Dereck is the best instructor I have ever had. He knows exactly what is the right mindset for a rookie driver. Always talk at the right time when I was too nervous. Highly recommand Advan Driving School. Dereck是教過我的教練中最推薦的。我之前幾乎沒有駕駛經驗，他讓我了解正確的駕駛態度。心情太緊張時都會適當聊天讓我放鬆。非常推薦Advan Driving School. read more

Passed my driving test with Dereck.I started my first lesson with Ryan. He was very informative and taught me the very basics.And the rest of my classes were with Dereck. Dereck is an amazing instructor and pushes you out of your comfort zone. He tells your mistakes right on your face and you have to accept it. He is hard at the beginning and you might feel bad but that critique totally helps you with being more confident while driving and also makes you remember your mistakes forever.He judges you really well and you actually realize with practice that he is right about you. He is super super helpful when you are taking the test at DMV and make you practice on the actual test route. So schedule your classes with Advan if you want to learn driving and perfect it. read more

We had 2 teen boys in South Pasadena take driving classes from ADVAN in the last year. We used Dereck but I'd trust anyone he recommended. Dereck and everyone else from ADVAN was so professional and friendly and responded to texts or calls right away. Dereck gets super bonus points since he came over yesterday to sign the driver's permit and when he was it was a copy (my sister couldn't tell it was a copy but he could tell) -- he let us know that it may not work at DMV. So today we got to DMV before the driving test on Monday and Dereck has promised to come over again to sign it. He has been so professional. I hear he is also cutting back on teaching driving to handle his second career (selling life insurance) and he's so responsible that I'd buy from him. He has great attention to detail. Thank you!!! My boys really appreciate you going the extra mile. Signed, Very Grateful South Pasadena Mom and Dad (who were happy to delegate to ADVAN - saving the family lots of headaches and problems read more

we needed to find an instructor for my wife and only place to look up is yelp to be sure we know who we are dealing with. The good thing is to look at the star ratings! Advan Driving school high stars but there are other driving schools with high stars. It was hard to pick. But after calling a couple 5 stars, Dereck from Advan Driving school sounded much more pleasant and professional. The other ones (not going to names) sounded rush or busy. It was the attitude like "do you want it learn it or not" My wife is very shy so We want to make sure someone who is friendly helps her with her driving skills. So Instructor Dereck showed up and he was very friendly, he talked to us like if we knew him for a long time. He is very laser focused and gave my wife a lot of tips, more importantly how to correctly steer with both hands. He made sure that is first practiced over and over before she hit the main busy streets. After a week of practice with Dereck, she took the test the following 2 weeks later and passed her driving test with 6 errors and the DMV test examiner wrote "GOOD DRIVE " on my wife's paper! Yelp is a lot of help but before you jump in any businesses, give each a call to get a sense of who you are dealing with. Like everything do your research.! I know I did mine and I am happy. read more

ADVAN Driving School - COMMENT from DMV examiner. - Driving Schools Near Me - Alhambra, California

Molly Highly recommended. Instructor Derek very knowledgeable and patient. He teaches you everything you need to know and gave tips and advice to help my daughter improve. I also appreciated Carly explaining everything clearly and assisting me to make appointments in a timely manner. ADVAN is a great driving school and they work professionally. read more

I had a great experience with ADVAN. The person I spoke with on my initial call was friendly, polite and very informative. From there, once I scheduled my first behind the wheel training for my son, communication was easy and efficient. Derek was a great instructor and helped my son to ensure he passed his behind the wheel test! Derek was always on time and my son felt very comfortable with him. I will definitely be calling ADVAN again when it's time for my other kids to drive. read more

This is going to be a really long review because I want to share how instrumental Advan was in helping me pass my driving test. TLDR: Could not have done it without them! Great value and accommodating to teen drivers or adult learners with a full-time schedule alike. I called Advan after failing my test THREE times. I chalk it up to being a nervous tester and lack of technical direction. My family helped a lot but fell into one of two camps: very careful and technical but too nervous to teach me OR relaxed but could not provide the technical direction. Advan's good reviews made them one of my top choices. I scheduled my first session by phone call and got reminders by text. Throughout three two hour sessions, Derek provided a thorough assessment, lessons on fundamentals, insights, technical guidance, constructive criticism, encouragement and lots of feedback. I was super nervous when the time came to take my test but managed to pass with only two minor errors. I was super happy and wished I had called them from the beginning! As a new driver, I feel safe and have gotten much more comfortable driving. I truly appreciate the help I received! read more

I came to ADVAN after I was left feeling unsatisfied with the previous driving school I went to. The instructor is very friendly and patient, and he explains everything very clearly. I ended up passing the driving test with only two errors and have become a much more confident and skilled driver. I HIGHLY recommend this driving school! read more

I learned a lot from them, not gonna lie. But there was one instructor who was a little too hard & sarcastic with me. I couldn't deal and was looking forward to the lesson ending. Also, I don't like that cancellation fee they charge. I had to cancel one time that was beyond my control and was super low in funds and they still charged me that fee. I didn't like it. I still want lessons but I'll go somewhere else. read more

Just enrolled my daughter for the 6 hour class. Customer service was good. Well give update when classes are over.

I genuinely enjoyed my experience with ADVAN Driving School. They have a great and organized scheduling system through Carly, and the instructor, Dereck was very insightful and truly cared for the student's well-being. The instructor gave a lot of great, helpful tips during the practice drives and also before the actual driving test. The instructor also conveniently comes and picks you up at the location of your choice. Everything was provided so that the student can focus 100% on driving and have a fun and educated learning experience. read more

It was because of the efforts of this school that I was able to overcome my fears of driving... And thru a few sessions of trial and error, I was able to pass my driving test. I am forever grateful to Dereck and his team for everything they have taught me... read more

It was a very enjoyable experience behind the wheel. He took proper covid-19 protocols and took my safety very seriously. Highly recommended

So glad I came across this driving school in yelp. I was so scared with driving before but Dereck taught me well and helped me have confidence in driving. I took 12hrs lessons and I passed my driving test on first try! Thank you so much ADVAN! read more

Pretty good place to learn. The instructor Derrick is pretty strict and he always help you on driving. The instructor Ryan is a buff guy. I got the license in unbelievable one week. read more

Dereck was super professional and helpful through the whole process of me learning how to drive! He not only trains you but actually talks to you about your well-being and how you are personally doing in life rather than just being a stone and only talking about driving. He also incorporates real-life examples during his lessons and tries to make you feel comfortable from the first time you get into the car til the day you go and take the test at the DMV. read more

I took freeway classes with Derek and I enjoyed them! Derek was very professional and provided me with necessary skills which I need for driving on freeway and not only. He has a friendly personality and we had nice talks. I will definitely recommend ADVAN school for everyone! read more

Great driving instructor, would highly recommend. Derek is very patient and would definitely go through everything with his students. I managed to pass the behind the wheel test on my first try even though I was not confident about passing at all. read more

Took 3 driving lessons with Dereck San took my driving test passed with an amazing low score of 3 thank you so much for all of your help time and dedication and Carly for making it happen with scheduling appointments and also checking in if I got enough sleep my first round lol thank you so much!!!!!! Words can't truly describe how thankful I am for your driving school Dereck and thank you for the second chance!!!! read more

Great experience. Instuctor creates a laxed environment and teaches clearly. Passed my test with only 3 mistakes, couldnt of done it without this driving school. read more

If your looking for professional and very helpful driving school this is for you. Thank you Dereck for all your help and patience! I finally passed my driving test! read more

Wohooo.... i never forgot the first time i was behind the wheel... never ever drive before and there he is,DERECK, briskly inform me about the function of the car and then he said" ok, now drove." I never ever been so shock like that before... lol... i thought, are this person crazy???how about if i hit something or got into accident???!!! But you know what... he is AMAZING.. he taught me very calmly and in the enjoyable way so i can forget my nervousness...and i can get rid of my fright of driving in this LA crazy crowded traffic. He is not only taught me how to drive but also how to be a GOOD driver and a RESPONSIBLE driver too.. Thank you so much for everything... you are the best Dereck.... read more

Dereck is awesome! I remember when I first started my lesson with him, we talked like we had been friends for a while. He's so friendly so it's definitely not an awkward car ride, which is great because it makes you feel comfortable. Dereck is an impressive instructor and obviously knows what he's doing. I'm proud to now refer him as a driving instructor for my sister! read more

Just passed my driving test in Glendale with Dereck. Dereck did a damn good job making sure I was ready for the test. At times you may think his criticism seems harsh, but he is just making sure that you understand what you messed up on and what could've gone wrong. It was pretty easy to schedule appointments, and lessons always seemed to go by very fast. Overall, I had an AMAZING learning experience with Dereck and Advan driving. read more

Had a wonderful experience at Advan. I highly recommend Dereck for being so professional and the best instructor, so detailed and very friendly and funny too sometimes.Thanks to him, I passed my driving test. All the best. read more

It's been almost 2 years now. I used to be scared and paranoid of driving. Dereck, the instructor, helped me overcome that. He was calm and patient with me, and never once criticize my terrible driving skill. He taught me everything from making turns to driving on the freeway. I only had to 5-6 lessons and I was ready to take the test and passed on my 1st time. Never did I believe I would be a good driver today without Dereck's help. I would absolutely recommend anyone who's new to driving and need some lessons!! read more

The instructor is good and teach very detail. Alison the customer service is great!

All I gotta say is you cannot go wrong with this driving school, people might be skeptical that the driving instructor Dereck is Asian but he's the funniest most attentive driving instructor and he helped me pass my driving test within a matter of only 3 driving sessions. He made me feel very comfortable and relaxed while on the wheel and never made me feel pressured. I highly recommend this driving school for the simple fact it's reasonably priced, they provide you with the car to practice in, and you're guaranteed to pass your driving test the first try. read more

I was taking classes at ADVAN school several months ago. I arrived from Russia where I almost didn't drive - my driving license was lying on the shelf useless for years. So when I came to San Gabriel I was like a newbie again. Derek helped me to reanimate such basic skills as steering control, changing lanes, parking, he helped me to overcome my fear of freeway and gave me important tips how to get prepared for the California DMV test. Dereck is very patient and cooperative coach, with a good sense of humor, so I enjoyed every hour of the learning process. As a result, I've passed both written and behind-the-wheel DMV tests just with few errors, that I attribute to exam anxiety :) I am very grateful to Dereck for making me heel comfortable in California roads! read more

I learned a lot from ADVAN Driving. The instructor i got was the best of the best. He was a serious person yet was so funny and made me comfortable while learning how to drive. I finally got through my learning and got my driver license. Thanks, ADVAN Driving!!! read more

It's been almost a year now since I received my driver's license. I was in a motorcycle accident few years prior so being on the road again and learning to drive on four wheels was frightening. Advan Driving School taught me the ways of the road, relieved my fears, and boosted my confidence. I made too many mistakes haha but I passed. Yeh!! ADVAN Driving School you rock!! read more

I passed my behind-the-wheel test with only 5 errors! The instructors really help make you feel comfortable behind the wheel. At first, I was very stiff and nervous but with the help of Instructor Ryan and Instructor Derek, I was able to feel more relaxed. I also had trouble with certain things, but once I told the instructor, he explained to me step-by-step and now I'm so much better. I really recommend Advan Driving School! read more

I was really nervous when I first started driving, but Dereck never made me feel pressured or like I was in over my head. I felt comfortable learning how to drive at my own pace, which helped me get over my fears of driving on the freeway more easily. Both my younger sisters also had him as an instructor, and we all agree that we would definitely recommend him for inexperienced drivers who are anxious about getting behind the wheel! read more

I would recommend this place highly because both the instructors and lessons were amazing and i had a very smoothing time through the whole process. The instrcutors teach you everything you need to know about driving and through it all they have fun doing it too which makes it easier on you. read more

The best instructor ever I finally passed all thanks to him. It was very helping I learned how to drive the freeway it was rlly fun. San Gabriel read more

Lol. Where do I start . Ok. Firstly Dereck is awesome..he is just the best instructor. With his guidance my husband and I both got our written exam and passed our road test on the first go. I was terrified of the freeway and he made it so easy for me to relax. He is patient and teaches you everything!!! Literally! By the time you go for your test..you will have enough confidence to pass. Dereck will make sure he has tested you on everything b4 your test. He is friendly, funny....you will definitely enjoy the lessons too! And he has filmed with Mike Epps. Really! Lol. Don't look any further. If you want to pass your driving test go with ADVAN Driving School. You won't regret it. Thanks Dereck! read more

Great driving school! I had no behind the wheel experience when I started. The instructor was patient and explained everything to me. I passed my written and driving test on the first try! I am now a licensed driver thanks to Advan driving school!!!!! read more

Advan Driving is very helpful in getting your license! They work with your schedule, and instructor Dereck is a really awesome guy that will guide you to getting your license in a short amount of time not to mention you will learn a lot! read more

I'm able to pass my drive test on my first try. Great place to learn in Alhambra or San Gabriel valley. Appointments were organized and Carly is very nice on the phone even though I don't pickup her calls in a timely manner =) read more

I'm so scared to drive in Los Angeles even after passing the DMV driving test. I took more lessons and Advan Driving School's coaches are very calm. I really appreciate that they pointed out finer details that I otherwise would not have notice. Thank you. read more