Highly recommended for the motivated student! I was an adult leaner when I got started with Phil's driving school. I had driven a few times in my parents' car prior but did not have a solid grasp of driving when I began. I signed up for the 8-hour safety class (mandatory requirement in CT), 6 hours of road instruction, and the test day vehicle rental with an instructor. Casey was our teacher for the 8-hour safety class, he was humorous and effective in teaching me things that I still remember (therefore effective) and his deep knowledge and experience in driver's education really was a plus. Casey is also the office manager and is very friendly and helpful in helping me sign up for time. I spent 5 hours (two 2hr sessions + one 1 hr session) of road instruction with Gary. As Gary would say, I started off with him driving "somewhat sketchy" but with Gary's help I was nailing every single reverse parking maneuver by the end of the first session and gaining confidence with my road skills, with room for improvement. The next two sessions Gary took me through all the possible test routes in Hamden and also taught me how to parallel park and do the 3-point turn. Gary was super chill, personable, and a constructive teacher when it comes to driving (which can be stressful for beginners). I had some really memorable times with Gary, and now see why he is so popular among students. I had a one hour session with Diane, another road instructor, who was just as fantastic. Diane was professional and also very laid back, paying good attention to guiding me through small mistakes that I made on the road. Diane was also the one who came to my road test. I got to set up my seat and mirrors ahead of time and I felt very prepared with what the road test instructor had to test me on. Both my instructors were really dedicated to the success of their students on the road test. I felt that they cared for their students' performance and got satisfaction from it too. The weather conditions on my test day were not ideal, it was supposed to snow and sleet but thankfully it was just raining and cold. As I went through the course with the test instructor, I was amazed at how prepared Gary and Diane had made me for the course. I knew what signs I needed to be looking for and what to do at each of them. I passed my test (first try) feeling like it was easier than it should have been, thanks to my great instructors. I highly recommend Phil's Driving School, they are a modest training outfit but fully dedicated to preparing students to do well and be good drivers. read more

I first came across Phil's Driving School back in 2020/2021 when I completed my required 8-hour drug and alcohol class. The class was taught by Instructor Casey (who I believe is the owner), and while it's understandably lengthy, it's extremely informative. He takes the responsibility of driving seriously and makes sure students truly understand the risks and rules of the road--not just to pass, but to be safe drivers. Fast forward to 2025, after dealing with multiple DMV reschedules due to car inspection issues and even failing my road test once over something minor (but fair), I learned that you can test using a driving school's vehicle--and even test directly through the school. Luckily, that school turned out to be Phil's. The process was simple and straightforward: all that's required is the purchase of a two-hour driving lesson. Ashley was wonderful when it came to scheduling and making sure everything went smoothly. I worked with three instructors during my time at Phil's, and each one brought something valuable to the table. Instructor Gary is warm, welcoming, and instantly puts you at ease behind the wheel. Instructor Derek is firm but fair, incredibly patient, and makes sure you fully understand what you're doing. Instructor Shirley doesn't play--but she's kind, thorough, and prepares you exactly the way examiners expect. Overall, I had a great experience with Phil's Driving School and would absolutely recommend them to anyone struggling to get their license, needing confidence behind the wheel, or simply needing a reliable car to test with. And yes--your girl is officially a licensed Connecticut driver. Highly recommend! read more

I recently completed my 8 hours class at phi's driving school, with instructor casey, very friendly and enjourable class room with lots of student, i made it, i pass successfully, schudle for my driving class behind the wheel with the same school,done and dusted, booked for my driving test at DMV, wow wow my able instrutor, my teacher, Mr casey did a very perfect and wonderful job, in teaching me all the techniques,what it takes to pass and comes out with flaying colors, that faithful Wednesday afternoon, i made it.my first time to get learner permit, and my first time to do driving test and i pass all ,now i have my driving license. I recommend phils driving school to everyone living in connecticut, pls rush now and Register your kids, family and relatives, they are very wonderful and lovely people, all the staff, Tina, Ashley,Vincent,Gary and my most instructor i had behind the wheel several occasion MR Casey Hubelbank, i give you 5 star with lots of encouragement and success. MR Casey is a wonderful instructor and professional,i urge the school to promote him and add more wages to his salary,he is cool,calm,cheerful and good listening to his student. read more

I highly recommend Phil's Driving School! I first reached out on May 28 and just passed my road test today, June 10, which still feels amazingly fast. I had a Canadian license before, but it had expired and I hadn't driven in about four years. I needed a refresher, help understanding the road test, and to complete the 8-hour safety course. The whole process was smooth from start to finish at this school. I took both my 8-hour class and 2-hour driving lesson with Casey Hubelbank. Casey was incredibly kind, patient, and reassuring, and made me feel prepared and confident in a very short amount of time. On top of that, Phil's was one of the more affordable options I found and everyone was responsive and helpful throughout. Thanks again! read more

Gary is truly an amazing driving instructor. From the moment I got in the car, he made me feel comfortable, confident, and ready to learn. He's incredibly knowledgeable and really takes the time to explain things in a way that actually makes sense. What I appreciated most is how educational he is -- he didn't just teach me how to drive better, he helped me understand my own driving habits and how to improve them. Every lesson felt productive, and I walked away learning something new about myself as a driver. Gary is patient, supportive, and genuinely great at what he does. If you want an instructor who cares about your growth and knows how to bring out the best in you, Gary is the one. I'm grateful for everything he taught me. read more

I recently moved to the US and quickly realized I needed to get my drivers license if I wanted to go anywhere outside of New Haven. The driving instruction (with Gary) was great, very informative and super relaxed. It was a good mixture of practicing in the test area and actual driving around New Haven and the surrounding areas (so I felt like I was being prepared both for the test and for real life scenarios). In fact, after only a few hours of lessons we even progressed to advanced parking skills e.t.c. which I never thought would happen considering I had hardly any driving experienced. I passed my test first time and it was all thanks to Gary/Phil's driving school. Highly recommend. read more

Casey thank you for being patient with me. As a person who never had a car and barely had time to practice, I took the 6hour driving course and it was the best idea ever. Casey was brave enough to drive around with me, when I told him I never drove in a busy road especially in east haven. After many advices and practices, TODAY I got my license. I also used their rental car service for my road test. Overall, I used all their services from the 8 hour alcohol class, 6 hour driving course and rental car. Thank you!! I will recommended Phils School to all those who want to pass their license and lose the fear of driving!!!! read more

I had a great experience with the 8-hour online driving course. My instructor, Casey, was extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and professional throughout the course. He explained everything clearly, made the lessons easy to understand, and shared practical tips that helped build my confidence. Casey's teaching style was engaging and effective, and I learned a lot from the course. I truly appreciate his patience and the effort he put into making the class informative and enjoyable. I highly recommend Casey to anyone looking for a knowledgeable instructor and a quality driving education experience. Thank you, Casey! read more

Instructor Gary was pretty fun to work with. He teaches both the stuff you need for the driving test, and after the driving test, depending on your goal. The lessons helped me a lot. They do pickups for the behind-the-wheels lessons only in New Haven and East Haven, though 7 days a week. Usually, you need to book two weeks in advance. Lessons can be canceled and rescheduled a workday before the scheduled date (e.g. cancel a Monday lesson no later than Friday of the week before and cancel a Wednesday lesson no later than the day before, which is Tuesday) but not sure whether the lessons are refundable. read more

Phils driving school was A1 for my daughter. She was so afraid of driving and test taking she drove me nuts. Phils office staff (Sarah) was sooo patient with me I changed appointments constantly and never lost her patience) and the instructors treat your child as if it was their own. They are totally attentive to the fact of what they are weak in and making sure they feel great about it on test day. One of the instructors even was there the DAY of the driving test and sat with my daughter until it was her turn. I would highly recommended this driving school to EVERYONE! read more

I gave it 10 stars if I could. I wrote a great review before. NOT sure why it was deleted. MY son got trained by Patty. She is the Master! She has great experience and knows how to teach. My son did not want to drive even after I offered him a brand new car. When he could not delay any longer. Luckily, we found this school and luckily he got Patty. He learned to be a good driver in a short period of time and got his license in about 100 days after the learner's permit. And, my son was praised by the examiner of how well he could drive. This is a GREAT school. Go for it. read more

I just got my license april 15 2026, my experience with Phil's was amazing! started my online classes during the summer and then had my first lesson with an instructor a couple weeks after that. i do have to say that i did get a new instructor and to put it simply i didnt drive for months after because i didnt have a good lesson that day. but come march i went back and kicked it off with Gary and Victor (last two lessons) who were so so great and eased my nerves a lot causing me to become much more confident on the road. thank you so much!! read more

I started lessons early this year after coming from a different driving school, and met great team of people at Phil's. I did the 8 hour online course with Casey, who made it simple and easy to follow. Then I began lessons with instructor Gary who help ease my driving anxiety and gave great words of encouragement. Shirley and Ashley were amazing at helping me schedule lessons around my busy schedule and I'm so happy to have gone through this driving school. And the prices are the best in the area. Thank you! And yes I passed! :) read more

I learned driving from Casey, instructor from Phil's driving School. He is an excellent instructor with lot of experience. He has lot of patience and learning driving becomes so much easy when Casey is your instructor. Many friends of mine learned driving from him and praise him a lot . I would say he is one of the best instructor in New Haven. I would highly recommend him if someone is going to learn driving. Thanks Casey for teaching driving in such a nice way and making driving for me a lifetime experience. read more

Would highly recommend this school. The classes educate you on the proper mechanics behind the wheel as well as the necessary rules of the road. The staff is also phenomenal. If you're going for on road hours I would suggest Gary. He's a phenomenal instructor. He's relaxed and makes sure that you learn what you're doing. He communicates as not only a friend but also an instructor. As you get closer to your license test date, he runs through all the potential test scenarios. Can't thank you enough Gary. read more

When I had first driven my mothers Jeep Xterra, I almost crashed it into oncoming traffic. But after 6 hour behind the wheel instruction from Casey, bunched up all in 2 weeks, I was at ease with my skills. Although on the day of my driving test the instructor took off points because I wasn't talking to him because I happened to be focused on the road. That had nothing to do with Phil's, but thanks to the instruction I passed with flying colors under a huge amount of stress. THANKS SO MUCH! read more

Highly unorganized in my opinion. i called the front desk to complete my other half of my 8 hour drug/alcohol and the women said "come in on the 3rd, sunday at 8am sharp" wouldnt you know i called out of work, got up at 6 30am, and stood infront of the place only to be greeted by a sign saying closed on sundays. Just to see if maybe i misheard the women (even though im positive she said the 3rd of this month) i try to check their website, SURPRISE SURPRISE their fucking website is down! read more

I had an amazing experience at Phil's! I would highly recommend. From someone that was super nervous to drive Victor & Gary were great instructors and made the process smooth and comfortable for me. Two different teaching styles but very informative. They got me ready for my license and I passed on the first try! Victor was such a breath of fresh air, super positive and patient. Gary was more stern but will make sure you get it. Both amazing instructors. You will not be disappointed! read more

The lesson from Casey on Alcohol and Safety classes was phenomenal and to the point. It's easy to understand and covers everything. I also took the package of practical driving lessons from Casey and it is 101% worth it. My only challenge was to reverse a car and parallel parking and I did it at once with the perfect tricks shared by Casey. He is an experienced and amazing teacher and he is really calm and patient. I would recommend Phil's driving school without any humps. read more