Pedro with Nova was a great instructor. I did the 1 hour behind the wheel instruction with road test. He showed me the route and all the things to remember while taking the road test. We drove the route multiple times. And I passed first try with flying colors. Definitely recommend. read more

The nova driving school as a company as a whole-- doesn't matter the location, is awful. Absolutely awful. Mind you we have paid about 700+ dollars for this, and none of the calls ever get received as it takes you to voicemail every single time and it takes forever just to get someone on the phone. They say they will call and then don't. They are basically scamming us. For some shitty service. Not professional at all. Don't book with Nova! Waste of time and money! read more

tl,dr: Let my driver's license expire, needed a new one, plus a car to use for the driving test. Nova Driving School was fantastic. I moved back to Chicago after 14 years in SF and finally needed to get my license again, mainly so I could help my aging folks in Southern Indiana if I needed to. I don't own a car, and I didn't want to borrow one from friends, so I looked for a driving school that also provides a vehicle for the test. Nova kept coming up in the ads, searches, and on Reddit. But I still needed an instructional permit to drive for the driving test. I went to the downtown DMV, took the written and vision tests, and got my instructional permit. I bought Nova's "2HR BTW + ROAD TEST" package on their site, which included 2 hours with an instructor and the use of the car on the day of the DMV. Called a coordinator, and they got me set up for a Friday morning. I'd show up at 6am at the Elston DMV (closest to me), practice the route in their car, then take the driving test. I arrived at the DMV at 6 AM, where I met an instructor named Jamie. He provided an overview of the driving test, explaining what the examiners look for and what questions they might ask. After that, we switched sides, and I got behind the wheel for the first time in 20 years. I was relieved to find that everything came back to me. Jamie took me through the two variations of the route used for the test. The route was very short, consisting of about four to five turns. There was no parallel parking or interstate driving involved. (Please note that this is specific to the Elston DMV; other branches may have different procedures.) Another student arrived, so we picked him up, and I sat in the back while that student drove the route a few times. Then, two more students joined us, making it three in the back and one in the driver's seat, with the instructor in the front. Each of us drove the route 2-3 times, and we had the opportunity to ask questions. As my appointment time approached, I returned to the front seat and went for another round of the two main route variations. Got into the DMV showing my text confirmation of my appointment. They won't let you enter without revealing either the email or the text proof of your appointment. And this branch doesn't take walk-ins. Stood in the first line to get the paperwork reviewed. I went to the camera line to get a photo, then waited, went to a counter, had everything reviewed, filled out more paperwork, signed more things, went over to pay at the cashier, came back, and got my paperwork for my driving test. Went outside to wait to take the driving test. Note that you can't stay inside the building so dress warm if it's winter. The other guys had less complicated paperwork, so one was in line for the driving test. The other one was in front of me. Then I was next. But this is mixed in with all the different people taking the written test. I waited an hour for the car to come back from the other guy and then got in. The instructor drove me around to the back parking lot. He stepped out, I took the driver's side, and got in line, the line of cars. I waited about 40 minutes in the car in line to get my assigned examiner. They had about 4-5 working that day across 3 lines of vehicles. I was finally at the front; the examiner who was the same woman who had helped me with the paperwork got in. We went exactly the route that Nova had reviewed with me several times. At the end, you have to park in a wide test parking space, then after that you park in angled parking with the rest of the other cars, with completed driving tests, but awaiting results. I choked on the question about which way your wheels point if you are facing uphill/downhill, and which side of the road you are on. Overthinking myself. But still passed thankfully. Examiner gets up, out, and leaves, and goes on to another driving test. 10 minutes later, another person comes out with my temporary driver's license and hands it to me, and I'm done. The real one arrives in 2-3 weeks. The $245 fee was definitely worth it for having a car provided, receiving two hours of driving experience on the exact test routes, and having them handle the appointment scheduling. And Jamie the instructor was clear, patient, and at ease in explaining and repeating all things we needed to keep in mind. I procrastinated on this for a long time and felt foolish when I realized how simple and straightforward the process was. If you're in a similar situation, make getting a new driver's license one of your goals for 2026 and call Nova. read more

Do not book driving lessons with this company. They do not disclose that it is nearly impossible to book times to take your classes until after you have purchased the package. They are rude unhelpful. read more

Well I just tried to call as suggested and was on hold for 25 minutes and counting so....I think between that and the number of one and two star reviews on here my review holds. I know that the current MO is to go on here and dispute all reviews, but perhaps the time would be better spent working on some of these known issues. There are currently no in-driving times offered from now through July so that's my next mountain to climb. read more

Signed up for a restricted Chauffeur class and got talked into taking a more expensive class which is unrestricted because I was told it would be more lucrative. I could make more money by driving for Medi-cab because people on Medicare/Medicade who can't drive get $30 from the government each way for doctor's visits. If I bought a vehicle that could seat 10 people I could possibly make $300 each way. I have not been able to find this through Medicare/Medicaid. Also when I asked about who rents vehicles for Black Car service I was told they couldn't recommend one company specific. How about ANY company lol I doesn't help that the instructor is himself a Black Car driver and probably doesn't want any competition read more

My daughter used them 6 years ago and the program was great. We naturally decided to use them for my next daughter and it has been a shit show. Save your $. It is so poorly run now. No one calls u back if you do get someone they put u on hold for long periods. Arghhhhh I believe They take on too many students now so trying to get driving time is a nightmare. Plus they change times and you either have to take the adjusted time or lose appointment. Will not be using them for the next two kids. Save your headaches and frustration. Tooooo much $$$$$$ for such chaos. Has to be better program. read more

The instruction is actually good, but it is impossible to get in contact with them to schedule sessions or ask questions. I have left messages for a return call and waited for 20+ minutes online without anyone answering. The recording loop on the phone is maddening. I will go somewhere else when my younger daughter is ready for lessons. read more

I highly recommend Nova driving school because they will prepare you for driving; just listen and follow their instructions. I took the eight hours (BTW) Behind The Wheel course at the Hyde Park location. I had two excellent driving instructors. My first and last two lessons were with Aaron. My second lesson was with Falin. They were very professional, patient, friendly, knowledgeable and took their job very seriously. Aaron and Falin are superb instructors. Although, I spent one day with Falin; she knows her stuff. They taught me a plethora of things within those two hours, they made me feel comfortable and gave positive feedback. Aaron was Awesome! He was encouraging, very polite, and highly skilled. He taught me things that I did not learn when I earned my driver's license 20 years ago. I obtained so much from these two wonderful people about driving that I am ready and excited about safely getting back behind the wheels. Thanks guys!!! read more

Very good service. Quick answers and plenty of options of services to support their clients.

I paid in full in person on Wednesday and sent in the required documentation that evening. Since then, I've sent multiple emails and text messages these have not been answered. I'm now on hold for over 30 minutes to try and talk to someone to finish registering my son and schedule his lessons. Instead, I'll be asking for my money back and going elsewhere. read more

I took the 2 hour practice course plus road test with Jared, and it was great. Jared is an excellent instructor and nice person. His instruction gave me confidence and helped me pass the road test without any issues. Highly recommended. read more

We purchased the 12 hour ultimate adult beginner course including pickup for my husband, who is an adult but was pretty anxious as a teen and living in the city, never needed a license. I called the school to set everything up, and they were able to get him scheduled with classes every weekend day for the following month, so he was able to complete his courses and get his license in less than 6 weeks while only taking classes on the weekends, which was awesome. It was so worth the money to have them come pick him up too, because it just made everything so convenient. My husband had Jamie for all but one of his lessons, and he couldn't praise Jamie enough for being kind, patient, and helpful for an anxious driver. He truly credits finally passing the exam to Jamie for helping him get over his various driving anxieties. When his classes were over, Nova took care of scheduling the driving exam for my husband and he just had to show up to meet the instructor, do a practice drive, then take his test, and he passed on the first try. We'd highly recommend Nova and especially Jamie for anyone hoping to learn how to drive- it was a huge peace of mind for me to not have to teach him and for him to learn properly, without a ton of anxiety. The $875 we paid for the course including pickup was well worth the money. read more

I wouldn't recommend them to teach a dog how to drive a stick in grass. I was instructed to push my seat very close to the stirring wheel because of my height (I'm five feet even. I was so close to the stirring wheel that my foot was bent towards me for two hours straight. Day two comes and I expressed me concerns to my instructor that I don't think I'm supposed to be this close my foot feels weird. He tells me it's probably my ego talking and I just don't want to seem short. weird comment but I let it go this is a new experience for me maybe I don't know what I'm talking about. so I sat like that for four days day five come and I have a completely different instructor and she's almost the same height as me and she asked me why am I sitting so close and I'm like well this supposed to sit because of my height that's what the previous instructor told me. she said look at me and look at you. We are practically the same height and I don't have to like that when I'm driving why would you have to sit like that and I proceed to tell her that he told me I'm supposed to see the entire front of the car. She's like impossible because of the shape of the car curves so you only see the top of it so how can you see the entire front of the car?. we adjusted my seat and my foot wasn't bent forward. I reached out to them after all my classes was done and I was able to compare all three instructors. I realized that I didn't like that and I tried to talk to you know the people in charge and let them know like hey instructor had me sitting like and I don't think that was fair to me. They to sell me that there's nothing they can instructor is different so that I have an issue with the way that they I have issue with the way that they handle any issue that you come to them with read more

Mixed experience. Most of my instructors were friendly, but the quality of instruction varied. One instructor kept me in a parking lot for most of our lessons because I was struggling with turns. I didn't understand some of her directions so I asked clarifying questions, but she couldn't explain things differently. Once I switched to Sebastian, Javier, and Frank, I felt in better hands but that many of my earlier lessons had been wasted -- though I liked my initial instructor and she was kind. As an adult client, I also didn't appreciate that Nova dictated when I could take my road test and would've preferred more flexibility to focus on practical skills like winter driving and parallel parking. I do have my license now, but I still feel unprepared on the road after 18 hours of BTW instruction. For lessons alone, Nova is 3-stars to me. The reason for 2 stars is their supervisor, Brenda. Nova charged me a $60 no-show fee for a lesson I believe was scheduled incorrectly. A supervisor, Brenda, justified the charge citing a recording of the scheduling call, but refused to share the audio despite admittedly misremembering details from it. After some back-and-forth, she offered the waiver but only one of my two BTW hours. I insisted on both and she promised to call back within 3 business days -- then ignored my calls for nearly two weeks, knowing I had an upcoming move. When I finally reached her, she blamed the delay on a colleague's bereavement and became increasingly unprofessional. She told me not to interrupt, spoke over me when it was my turn to speak, then left the call without notice. I waited on the line through several minutes of silence, heard her talking in the background (I think I was overhearing another client call), then more silence, and eventually a hang-up. When I called back, she denied it, repeated the same points, interrupted me again, thanked me and hung up after making several inappropriate comments. After a second request to work with someone else, I was finally told another supervisor would contact me but I doubt it. Ultimately, I did not get to use my driving hours and the $60 fee remains on my account. Would never recommend. read more

******************UPDATE (12December2024) **************** I have received a call from Andrew, from the NOVA driving office, regarding the issue above, and he has immediately rectified the issue. My wife will be receiving a new instructor and will be given another opportunity to test for her DMV Road Test, with no additional costs. I sincerely appreciate the professionalism and attention provided to us and will hopefully, be able to sign up for more classes in the future! read more

Nova in Norridge is the most unorganized and worst experience. They constantly lost my daughter's paperwork - after sending the permit twice, they took a physical copy when she was there and still lost it. I had to send her school transcripts three times. They scheduled the class to start on a holiday weekend and didn't text/call people until the morning of the class to tell everyone there wouldn't be class because of the holiday - ruining weekend plans because apparently the holiday came out of no where - July 4th BTW. We have set up the on road driving and they always call the day before asking to make changes.They changed todays driving lesson twice in the last two days. I get a text telling me I will be charged a fee if we cancel or make changes but they do it all the time AND the guy was late this morning after he moved it up two hours. Not to mention my daughter was supposed to learn parking last week and the instructor "didn't feel like teaching it" so she just drove for an hour. I have two more kids and I will not be going back to Nova. Way too much money for half ass service. read more

So, SO grateful to Nova, especially my instructor Tony Delgado, who was the absolute best! I was able to get my license on my first try. Tony was a great teacher -- he was always supportive and helped me get over my fear of the gas pedal lol!! I also want to shout out the Nova scheduling/admin staff who man the phones, especially Valerie for being really patient and kind. Great experience overall!! NOTE: Just a word of advice to prospective new learners: even if you feel like you have some basic experience driving, I would still suggest taking Nova's 12 hr lesson option instead of the 6 hour one if you can. The lessons go by much faster than you think. read more

I would not recommend Nova Driving school and the Evanston location to anyone!!!! David one of the instructors is very rude and makes you very uncomfortable to drive! Not to mention you pay for a 2 hour driving lesson and only get 1.5 hours most of the time you drive! If you're going to go to driving school do not go there! read more

WORST driving school in Chicago! Do NOT, I mean Do NOT, send you child their to get certified. Find another one. Nickel and dimed, poor communication and unwillingness to issue a refund when they clearly overcharged. read more

Incredibly negative experience with the company. Instructors and class room staff great. The communication from anyone on the phone lacks knowledgeable responses. Management so far has been non existent, inflexible and appears to not care much for its customers. As someone who has referred countless people to, I don't believe I can in good conscience again. read more

The instructors are genuinely fantastic. They very much care about teaching students to be responsible drivers and are involved throughout the entire lesson. As for the organization itself, it is highly disorganized, lacks communication and conducts itself unprofessionally. I recommend staying away. read more

I booked a lesson and driving test with Nova. The lesson started at 6:00 am and after driving around for an hour, I had to travel separately to meet them at the DMV so I could take my test. However, Nova had forgotten to book my test so I was unable to take it that day and had to go home. They gave me credit to retake the test (but not the lesson) but DID NOT TELL ME that this credit had an expiry date which happened to coincide perfectly with when I tried to rebook it. read more

If your child falls ill, there is no leniency offered. The driver assigned to transport my child contacted me to reschedule just a day before the appointment, which was already past the cancellation deadline. Although we did not wish to cancel, I adjusted our plans to accommodate the new schedule. Unfortunately, the following morning, my child woke up unwell and began vomiting. I called at 4 AM to notify them, as that was when my child became ill. My child has consistently attended all classes and lessons, except for this one instance, which was beyond our control. Despite this, they insisted that I must pay for the missed lesson, regardless of my child's illness. The fee they are referring to is an additional charge for not attending the driving session, separate from the already paid classes and lessons. I explained I made every effort to accommodate the schedule change, but illness is something I cannot control. They showed no concern for my child's condition and stated that I would still be charged the extra fee. This was our first cancellation; we have always been consistent and never missed a session before, but illness forced us to cancel this time. Consequently, they have canceled the remaining two sessions until I pay the additional fee for my child's absence, despite the fact that all classes and lessons have already been paid for. I cannot recommend this service at all. If it were possible, I would rate them with zero stars. read more

They lied to me, took my money. I have been told that my kids will learn how to drive stick shift and they are getting automatic transmission driving lessons. They are liers and thives. nstruct read more

Great experience. Had a lesson with Tony before taking the road test. Very professional, friendly, and stressed safety first. Was able to cover all the details, which was crucial for passing the road test even for someone with much experience. Saw a couple reviews about customer service, but in my experience everything was professional, on time, and definitely worth it. read more

I am so grateful to NOVA, and more specifically Julio Naveda for helping me to get my driver's license. It always felt unattainable, but now I can confidently and very happily say I've done it! Thank you so much again! read more

I'm very disappointed in my experience with Nova. The quality of the lessons depends entirely on the instructor you get. I had four lessons with nova. My first two instructors were calm and helpful, and helped ease my anxiety. The instructor for my final two lessons was impatient and scolding, increasing my anxiety and causing further mistakes, which he then scolded me for. There should be a more standardized approach, especially since they advertise as "great for anxious drivers". read more

Recommend them! I got Julio as my driving instructor and he was great. I had no driving experience before and they really made me comfortable behind the wheel. They were very helpful with any questions I asked and also with appointments. Here are some things I wish I knew: Calling is better than scheduling or rescheduling online! And STAY ON THE LINE EVEN WHEN YOU ARE ON HOLD! It's gonna take a while, but it's worth it! If you book all your classes all at once, you won't have to call and be on hold again! They will call you if your instructor cannot make it or asks for a new time. They were very accommodating with me since I had work and declined the change. The road test prep is nice, they take you near the route of the test and you practice multiple times. We started going there the last two lessons we had (I did the 12 hour ult beginner). They will tell you what you need to watch out for as well. For the actual road test, they schedule it for you! On my road test prep (the last scheduled lesson), Julio asked me what time and day I'm free and someone for Nova called me later that day to confirm. The day of my exam, I got a text from the Secretary of State confirming the date and time of appointment. Your instructor will meet you at the DMV! And it might take a while to get through the paperwork as well. After I did my paperwork, we went around one time and went straight to the road test! They will also email you all the documents you need to bring and also the car insurance. PLEASE PRINT THIS OUT BEFORE YOUR EXAM. You need to have all the documents or else you need to reschedule everything! Bring extra paperwork just in case as well! So many people didn't bring their car insurance or expired documents. Documents need to be recent - 90 days or earlier! Julio told me everything I needed so I was good to go! read more

I chose nova because of the pickup/drop off option. Reggie was professional, calm and had some good tips. Geno was very unprofessional, perverted, loud and made me lose my confidence after the few lessons I had with Michelle and Reggie. On the day of the test, I waited for Geno at 6am - no answer from him or the office. He texts me saying he'd be there at 6:45am, he shows up at 7:30am, and drives/speeds to the DMV. So there goes my 2hr practice lesson before the test! Then he picks up another girl to drive her to the DMV and do a practice run with her while I move to the back seat. I have pictures to prove it! The office refuses to issue a refund for this because I passed the test and got my license, so I should keep my mouth shut?! I am not happy with the service I received because It did not help me get more confident behind the wheel, as I already knew how to drive. read more

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I failed my road test twice - TWICE! - back in New York, where I had taken 0 classes and practiced only with my parents. When I moved to Chicago, I knew I had to do finally bite the bullet and get myself adult lessons. I don't have a car and don't have friends or family to practice with since I just moved here. 8 hours of practice of later with Nova, I PASSED! Javier was instrumental in making me less nervous behind the wheel and getting me to pass that test. He was so patient, explained the rules of the road super clearly, and offered constant encouragement the whole way through! To demonstrate his dedication to my learning, he even woke up at 3 in the morning the day of my exam to get me to practice around the testing area! Such amazing instruction, and I feel like I made a friend along the way. :) Nova, as a business, took care of booking my exam, providing a car, and making sure I had all my documents the day of the exam. Took all the unnecessary stress out of passing Illinois's road test! I also really love that Nova has a comprehensive system to inform me of my progress after each lesson. After each lesson, you receive an evaluation that breaks down every part of driving (i.e. "making turns," "control of the vehicle," etc.) and tells you whether or not that part is satisfactory yet. Thank you, Nova + Javier, for making my first driver's license possible! read more

Nova Driving School - Javier, best instructor ever! - Driving Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The instructors are great. Customer service is NOT. The instructors are very patient and professional, they provide a lot of practical tips and I was confident on the road only after couple lessons. However I was not impressed by the customer service people. They are abrasive and conduct themselves unprofessionally. Also for some reason I was unable to schedule my final lesson online due to system error. read more

A while ago, I contacted Nova school since I was interested in getting my C license. We exchanged some emails, later the school began calling me. I told them that I was in the process of renewing my DL and also I was studying for the written exam so I can get my CDL driving permit and I would let them know once I am ready. I even told them getting appointments at the DMV is hard since have the state is trying to get their Real ID. Its been a few weeks and they have constantly called me over and over again. What an obnoxious business you guys are. NEVER in a million years I thought giving them my number this would be the end result. And for the record, its not just one person, but the entire office it seems (different people leaving me messages). Also the fact I don't answer nor do I respond, does that not mean I am NOT INTERESTED. STOP calling me every few days to give you an update. You are NOT my employer, but a school I will pay money for. I am NOT obligated to tell NOVA where I am in the process. So great now I an being constantly harassed by a driving school. read more

Alejandra Leon was so helpful getting my daughter's lessons scheduled. She was patient, worked with our schedule and found a way to make everyone happy. Really appreciated her support. read more

Nova Driving was the very best in teaching! I worked with Michael O primarily and he was so calm, concise, and great when teaching the basics - all while pushing me forward with each class. I came in a bit afraid because I had never driven in all my 20+ years, but they made it seamless. I did my final lesson (before receiving my license!) with Lawrence and that same experience was conveyed. They make sure you are learning properly and smoothly. I cannot recommend it enough. I learned from the Hyde Park location - time to completion was roughly 1 month. read more

Have had several very near-misses on my bike from their cars. The students are learning, I understand. It's the responsibility of the teachers to educate on safe and lawful driving behaviors, no? Please allow at least 3 feet of space when passing; more is better. It would be great if they actually walked the "drive defensively and responsibly" walk so that I can, you know, not eat shit. read more

Had Julio as my instructor he was extremely welcoming good vibes all around. Provided some helpful tips on driving smart around the city. Didn't finish the program as I misplaced my driving permit but glad to say that I finally received my license. If you're a beginner and looking to learn how to drive I highly recommend this place. read more

Buyer be ware. Nova will not take accountability. We used Nova's service where they schedule an appointment at the DMV and provide a practice test before hand. Via phone we asked Nova to verify the documents required. When we arrived at the DMV the information they provided was incorrect and our application was rejected. Certainly, everyone bears responsibility to ensure they bring accurate documents. However, when you pay for a service, ask for specific information, it is reasonable to expect the information you are paying for is accurate. When we attempted to call Nova and share what happened, they would not connect us to a supervisor. Nor did they return a call. This is not worth paying for. I'd recommend all stay away. A lack of accountability and service seems to be a theme here. Hopefully, Nova figures it out for others in a way that was different than our experience. read more

I've never encountered an organization that effectively refused to service a prospective customer. I enrolled our son for driving instruction in June 2022. A friend's son had a decent experience at Nova, so I used the online deposit feature to enroll. After one confusing call back shortly after paying for the service, I'd understood we'd be contacted again to setup scheduling, but we literally never heard from them again. Exacerbating my frustration was the fact it's nearly impossible to reach anyone at the company. There's no way to send an email to anyone there. The "quick contact" form on their website apparently is ignored. Likewise the "info@novadriving.com" email address listed apparently isn't monitored either. I also attempted to call numerous times over several months and no one ever answered the phone; the only option is to leave a voicemail in a general mailbox, which also doesn't seem to be regularly tended. Finally, after nearly five months, I decided to obtain a refund. The saga that ensued further supported my skepticism of the ethics of this company. When I finally was able to speak to someone to discuss my request, they mainly tried to talk me out of a refund, then handed me off to others who did the same, then said I could get a refund less an unspecified service fee. Finally after five months they agreed to refund my money--via a check I had to go pick up, although they still refused to refund the $35 I'd paid for credit card processing! (which was par for the course with them at this point and I just wanted my money). Bottom line: Steer clear of this company. read more

I would strongly recommend nova driving school to everyone. I had a driving experience of almost 8 years and 60000 kms in india and I was pretty confident to pass the test in my first attempt however when I gave my test (2 attempts without any driving school instructions) I realised that there were some small things which I was not aware off and all those things really mattered when it comes to the road test in Illinois. No need to mention that I failed my first two attempts. Finally I reached out to Nova driving school and I was lucky enough to have "David Bonilla" as my instructor. He is very good at what he is supposed to do. He helped me with all the possible scenarios Related to advanced intersection, turns etc. He can provide you all those nitty gritty details to past your test in your first attempt itself. When you call Nova ask for "David bonilla" as your instructor. Highly recommended. I wish I could have saved at least 1 year if I would have known this earlier. Highly recommended to all immigrants also. Don't get into the trap of cheap individual instructors in the market they don't provide good services while nova has a brand to maintain and they go for an additional mile to make sure that you pass your test in your first attempt . I would suggest that you should Go for at least 4 hour behind the wheel + road test package. It's every penny worth it.I hope this review helps most of you out there looking for a driving school to learn driving or just want to clear the Road test being an experienced driver in some other country. read more

Nova Driving School - Driving Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois