the road).

They also provide car rental services to help you fully prepare for your driving test.

Phone number: 510 575 7653. 

 415-906-6665

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5) Universal Driving School 

The driver’s education at Universal driving school holds on Saturday.

Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. are reserved for classroom instruction. In addition to vacation time during the spring, summer, Thanksgiving, and winter holidays

Traffic Violator School is held on the second Saturday of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 P.M.

The instructors have a background in law enforcement and traffic safety knowledge. Some of the topics will include road rage and aggressive driving.

The course is open to teenagers, adults, seniors, and people with special needs.

Training for vehicle operation is also available in Spanish.

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6) Driving School Express

Driving School Express is an online driving school.

It is a school most states approve for online driver’s ed and ticket dismissal.

Flexible in-car driving lessons are also available.

All online courses come with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.

This online driver education in California is endorsed across the entire state of California.

You can learn by interacting with the features, games, and videos.

Use any device to access our mobile apps.

Each course comes with an unlimited number of practice exams.

To see if you’ll enjoy the course, start by taking it for free.

Take it whenever, wherever you want, and at your own pace.

Driving lessons are also available at a reduced rate.

There is also a program for behind the wheel.

Website

7) Swift Driving School

Swift has been assisting students in obtaining their licenses since 1990.

Whether you are a beginner with no driving experience or an experienced driver looking for refresher lessons, this California-licensed driving instructor will assist you with your driving and safety needs.

They also offer programs such as Traffic School for those who want to keep their driving record clean and their insurance rates low. There is also a driver’s education for teenagers who want to get their learner’s permit.

The phone line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you have questions about the courses or driving lessons, visit the contact page or call them at (510) 839-3819.

There are possibilities for driving lessons, online driver education, and a traffic offender course.

For driver education, people between the ages of 17 and 15 and a half must complete this requirement before applying for a permit.

  • 30 hours of online training
  • an application fee of $50

After passing the final exam, you will be given a pink slip (certificate of completion) through this link.

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8) All in the Family Driving School

Address:1675 7th Street, Unit 24744, Oakland, CA

Phone number: +1-510-882-1399

All in the Family Driving School provides Driving Schools services in Oakland, California. And from the reviews we have gathered, they are among the best driving schools offering driving lessons in the Oakland area.

Students can enrol and practice from Monday-Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

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9) Go Green Driving School

Go Green is dedicated to ensuring that students are adequately prepared for their DMV road test and, more importantly, driving in real-world scenarios.

Students are given detailed instruction and grow into confident, skilled drivers.

One of the advantages of this driving school is that they teach at students’ pace because they understand that everyone has a different learning curve.

The most fearful drivers, who thought they’d never be able to drive, have finished their program, obtained their licenses, and now drive comfortably and confidently.

They offer both standard and deluxe driving lessons in their driver training programs.

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See also: 15 Best Driving Schools In Delaware | 2023 Review

10) Connie’s Driving School

Are you looking for the best driving school for your special needs child? Connie’s driving school is the best place.

The founder, Connie Calderon, claims that he has lots of experience teaching students with learning disabilities and high levels of anxiety how to drive.

And they have a high success rate at it.

Adults, as well as teenagers, are welcome to attend lessons.

Please contact them if you have any questions about their programs.

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11) Bills Defensive Driving School

Bill’s Defensive Driving School is committed to improving your driving abilities and has years of experience teaching safe driving techniques.

Senior and teen driving courses are available through online driver’s education.

Bill is dedicated and has logged countless miles driving large commercial trucks and class-A vehicles.

It is one of the best driving schools in Oakland for the following services;

  • Online Driver Education
  • Driving Program for Parents and Teens
  • Senior Drivers Program
  • Adult Drivers Who Are Nervous

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12) Lada Driver School LLC

Lada Driver School, LLC can provide the knowledge, skills, and attitudes you need to be safe while driving.

If you have a driving phobia, their instructors will help you overcome anxiety, fear, and uncertainty using patience, persistence, and knowledge.

We believe that everyone should have access to high-quality driving instruction.

If you require any of these services in the Oakland area, Lada is one of the best driving schools for them;

  • Driver Education for Teens (Classroom and Behind the Wheel)
  • Senior Citizens
  • Switching by Hand (Stick-Shift)
  • Setting up a convenient Road Test
  • Having a CDL and driving a commercial Class A truck
  • Driver Instructor Education
  • Pickup at home, school, or place of employment (locations vary)

You can schedule an appointment by calling the office or coming in person.

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What do I need to enrol in Driver Training in Oakland?

If you do not already have a driver’s license, you must obtain one before attending or enrolling in a driver’s education course. There are two ways to obtain a driver’s license:

If you are between 15 and 17, you must complete 30 hours of driver’s education before visiting the DMV and taking the written test. Once you have your certificate and have passed your written test, the DMV will issue you a driver’s license.

Secondly, if you are 17 and 12 or older, you may bypass the Driver’s Education Course and go directly to the DMV to take the written test.

Actual Behind-the-Wheel Driving Instruction

  • To receive a completion certificate, teenagers between the ages of 15 and 17 1/2 must complete at least 6 hours of driver’s training (orange slip).
  • Adults 18 years and older must complete the required two hours.

See also: 15 Best Driving Schools in Mansfield | 2023 Review

How do I get a driver’s license in Oakland?

If you’re a teen, you should do the following:

  • You must be at least 15 1/2 years old.
  • Complete the 30-hour driving school course.
  • Pass the DMV theory test after completing the education course.
  • Pass a 6-hour practical driving course led by an instructor.
  • Drive for 50 hours, 10 of which should be done at night and with a responsible adult.
  • Pass the final driving test.

The State’s Process For Teens Under The Age Of 17 1/2 To Obtain A License Or Permit

STEP 1

The student must complete a California DMV-approved driver’s education course. This teen driver education online course is no longer available.

You can find a California-approved teen driver’s education course through a quick online search.

The program will provide a DMV Certificate of Completion of Driver Education (pink or blue slip).

STEP 2

Bring the completed Driver’s Education certificate to your local DMV. The teen who must be at least 15 1/2 years old will take the written permit test there.

Include the student’s birth certificate and social security card as well.

Complete the DMV application form DL 44, available at the DMV or by mail, along with a certificate of successful driver training completion or enrollment in driver training.

The parents or legal guardians must sign this form. Copies are not accepted at the DMV.

The DMV fee is $29 and includes the student’s thumbprint, vision test, and photograph (subject to change).

The DMV written exam consists of 46 questions in total. To pass, you must have a score of at least 39.

To schedule the written permit test, go to dmv.ca.gov, click Online Services, or call 800.777.0133. You can walk in for the permit test, but you must do so before 430 p.m. whenever the DMV is open.

You should note the following;

The teen’s permit is valid only after the first formal lesson with a driving school instructor. Driving with a parent or other adult before the first formal lesson with a driving school is prohibited by California Law and may result in fines and suspension.

STEP 3

California law requires six hours of driving school (3 lessons of 2 hours each).  

Before taking the road test, the student must have held the permit for at least six months; permits are valid for one year.

Complete 50 hours of driving with a licensed adult at least 25 years old while the teen has their learner’s permit.

Ten of the fifty hours must be spent driving at night.

For the permit to be valid, the first lesson must be completed or scheduled through the online booking system; see the DMV Limitations Form, a page attached to the permit.

Complete the second, two-hour lesson, which is scheduled at your leisure.

Finish the third and final two-hour lesson; it is best to schedule it near the end of the six months, closer to the DMV road test date.

Obtain the 6-hour Certificate of Completion, given at the end of the third driving lesson.

Visit the DMV to schedule a Behind-the-Wheel road test in a vehicle; the applicant will be issued a CA driver’s license after passing this road test.

How much does driving school cost in Oakland?

This is determined by the driving school you choose.

Driving lessons in Oakland are typically much less expensive when compared to larger cities.

A 6-hour course in Oakland should cost between $250 and $400.

All of the options I’ve just mentioned are under $350.

Can I Take a Driver Education Course in Oakland Online?

Yes, you can take a driver education course in Oakland online.

California allows online driver education courses in place of in-person instruction.

Most schools have switched to online learning.

This is because the 30-hour driver education course only covers theoretical aspects of driving, such as sign definitions and speed limits.

In-person courses cannot compete with online courses because they are so inexpensive.

Many students prefer online courses because they are available anytime and anywhere.

FAQS on 12 Best Driving Schools in Oakland | 2023 Review

What Is The Cost Of Traffic School And Defensive Driving In Oakland?

Your Oakland ticket may be dismissed after completing an approved traffic school course. Both in-person and online traffic school options are available, with the cost of in-person courses typically higher. Depending on the traffic school course you choose, you can expect to pay anywhere between $19 and $100.

Does DMV require an OL392 Certificate of Enrollment For Teen Driving Permit?

The DMV no longer requires a teen’s OL392 Certificate of Enrollment in Driver Training to obtain the permit; the OL392 was repealed on September 1, 2010.

12 Best Driving Schools in Oakland | 2023 Review

These are the best driving schools in Oakland. They include;
Berkeley Driving School
Swift Driving and Traffic School
Universal Driving School
Academic Driving School
Universal Driving School
Driving School Express
Swift Driving School
All in the Family Driving School
Go-Green Driving School
Connie’s Driving School
Bills Defensive Driving School
Lada Driving School

Conclusion

You must complete the 30-hour driver education course and the behind-the-wheel training before taking the final driving test and receiving your license.

With the options above, you won’t need to search the internet for approved courses; select one from each list to get closer to that sweet license.

We hope this helped you search for the best driving schools in Oakland.

References

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