The Student License Program
Student License Program: Designed for students who are beginning the process of earning their California driver license. This program is intended for students who have not yet started a driver education course elsewhere.
Eligibility and Advantage: Gain immediate eligibility for the DMV Student License. Students can begin Behind-the-Wheel Training on their 15th birthday, even before obtaining a learner's permit, allowing them to apply what they learn online from day one.
Official Student License Processing: As an authorized California Driving School, The Driving Academy administers the Student License testing and manages all required certification paperwork, making the process simple, accurate and hassle-free.
- Fundammental Vehicle Control: We start on quiet, residential roads to dial in your driver set-up and car control. You learn what true driving clarity actually feels like, not just how to pass a test. Our coaches will keep you engaged and challenged mentally.
- Finding Your Traffic Flow: Once the basics are second nature, we move you into multi-lane traffic. We'll sharpen your decision-making, so you feel like you're in control of the road, not just reacting to it.
- Precision Maneuvering: We also develop your parking lot and parallel parking competency.
- Shift Into Gear: We transition you from multi-lanes to high-speed environments, building the technical focus and poise required to navigate freeways and canyons with confidence.
- Developing Your Sixth Sense: Driving is 90% anticipation. We teach you to spot hazards before they become problems, building the kind of proactive awareness that keeps you safer for life.
Silver Program: The Advanced Mentorship Program to Build Cognitive Awareness
- Elevate Your Driving. We build your confidence in demanding environments. We move beyond the basics to help you navigate complex interchanges, seamless freeway merges, and heavy urban or night traffic. It's the essential next step toward becoming a more capable, proactive driver.
- Driving With Intention: It's one thing to handle a car; it's another to stay in sync with it. We help you move past reactive driving so you can stay calm, look ahead and make the right call, no matter how busy the road gets.
- Your Personalized Roadmap: Forget rigid scripts. We treat your training as a mentorship, working together to refine your technique and build habits that feel natural to you.
- Training On Your Turf: We build lessons around the places you actually go -- your school commute, sports practice or favorite hangouts. It's training that fits your life, not just random roads.
- Parking Without The Panic: We refine your parking lot and parallel parking until they feel like second nature -- even in high - traffic urban environments. We'll turn your biggest stressor into your most effortless move.
- Approach Any Route With Clarity: Learn to keep your composure to handle any route, from local streets to complex freeway merging. We even show you how to safely use a GPS as a tool, keeping you focused on the road while knowing where you're headed.
- Your Final Test Rehearsal: Think of this as your final dress rehearsal. We review everything on the drive test, clear up any last-minute questions, and make sure you feel completely ready and calm for your test. I'm here to make sure that you walk into that exam feeling prepared.
DRIVING ACADEMY STANDARD: OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU
- UNCOMPROMISING SAFETY: All training is conducted in our modern, dual-controlled, high-visibility SUV fleet. Beyond our secondary brake and our steering system, each vehicle is outfitted with the latest active safety technologies, including lane-keep assist, blind spot monitoring, and collision mitigation sensors, to secure the safest environment possible.
- ELITE MENTORSHIP: Our coaches are more than instructors. They are certified mentors trained in the proprietary Driving Academy "Co-Pilot" methodology. They don't just teach maneuvers; they cultivate the high-level decision-making skills required for real-world driving.
- CONCIERGE LOGISTICS: We act as your dedicated project managers for the entire licensing journey. For our premium program members, we provide full-service DMV support - including expert paperwork review, priority scheduling, and comprehensive test prep. With our round-trip, door-to-door transportation, we handle every logistical detail so you can focus entirely on the student's success. We’re available 7 days a week and are happy to assist you with any questions or concerns.
OUR PROMISE We aren't just here to help you pass a test; we are here to build a driver who can navigate the complexities of the road with calm, calculated intelligence. Your journey to mastery begins with a single session.
Steps for our Integrated Program
1
Enroll in Online Driver Ed
2
Begin Driving Lessons
3
Finish Virtual Driver Ed/Get Learner’s Permit
4
Continue Driving Lessons/Schedule Drive Test
5
Pass Drive Test/Get License
"I cannot recommend The Driving Academy more - phenomenal! My teenage son is a very busy student athlete, and Rita Shuster made scheduling a dream. My son’s instructor, Raul, was incredible - calm, experienced, professional, reliable, and an excellent teacher and enormous support during the entire process."
L. Breier
"We had another incredible experience with The Driving Academy! Our 16-year-old daughter just passed her road test, and her instructor, Raul, was patient, professional, and truly helped build her confidence behind the wheel. Russ and Tom run such a well-organized, high-quality program, and Rita makes scheduling completely seamless and stress-free, plus they all have such fun personalities. We actually used them four years ago for our son and had the same outstanding experience. Everyone is extremely professional, fully trained, and clear communicators, and the overall process felt safe and even enjoyable. We highly recommend The Driving Academy to any family!"
Gara D.
"Just passed my DMV test today! The Driving Academy was seriously the best. All the instructors were super nice and made me feel comfortable every step of the way. Russ was awesome — he always kept me calm and confident while driving. And Rita made scheduling everything so easy. If you’re learning to drive, I totally recommend them!"
K. Valdez
"The Driving Academy was amazing in helping my daughter get her driver’s license and teaching her how to drive! Every instructor was fantastic. Rita is super responsive and helps with everything. I can’t say enough good things about them!"
E. Mavromati
"I’ve used The Driving Academy for two of my kids, who have very different driving profiles and personalities. We’ve had excellent experiences in both cases. One of my children needed more instruction, but they both passed their behind-the-wheel test on the first try. Scheduling and communication are easy, and their staff is very helpful, flexible, and friendly. Rita and Raul were particularly great. I will most definitely use them again for the third kid."
M. Silva
"The Driving Academy is the best driving school out there! Such a dream team of teachers, I went from zero experience to a licensed confident driver under their instruction. Strongly recommend this company! Russ and Rita are the best."
E. Ackerman
"Russ is truly exceptional, and I would highly recommend The Driving Academy to any new or anxious driver. He is so charismatic, and I gained so much confidence in my driving capabilities after taking a few lessons with him. Our lessons were nothing short of entertaining and instructive. I have him to thank for my license, and for teaching me to “enjoy” driving in LA."
K. Smith
"Russ and his team are the best! They shaped my daughter into the confident driver that she is today. She passed her driving test the first time, and no one was more excited for her than Russ and his team. They are encouraging, supportive, and really care! I wouldn't use anyone else!"
P. Springsteen
"The Driving Academy is excellent in every way! They accommodated our daughter's busy schedule to arrange practice driving times that fit her. Raul was such a calm and informative driving teacher. The Driving Academy even took our daughter to the DMV for her driver's test, and she passed! Thank you to Rita and Raul and everyone at The Driving Academy!"
Alissa B.
"Had a great experience with The Driving Academy. Couldn’t have learned to drive and get my license the way I did without Russ and the rest of the guys' help. Thank you so much!! Really recommend anyone who needs help learning to drive or just needs tips to improve their driving to use this academy."
S. Maged
"Russ Shuster is amazing! He taught me so much about driving, and his tips made me very confident driving on my own. I would recommend this school to anyone in the greater Los Angeles area looking for the best driving school. 5 stars!!!"
J. Etessami
"We had the best experience with Rita and the drivers from The Driving Academy. The drivers are professional, kind, and patient. My daughter had never been behind the wheel. Now she’s driving on the freeways! They were always on time. Scheduling was easy and efficient. My daughter learned to drive, and they made her feel comfortable and confident behind the wheel. I’ll be back in 2 years for my son!!!"
K. Lang