5-star learning experience with Nick! I'm 27 years ago and have always been super anxious about driving so I never actually learned how to. I'm glad I found Nick and the Pennsylvania Driving School. I passed the road test on my first try with Nick's help! He is really patient, understanding, and supportive. He taught me how to not only pass the test but also know how to drive safely and confidently in the long run. He'd pick me up on time for every lesson, go over the car dashboard controls, let me practice driving especially right/left turns, and explain what to do in certain scenarios. He has a foolproof method for parallel parking that I was able to understand and succeed at right away. I took the test with him as well and I'm glad I did. He picked me up at 6:30 in the morning and drove me to the test site to practice on the exact routes that the test would be on. I finished everything and got my driver's license at 9am! I never thought this day would come but I'm proud of myself for overcoming my driving anxiety. Thank you Nick a million times for your awesome instructions and for giving me the freedom to go out there on my own and explore! read more

Pennsylvania Driving School offers the cheapest driving lessons per hour that's why I chose them. Dave is a nice guy, funny and quite patient. I feel like he's condescending at times, but I wanted to learn so I suck it up. I took 3 lessons with them and I still feel like I can barely drive. Lesson 1 - Dave picked me up and asked if I know any empty parking lots near me. He spent 1 hr 30mins just telling me where are the 12 blind spots on the car, the controls in the car and explaining the details of the RECEIPT!!! 30mins driving around and around a parking lot. Lesson 2 - Dave picked me up and finally found a better parking lot. Spent 30mins going through everything he told me on the first lesson. 30mins driving around the parking lot. 50mins finally driving on the road! Lesson 3 - Dave picked me up and took 30mins to find a good place to practice (back to the same parking lot). Spent 30 mins in the parking lot trying some angle parking. 1hr on the road. No parallel parking just because there's snow on the curb. After 3 lessons (6 hrs) I expect to know more about driving and parking. I feel that there's a lot of wasted time on my dime. read more

It was a fantastic experience. My instructor Nick was really friendly, knowledgeable and made the entire learning process really systematic and thorough. Thanks to him I passed my test on the first try. Not only that but at the end of my classes I had become quite familiar with parallel parking as well. Thanks for all the help!!! :) read more

Nick guided me with great efficiency and efficacy through exactly what I needed to learn. I had previously gotten a license abroad a decade ago but Nick was fantastic at solidifying my skills. The lessons were always to the point and easy-going. I have total confidence in his expertise and I passed my test on the first try, thank you PDS! read more

I had a GREAT experience with this school. Nick is a fantastic teacher--patient, and great at putting even a nervous adult learner at ease. I passed on my first attempt! He is excellent at breaking down the mechanics of driving, and teaching you systems for maneuvers like turning and parallel parking. read more

As of today I am now a licensed driver, and thanks to Dave's amazing instruction, I passed my test on the first try. I really enjoyed my time with this school and teacher. I only could do lessons on the weekend because of work, but I learned so much in the span of 8 lessons. (Yes 8, I just didn't feel confident enough at the 4 I planned on taking). But what I enjoyed the most is Dave's patience with me, and the way that he taught me pretty much everything I know about driving. I knew nothing on my first lesson, and now, I'm a licensed driver. I would recommend Dave to anyone that ask me about driving schools and which instructor to go with. He helped a bunch, especially with parking: Remember the 3 Rs and the 3Ls. read more

I had an awesome experience. My instructor Dave was very patient and informative. I took 3 lessons and he was always on time. I passed my lesson on the first try. I would recommend this driving school and ask for Dave. You won't be disappointed! read more

Instructor was always on time & taught our daughter well; she passed her driving test first time

A very rude person on the phone (female); I am writing this to let this business owner (maybe she is) know that you just lost a customer because of the hysterical person who answers your business call. I got yelled while confirming the schedule I made last week which was different from my scheduler. She yelled right away without even taking a moment checking into it. She has very demeaning manner. Maybe because of my accent, I don't know. I cancelled my lesson. Not willing to spend my money for this kind of disgraceful act. You are not the only driving school in Philly. read more

The first phone call with Glen was a pleasant experience. He spend around 30 minutes explaining everything in great detail and answered my many questions. Each lesson lasts 2 hours and costs $98, the last session comprising of 1.5 hours of practice on the actual test route right before you actually take the test costs $188, amounting to a grand total of $600 for 10 hours of driving time. First lesson consists of mastering turns and control in a parking lot. I attribute being able to drive myself home on the first day to Nick's effective instruction. The goal is to master the knowledge portion of the test. Second lesson consists of driving on the roads in South Philly where you master stop signs, turns and learn to change lanes. This is to master the road test portion of the test. Third lesson is a road trip on the highway. This is to master the road test portion and to have experience on the highway, not needed for the test but essential for real life. Fourth lesson is parallel parking. The method Nick teaches is extremely effective. I did it on the first try! All my friends now consider me the expert in parallel parking. This completes the 3 part test, the third being the mastering of parallel parking. The fifth lesson/test consists of 1.5 hours of practicing, which amounts to 10-15 practice runs on the actual test route. On the morning of the test, I overslept so I only got 3 practice runs and 30 minutes of practice time and still passed on my first try! The two people in front of me who were also students from the Pennsylvania Driving School also passed. In my opinion, the best advantage a driving school has compared to being taught by family members is that they know every inch of the test and teach to the test from day 1. Nick's experience of 30 years and his calm and effective method of repetition that builds on each lesson is very effective, even for the very nervous driver. He is also extremely courteous and gracious. I would not hesitate to recommend this school for anyone who needs to relearn or learn for the first time. read more

I have finally passed my driving exam after taking lessons from 4 local Philadelphia driving schools! Based on my experience, Pennsylvania Driving School is a solid option, just not my number 1 choice. While their driving lessons are on-par with the other schools, their prices are not the most competitive (if I remember correctly, they cost about $30 more than the cheapest option, and about as much cheaper as the most expensive option) and they don't really stand out in terms of services like reminder calls, follow-up, etc. A major weakness of my experience was, unlike the other schools, they didn't take me around a test route right away. However, I only had one lesson and maybe would've benefitted more from the full curriculum, which looks less tailored to the test and more general-knowledge based. I couldn't really afford that though, and would rather practice on my own time with a license, so it wasn't really for me. read more

I was hooked after the first lesson! Being a bit of a late bloomer I didn't make the decision to get my license until I was 35 years old. I knew I wanted to do it right so I went looking for a reputable company to give me a solid foundation. There are so many companies out there to choose from that initially I was a bit overwhelmed with the task of finding a school at all. Then I started reading the reviews for different people and came upon the reviews for the Pennsylvania Driving School and more specifically one of their instructors Nick. I called them up and spoke with the owner Glen to get an overview of what the cost and conditions of the lessons would be. Their rates were pretty on par with the two other schools that I had contacted but their was one noticeable difference... They would pick you up and drop you off from work, school, home... or anywhere else for that matter. My instructor, Nick, was AMAZINGLY calm, patient, and, most importantly... KNOWLEDGEABLE. From the first lesson I was confident that I had picked the right school and lucked out with a compatible instructor. Nick told me from the beginning that he had a four lesson plan. FOUR LESSONS!!!!!!! After that I would have all the tools I needed to take and PASS the driving exam. As I completed each lesson I grew more and more confident in my abilities as a driver. On test day Nick picked me up at 6AM... Yes, you read correctly... 6 o'clock in the morning. We actually drove the course that the Examiners take you on for the licensing exam. Not only that we had more than enough time to run through that course at least 7 or 8 times. By the time I took the actual test I was more than comfortable and walked out with my license (well a temporary one since the State of Pennsylvania actually mails your official license to you). If you are THINKING about taking lessons and are in any way nervous or apprehensive... This is the driving school for you! read more

Awesome driving school! Had an amazing teacher (Glenn!!!!) who was very patient and gave the best driving advice. As a 25 year old and terrified of driving, Glenn was awesome! He answered all my questions and help me feel calm throughout every lesson. I did about 3 lessons and passed my test on the first try. The lessons were very simple, the driving instructor picks you up from your home and on the first lesson takes you to a safe driving area, teaches you the basics, and then let's you drive around. Then on future lessons you will be driving right away from your pick up location. I learned how to angle park in my second lesson and how to parallel park in my third. I also took the test with school which was a huge help. The school schedules the test for you so less work on your part and you get first dibs on the test time. Day of the test, the instructor picks you up, helps you practice driving before the exam, waits for you while you take the exam, then takes you home. The price is a bit on the high side but honestly all the other driving schools will be about the same price and with this school the amount is worth every penny. The school has the best customer service and are very friendly. Other driving schools that I called barely let me ask anything over the phone and were very short with me. This school let me ask as many ridiculous questions as I wanted over the phone even before scheduling a lesson and were very accommodating with scheduling on weekends and will even call two days before every lesson to confirm the time (Special thanks to Barbara!!!) Overall, this is a great school and I can't emphasize enough how friendly everyone is and how patient so please consider using them! You won't be sorry! read more

Prior taking driving lessons with this school, I had no experience driving/learning to drive what so ever. And I do get nervous very very easily. Even after getting a learner's permit, I still hesitated a little bit whether or not to take driving lessons. But I figured if I wouldn't try, I would never learn. Anyhow, I actually Yelped this driving school and call them up, got everything explained very clearly, then set up my first lesson. My instructor was Nick and I definitely amen all the great things mentioned about him in posts below. He is very patient, experienced, and knowledgeable about every single bit of the exam. I was also taught the best parallel parking technique ever. On exam day, we started early and went through all the formalities of the exam before the actual exam. I passed on my third try, but again, it's all due to the nerve-wreck that I am. I highly recommend this driving school for anyone who want to learn to be a good driver. read more

Nick is a great teacher, offered me great classes and passed my exam at the first time with him. Super good classes highly recommend him :)

My teacher: Nick (an awesome Vet!) Me: An OLD (over 35) girl from NYC who put off getting a license because driving used to terrify me and also, who drives in NYC??. I did try taking lessons a few times over the past 10 years (the last time was 4 years ago) but never got over my phobia and never ended up taking the test because I kept moving cities and also because I wasn't ready. After taking lessons with Nick, I just passed my test on the first try this morning! He has a 4-lesson curriculum that teaches you everything you need to know to pass the test. Each lesson is 2 hours long. Full disclosure, I did pay for an extra three lessons because I wanted to practice and I didn't have anyone else to practice with (I do have friends though. Don't worry). I never understood parallel parking until I started lessons with Nick. He taught me how to do it on the first lesson and I can now get into a parking spot in just two moves. He taught me how to parallel park in the street (in the real world in between two cars) and also how to parallel park using the setup of the driving test (parking between cones/poles). They're plenty of time in each lesson for you to practice each skill until you feel comfortable. Nick is probably the 4th driving teacher I've ever had and he is the most calm, patient teacher I have ever had. So chill!! He's very methodical and will teach you how to drive safely but is able to do so in a way that builds your confidence instead of turning you into a nervous wreck. I did try one lesson with another local Philadelphia driving school but never went back because the teacher was horrendous (bad teacher and also racist). That school was cheaper for a reason! My driving test was at 830am. Nick was scheduled to pick me up at 630am and he came early! He's always on time or early! He took me to the PennDot in waaaaaay up North Philly and we practiced parallel parking and practiced driving the test route many many many times so that by the time it was my turn to take the test, I felt ready. With Nick as a teacher, this old NYC girl has gotten over her driving phobia and now has a license!!! Thank you Nick!! read more

I got my driver's license today on the first try thanks to Nick's teaching. I was a very nervous driver finally learning at the age of 20. He was always patient, calm, and helpful. He taught me how to drive in just 4 lessons and my confidence has built a great deal. I would highly recommend this school and this instructor over others. You get your money's worth. I chose this place based on these reviews and let me tell you firsthand, I made the correct choice. And as a side note, if you're nervous about parallel parking, Nick has an easy, fool-proof method. I nailed it on my exam. read more

I passed my Driving Test on the first try! I am so happy with the service that Pennsylvania Driving School provides. Nick Mooney is a fabulous instructor and is very patient and nice. I loved that I was able to practice at the actual test site the morning of the test and use the provided car that I had been practicing on. I recommend this driving school to everyone, especially if you are nervous or don't think you will ever be able to drive. read more

AVOID like an oncoming Septa bus! "Dave" was 20 minutes late to pick up my 17 year old son. When he did arrive, he got into the driver's seat, and asked MY KID what parking lots were nearby. My son has his driver's permit and has been driving on streets for several months. He has graduated from mall parking lots, and the only nearby parking lot my son knew (remember, he's a 17 year old who mainly relies on public tranportation) was the closest ACME. On a Sunday morning at 10:30 am. Dave agreed that was a smart place to go practice driving. My kid learned nothing new, except that the ACME is a very busy (and dangerous) parking lot on Sunday mornings. My kid also reported that Dave was extremely creepy and passive-aggressive and continued to make disparaging remarks about us, the parents who were paying the tab for this "lesson." Like, "I guess your parents didn't teach you about blind spots, huh?" Does that help teach a kid about blind spots somehow? The policy for Pennsylvania Driving School is that you must call within 24 hours if you have a problem. I did. Susan, who answers, and Glen, the owner, made many excuses for Dave, his negative attitude and lack of preparation for his job. Not wanting to litigate with people who clearly accept low bar standards, I'll leave it up to you, the reader, to decide. If you want someone who shows up late, has no plan for where they are going to take you (or your child) to practice driving, is woefully unprepared for the very basic work they do, and has a nasty, negative and victimlike attitude, this is your place. If you are looking for a kind, comfortable, patient and prepared instructor, STEER clear of Pennsylvania Driving School and Dave in particular. read more

George was the BEST! ! He was always prompt and on time even coming early to make sure my daughter had plenty of time to practice on test day. He helped my daughter feel much more confident and relaxed behind the wheel. George was very positive and energetic allowing her to feel more comfortable to ask him questions. The prices were very reasonable compared to the other more well known schools. I would highly recommend George to future young drivers looking to pass their test on the first time around!. Thank you George for a great experience ! read more

I know that most people don't want to spend any money to learn how to drive and expect their friends/family to teach them, but trust me you will most likely not pass and you will DEFINITELY need to take lessons at a prestigious driving school, and the only one in Philadelphia is the Pennsylvania Driving School. I did my research and came to the conclusion that this was all worth it. 2 lessons later (I had some experience driving from what my friends taught me) I have my Temporary License in my hands with a first try after taking lessons with Nick. He is truly the best, he teaches a method (and that's all you need) and makes sure you get enough practice during the lessons as well as the day of the exam. I cannot believe I finally have a license, all thanks to Nick! read more

Rick is an amazing instructor. My son started and ended his lessons with him while having a fly-by-night instructor in between through another company due to scheduling conflicts. I would recommend him 100 times over. My son is a responsible and confident driver thanks to Rick and Pennsylvania Driving School. read more

Nick is the golden ticket to receiving your drivers license on the first try. From day one he was supportive and very informative. I just passed my test yesterday and Nick did everything to make the test comfortable. Im 33 years old and was scared to drive but Nick talked to me and took everything step by step. By the third and fourth lesson I was comfortable going on the highway and parallel parking. Knowing the do's and don't of driving, learning the techniques taught by Nick, I know I will be a strong a safe driver in no time. I went from scared of driving to asking for the keys every time I want to go somewhere. Great school, ask for Nick... read more

Nick is excellent! Couldn't have asked for a better driving school. I took 4 lessons over the course of two weeks. I learned how to parallel park in the second lesson, and already felt confident driving all over the city by the third lesson. I couldn't believe it! Unfortunately couldn't take the road test with Nick (due to my travel plans), but I took it on my own and passed on the first try! Overall, learned how to drive and got my license in 3 weeks. read more

I cannot recommend these guys enough. My instructor was Nick, who was brilliant. He's been doing this for many, many years and it shows. He doesn't push extra lessons on you and is the personification of calm, practical teaching. read more

Nick at Pennsylvania Driving School is the best driving instructor, especially for nervous drivers. I am originally from London where I got along fine without driving but I just turned 30 this year and now living in the US I couldn't put off getting my license any longer...I passed my test yesterday after the first try thanks to Nick and his 4 lesson plan, it really works! They are a little pricier than other companies but you really get what you pay for and each lesson is 2 hours long which is great. Nick is always on time, patient and a great teacher; I am sure I wouldn't be driving without him, thanks Nick! read more

After constant procrastination and at age 25, I was beginning to feel a sense of inadequacy about not knowing how to drive. That ended the day I called Pennsylvania Driving School. Full disclosure- I had called and made an appointment with Paul's driving school, to have them never come to the appointment (see my other reviews). I called PA Driving School and spoke with Glen, the owner. He was very professional and outlined the 4 lesson process. We set up an appointment for later that week. My instructor was Nick. I honestly dont have enough positive notes to say about Nick. He was always on time and professional. He made me feel more like a friend then a student. He went above and beyond just the basics for passing the test. He taught "life" driving skills and wanted to ensure that while knowing how to drive was a great skill, being a lifelong safe driver was more important. I had 4 lessons over the span of about 6 weeks (my schedule fluctuates and they are very accommodating). Week 1: Parking lot- practicing turning, controls, etc Week 2: Roads in South Philly- practicing skilled driving maneuvers learned week 1 Week 3: Road trip- Drove on 95 and Blue route. Practiced merging and driving at high speeds. Week 4: Parking- Nick has a special trick that can turn the worst parallel parkers into pros. Week 5: Test- Nick picked me up at 6:30 in the morning and we practiced the exact course that the PennDot examiners use. I PASSED the first time! I couldn't be more thrilled with my experience and more thankful to Nick for all of his help, insight and guidance. read more

Unfortunately I believed these reviews which was a huge mistake. Worst experience ever, wish I would have done more research. Over priced and reluctant to teach high speed driving. Please do your research don't make the same mistake I did. read more

I cannot recommend this school enough. Passed on the first trial, no mistakes, and the examiner was actually impressed with my driving, which I'm sure is very rare. I parallel park in one move now which is fantastic in the city. Nick has so much experience, he's systematic, works by giving you positive reinforcement rather than criticizing you, and is an outstanding individual. He made sure that I didn't just pass the test, but that I was genuinely a great driver. Thank you! read more

I had to learn to drive for the first time at 35 and I was VERY nervous about it. I'm so glad I decided to hire a professional instructor instead of trying to learn from a friend. Nick was very calm and patient and did a great job of teaching me manageable bits of information at a time and keeping me from being overwhelmed. By lesson 3 he taught me how to parallel park on the street. After 5 lessons he took me for my test and i passed on the first try. I definitely continue to keep his lessons in mind as I drive and appreciate that he taught me a lot about driving safely and not just how to pass the test. read more

I can't say enough good things about Nick! After getting sloppy and hurried lessons from another school, I was very discouraged and had no confidence in my driving abilities. So I did my research and found Pennsylvania Driving School. I read the rave reviews about Nick and they were all right! 10 minutes into our first lesson I felt more confident driving than I ever have before and for the first time I was hopeful that I'd actually get my license soon. During our lessons, Nick was extremely calm, very pleasant to be around, funny, and professional. He was firm in his instruction when appropriate, but never mean and never impatient. He broke down everything and explained things from scratch and showed me practical and memorable techniques for doing things. Not to mention the things he taught me will stick with me for life, as they quickly became habits. Long and short of it is, I passed my test on the first try and I am very pleased that I chose this school. As mentioned in other reviews, the lessons are pricey. However, I would rather pay for the top quality lessons that I got with Nick, than to have spent money on a shabby school. It is WORTH it. read more

My instructor was Nick !!!! He is the best. He makes you confident and comfortable with driving. Omg parallel parking was so damn easy with the help of Nick!!! I love the way he teaches. I paid other driving schools $70 but all they do is take your money. With Pennsylvania driving school it was worth it. Yes very expensive but worth it. Again I got my license on the first try thanks to Nick!!!!!!!!!! Ask for Nick!!!!! read more

I was a late bloomer when it came to driving. Not only that i was very scared and nervous. I knew that i had to get over my fears and at least try to get that licence that was so long overdue. I did alot of research as to what driving school i should select. I chose Pennsylvania driving school because of all the great reviews on Nick! I called the school up and had my first lesson with Nick. It went well, i became more confident already in one lesson. Make a long story short i took a few lessons with Nick and i now have my license. I still can't believe that i have it after waiting so long. I can only thank Nick and Pennsylvania driving school for that. The lessons are not cheap but Nick was a true professional and he cares about his students. If you are looking for a driving school look no further than Pennsylvania Driving School and ask for Nick! You won't regret it. read more

I literally just passed my exam this morning, and I have a lot of things to say about this school. Yes, it's more expensive than a lot of the schools in Philadelphia. I had some trepidation about paying that much for lessons, but I hadn't driven in almost a decade and was scared to death of getting out on the road. He got me out onto the roads in the first lesson. (I drove myself to and from work via Columbus Boulevard today, and I fit right in - this is after 6 weeks of lessons. This is all thanks to Nick...he made sure I faced driving situations I didn't like head on!) It is worth every penny! Nick's method of instruction is smooth, calm, and he pushes you to do more than you thought you could within the two hour lesson. If I got nervous, he told me I was doing just fine and let me make my own decisions starting with the second lesson. Nick got me on the highway on the third lesson. I was beet red, but I did it! Now I regularly make sure I don't shy away from new driving situations just because it is new. I was a very nervous driver and still have things that make me nervous, but Nick wasn't phased and if I made a mistake, he would correct firmly, but never in a way to make you even more nervous/tense. Today, he picked me up at 6:30 AM and we got about 5-6 runs of the route at West Oak Lane. By the time the examiner got in the car with me, I had it down pat. The examiner instantly told me I passed and he said he was impressed with my driving. In four lessons, he had me ready to pass my exam the first time with NO minors. That is a feat! Thank you, Nick! I'm a safer driver (and licensed!) because of you. read more

George did a great job in teaching me vital driving tips. He helped me get over the nervousness of driving on busy streets and parallel parking. George was always prompt for lessons and even showed some funny looking homes in the area. On the day of my test, he assured me I would pass with flying colors. And at the end of the day, I did get my license! read more

I took five lessons with Nick and he is amazing. I researched a lot about driving schools and I definitely think they are the best. I was extremely nervous to drive and did not think I would ever pass my exam, but nick really built my confidence. He gave me skills to not only pass my exam, but also be a safe driver. He also taught me how to parallel park and has a great method in order to get right into the spot. I ended up having to take my exam at a third party, but if I had more time I definitely would've done the option where they take you to the test and practice with you before hand. Nick really is the best and I am so happy to say I passed my exam on the first try!!! I highly highly recommend them as I wouldn't have my license without Nick's help. They are worth the money!!!!! read more

I am more than pleased with my results. I passed my driving test on the first try. Nick was my instructor, he is patient, prompt and very knowledgeable. I've had little to no driving experience and with Nick's training I'm now a confident and safe driver. read more

My daughter passed her test on the first try! Glenn was very patient with our schedule and made sure she felt comfortable and ready for her test! Thanks a bunch! I would highly recommend to anyone especially with a nervous driver! read more

I'm a procrastinator, and I've been trying to learn to drive for the past 10 years. I've had lessons from another driving school (outside of PA) and I also tried learning from family members. Nothing worked to make me comfortable behind the wheel and so I kept putting it off. Today, I'm proud to say that I passed the road test on my first try. Nick Mooney is an excellent instructor. He is patient, calm, and methodical in his instruction. He will correct your mistakes, but always in a way to build up your confidence. I couldn't have done it without him, and I know that I will drive safely with the skills that he's taught me. I cannot commend him enough. Worth every penny. Lessons were easy to schedule, and he always arrived on time, if not early. Before I had my lessons, I was afraid to be on the road. Now, I look forward to it. I even want to parallel park! read more

My instructor was George. He was very easy going and easy to get along with. I was extremely nervous about driving and he made me feel so much confidence when we would go out driving. He goes over things as much as you need to, it's almost impossible to fail the test. I passed on the first try & I never thought that would happen. George made me feel very comfortable and relaxed & that makes all the difference in the world when you are a nervous driver like myself I definitely recommend this company & George read more