El Cajon Driving School

Here’s from my son:
I am a former student of instructor Michael Manzi.
My very first time driving was with him, and his calmness was very reassuring. It made learning to drive easier without excessive pressures.
Subsequent lessons were very constructive — the mock test in particular prepared me very well for the DMV behind-​the-​wheel driving test, which I passed easily.
I would recommend this driving school to any of my peers looking for driving instruction.

My son just finished his third class and took and passed his driving test. He was able to develop his confidence through these classes. I accompanied him on the first two hour driving lessons and was absolutely terrified. Dmv says they can’t drive until they’ve had their first lesson behind the wheel. Omg. I thought we were going to die. It was the equivalent of throwing a child into the deep end of the swimming pool and then talking to them about how to swim. But my son was able to learn a lot and we didn’t die. The instructor was. Saint and grabbed the wheel when needed. I will use them again for my other three kids when the time comes.

Dan is a great instructor. I still find myself referencing some of his techniques and I always try to be the best driver I can be. Would recommend to anybody. A little pricey, but absolutely worth it if you want to be the best and safest driver possible.

A wonderful, positive experience. I highly recommend El Cajon Driving School. My son and I had a horrible experience with Expert Driving School, so I had a lot of questions initially before we signed on. The office manager was pleasant and accommodating with our schedule and selected the perfect instructor for my son. Robert, the instructor, was professional, patient, and kind. My son was nervous after the negative experience at the previous school, but Robert put him at ease and it was a fantastic experience. This company is great and I am thankful to have found them!

Dan was my instructor and was thoroughly professional, up-​to-​date, kind and «on point» with his teaching and guidance about the driving permit exam which I took at the DMV in El Cajon. I passed first time without errors and the mock test Dan took me through thoroughly prepared me for the real permit. The driving school were so friendly and flexible in arranging a last minute lesson around my schedule. I was recommended to the school and I highly recommend it to all new young budding drivers as well as more experienced drivers like myself who arrive from around the world.
Thank you so much American Driving School of El Cajon.

You, the driver with the red phone on the dock, you drive like a bunghole.
If you are going to teach children how to drive, maybe don’t change into my lane behind me and drive dangerously close to me in the center freeway lane, But i get it, you probably didn’t realize what you were doing with all that texting going on. I was already speeding, go in the passing lane if you are in such a hurry.

I highly recommend this school for two reasons — the flexibility and especially for the friendly, professional people you’ll deal with every step of the way. My phone calls were always answered immediately and I never felt rushed off the phone. All of my questions about the process were thoroughly answered in such a friendly manner. Robert was my daughter’s driving instructor and he was awesome! Very thorough, professional and personable. He really made a big difference in my daughter being ready to get her license. He was great at giving constructive criticism, coupled with praise where it was deserved. I don’t feel he just told her what she wanted to hear but always told her her strengths and weaknesses to pass the behind the wheel exam with the DMV and to become a safer driver. My daughter really trusted his instruction and opinion and she’s a tough customer!
As for flexibility, they have a classroom option and an online option which is what worked best for our busy schedule. The online program was trouble free and user friendly. El Cajon Driving School made what I thought was going to be a painful experience a rather enjoyable experience.
I have another daughter who’ll drive next year and I’m for sure going back to El Cajon Driving School and requesting Robert as her driving instructor.

Dan was excellent! Would recommend this school to anyone looking for a great driving school and instructor.

This is the driving school we chose to assist our younger son with his driving skills. Surprisingly we were fortunate to have the same instructor that our older son had several years ago. Robert Finley is patient, thorough and very pleasurable to work with. As parents we were encouraged to ride along with our son for the lessons which we greatly appreciate and thought was a very good idea so that we could all be on the same page. We recommend this school to anyone who requires behind the wheel training.
Celia B.

Please stay away from this company.
I thought this was a driving school that teaches it’s students on how to drive and is willing to take the time to teach there students.
I’m the kind of driver that wants to learn and needs as many classes as possible. I have no one in San Diego willing teach me on the side and I had the necessary funds to pay these guys for how many lessons it would take for me to be a better driver.
I really depended on these guys yet they constantly wanted me to ask someone to further enforce what they taught me. Who the hell can I ask to take me driving here in San Diego, another driving school?
All in all, I was willing to pay for over 60 hours of driving time, and yet they gave me the impression I needed to ask someone else.
Secondly, and this is the problem that prompt this very very low rating.
I called in early this week to make an appointment to Danielle Bybee who answered the phone. I told her I wanted to meet with Dan Tacket and wanted to see what is an available time for him to teach me. She said sometime next week like on a Monday. I asked if there was any time sooner. And Danielle told me how about this Friday at 3:30pm. I said fine that’s good.
So before Friday, I cancelled all my meetings, all my scheduled work that day. I basically cancelled everything I initially planned to do that day because I wanted to make this class (by the way, I’m a working adult here in San Diego).
When 3:40pm hit on that friday, Dan didn’t arrive. I called into their office and they basically told me that my scheduled class was supposed to be an a Friday on Sept 6, 2013. WTF, that Danielle lady did not mentioned any thing that this class was going to be next month. And when I called in to Dan to voice my concern, all he could give was this speech that his company does not make mistakes and that he needed a vacation and that his people have his correct schedule.
I understand you needed to go on a vacation, but please let your office know the IMPORTANCE OF ACCURATE SCHEDULING WITH CLIENTS.“
I BASICALLY WASTED A FRIDAY AFTERNOON!!!
My advice to Mr. Dan Tacket, please please sit down with your Danielle Bybee and explain to her the full importance of accurate scheduling. And secondly, you say this about your driving school:
«Our capability goes far beyond the usual Driving School that just teaches teenage driver’s education. El Cajon Driving School offers a wide variety of programs to meet the needs of several types of drivers.»
What kinda program did you even try to create for me? I’m basically an adult that is in desperate need of classes especially road classes (because I have no one to teach me and I was willing to pay for number of classes needed) and the program you tried to give me was some thing that I had to complete in three lessons. Great, I’m basically screwed and I will have to find another driving school willing to accept my money so that I can learn how to drive.
THANK YOU EL CAJON DRIVING SCHOOL FOR NOTHING.

I chose this company to help teach my daughter to drive because their program seemed to be one of the most complete and professional available locally. We were extremely happy with how they treated us.
First of all, I recommend the classroom training instead of the online course. There’s just so much more to be experienced by be able to interact with the instructor. Classes are held at a bowling alley in El Cajon, so it is a nice central location for people who live in East County.
The other reviews of this place confirm what we experienced: thorough and professional. We were never rushed and scheduling was very easy. We clearly had the instructor’s undivided attention. The training materials and instructions given to the parents are very helpful to reinforce the professional instructions that the young driver received.
We didn’t choose a specific instructor, but we ended up with Dan Tackett. He was a good fit for us. When the student makes mistakes, they never make you feel stupid. They just help you to get it right. I had the hardest time trying to teach my kid to park and they fixed that for us in about 10 minutes.
They encourage parental participation and I decided to go on all 3 of my daughter’s lessons. It helped me to become a better driver by relearning things that are taught differently today than when I was first learning to drive. I also was able apply some of their techniques when helping my daughter to get more experience behind the wheel.
My daughter felt confident and passed her driver’s test on the first try, missing only one point. I would not hesitate to recommend this company to anybody with a teenager that wants to learn to drive.

I can’t think of a better way to learn the ropes. My daughter is progressing through her lessons and about to get her license. I’m an over-​protective dad and my anxiety about my little girl driving gets in the way of her learning.
Our instructor, Dan Tackett, took her through an intensive ground school that was nothing short of incredible. Somehow finding a way to put her at ease all the while he was filler her head with details and technical information she needs to know.
We chose Dan because we’ve known him fromour racing days in the ’80’s. He’s been passionate about cars as long as we’ve known him and when I heard he was instructing driving skills I knew immediately that he was THE person I could trust to teach my only child how to be safe.
We’re overjoyed with everything he’s done so far. He’s been available for extra advice and practice when asked and, most importantly, I am not a nervous wreck when they are out on a lesson.
You won’t be sorry with this company!