In Los Angeles County, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of driving instructors. Unfortunately, not all driving instructors are created equally.
Some of them are better than others, and it’s these instructors you’ll want to find when you or your teen is learning how to drive.
As a former driving instructor, I know full well that learning to drive is much more important than many teens or parents realize.
Most of our good and bad driving habits are formed early on, so having a great driving instructor is crucial to being safe on the road. It’s true, driving provides us with a ton of freedom and is generally a very good ability to have in our lives, but it’s also the most dangerous activity most people participate in.
Do not take learning to drive lightly!
Even with safer vehicles on the road, you might think driving is becoming safer. However, just last year nearly 40,000 people were killed in motor vehicle-related accidents.
With distracted driving accidents rapidly rising throughout the country, there’s no time more critical to have successful learning experiences behind the wheel.
Remember, teaching about distracted driving isn’t just about paying attention to the road, but also how to avoid all the other distracted drivers out there!
These tips and pointers will help you find the best Lost Angeles County driving instructors for behind-the-wheel training.
Qualities Of A Good Behind-The-Wheel Driving Instructor In Los Angeles County
When searching for a good behind-the-wheel driving instructor in Los Angeles County, you’ll want to keep an eye out for a few traits. You can find evidence of these traits in online reviews and by talking with friends and family who have taken similar courses, but I’ll touch on that more in a bit.
Patience: One of the most prominent traits an excellent behind-the-wheel driving instructor will have is patience. The best driving instructors in the Los Angeles area understand that learning to drive is a very stressful time. They also know that becoming a good driver comes with time and practice. It’s not something we’re born with, but instead is a craft that developed over the years.
Ability To Adapt: The best instructors in the area will even tailor their curriculum from student to student. They understand that people, teenagers especially, have very different learning styles. It’s unreasonable to think that one single teaching method will be sufficient for each one of their students. These instructors also want to see your student succeed, and not just by passing their driver’s license test. Success, to the best instructors in the area, means practicing safe driving habits while driving alone when no one is watching.
Communication: Great behind-the-wheel driving school instructors are also excellent communicators. This means that they are not only capable of explaining a lesson, but are also outstanding listeners. A good driving instructor should not snap at a student. Instead, they’ll take time to calm their students down and talk them through mistakes. If a student made an error, the instructor would work with them to identify what went wrong and what the student can do to avoid making that mistake again in the future. The best driving instructors have a sound understanding that mistakes are going to happen and are an integral part of a student’s experience learning how to drive.
Honesty: With that being said, your driving school instructor should also be honest. They should not tell your teen that they’ve done a great job when they haven’t. Teens have never driven before, so they don’t have nearly the same experience that you and I have on the road. They often don’t know the difference between right and wrong. The only way they’ll be able to distinguish the difference between the two is if someone points it out to them.
Punctuality: A good driving instructor should also be punctual. They should understand that your teen’s time is valuable and that their schedule is likely full. Personally, I offer convenient pickup and drop-off options for students, making sure that their drive times can fit into their schedule easily. Similarly, your driving instructor should also be flexible.
Project Confidence: Lastly, your teen’s driving instructor should be confident. This includes being confident in themselves and the lessons they are teaching, in addition to expressing confidence in your child. A teen will likely see more success behind the wheel if their driving instructor shows faith in them during the learning process. A driving instructor will make it known that they expect mistakes and that certain errors are encouraged.
Finding The Best Instructor In Los Angeles County For Behind-The-Wheel Training
When searching for the best behind-the-wheel driving instructors in the Los Angeles area, the internet and word-of-mouth should be two of your most significant resources.
A simple internet search should reveal many of the driving instructors in your area. You should also be able to find reviews from those who have taken lessons with these instructors before.
The instructor’s website should have reviews, but you should also be cautious when considering these reviews. Odds are, some of the instructor’s better reports are listed on their business pages. Instead, look for reviews from unbiased sources such as Yelp and Google.
You can also use a database provided by the state of California’s Department of Motor Vehicles. When using this database, you can search all certified behind-the-wheel driving instructors in your area. You can either use this database as the starting point for your search or as the final reference point.
If you search the internet for a Los Angeles County driving instructor, be sure to use the DMV database to verify that they are certified. Otherwise, the hours spent driving with this instructor will not go toward their licensing requirements.
When it comes to driving instructors, word-of-mouth is one of the most effective tools you can use. Ask those who you know and trust for their experiences with driving instructors. If you are friends with other parents whose teens recently used a driving instructor, be sure to ask them for their thoughts. These parents will likely provide candid feedback, as they have no reason not to do so.
Lastly, once you find a driving instructor you feel comfortable with, give them a call and get to know them for a few minutes. Ask them about their certifications, experiences, and backgrounds. If you’d like the instructor to provide any paperwork or proof of certification, they should be more than happy to do so. If they are not willing to share this with you, this should be considered a huge red flag.
The best driving instructors in Los Angeles County have a solid grasp on the fact that parents are trusting them with their child’s life. This is not a responsibility that should be taken lightly. A driving instructor that comes off as rude or standoffish over the phone is likely not worth your time. Remember, the way that they treat you is also the way they’ll end up treating your child.
Driving School Recommendations
Finding the best instructions for behind-the-wheel training is not easy. But if you know where to look, things can be easier for you.
Below are some recommended driving schools that you can look into if you’re from Los Angeles County:
DriversEd
DriversEd is an online driver’s ed program that offers two behind-the-wheel training packages that you can sign up for. You can sign up for the state-required 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training with their professional driving instructors. Or, you can enroll in their 10-hour long comprehensive package and go beyond the basics to master on-the-road challenges.
DriversEd’s driving instructors meet state requirements and have also received positive reviews from their former students. The good thing here is that if you happen to get an instructor you don’t like, DriversEd allows you to request a new one.
What’s more, DriversEd provides a training program tailored to each student. They take time to understand your teen’s learning style so that they can customize the program to fit their needs.
Westwood Driving School
Meanwhile, Westwood Driving School is a local driving school located at 10909 Kinross Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024. Their friendly and experienced driving instructors are knowledgeable about the up-to-date driving methods and safety techniques. Plus, they’ve been teaching teens and adults to drive for over 25 years already.
They also offer the basic 6-hour package. But what’s cool about this school is if you need additional lessons above the required 6 hours, you can get it at a discounted package pricing. This means that you can save up a bit even if it took you longer to learn.
You can call them at +1 888-978-7299 to schedule your lessons or visit their website.