I got my driver licence !!! I had my appointment at the DMV at 9:20 so the owner himself picked me up because nobody was available that day. He came an hour early so I could practice around Santa Monica. He was really nice and patient with me. He helped me to go through some questions they usually asked and some road safety etc. I was super stressed at first but he really helped me to calm down and I got my licence. I would definitely recommend this place. read more

Seamless process from making an appointment over the phone to the lesson itself. I got my license two years ago in NYC but never had to drive much after that and decided to brush up with a professional lesson. I was lucky to have Veronica as my driving instructor!! She is calm, professional, and has amazing tips to help make parking and merging so much easier than I ever thought it could be. Would highly recommend a 2 hour session for anyone who is looking to brush up. Just make sure at the beginning of the lesson you tell the instructor what specifically you're looking to improve :) read more

Great school, even better instructor, passed my test on the first go!! Key tip: Ask for Robert. I moved to LA about 3 years ago and did not have a driver's license and I hadn't driven for about 6 years. I definitely wanted to freshen up on my driving skills (basically felt like I was starting all over again) and finally decided I should get one (plus my permit was expiring in a month's time!) and bought the 3 lesson package from Viva Driving School. I loved how flexible and accommodating Viva Driving School and Robert were when scheduling lessons and they pick up and drop off at your address. The lessons are great - first lesson I was nervous but we went over basics took it slow and in the second lesson I felt way more comfortable and 100% more confident. Third lesson was going over what I knew and was good practice and by then I felt ready to do the test. Robert is the best driving instructor! He was very knowledgeable (as a side project he's writing a book about driving!!), warm and funny. He helped me quickly gain confidence in driving and I would definitely not have passed my drivers test in the first go without him! I highly recommend using Viva Driving School if you want to learn how to drive and ask for Robert! read more

If you're learning to drive or need to rent a car for your drivers test, look no further. Viva driving school is amazing. I recently moved to LA and decided to get my license. After a couple months of driving with friends, I decided it was time to take my behind the wheel test. Problem was I didn't have a car to bring to the test. Luckily my roommate told me about Viva and how they provide cars for the test. I called them after booking my test and they were very accommodating. The day of my test, my driving instructor, David, drove to my house an hour before the test and picked me up. We drove to the DMV (Culver City) and practiced driving around that area so I was familiar with the roads. David was extremely kind and positive throughout my practice drive. He reminded me of driving rules people usually forget and pointed out things I could be doing better. By the end of the hour, I was 100% confident that I would pass the test, which I did! Nothing but love and gratitude for Viva! Thanks, David! You guys are awesome. read more

As a first time driver, I was very nervous and very excited to finally be taking care of getting a drivers license. I passed the written test on the first try! I did some research, looking for the right driving school for me and I found Viva. I was very lucky to get Veronica as my instructor. She was very nice and patient from the start. I didn't passed my behind the wheel test until the second time but she was so encouraging. I recommend that if you need practice and/or need to pass your test call and ask to book your class with Veronica!!! read more

So I was pretty hesitant to buy driving lessons because I had such a terrible experience my first time. My previous instructor was a complete jerk and severely impatient which was a surprise because his driving school had pretty good reviews. However, I knew I wasn't ready for the road test so I searched and found really great reviews for Viva, specifically Veronica. If you skipped the first paragraph START READING NOW! Veronica is the most baller, bad ass, supportive, and kickass instructor EVER! Right off the bat we just clicked. She didn't seem nervous at all to be in a car driven with a newbie (my last instructor made it pretty clear that he feared for his life around new drivers) which was great because having someone anxiously telling you to stop, slow down, speed up, signal, turn, look, and remember rules is really frustrating when you're just learning. Veronica NEVER used her brake while I was driving when she definitely could've. I'm stating this observation because I find making mistakes (when you're in a safe zone) and being trusted to correct them is super encouraging and a confidence booster. I was NEVER EVER anxious behind the wheel with Veronica and always felt comfortable asking her questions. I bought the 6 hour package and not only passed my test with NO MISTAKES, but Veronica also did a little bit of freeway and parallel parking practice with me which was super helpful. Now beyond being an amazing instructor she also has some cool personal tidbits to tell. I don't want to ruin the surprise but ask her about her job as a driver over the summer! You'll be ROYALLY shocked! read more

Where to begin... Because this is gonna be LONG. There is a section for the instructors and then a section for the cars. They're amazing. The whole lot of them. I've been with 3 of the instructors and 3 types of cars (fiat, yaris, and prius). Also Anna, who's the receptionist/front desk is super sweet and lovely. But anyways, as you can see, I spent a lot of time with them :) Side note-- if you're 100% new on the road, 6hrs is not gonna get you your license. Passing the test is about being familiar and CONFIDENT on the road. It took me 50 hrs+ until I was able to tell a joke and turn at an intersection (into correct lane) at the same time. Me as a driver: NYC-born and raised. I practised a lot of driving with my dad. A LOT. This also means I drive like a New Yorker, which means I particularly suck at driving. I failed my NYC driving test and also the first test here in LA. My issues were in steering and turning (and actively looking at intersections :x)) Viva, practically fixed all my problems. I first set up an appointment via phone, and Anna was super sweet. I mean, if you're setting up for the first time, she'll ask you about what type of instruction you best respond to or what not, and she's super patient. I think my first words where "hello! ... So uh..............(silence)". Haha. REVIEW OF INSTRUCTORS: The first instructor I was with was Bert (first two lessons), who was a great instructor (well they all are). He's super critical and points out all your mistakes. I mean, you won't even notice a few things about turning or braking, and he'll point it out. He's really good if you want it straight in your face. Although he's a tough cookie, he's actually really nice. And although at times he can appear discouraging, he'll still compliment you when you do things right. :) Second instructor I had, because Bert couldn't take me to my test, was Hovic. Now this guy is pretty badass. As much as I loved having Bert as an instructor, Hovic was particularly good at helping me fix my problems. He kind of talks like an old Kung fu grandmaster in the movies. Like really zen, gentle, and poetic. Bert was more drill sergeant-y. Haha. Hovic can mumble sometimes (and has this charming accent) but he's really patient. If you're the nervous or anxious type, or if the road still freaks you out, Hovic will make it seem calm. On the other hand, Bert can whip you into shape but you might get a heart attack :P. I ended up signing with Hovic for another lesson and in 2 hours I became the smoothest right turner in SoCal ohyeah. (No not really, I still screwed up two right turns on the test) Last instructor I had was David, who's also the founder of Viva. He's there when an appointment can't be met with other instructors such as my case, an early DMV appointment that neither Bert or Hovic were available. Definitely a sweetie as well, he's a good demonstrator and can show you a few tips and tricks. I think he talks the most out of the three, but it's not a bad thing. He would remind you on a lot of things so they sink in (especially when it comes to braking). Now, CAR REVIEW! FIAT (525cc) I hate this car. The lightest car of the three. I don't know why you want to drive this thing, sorry to all fiat drivers, but I really hate this car. I felt like I was gliding on the road and when I made a (sharp) left turn I thought I was on 3 wheels. And that freaked me out. Steering is easy, brake was a bit stiff. I had to reaaaally step on it to make the car stop. HATE it. Toyota Yaris (not sure what year) It's okay. I liked this car way better than the Fiat. Steering was a little stiffer to me, but I felt like I had more control of the vehicle. I liked the brakes on it too, it wasn't too sensitive or stiff. The one thing I liked about this car for sure was the acceleration. I hit the pedal, it goes and makes you feel it. Toyota Prius (2010) Slowly started to like it. I've never driven a hybrid or an electric car. Definitely the smoothest of the three. Maneuverability wasn't quite like the Yaris (I think the Yaris ran smoother, personal opinion) but the brakes are super sensitive on this thing. It's a love/hate, you'll just have to get used to it. Also in general, Prius accelerates very smoothly (but slowly), so it works well with the brakes. Toyota Prius (2007) I ended up taking this car to my road test because the 2010 was used. Now this obviously ran like the 2010 Prius, except the braking was SO MUCH BETTER. I was a little skeptical when Caleb called me about the switch, but damn I'm happy it happened. Hell it was perfect. If you could get this car, you should!!! But if you're hard on the brakes, the Yaris might be better. If you're lighter on it, the 2010 Prius is better. Anyways, I passed the driving test. 6hrs total on the road and two tests) so I paid over $500~. Also you're almost guaranteed to pay overtime if you're taking the road test with them. :I have more to say but I reached the text limit.. read more

Passed the drive test with Veronica's help! I wish I did this earlier so I could have passed the first time! Still be grateful to do it before the road test. read more

My husband has been driving for over 20 years, but just not in States. He passed the written test with 100%, however he failed the driving test in Santa Monica DMV on the first try. We booked a two hours lesson with Veronica. Veronica was super super helpful, patient and easy to talk to. She point out exactly what my husband needs to change in his driving for the test. Those were all small adjustments but a significant ones for the test. We are so glad we had a lesson with Veronica. My husband passed the driving test in Culver City with only 2 small mistakes. THANK YOU!!! read more

I highly recommend this driving school. I was lucky to have Veronica as my instructor. She's one of the most patient and kind people I have ever met. I was very nervous in the beginning, but she helped me overcome the fear and nervousness. She also accompanied me to the driving test, and I Passed!!! read more

I took my little cousin to their Pasadena location and I couldnt be more happier with the results. The instructors are very professional, calm and really enjoy what they do. Highly recommended! read more

I have had an amazing experience with Viva Driving School. When I signed up, I was pretty new at driving (less than 10 hours of driving experience) and after just a few lessons, I felt confident and ready to take on the driving test. For 4 out of my 5 lessons, my driving instructor was Veronica. She was polite, patient, and professional. She helped me with technique, reminded me of the general rules of the road and answered all of my many questions. She gave me a great critique of my driving and pointed out areas of improvement that I was able to work on. All in all, after 5 lessons I passed the driving test. I highly recommend their service! Thank you Viva! Note: As a general tip, if you take the road test with them, 2 hours won't be enough to cover the whole process due to the DMV waiting times. read more

I love this driving school. Not only are they curious and professional, they also bring a lot of value to the table. I've recommend them to others and I became a customer through a recommendation of a friend and I'm very thankful! read more

Extremely satisfied with this driving school. I had instructors Ruben and Hovic teach me, and they were both very patient and great at teaching me how to drive. I was a total beginner, but had taken 6hrs lessons with another driving school earlier. Within the first 10 minutes of driving with the instructors from this school, I knew I'd come to the right place - they identified minute mistakes and taught me right techniques to correct them - The 6 hrs lessons are totally worth it, and having practiced with those in mind for about 2 weeks now, I am extremely confident in driving. Keep up the good work, Viva! read more

I had the pleasure of working with Senait, Valerie and David on different occasions (thanks to my random schedule), all of whom were professional, courteous, and thorough instructors. They were incredibly patient, kept their cool through my mistakes, and made sure I understood proper technique. They were also great about making sure I practiced my pain points until I nailed them - in a low pressure, supportive way. I passed my driving test this morning, and I'm so glad I chose Viva to help me prep for it! read more

I'm amazed on how polite they are and very patient they are. I'm glad I went somewhere they didn't judge their first impressions of me. Recommend them 10xs over :) read more

Viva was great! I had never sat in he driver's seat in my life, but after only 6 hours (3 sessions) of learning with an instructor, I passed my driving test! read more

I studied driving school but I'm not pass . And when I chose Viva their car is prius C , which is very smooth and small car. It's help you very easy when you drive . Instructor very kind . Thank you, Viva read more

Had a great experience through ViVa Driving School. Ruben and David were really awesome instructors! I passed the road test on my first try. Highly recommend! read more

Veronica is the best instructor! I'm so glad I chose viva driving school! I highly recommend you request her as an instructor!

Highly recommend this driving school. My son was with Veronica and loved her. She is very patient and sweet. She really prepared him for his driving test. He passed the first try. Thank you Veronica:-) read more

I waited until after I moved out of my parents' house before I started learning to drive, so it has been very difficult to find people to practice with. This means I have to ride the bus to work and class, which can take over three hours going from one end of LA to the other. After sporadic lessons with family and friends, professional lessons with an instructor who liked to use the second brake at every light, and three times failing the test (got my permit twice) I signed up for 6 hrs of instruction at Viva Driving School, and Veronica was a lifesaver. All I needed was time with someone patient and confident to be able to learn how to control the car safely, and she knows exactly how much and when to step in.After those lessons, I was finally able to pass my driver's test. Thank you, Veronica!! read more

Took my cousin had a international license but was struggling to pass her driving test in LA. I took her to VIVA and these guys helped her pass on her first try. Great school very professional. read more

I needed to work on polishing my driving skills after 5 years of inactivity. My instructor was very patient and helped me immensely. For 4 hours and taking me to my test. After failing 2 times, I passed on the third attempt with the aid of Viva driving school. I guess the 3rd time really is the charm read more

I purchased driving lessons for my niece, Anna could not have been more helpful in organizing this classes for her. She took 6 classes and passed her test from the first time. She said it helped that she got to drive different cars and had lessons from 3 different instructors. Oh and the fact that the cars are easily identified as "student driver", she wasn't stressed or intimidated by other drivers. Would definitely recommend them for anyone who needs driving classes, and btw they have 2 locations :) good luck to all new drivers out there and please be safe :) read more

Great thanks to my coach Ruben!! i pass the road test today and He should take all the credit!! He is patient and professional. glad i choose Viva !! thanks Ruben and thank u Viva! read more

My parents were scared to teach me how to drive so I started searching for driving schools. Came upon viva driving school and scheduled my driving lessons. My first lesson was with David and he was good. My next appointment was scheduled with Veronica and let me tell you she's amazing. She would tell you what you're doing wrong and help you fix it. She made me feel comfortable with her. I highly recommend Viva Driving School. I also HIGHLY recommend Veronica. I just had my driving test and I passed the first time!! Thanks viva driving school and thank you Veronica!! read more

I got the 6-hour package for both my kids, first two years ago and then just now. Once I figured out to call the Pasadena number, as the Westside office didn't return calls this time around, it went brilliantly. The office staff was friendly and helpful, making scheduling easy, even with last-minute changes on both our parts. The key is asking for the right instructors! Both kids has lousy first instructors, my son's was even texting while they were driving! I took over the bulk of the teaching then, but had to go back to Viva to get the remaining requisite hours. A search on Yelp led me to request Veronica this time around. My son really liked her and her supportive, smart approach. When she had a family emergency before his final lesson, Robert subbed for her. He was fantastic! My son came home so enthused about driving, and shared the many tips he'd received from Robert. Apparently Robert isn't just kind and smartly entertaining, he's caring, too. He knew the day my son went for his test, and called to see how he did. Apparently Robert has never had a student fail! Ask for Robert or Veronica and you'll be set!! read more

Got a lesson this afternoon with David. Was very smooth and pro. I would recommend this driving school to anyone wanting to start driving.

Good pickup and drop off, great instructions, and I passed my driving test on the first try!! The instructors are very nice and patient, and are very knowledgeable about DMV test sites so they can answer most, if not all, of your questions! Their package deals are pretty worth it. read more

I highly recommend viva driving school to my friends. The instructors were very good in getting me to understand the rules of the road and what to keep in mind particularly for a drive test, because the DMV examiners don't care that you drive but they care that you drive safely. Viva also made special accommodation for me to get a practice lesson before my test on a very short notice. I thank viva again in helping me get my license :) You are top priority here!! PS:Their cars are in a very good condition, i was very comfortable to take one of their cars to my drive test. read more

I called this school because I wanted to get a refresher course in order to get my license. I was able to get a lesson within less than a week with Veronica and I have to say that she is great. She's very calm while you're driving so it helps calm your nerves. She also knows what examiners in the dmv are looking for so that when it's time for your test you're ready and there are no surprises. I was able to pass my driving test after the first try and I couldn't be happier. thank you viva driving school and thank you Veronica for being so great! read more

I just passed the test after a 2nd try . Veronica accompanied me to the test today and gave me some useful instructions before that. She was great and very friendly. Thanks:) read more

Viva Driving school is excellent. My 16 year old son learned to drive with Veronica and she was great.He felt very comfortable with her and gained the confidence he needed to drive in this busy, crazy Los Angeles. He passed his drivers test on the first try. Thank you so much Veronica. read more

Allow me to preface this by saying that this was just my own personal experience, and it may be a one-time thing. Also, this is going to be a long review. I have a lot to say about this experience. With 5 years since my last driving lesson (I never got a chance to take the test...plus I've never driven in LA), and an offer from my lovely mother to reimburse me for a series of lessons as a graduation gift, I went searching for the highest rated/best value driving school in my area. This led me to Viva. For the most part I'm satisfied, I guess. Having finished 3 lessons (6 hours total) I feel pretty prepared for my upcoming test. However, I felt like it was important for me to write a review about the things that I found to be problematic with Viva in case anyone else has a similar experience. First off, scheduling lessons was an absolute breeze. I work about 55 hours every week, but they were always able to help me find a time that worked for me, whether on a weekend or in the evening. I also had to reschedule once or twice, and that was never a problem. There was some confusion with my second lesson (more on that later) but it didn't really make a difference in the long run. My first lesson was with Hovic. Having read all the reviews here prior to making my appointment, I was pretty excited if a bit nervous, since it seemed that Hovic would be rather on the perfectionist side although definitely nice. For the most part, I was right. During my first lesson, he was very thorough in making sure that my steering/turning technique was on point throughout. To be honest, though, the whole experience was kind of a blur. There was another student in the car when I was picked up and Hovic had me drive her home as the very first thing I did, which was incredibly stressful (given that I hadn't been behind the wheel in several years). I told him that I was rather uncomfortable, but I didn't want to belabor the point; after all, he's the professional. My second lesson was also with Hovic, and this was where things really got uncomfortable for me. First off, the day before I had received a voice mail to confirm my appointment, and they also asked if they could change the time to be a half-hour later. I called them back to tell them that would be alright; I had an appointment that was scheduled to end shortly before the lesson, so the extra time cushion would be nice. However, I guess Hovic never got that message, since he arrived at the original (earlier) time and I was not ready at all (still on the bus, in fact) and I started the session very stressed out. Throughout the entire lesson, there was a lot of arm/hand touching going on, and he repeatedly called me "baby". To top it all off, at the end of the lesson, Hovic tried to take me out for coffee. I told him that I appreciated the offer but I really just wanted to go home, but on the inside I was totally creeped out, in addition to being totally stressed out. I wasn't sure if I was overreacting, but after talking to a few friends, they all agreed that Hovic's behavior was really inappropriate. For my third lesson, I requested a different instructor. (A side note - when I told the scheduling person (I never got his name) that I thought Hovic acted unprofessionally and let him know what had happened, he seemed not to believe me, which I thought was a little rude; however, it does seem to make sense given his great reviews here). My last lesson was with Veronica, and she was absolutely lovely. This lesson was at night, and she was very understanding with my lack of night-driving experience. She was very encouraging when I did things correctly, but was gracious in letting me know what I needed to improve. If I had had her for all my lessons, I would probably give Viva 5 stars rather than 3. TL;DR version: Pros: easy scheduling, good prices, I learned what I needed to know. Also, Veronica is excellent. Cons: Occasional miscommunication between scheduling/instructors. Hovic seemed to be hitting on me throughout one of my lessons, despite being a good teacher (if a bit hard to understand - sometimes "third" sounded like "turn" and I got a little confused during some left turns). read more

I highly recommend Veronica from Viva Driving School. I took her car for the road test. With all her advices in one hour before the test I could pass road test in my first try! Thank you Veronica! read more

I've been driving for the past few years but not in the states, so i wanted to take a lesson before going in for the driving test. Veronica was great in giving me tips to look out for and took me around before my test. and I passed :) read more

I really recommend this driving school, especially Veronica. She's really a great instructor, patient, and friendly. She also gives helpful tips! You'll never regret learning from Veronica! read more

I had my driving lesson with Veronica, I just had one lesson as I already had my international license. She is a great instructor, tried her best to teach me as much as possible in just one session. Very kind and considerate! read more

Viva driving school is amazing!.. the instructors are awesome. I highly recommend this school because they've been a great help to me in terms of my driving. I enrolled with their package and after couple of driving lesson with them it boost up my confidence to become a good driver. I took my driving test at Pasadena DMV and im so happy I passed. Im thankful for Viva driving school and now I have my california driver's license. read more