Sam is such a great instructor! He is patient and understanding and gives great feedback and direction. Mary Jane has been really enjoying her lessons and feels a lot more confident in her abilities now. Tomorrow is her final lesson, so we just wanted to give Sam props for being a great teacher! Our other two kids enjoyed Viva and had great experiences too, so this was no fluke! Viva is just a great school! Thanks Viva! read more

Amazing lessons and full support and understanding for what ever type of driver you are! Every instructor I had was super attentive and informative. They keep track of what your strengths and weakness are and want the same thing as you do; to get your license and to be a confident driver. My schedule was a bit all over the place and they understood and booked my lessons accordingly, which I was super appreciative of. Major plus. Get your lessons here folks! read more

Thanks to Viva Driving School I passed my driving test today! I took 3 sessions for 299$ it's a two hours classes behind the wheel with your driving instructor. I got three different instructors( just to have different experience and opinions, but you always can choose the same one). all of them were very informative, experienced professionals. They helped me a lot to understand how to drive more safely, obtaining all the rules and of course feel more confident behind the wheel. Two hours driving is a good practice, especially if you're a beginner. I would definitely recommend this school to my friends. read more

Michelle was my instructor!! She was so nice and helped me pass my first try at Pasadena DMV! I was so happy and she helped me so much!! Thank you Michelle for everything!!!! They said that the Pasadena DMV is really hard to pass but Michelle believed in me and it made me believe in myself. She will help you pass your test! - Destinee read more

My son had a great behind the wheel experience and the instructor was awesome. BUT.... The reason I signed up for Viva is due to the great reviews I received from family friends. Now I won't refer anyone else there because of the poorly relayed information from the front office. The front office staff told me that use of one of the cars would be included for the DMV test with the mandatory 6 hour package that I purchased. Fast forward to a week prior to the DMV appt, I'm told it will be an additional $140 to use the car for the appt because I didn't purchase a 10 hr package. I was never informed that a 10 hr package was the only package that included a car. I spoke with the front office today to inquire about this charge, and I was told that with the 6hr package, if the driver is over 18 the car is included but if not it's an additional $140. What exactly is the difference? Whether the driver is over or under 18, the fact remains the driver is in need of a car for the test and I was told it was included. I'm disappointed and will more than likely cancel that $140 appt and allow my teen to use my car. read more

Passed road test today on my first try. Granted im a fairly experienced driver but VIVA did a great job on getting me familiarized with US road rules during practices. Somwhow i got assigned to 3 instructors: Irene Matthew and Jarvis, and id recommend Matthew to be ur instructor! The guy is fun and friendly, strcit abt teaching but not in a way that makes u feel nervous. And David who accompanied me to the actual test was such a nice guy who definitely helped me to relax. 5-star experience hands down. read more

Had David as an instructor for my first day! He was great and helped me feel comfortable and confident for my behind the wheel test! You really can fit so much learning into two hours. I still have a few more classes to go but I already feel like I'll do fine on my exam. I failed my drivers test the first time and shortly after realized I needed to learn from a professional instructor rather than just learning from friends. David pays great attention to making sure that you are doing everything correctly and gives little tips on making sure that your driving more smoothly. Definitely worth it! Looking forward to my drivers test! read more

Great instructors, especially George! He is very systematic and effective. The staff is friendly and accommodating.

I called Viva because I had not driven for a couple of months and wanted a refresher course The instructor they sent out was Randy and I cannot heap enough praise on him . Showed up on time and was very competent. personable, and knowledgeable. We covered many surface streets as well as 4 or 5 freeways. Covered some points which cannot be overestimated like defensive driving and the true high of violations Randy is absolutely the greatest And I have to praise the whole Viva operation . No high-pressure to sell you up to a more expensive course of lessons I wasn't even asked for payment till the lesson was over. An unusual experience for an operation California. It Will definitely recommend Randy And Viva read more

My daughter just passed her behind the wheel driving test. thank you Adis for being so easy in working around our busy schedule to instruct her. You guys are very nice to work with and I will easily recommend your company to anyone looking for a driving school. My son also went through your school 3 years or so ago and we had the same experience back than. thank you, thank you, thank you. read more

Best investment ever. Easy from start to finish. Both Rachel and Sam were terrific instructors. Supportive and helpful the whole way through from day one. We could have used less hours and online classes but the value and ease of viva were well worth the price. They even took our daughter to the DMV for the driving test and she passed her first try! I would recommend to anyone. read more

Viva Driving School - Great instruction. Great value! - Driving Schools Near Me - Pasadena, California

I had my reservations finding the right place to teach my kids how to drive, considering how important it is for them to learn correctly and drive safely. I can not be more happy about my decision to sign them up for Viva Driving School. Both my 17 year old son and 16 year old daughter took their lessons here and learned to maneuver a car correctly, stress free, and most importantly, in a safe manner as well.The instructors are kind and wonderful teachers. Today, they helped us through a tough situation, as I forgot that I took my daughters drivers test appointment on Wednesday and she still had two hours left to complete. I called Viva on the phone, David went above and beyond to accommodated my daughter by getting her a two hour slot to complete her mandatory 6 hours. I highly recommend Viva Driving School to any parents wondering where to send their kids to learn driving. read more

TERRIBLE SERVICE The online package that comes with online ed and 6 hours behind the wheels EXPIRES WITHIN A YEAR AND THEY DON'T TELL YOU THAT. Mine expired and they basically gave me an attitude that they don't care and I lost $300 sth. read more

WEIRD EXPERIENCE! I scheduled with these people and around 5 days later they called to go over the details the day before the appt, the crazy guy on the phone told me to have my daughter there at 8am to meet her instructor in some "alley" behind the business I'm assuming and also pick her up from there because their office wasn't open on the weekends, When I asked about the dates of the other appts he just told me to pay the driver the day of the appt and schedule the other appts later, After we got off the phone I didn't really have a good feeling about this and called to some other driving schools and found one I was more comfortable with, in addition, my daughter notified me that her 6 month waiting period to test with the DMV wouldn't be up until the end of Sept. I called him back and told him I wanted to cancel, at first he said "okay" then he started to get mad, I explained to him that there was no urgency now cause she wouldn't be able to take the behind the wheel with the DMV and that I wanted her appt to be closer to that date so that the lesson would still be fresh and he continued to go off and tell me that I don't need to wait and still trying to convince me to keep the appt. Then he became condescending and saying "oh, well if it's about the money..." I will NEVER do business with theses people again, glad I went with my first mind and cancelled, real weirdos working here! read more

This place is definitely the right place to do your driving classes, the instructors are patient and friendly. When doing your driving classes and behind the wheel tests ask for Sam. He the most friendly and helpful teacher I ever had! He told me all the tips and tricks for passing the test. Even with the hardest instructor on the test I still passed today! read more

Viva Driving School - Driving Schools Near Me - Pasadena, California

I had four sessions with Viva. Most of my lessons were with Randy. Randy is very calm and patient. That helped me feel a lot more comfortable despite my high level of anxiety. He even came in on his day off to take me to my test so I would feel more comfortable. I didn't pass that day due to a silly mistake but I did pass a week later (today). In between the two tests, I had a lesson with an Armenia man (Can't remember the name). He was nice and eager to help. Both instructors were more than willing to answer all my questions and were encouraging. Whenever I called the office, the staff was friendly and helpful. Making appointments/payments was easy. Lessons started on time and you get a friendly reminder call beforehand. Overall, I would definitely recommend Viva and think they are largely responsible for me getting my license. read more

This place is amazing. They're professionalism is impressive. Kind, courteous and extremely friendly. My daughter is studying for her driving test and while her father and I have been teaching her, coming to Viva was a God send. Her teacher George, is amazing. He's not only fine tuning her driving abilities, he's built up her confidence and her driving shows it. Coming here was the best decision and we'll worth the money. Which by the way is completely reasonable. Look no more if you want your teenager to learn from the best!! read more

Our two daughters just completed the driving school and had a great experience. Their instructors (Naila and Edwin) were knowledgeable, kind, and (especially) patient. They gave them very good advice that they applied when driving with us. We would highly recommend the school if you're looking for good preparation and good service. Thanks Viva! read more

I was incredibly nervous about driving and postponed getting my license until I was 19. Now, I can confidently say I am the best driver of my friends. The instructor completely helped me move past my anxiety and guided me to passing my drivers test with only 2 errors! Loved this driving course. read more

We were wandering through this process with our teen - thanks goodness for Viva - they prepped her so well - Rachel, and the other instructors, were encouraging and positive. So convenient to do pick up at school - lesson - then drop off at home. We bought the 10 hours and she did the last 2 at the DMV - picked her up at 7:40 am - she was at the DMV with plenty of time and encouragement (last lesson plus last 1/2 hour before test they went to the DMV and prepped her in the area) She took the test in the Viva car - and we have a driver! Thank you Viva - Our son is not too far behind her and I look forward to calling you again! read more

Very nice and friendly instructors, A good driving school, Clearly answered any and all questions. Would recommend

If your kid needs to learn to drive, find another school. The first time the instructor picked up my 17 year old son, he did not believe him when he told him that he had never driven. The only thing he'd ever driven was a go kart, and that didn't prepare him to be behind the wheel of a car. Only one of the instructors who gave him "lessons" EVER gave him any instruction. At least one time they just told him to go home and would not even count the time because they didn't feel comfortable with him driving. Uh, what is a driving school for if not to TEACH HIM TO DRIVE?!??! I finally had to take over entirely, which I was not comfortable with, which is why we wanted him to do the driving school hours first. So, I taught him and he then got his requisite hours with them. The only guy who taught him anything was on his next to last lesson when the guy took him to the area of the DMV office he was scheduled for the driving test and showed him a number of things that that office would put him through. My 2nd child is about to start his lessons. We will NOT be going to VIVA again. read more

I purchased the six hour driving package for my son who had no prior behind the wheel experience. He had Arlene as his instructor for all three driving sessions. He really liked her teaching style and quickly learned a lot. She is extremely patient and very informative. With each lesson he became more comfortable and confident. Arlene gave him lots of information to become well prepared for the test and he passed on the first try. Thank you, Viva/Arlene, for a great driving school experience! read more

Took my behind the wheel test at the DMV in Pasadena. Matt was my instructor for my classes I truly credit him for helping pass my test the first time! He even knew the name of all the examiners!! He was so helpful and patient!! Viva driving school is so worth the money!!! I would recommend everyone to take classes here before they take their behind the wheel test! Thank you Viva!! And also make sure you request Matt you won't regret it!! read more

Passed my DMV Drive Test today after (2) very helpful driving classes with Viva. I recommend them highly read more

Matt gave my daughter her last driving lesson. He was a great instructor he was extremely supportive and helpful. Viva Their staff is one of the best in Pasadena and made our experience well worth it. Truthfully, My daughter was a really terrible driver before visiting this school. Mat taught her skills to become a better driver and to ace my driving test. My daughter feels like a completely new driver on the road, from making new habits to destroying old ones. I highly recommend this school to anyone looking for help and insight for the DMV's drivers test. Thank you viva and Matt read more

I just had my first driving lesson with Viva today and I'm feeling so good and empowered by my driving lesson. I had Rachel, who made me feel very comfortable and was easy to approach with any questions that I had. She was so personable and really easy going. I'm a very anxious driver and the lesson made a lot of my fears go away. I will be back for my second session soon, with Rachel! Thank you Viva for helping me feel more comfortable driving! read more

Highly recommend Viva! They have very good teaching techniques, my instructor's name was Sam and he drove with me around the dmv that i would be tested out which really helped me get familiar with the streets. read more

My son took his 6 hours of behind the wheel driving once he got his permit. He felt vey comfortable driving with viva during instructors. I even had them again once he was about to get his license just to go over a few road instructions along with the school taking him to get his license. What is nice the instructor goes over a few things and takes you around the DMV where you will be taking your test so the student won't felt nervous well should I say less nervous. With that all said he PASSED. Would use them again if needed read more

Took a one hour lesson with George. I am an experienced driver but moved from overseas and needed to take the California test and George gave me great tips. I ended up passing at Pasadena DMV. They could improve on their car as well as booking options. I paid for the lesson one month in advance but couldn't book a lesson then because I wanted a lesson nearer my test date. Also, instructor was unaware my lesson was only for one hour instead of two which resulted in some delays. Nonetheless, the main driving lesson which is the most important part, went great. 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

Angie....YOU ROCK! All the "torture" she put me through was def worth it. I have probably THE WORST anxiety over driving. My ex (then-bf) would try to teach me and I ended up having panic attacks and just freaking out. I failed the written once before and then passed it the second time I took it, but between all that was one year of me just hating the idea of driving. I was the self-proclaimed "Bus Queen" and everything else I would just walk. But at 23, as a single mother, I decided that I needed to stop relying on my daughter's father or my mom for rides. I wasn't even going to sign up for driving school, but my mom kinda forced it on me, and I'm so glad she did. I was nervous with Angie. She straight criticized every little mistake I made. But it was like...I wanted to do better to impress her. She was like a friend I didn't want to let down. I def failed my practice exams with her but every time I failed, I would see where I needed to practice and improve on. Def practice b/w your 2 hour meetings, and I'd recommend staying with one person so they can be consistent with your status. I passed my driving test at the Pasadena DMV office today! Idk if I would have been able to if I hadn't taken Angie. Thank you so much for all your advice and patience. read more

Already have my license abroad but did not drive much, and had to get my California DL. Failed the first behind-the-wheel test. I found Viva Driving School on the internet, and they had great reviews. Got 2 hours with Adis, great instructor, very patient explains everything. Then got 2 hours with Angie, different style, more spontaneous, was telling me all the mistakes I made, helped me correct them and be more confident driving which was just what I needed before taking the exam. David took me to DMV on the day of the test, had a great time chatting with him during the wait, and got my DL easily. I did not stress at all!!! I totally recommend this driving school for teens and/or adults. read more

Although the classes went great, they really shattered my expectations the day of the test. I knew I would have a different instructor because of the DMV I selected however I also got a different car which frankly was not told to me and was not acceptable whatsoever. It took me a good hour to get the hang of the car in terms of its controls as it was vastly different from the other one. I got really nervous because it was a different car and it definitely contributed to me failing the test. I would highly recommend getting the classes however make sure you confirm that on the day of the test, you get the same car you practiced on and preferably the same instructor as well so that last minute changes don't affect your confidence. read more

I took lessons with Arlene, she is so knowledgeable and definitely put me at ease behind the wheel while helping me learn all of the rules and specifics I needed to pass my drivers test. Just got my license all thanks to Arlene!! Thank you again so much, you're the best! read more

I decided to seek professional help after taking my behind the wheel driving test TWICE and did not pass. Since I only had one more chance, I didn't not want to risk failing it again. I knew I was not a bad driver and had a lot of practice prior to have taken my tests BUT I do get nervous very easily and my mom yelling at me and holding for dear life every time I drive did not make it any better. Not only was that a factor in my failure but I also did not take my test in the car that I had practiced in. THANK GOD, and Yelp of course, I came across Viva driving school and decided to give it a try. The receptionist was very informative when I called and even said they will schedule my DMV behind the wheel test for me. The website is also very informative and easy to use. Anyway, back to my test. Its been a year so I don't remember much details but I asked if i could have an instructor an hour the day before my test just to make sure I'm ready and an hour before my test. I practiced around the pasadena dmv. The route was almost exactly where the dmv instructor assigned me to go. In just an hour I learned so much that I didn't know and I thought I knew everything. They let me use the car I practiced in to take my actual test and that made me so much more comfortable. My instructor was so nice I didn't feel scared, or worried, or as nervous as I did going with my mom. Definitely recommend Viva Driving School! Prices are awesome! :) read more

They were helpful up until I failed my test. The instructor told me I had to wait 15 days before I could take my test again. I believed him and now I can't use my 3rd try because of not anticipating he was wrong to accomodate taking the test into my full-time work schedule. Turns out that rule is only applicable if you're 18 yrs old or under. So I guess he assumed I was a highschooler when in reality I'm in my mid-20s. Be careful to fact check what the instructors tell you no matter how confident they sound. Lesson learned. read more

Glen was my instructor. He was really nice and he taught me a lot. I went on the freeway with him for the first time (And second and third lol). I was really nervous at first but he made me feel confident. Because Glen was not working on Tuesday so David took me to the test. David was really nice too. He pointed out all the mistakes I was making and help me review the test to make sure that I can do my best on the test. I would definitely recommend VIVA to my friends. read more

I am a very bad driver and I had already failed 4 times in Arizona before joining Viva driving school. My experience at Viva driving school was amazing. I had the 5 lesson package and it was totally worth it. I had the chance to try 3 different instructors and all of them were amazing. But my favorite instructor was definitely instructor Randy. He was very helpful and gave me a lot of good tips that not only helped me in acing the driving test but get better at driving in general. I even went to the driving test with instructor Randy. He made sure that I get enough practice before the test and I feel confident before the test. I will highly recommend Viva driving school to anybody who wants to take the driving test or get better at driving. read more

I am very thankful that I could meet Sam at Viva Driving school. He's very patient, calm, nice and humorous. He knows how to teach driving. With his helpful advices and instructions, I could pass my behind-the-wheel driving test. No doubt that he is the best driving teacher I've ever met. read more