Disappointed with Sam, very inconsistent returning calls. We get it, you're a driving instructor; therefore, you can't always return calls promptly, but you prefer texts? Sure hope you're safely texting and not driving while texting. Furthermore, he only takes cash or checks, what's that about? If owners prefer cash only, it's easier to shield from income taxes, and they can report less earnings than they actually are & pay less income taxes. Things that make you go hmmmm??? He also has no decal displayed on his vehicle indicating "student driver", or company logo...absolutely nothing. Search on Yelp for other driving schools, highly recommend going with https://coastlineacademy.com. They offer feasible package deals, whereas Sam's rates are highway robbery (cash or check with no receipt provided). Coastline Academy takes all major credit cards. Coastline offers many instructors to choose from and flexible hours to fit your teenager's busy schedule. The vehicles are all decked out with their company logo/advertisement, very safe. The signage alone makes others aware there's a rookie student driver, so beware. They also send you a lesson report afterwards, so parents are aware of the grade, along with the child. It provides both positive feedback and constructive criticism, something this instructor doesn't understand. Be safe and see you on Yelp (SYOY)! read more

Sam is a nice bloke. He's responsive and my son liked him. We recommend him wholeheartedly

We were at the DMV and Sam's driving school pulled up in a maroon 4 door hatchback Toyota car. The man in the passenger side flung open his door and dented our finder. I approached the driver and told him that his friend dented our finder. He shrugged his shoulders and left. Very disappointed especially since he is suppose to keep our drivers safe and teach them the respectful way of being a decent driver. read more

Sam taught our older son 3 years ago and he is a wonderful and safe driver. He just started teaching our younger son and the progress they made today during the first lesson (driving on Paradise Drive and 101! ) is amazing. I'd never use anyone else than Sam to teach our children! read more

Well, we had a totally bizarre experience with Sam that makes me think he's not completely mentally stable. We hired him for a first driving lesson for our son who had zero experience driving a car. He's a very capable kid, and straight A student, an experienced athlete, but gets nervous when trying new things. Learning to drive was no different for him. Sam came to our house which is on the end of a shared private road. He positioned his vehicle in the middle of the road and asked my son to get in the driver's seat which he did. They closed the doors and he proceeded to brief him on the interior controls of the car. All good. After about 10 minutes my wife and I were standing outside on our driveway and thought we heard our neighbors coming down the hill. Since we a have an understanding of etiquette with our neighbors that no one unnecessarily blocks the road, my wife tapped on the glass and said, "maybe you could pull the car a bit further over so my neighbors can get by." Sam was visibly annoyed by the interruption and said, "he's going! He's going to drive soon!" She backed away and moments later they proceeded down the road. Having never driven, Sam took my son over Camino Alto (narrow, curvy road) and into downtown San Rafael - not only areas that are busy and hectic but also unfamiliar to my son. All during Friday rush hour. Maybe this is typical but it makes no sense. It's like teaching someone how to ski by taking them up the black diamond lift on their first run. Anyway, they return two hours later and pull up our driveway. My wife and I go out to greet them. Sam comes flying out of the passenger side and immediately starts raising his voice to my wife, "Your nervousness left an impression on him! You made him nervous! You can't do that!" My wife and I were stunned and she said, "Whoa. this is a lot. I think you need to calm down." Instead of calming down he ramped up, "No! I don't even care if you use me again! I don't care about my business! You can't do that! I was going to move the car! Just pay me so I can leave!" My wife went inside upset and stunned. Left alone now with him (and mind you, my son still present) I said, "hey, aren't you going to tell me how it went?" He said, "He was fine! He did fine! But he froze in an intersection and usually I take my students on the freeway but he didn't want to do that!" I said, "OK, he was nervous. It was his first time. And I'd be very careful about blaming that on my wife." I paid him and he left, still mad (about something). Seems that maybe this isn't the best profession for him if he's completely thrown off by someone asking him to not block a shared road. Needless to say, we won't be using Sam for subsequent lessons. read more

I passed my behind the wheel exam today. From the 1st try. So, congrats to me and to my teacher Sam. Sam is an awesome teacher. He is very patient and helpful. I had practice in my country before and, unfortunately, had some "bad" habits. I am glad that Sam told me about those and we worked on them. I should also say that I am grateful and I think that the result was achieved really quickly. I was a bit worried at the exam, because I had only 2 lessons with Sam instead of "full" 6 hours set. And if you have a chance, I would use all 6 hours just in case. But even though, I still succeeded. Thank you, Sam. read more

Great instructor. I felt very confident driving after my lessons.

Sam was a perfect instructor! He was incredibly reliable, knowledgeable and patient. He was able to get me comfortably driving by our first two hour lesson. I am a 'late driver' ... I have avoided getting my license for almost 15 years lol. I thought the stress of becoming a driver would be to much but our lessons proved me wrong. I had a little over two weeks to learn how to drive ... waiting until the last minute before my permit was going to expire to set up my appointment and through Sam's Driving School I was able to pass my test today! I definitely recommend Sam's Driving School. read more

Sam is an extraordinarily kind man. He works well with teenagers and is extremely accommodating. My daughter lost her driver's permit just days before her driver's exam and he was kind enough to point this out to me, advise us to return to the DMV for a replacement, and then stopped by the DMV while we were still there to sign off on the document! read more

A great guy lots of thorough tips that will helped me to make it through for the g2 test confidently first try, while very helpful was the flexibility of his schedule to make it happen as quick as possible in just under 2 hours of re learning passed the test smoothly all the way through, Thanks Sams, hope to see you... left-laneing in the Lambo : ) read more

Sam was everything you could ask for in an instructor, and more! He spent two hours with our 19 year old au-pair, was very patient and helped tremendously with her skills. He gave us feedback, was always on time, and very nice. What is clearly best in class is that he came to the house, drove up to the dmv with our au-pair, and waited at the DMV while she took the test (and passed!), then drove back - and didnt charge anything for it! This is clearly going above and beyond. Sam, and his business, are simply best in class! read more

I live in SF. Here's why I picked Sam's in San Rafael for my son instead of *any* school in SF. 1) Sam is straightforward. 2) You can understand him. 3) None of the kids or parents came home with stories like "I learned how to drive with my knees," or some such BS like they did from the SF driving schools. My kid learned how to drive on winding roads, the freeway, and other realistic situations. The driving schools in SF all stink. If the schools don't teach useless tricks, they are for DUI/multipointers. Take the minimal hop over the bridge for yourself or your kid...it's worth it! Oh, and Sam is a chill, nice guy too-- with rates in the ballpark. A final word: he will be straightforward with you: if he thinks your kid is ready for the test, he'll say so. Even if you are a concerned parent who wants your child to have more hours on *someone else's car, not yours,* he'll tell you and not take your money without saying your kid is ready. Admirable in my book! (April 2014) read more

Sam was very kind and patient with my teenage son. Sam was punctual and made time to fit us into his busy schedule. And then he passed his test. Thank you read more

My 15/16 year old son had 3 separate 2-hour driving lessons with Sam. He really liked him and felt that the training was very helpful. In his words, Sam was a "supportive, calm instructor with a lot of experience and good tips." He has recommended him to friends of his and so have I. We will continue to do so. read more

I liked Sam's approach to giving the class to adult and building my confidence as a driver. He took me to a bit complicated places, which i would have never tried with a family member as a teacher. At the same time, he's easy to communicate with. read more

SAM IS AMAZING!!!!!! He's sweet, funny, and most of all patient. I messed up while driving but Sam wouldn't get mad or start yelling. He brought me on the highway during my first ever driving lesson but kept my confidence​ up the entire time, making me feel like a very experienced driver and making​ it easier to drive. He really is the best and I​ recommend​ him to all my friends!! read more

My 16 year old liked Sam and the driving instruction she received which is a huge plus! She was nervous about driving but returned confident after one lesson! Sam was professional, provided great feedback, and was very personable! read more

Sam's was great. Easy to book, good communication, and right to my door. My 15.5 y/o was a little nervous, but Sam was warm and calming with her. When they got back to the house, my 15.5 y/o was smiling and not only was happy, but said she learned a lot of good stuff. Will be using Sam's Driving School for the rest of her lessons. Thanks Sam! read more

Sam is wonderful! He is friendly, knowledgeable, and calm. I was really nervous for my first driving lesson, but Sam's kind reassurance guided me through. The lessons were very calm--no stress, and no taking me beyond what I was ready to do. Sam is a kind and gentle teacher--the perfect match for a nervous teenager (: The three lessons were extremely easy to schedule, and he was always on time and available. Sam's rate is less than many of the popular driving schools in the Bay Area, and his service is ten times better (I've heard horror stories of teachers showing up late, yelling, and even blasting music!). Sam was extremely professional and knowledgeable, and always ready to answer any questions. I thank him for helping me to pass my license test the first time with flying colors! read more

I was so disappointed when I called and whoever answered the phone (male, maybe Sam) he was short, rude and not polite. They must have more business than they know what to do with. I will not recommend or even call back. Poor service. read more

I am sooooo soooo glad that I found Sam! I was preparing for my road test - with 18 years of German driving experience under my belt - BUT Little in the US. Two hours before my test I loaded Sam into our Car and he was professional, flexible and empathic from the first second we met! He instructed me across any possible tricky corners I may experience during the test. And as a result I passed shortly after with "excellent driving skills"! And I truly was highly nervous. He didn't only teach me to prepare that test! What he teached me I will keep it for my general driving practise - lifelong! He is one if the rare instructors here in the Bay Area who truly knows what they are doing! Thank you Sam and all the best for you and your family! read more

Sam is THE BEST. I had both daughters take driving lessons from him. He is funny, patient, and thoughtful. Driving can be a little stressful, but Sam is so kind and smiling with a great, friendly attitude. He never scolds. He never makes the teenagers feel badly if they make a mistake. He is really encouraging and positive! My daughters have two different personalities but both just liked him so much. It really took some of the pressure off of me. The whole driving process was much smoother after we called on Sam for some assistance. If I'd had a third child, I would definitely send them to Sam for driving instructions! Thanks, Sam! read more

The experience with Sam was wonderful! My son had never driven before in his life and Sam made him feel confident and more importantly, made us his parents, feel assured that he was ready to be on the road. Sam was able to make time for lessons at our convenience and even picked him up from school and dropped him off at work one day! Our son passed his test with flying colors and continues to be a level headed, well informed driver. Thank you Sam! read more

Our experience with Sam was excellent. We found him to be friendly, and an excellent, experienced, caring instructor. As other's have said, Sam also made my teen feel confident and gave him a great deal of advice and tips that he wouldn't have gotten otherwise. Sam extended an invitation for me to come along, although I felt my teen would learn better without me; I felt this was a very nice touch which gave me a greater sense of confidence and Sam's professionalism. My teen was very happy and felt great after his first 2 hour lesson having had good feedback from Sam. I found Sam's fees to be extremely reasonable! We can't wait to schedule out next lesson. Thanks Sam! read more

Sam is teaching our 16 year daughter to drive and he's teaching us how to instruct her to drive. Sam is patient, he corrects gently, and he knows how to give a young driver instant confidence. In the first two hour session, Sam had our girl driving on the freeway from San Rafael to Sausalito! Just an hour and a half prior, she was terrified to pull out of our driveway. Bravo Sam and Olivia! I hope that I can remain just as calm and kind to continue building her confidence. Sam was highly recommended to us by a friend. I'm happy to do the same to other parents and drivers. read more

Sam is the best!! My 16 year old had three two hour lessons with Sam, once when she was just starting, once a few months later and once the weekend before her test. With Sam's help, she passed with nearly a perfect score! He instills confidence in a new driver. We cannot wait to call him again in two years when our other daughter is ready to learn to drive. I highly recommend Sam to anyone who wants the best for their child. read more

Sam is a real good instructor.I felt very comfortable learning from him...he is very kind and has lots of patience. I would recommend him to all my friends. read more

Do not wast your money. Sam picked up my teen who had zero driving experience too him on the freeway and drove around central San rafael. Sam was on the cell phone the entire time . My kid was so freaked out, does not want to get back in the car. Completley unprofessional! read more

There was a time I lived in the Bay Area as an au pair and the only vocabulary I knew had been limited to: "Nice to meet you!" and "para llevar" the latter being the most handy at restaurant queues. My host family decided that I ought to get a driver's licence so I could A) drive and B) prove that I was over 21. I was lucky enough to have stumbled upon Sam as my driver instructor. Not only was he patient with my limited English, he was also very kind and professional. He made sure I knew all the vocabulary necessary for the road, made behind-the-wheel driving safety a very fundamental part of his lessons, and did not rush through anything. My driving was awful, and this is coming from someone who learnt to ride a bike in her late teen years! But instead of getting frustrated or impatient, he remained very patient with me. I now feel comfortable even driving with a manual change. Overall, one of the kindest people I've met. read more

I chose Sam for my teenage son's mandatory driving instruction based on a comparison of prices and the excellent reviews I saw here on Yelp. I am convinced that you couldn't do better for a driving instructor. Sam is calm, clear, kind, and friendly. He manages to instruct with a minimum of talking, while guiding his student, when possible, with subtle gestures of the hands to indicate a tad to the left or the right. He never gets excited and (unlike me) he never yells. His prices are also less than those of the national driving schools. I signed my son up for three two-hour lessons with Sam, initially, before I ever got in the car with him because I was terrified, frankly. After his three lessons with Sam I took over and all went well. After six months and 30 + hours behind the wheel I thought my son was ready for his behind-the-wheel driver's test but I wasn't sure, so I called Sam again and signed my son up for one last lesson. Sam gave my some excellent advice and told my son he was ready. He was right. My son passed his test and is now driving alone with confidence. Thank you, Sam! read more

This is a very good instructor for a new driver. Sam seems to instill confidence and safety and a healthy respect for the speed limit and all traffic laws. I am very happy we chose his company for driver training. read more

Sam is amazing! Really knows the area, adapts to schedules, friendly, communicated with me after each lesson. All calls were returned promptly. He took my son out to practice driving in the same neighborhood where he would be tested. Really prepared him well (my son passed)! I had called around to a few other driving schools- I'm so glad I chose this one! Highly recommended! read more

Very calm guy. He comes to your house and picks you up. Apparently all the teenagers around Marin learn from him. Reasonable rates.

Horrible experience. We drove to marin for driving lessons for less traffic and what we thought would be fun and educational. Not at all. This was a waste of time and money. My son didn't learn anything and could barely understand the instructor. The guy was rude, impatient and uninterested in teaching. We will be taking the rest of the lessons from someone else. read more

Sam taught both my children how to drive and they both passed with flying colors. He is patient, calm and both enjoyed their instruction. Shouldn't use anyone else! read more

We are very happy with the instruction our son received in preparation for getting his driver's license. We got recommendations from other families (including some of the new teenage drivers) and then did some checking on line. Sam was helpful, supportive and informative. I liked that some of the driving was around the DMV office, to help prepare for the test. Passed first try...can't do much better than that. Thanks Sam's Driving School! read more

Sam has nerves of steel! Somehow, even driving around with a teenager who's never sat behind the wheel before, he stays calm and collected. He asks that a parent be present for the first lesson, so that instruction can be consistent; we thought this was an excellent idea, and that consistency helped our daughter. He has excellent ways of teaching specific skills; for example, he showed our daughter a way of being able to calculate how to parallel park. As a result, she gets it right every time. There's no guesswork, or relying on experience that she doesn't have yet. Our daughter was so prepared that she passed her test first time. What more can you ask? We'll definitely ask Sam to teach our son when he's old enough. read more