Avery Jones is the best driving instructor, hands down. I've taken classes from a number of driving instructors over the years - both at Drive Rite and beyond - and Avery is heads and shoulders above the rest. In the first ten minutes of class he gave an overview of how to get comfortable in the driver's seat, which no other instructor had gone over with me before (who knew you could adjust the height of the seat -and- the seat belt? Not me.) It's very clear from the start that he's incredibly knowledgable and puts you at ease right away. Would recommend to anyone that's looking to learn how to drive or regain confidence in driving. A few lessons in, I'm already feeling a lot more confident and looking forward to the highway lesson. Thanks Avery! Also, a special shout out to Kim who is always kind and prompt when scheduling classes!! read more

I was in dire straits and needed a driving test ASAP, as well as a refresher lesson. Driverite got me both in about four weeks, two weeks sooner than any other driving school in the area that I had looked into. Both my lesson and my test were morning appointments. It was a little confusing when I first got there--me and everyone else waited outside as there was no one in the office yet, and I had to double check that I had the address right. Then Avery got me from the sidewalk and we got rolling. He's a great teacher, knowledgeable and helpful and super positive. For my test we left right on schedule. I didn't get the name of the guy who drove us there but he explained everything that was going to happen and answered all of our last minute questions. Really nice guy. On top of all of this I passed my test. What else could I have asked for out of a driving school? Driverite is great. read more

J.R. was my instructor & he was very patient and funny. Thanks to him, I passed my road test on the first try which I was so happy about! I highly recommend him! read more

Great driving school with great instructors. Avery is a fantastic driving coach! He doesn't just tell you what to do but goes in-depth on the how and why. He drastically improved my driving skills and gave me the confidence to pass my test. I really recommend doing the hour or hour and a half session with him, particularly as a very new driver. read more

I purchased the Beginner Mastery course at DriveRite (fifteen 45min sessions, the required 5hr Pre-Licensing class, and a car with an escort driver to the road test site). I had a great experience with DriveRite, and took all my lessons with instructor Avery Jones at the Dean Street location. Avery was fantastic! As a brand new driver, Avery made sure to cover all the basics of both the car and instruments itself as well as driving. He had tips and phrases for me to become a confident driver with strong skills.  Avery was always professional, patient, calm, and always made sure to give me feedback (whether positive or negative) in an empathetic way.  I split my 15 lessons up over a 4 month period (I was traveling and otherwise could have done it faster), and over the course of our lessons, we worked on further building my situation and spatial awareness and working on my ability to navigate the streets of Brooklyn with confidence and ease. I passed the drivers road test with no major issues, and will be returning for highway lessons soon -- Thanks Avery and Gem @ the Dean Street location! read more

Drive Rite Academy - Thanks Instructor Avery Jones @ DriveRite for teaching me headlights and wipers well before my test! :D Passed with no issue! - Driving Schools Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I was apprehensive having not driven for 20 years and having only driven in the UK previously. After a slow start with trying to book lessons online (the website not showing any available slots) I was able to book 5 lessons over the phone. The customer service rep was friendly, efficient, and professional. I took my 5 lessons with Avery and he was great! He has a wealth of both technical and practical knowledge that really helped me to feel safe and confident. I highly recommend him as an instructor for anyone getting behind the wheel for the first time of after a long break. He has a very positive attitude and a fun personality. The lessons were enjoyable, and I passed my test the first time! read more

Passed my test today after purchasing a Gold Package. I am very thankful for Drive Rite for their patience, support, and knowledge. Although I've had lessons from many people I've had the greatest experiences with Ronald, Emmanuel, and Mark. They make you feel calm behind the wheel and they all have a sincerity about them that encourages you to do your best. Also a shoutout to Kenny from the Kenilworth location for being all around great on the day of my test. Thank you Drive Rite Academy! read more

Drive Rite Academy - Driving Schools Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I procrastinated learning how to drive for many years because I had a lot of driving anxiety. I finally decided to get serious about getting my license and chose Driverite as my driving school. I took classes with a bunch of different instructors and they were all great but Jay was my favorite by far. He really helped me feel calm, confident and safe behind the wheel. I just passed my test on the first try and it feels like a HUGE accomplishment! If you are a nervous driver, I would highly recommend working with Jay. Book your classes way in advanced (he can get booked up early) and try to book as many as possible at one time to avoid large gaps in your classes. My tip is to call to schedule your classes because the online system is unnecessarily complicated. You may wait a long time to get someone on the phone but it is definitely worth it. read more

The best school in Brooklyn! Great communication. Friendly and helpful people. Guide you through the process and make it as easy as possible. My instructor Gil is amazing, got me test ready in less than 3 months. Passed with first time and feel confident to drive on crazy streets of Brooklyn. read more

Avery Jones teaches driving like a legit training professional - instead of just telling you "do this", he explains the rationale (the why) behind every decision and activity. This is a proven successful approach for adults, and also helps build critical thinking skills so that next time you're in a similar but slightly different situation, you can think through the why for yourself and make the right driving decision for that moment. So you are learning driving not just for the test, but also for everyday life. And throughout all this, Avery Jones maintains a positive attitude and you can clearly tell he enjoys his work - that energy is contagious and puts you at ease about the whole process as well! Thanks Avery Jones! read more

If you are a beginner, DriveRite is the place you go to : AVERY!!!, JAY!! and FRASER! I was an absolute beginner with trauma from a big car accident about 20 years ago. But I better know how to drive for my job and life convenience. I took 15 classes: 1 class a week for two months (with AVERY), and 3-4 times a week for two weeks before the Test (with JAY and AVERY). And Mid-check ups a month before the test and Mock up test a day before the test (with FRASER). It worked out well, and now I am licensed! AVERY is EVERYTHING! His way of teaching, which is detail oriented, let me go through from the very basic to plan B with secret tips. Diagrams from his folder helped me to fix my mistakes. Simulation with miniature cars helped me to revisit the situation I reacted wrong and get the right way I should react next time. #DrivingIsScience #SlippinNGrippin #Momentum #NiceNEasy Tips for booking classes: He is popular. His classes are usually booked for the next 2-3 weeks. So please reserve in advance, or check frequently to see if there are cancellations you can take. JAY, YAY! He is calm, patient and encouraging. It was very useful to have two teachers because I could learn things from different ways and approaches. Fun fact: He said I would pass with a score of 80 at the last class with him. I got 80 at the test. DriveRite, they teach how to drive right like their name says. read more

Avery is fantastic!!! Not only is he hilarious and makes driving lessons enjoyable, but he's a genius when it comes to digging into the nuances for new drivers (i.e. the "ABC - Always Be Curious) Avery understands what new drivers are going through as they are learning (especially in NYC!), and so he always takes the time to understand where they are and meet them where they're at. I truly appreciate how he takes time time to breakdown the do's and don't's of driving instead of correcting you without an explanation - as a new driver the additional context Avery provides helps us new drivers to avoid making the same mistakes because he translates the do's/don'ts of driving into common sense. I highly recommend having Avery as your driving coach if you want to learn how to drive AND have fun while doing so (Pro-Tip - Avery is VERY popular so make sure you book your lessons well in advance if you want to have him be your primary coach!) read more

I chose the Drive Rite Academy located at 594 Dean Street Brooklyn, NY. Geminesse coordinated and scheduled the driving lessons and Corey is one of the Driving Instructors. I chose Drive Rite because of the professional look of the cars and the great classes that they offer and the details they gave regarding the same on their website. I will use them again because of the professionalism of the staff and the great customer service. Starting with Geminesse, her level of competence and professionalism is to be commended. She helped me put together a driving lesson package for my daughter that enabled us to meet a tight deadline due to her schedule.Geminesse always returned my phone calls in a timely manner and with an enthusiastic attitude; she was always professional, kind and willing to help. I never once felt like I was a bother, even when I had to reschedule a lesson; she is the best. Corey is one of the instructors. Corey is very professional and patient. His positive attitude and professionalism, reassured my daughter that she was on the right path and driving well enough to get her license. His excellent tutelage along with hard work and practice enabled her to pass the driving test on her first try. The one thing that I would change, is that the instructors not be able to cancel a lesson without someone being able to replace them. The client has to cancel 24 hours in advance or risk Losing their money paid for the lesson. The instructors are allowed to cancel hours before the lesson with no consequence to bear. The client is left to reschedule the lesson and lose a day that was planned for the lesson. Mine and my Daughter's overall experience with Drive Rite was great. I will definitely recommend this company to everyone. read more

I have my driver's license, but I wanted more confidence with city driving. Avery Jones is a stellar instructor! He explains key concepts (like checking your blindspot, for instance) clearly and he always connects driving techniques to the rules of physics. "Driving is science," says Avery. If you are looking for an excellent driving instructor, look no further, Avery Jones is the tops! Thank you, Avery. read more

Couldn't have passed my road test without the help of Jay, J.R., and Lyndberg. I am the most anxious person I know, but their calm demeanors, patience, and clarity have allowed me to pass my road test with only five points off! I've taken lessons in the past at other schools, but the instructors here are truly top-tier. Not only are they immensely skilled instructors, but they are kind, personable, and hilarious. The very fact that they are always so booked is a testament to how fantastic they are! read more

Avery Jones is the real deal! Avery is an excellent instructor, and one of the most knowledgable driving instructors I have ever met. His ability to impart and deliver his wealth of knowledge is quite a feat. He could probably teach your 5 year old to drive, just as well as any experienced driving with a sizable ego. Don't hesitate to register a class pre and post tests, as he has plenty of wisdom to impart tactics, shortcuts, and all the things in between the road. GOAT! read more

I signed up for 10 hours of driving lessons with Avery Jones through Drive Rite NY (Dean Street location) to prepare me for moving to Denver, CO, where a car is essential to navigating the city and surrounding wilderness. Avery was an incredibly supportive and motivating instructor, and he gave me precisely the confidence boost I needed to get comfortable behind the wheel again after a 15-year driving hiatus. Avery made a point to acknowledge good driving habits and performance, and he worked with me to establish new skills specific to driving in urban environments. His energy is infectious, and he made what could have been an intimidating experience enjoyable and accessible. He uses catchy words and phrases to reinforce essential points, which I found especially helpful. ("Driving is science," "momentum," "the ABCs (always be curious) of driving," and so many others.) As we used to joke during our lessons, AVERY JONES is a CHAMPION, and I can't recommend him highly enough to adult drivers needing brush-up or confidence-boosting lessons. Avery quickly became an important person during a significant transition period in my life, and I'm incredibly grateful for everything he taught me. read more

I do not recommend Drive Rite Academy WHAT SO EVER. Below is the email I sent to drive rite and for those who are in a rush I'll summarize it here: unable to book back to back lessons (I'm talking three weeks to a month), instructors don't keep/review student progress, and my group failed the drivers test. Pro tip: if you are currently enrolled and are not being able to book lessons, don't wait on empty promises, ask for a refund IMMEDIATELY and terminate your enrollment with them. Email is listed first, Drive rites response listed after. Email: This driving experience has been horrible.Today I failed the road test, not because I did not give it my best shot, but because of the lack of consistent training. When training for the road test you should practice once every week, minimum. Using drive rite I have not been able to book back to back, always far apart. I don't know anyone with a car, so I put my faith in this company. My instructors never looked at my record to see where I was in my progress, so my time spent was driving straight and making turns even though I was told my driving was very good (so why wasn't I being taught 3 points and parking?). Very disorganized. My group shared the same experience, and guess what, we failed. I won't be recommending this company to anyone, and i am beginning my search for another company. Unless I am forced to, I will use your company again, but if there are any other openings (and I mean ANY), I will not. I've been told by instructors that the lack of drivers is due to covid, layoffs. This is not my problem. I am now certain that many people will fail, and like me, will have to spend more money to retake the test and to take more lessons with qualified instructors. If I could rate this company zero stars, I would, gladly. Side note and background: I have reached out to Drive rite via phone and walk ins when I started my journey with them, over concerns with scheduling. I was assured that I would have no problems booking consistent lessons when I purchased my package, spoiler alert, this was completely false. I tried in person, and was told instructors were booked. I tried online (signed up in july, the few instructors available were booked, and I could not book past August). After speaking up multiple times, I was told to "check online everyday to see if anyone dropped a class". Yup, this was their response, I'm serious. Fast forward to Drive rite reaching out to me in response to my email. I explained my dissatisfaction with their service and how my concerns were never addressed. The person I spoke with (Cody) told me the owner would contact me the following day to come up with a resolution (by 1pm). A little after 12 pm I called to make sure I was going to receive a call (I shouldn't wait all day if the owner is refusing to call me ), and guess what, the owner was in a meeting. The owner has meetings all day. Line got disconnected (unless he hung up, nothing surprises me at this point) and I spoke with someone else. And yes, there's more. None of my concerns were ever put into the system. When I took time out of my day to speak with employees about concerns, nothing was ever noted. The only two notes on file were from Cody and Geminesse. This is beyond ridiculous and FRUSTRATING. Oh, and remember that resolution that drive rite said that wanted to come up with? The resolution is for me to stay with the company, pay with my own money again, and they would ensure a better experience moving forward. I should be given a full refund for that "resolution" right there. The owner has still yet to contact me. I have already spoken to friends who were thinking about going to Drive Rite, all of them are looking elsewhere, and are shocked by my experience. I give everyone who reads my post permission to share my post with others, and even on social media sites outside of yelp. Hope this review finds you well. *Bonus: I was supposed to be given a free extra lesson for being a Brooklyn College student, which I received, but only after mentioning it again. Why? because my voucher was NEVER put into the system when I signed up, even though I showed them my ID and was told the lesson was added on top of my package. Ridiculous. read more

Had a great experience with my instructor Avery! I've had a license from Europe for a long time and finally decided to get my NYS license and passed at the first attempt. The 5 hour class isn't the most entertaining time you'll ever have, but needs to be done. Reaching the school isn't always easy, but most scheduling can be done online anyways. read more

This driving school is the best because of one of its instructors. I went there specifically because of Jay's amazing reviews, and they weren't wrong. He helped me become a confident driver; he is by far the best instructor I have ever had. I would give him 10 stars if I could. I only gave 4 stars because I found it aggravating that I was not able to take my road test in the same car I had been practicing with. The car provided by the school on the day of the test is a random car that happens to be available. All of their cars are toyota corollas, but every car is still a little different. read more

Passed my road test in one shot, thanks to the wonderful instructors at Drive Rite. My instructors were Sue and Myleah. They were very thorough in their teachings and I learned so much. While I'll still be practicing as much as possible in the future, I'm happy with what I was able to accomplish at Drive Rite. Thank you! read more

I passed my road test thanks to Drive Rite Academy! I was really nervous about driving and waited years to finally try, and thanks to Drive Rite (plus friends and family who helped me practice), I am so much more comfortable in a car now. The absolute best instructor is Jason! He's amazing. He makes you laugh to help ease your nerves, but also keeps it real and will sternly correct you if/when necessary. I can parallel park pretty great thanks to him, so I tried to book with him as much as possible. I also had some other instructors: Mark (very funny guy), Kelly, and Dave (who's also great). On the day of my road test, Ronald took me and 2 others to the test site and he was also amazing. He was encouraging and "quizzed" us on the way over to help us feel prepared. I'm so grateful to Drive Rite Academy! Passed my road test on the first try and I feel like I'm a pretty good defensive driver (for a new driver). read more

AVERY JONES is surely the champion of driving instructors. His powers of observation are acute and his manner of explanation is perfectly tailored to the unique needs of each student. He provides thorough, comprehensive instruction that is immediately translatable to both confidence and action on the road. AVERY JONES offers useful mnemonics and sayings that will stay with the driver. "ABC," i.e. "always be curious," is a good example. AVERY JONES is a superb driving instructor, as well as a kind and charismatic individual. I'm fortunate to have worked with him. read more

Sue was an incredible teacher! I passed my road test on my first try and feel more comfortable behind the wheel than ever before.

Great website, lesson bundles (i got the bronze), email reminders, and instructors. It is amazing that they actually call you back if you've called without them answering, though they are generally very good at not keeping you on hold for forever. The people on the phone are exceptionally nice and helpful with scheduling lessons, giving information about the road test (they said Seaview is the most straightforward), being accommodating, and recommending specific driving instructors. For driving, I especially liked Emmanuel and Mark A for their methods, specificity, encouragement and warm personality. Also, Ron was helpful in sending me written instructions for the three point turn and parallel parking. David has been teaching for a while and just sounds bored/over it, and he is not as helpful with parking etc. All their cars are the same so you learn how to park THAT car for the test. their method won't work on just any car, so I'd recommend using their car for the test, and taking a lesson right before the test so that you have practice with that exact car too, as every individual car can sometimes feel slightly different. Before scheduling your road test, ASK YOUR INSTRUCTOR if you're ready and how many more lessons they think you need. They don't get commission lol. This helped me pass the test on the first try. read more

I had the most amazing lesson with Steven. He just made.me.feel so comfortable in the car and he had a very easy simple way of explaining things to me. He helped me with my parallel parking and I would recommend him to anyone who maybe a bit jittery at first. The school.itself is also great, great customer service and very friendly and professional staff. read more

I took lessons and finally passed the test!!! I recommend sticking to one instructor because everyone teaching style is different! Shout out to Kelly and Mark!!! read more

I just passed my road test today. Drive Rite has pretty good instructors and they teach you very well. Highly recommended. My instructors were Becca mostly but she left. Took a lesson each with Ron and Peter. Both great instructors and know their stuff. I did the Silver Package. 6 lessons, the 5-hour, and the car for the road test. My advice is to take more lessons if you need it. Stay away from Red Hook for the road test. Other than that, definitely sign up for Drive Rite. Thank you Drive Rite! read more

I rarely write reviews -- but felt compelled to tell any nervous drivers to book immediately. I had a few instructors for my driving package but Jay was the most notable. I felt instantly calmed by his demeanor, and he was patient and ensured I understood his directions. He also was incredibly kind and caring, and very careful with covid cleaning procedures. I truly don't think I could have become a decent driver without Jays specific help. Trust me, he's the best in the business. read more

So after making right with me Simon made sure I was able to get a car for the road test. After my 2nd attempt I passseeeddddd my road test. And it's all because of Drive Rite. Kenny is THE ABSOLUTE BEST hands down. He makes you feel like you've been driving for years. He points out what needs to be done and he goes over it, OVER AND OVER again until you feel confident. I had a lesson before my road test and he made sure I was ready. If you decide to come here make sure to ask for Kenny and stay away from red hook for your test lol read more

I did the Silver Package. 6 lessons , the 5-hour class, and the loaning of the car. It came up to about $350. So technically only spent $150 on lessons because if you think about it the car itself can cost you $100 if you don't have it and the 5-hour class is mandatory and about $50. And they drive you to the test site. I took about two lessons and then the 5 hour class. I scheduled my driving test via the school. Me finding out the date I scheduled my last two 45min lessons back to back before the day of the actually test. Smart thinking! Ron was my last and final teacher the day before the test. I told him I've only driven via the school but I'm confident and my test is tomorrow. He said say no more I'll treat it like the day of the test. First their was the Three point turn, I did it and he noted to observe more but good job. Then their was the Parallel park. I thought I knew how to do it perfect each time but I definitely messed up. Good thing it was only a lesson. Bad thing was my test was tomorrow and I had to get it perfect. He taught me 4 steps that I remembered during the test and he told me to do it 5 times back to back with no comments and I had it. The following day I took the test and passed. Ron is an amazing teacher I only took one lesson with him and I passed via the road test. Kevin is an amazing teacher as well I had him about three times. My first reach was a women I forget her name but I told her I have never driven before and she taught me everything I needed to know about the car itself and how to be confident behind the wheel and drive steady. I did two lessons via Flatbush location which is recommended because of the space but I did the rest of my lessons via Downtown Brooklyn because that is where I live and I figured I must learn how to drive everywhere. Great school. Happy Customer. Safe Driving. Thank you Ron and Kevin. read more

I had a quality experience with Drive Rite! I purchased a rush + package and they handled the logistics easily (especially during covid). Geminesse in particular was insanely resourceful, friendly and helpful throughout the whole experience... Thank you so much!!! read more

I'm a typical born and raised NYer who never drives and I was very nervous to start lessons but it was time it had to be done. I had JR as my instructor and it was a better experience than I expected! He made me feel very comfortable and calm behind the wheel and helped me learn to drive.. something I never thought I'd do! The school is great love the location and really happy with JR as my teacher. I'm a driver now woo hoo! read more

I took lessons with them (having already had a foreign driving license) and after their bronze (three lessons, 5-hour-class and the test) I passed first time. So a good deal overall for $300. But inconvenient and irritating, so I do not recommend. The good * The mandatory five hour classroom session sounded like it would be super tedious and Dave just about made it interesting. * The teachers I saw were calm and helpful. * The classes all started on time (tho more on this later) * The price overall was reasonable. The bad: * The test day arrangements were super inconvenient. They booked it for me, told me to arrive at 1pm sharp, so I had to take a full afternoon off work. When I get there I find my test is at 3pm, and they take you over to red hook in batches for their convenience, not for mine at all. * All the cars are a little different, and because you go in batches it means you take the test in a car that's brand new to you. While you adjust to the brakes, gears etc you are on your test. I nearly failed by braking too hard in the first two minutes as I got used to the car. * They took ages to arrange the test and when they did, they only gave me two weeks notice, which would have been fine except that nearly all the lesson slots were taken so I had to grab the slots I could, hence more time taken off work * The teachers gave inconsistent guidance on the test scoring, e.g. whether you instantly fail or not for hitting the curb when reversing, Overall, I'd maybe recommend for lessons, but don't use them for your test itself if you can avoid it. read more

Went there for a 5 hour driving course. The instructor was great!! It looks like he is doing it for some time. He made it feel fun and interesting read more

So I'm one of those New Yorkers that somehow avoided getting her driver's license until my mid 30s. I failed my road test after taking driver's ed in high school and managed to let nearly 20 years go by before I attempted again...I realized my learner's permit was going to expire for the 4th time and decided it was time to get behind the wheel again. Needless to say I was a nervous wreck about starting this whole licence process. After some research I came across Drive Rite Academy and the process was as smooth as could be. I bought the Gold package, immediately went to my 5 hour class and had my road test scheduled shortly after. They recommend you try a few different instructors at first and then stick with the one that makes you most comfortable. For me that was Jay. He was always so calm and relaxed that it made me relax behind the wheel and actually build some much needed confidence. Ten lessons was a good amount of practice but I bought a few more to get just a little more time behind the wheel (don't have access to a car of my own). I now have a license and it feels like one of the biggest accomplishments of my life haha. Thanks Drive Rite and Jay! read more

I just passed my test yesterday! I purchased a gold package from Drive rite which includes ten classes and one 5-hour class and car for the road test. My instructors were Elaine, Mark, Manuel, Kalia and another lady(i forgot her name). All of them are very nice and informative. I had Ricky for my 5 hours class, and he was very entertaining, and I learned a lot during the lessons. I have never driven before, so I was nervous during my first class. Elaine was very patient and made me feel driving is not as hard as I thought. Manuel taught me how to turn pretty well and the lady(Sorry again, but she usually does evening classes) gave me a nice trick to do parallel parking and treated each lesson as driving test. I failed my first driving test, that was completely my fault. I called Drive rite right away to scheduled another rushed road test. The lady who answered the phone was nice and effectively and I received my 2nd road test date within a few days. I passed the test easily this time(doing all the things that the teachers told me to do). Teachers are great; the price is reasonable, definitely recommended. read more

My instructor JR is always on time and very respectful. I am usually very nervous behind the wheel but I've come along way working with him! thank you. read more

Outstanding! I haven't driven in 21 years and was very apprehensive about trying to learn now. When I called Drive Rite, I spoke to Debbie and she completely understood. She recommended Jay and helped me to book my first set of lessons. I am so glad that she did. Jay is an amazing teacher. He is patient and encouraging and makes you feel safe and confident while learning. I am going to continue with more lessons. If anyone is on the fence about learning to drive a few decades after most, definitely go for it here. I can't recommend Jay highly enough. read more

Highly recommend! I passed after my 2nd attempt. Took classes almost exclusively with Jay. He is such a kind, patient, hilarious and caring instructor. One of the few teaching professionals I have met in my life that truly cares about the safety and knowledge of drivers on the road. His guidance and teaching speaks for itself - cause he is often times fully booked on the schedule. You have to reserve spots with him wayy in advance! Overall the process of getting my license was very organized. It just takes time to book classes, take the 5 hour pre-licensing class etc. So be patient and it'll work out eventually. I also took a few classes with Washington who is equally a very disciplined and great teacher. J.R. drove me out to my actual Red Hook test both times. While I didn't take classes with him - he seems like a great instructor with a lot of great insights to give! read more