Reviews of Victoria Driving School Inc (Driving School)

Kabuto

Alex is the probably the best instructor that I ever had. Originally I was afraid of driving, but I now feel calm and collected when driving on the road. Not only did Alex taught me the skills on how to operate a car, but he also taught me how to become a defensive driver. I randomly picked Victoria Driving School from a google review, and I'm glad that I did. I totally recommend them.

Chewbleema

This is not a professional driving school. I believe Alex is the owner of it and there is no one above him to complain to. Alex is very aggresive when teaching, listens to music loudly, and is overall a bad passenger. When I finished my test, the examiner gave me feedback that I then passed on to Alex and he pretty much responded with "That ICBC examiner has no idea what he's talking about." I couldn't get a word in edgewise with him, and he says a lot of things that a professional should avoid going into having healing hands, sensing powers from indigenous ancestors (maybe trying to connect with student?) Overall I paid over 600$ out of my own pocket to basically be stuck in a car with this guy that has a God Complex Please do not put yourself or your child through this driving school. There are way better teachers out there

Lauren Lupton

After seven years of not driving, and not even knowing if I could, I decided to sign up for three lessons. My goal was not necessarily to start driving again, but to assess what my barriers might be. Alex designed a lesson plan for me, based on my history,limitations, apprehensions, and goals. Now, I'm driving regularly! Since I had driven for 15 years prior to my hiatus, Alex and I focused first on re-honing my skills, and then tied everything together with additional tips on how to drive defensively. For me this also involved a contingency plan for days when I don't feel up to driving. That said, now that my skills are back, and my confidence is up, I haven't missed a day of driving since taking it on again. The passenger-side controls also helped alleviate the anxiety of starting driving again. Ace!

Max Branson

I did 8 lessons with Victoria Driving School before doing my Class 7 road test, passing 1st try. My experience with them was exceptional. The instructor, Alex, is very helpful and is eager to teach you defensive driving and everything you need to drive safely with confidence. Alex doesn’t just teach you the skills for driving, he also helps you see things from a logical perspective and goes the extra mile for his students. He is also very patient and he really does put in the effort to help his students succeed. I can’t recommend him enough and I am very thankful for everything he has done for me!

Praveen Samuel

Learning is a lifelong exercise. I moved to Canada last month with 12 years of international driving experience. But every country has a unique set of traffic laws and driving regualtions that no amount of foreign experience can prepare you for. Victoria Driving School succeeds splendidly in delivering a bespoke programme for each of its students. I signed up for a single practice session and the "Road Test" package with VDS just before my Class V road test. My experience with ace instructor Alex was nothing short of transformational. Alex brings a dynamic approach to teaching. The secret to Alex's phenomenal success as a mentor is that he places importance on understanding his students' personality- each one is distinct and requires a unique method to untap their potential. He focuses on why a student is committing a particular error rather than merely listing the problems and suggesting their solutons, thereby addressing the root of the issue. His astute analysis of my strengths and weaknesses helped me overcome barriers that I had thought I would never be able to. My driving experience hitherto had been principally derived from 2 countries with radically different driving cultures. Alex presciently recognised that my challenge was to find the "sweet spot" between those two styles. Alex's innovative teaching techniques which combined principles of human behaviour and cognitive learning were instrumental in my acing of the test, which I passed on the first attempt. I also receieved the coveted "Blank Sheet" for my performance during the road test. I am deeply indebted to Alex for helping me discover my potential whilst also allaying some of my fears. I strongly recommend Alex's mentorship and instruction not only to prospective ICBC testees, but also to those who are already in posssession of a full privilege BC driver's licence so that they too may benefit from his foresight and erudition in unlocking their hidden abilities. ICBC and organisations involved in the science of learning would do well to reach out to Alex and incorporate his revolutionary ideas in their teaching programmes.

Thomas Liang

Alex is probably the most transparent and honest instructor I've ever had. I took lessons in Vancouver before but i never really learned how to drive. I told him i needed my licence for my summer job and with 3 days until my road test and in 3 lessons, Alex put in 200% of effort and taught me everything i needed to know to be a safe driver! He told me one thing that i think every new driver should know for their road test, and that is " Don't worry about what you need to do to pass, just be a safe driver and be comfortable behind the wheel and you will do just fine." Lessons with Alex were not only instructive but also enjoyable from beginning to the end. Once again, I'd like to say thank you Alex for all the time and energy you invested in me in such a short amount of time! I hope all your future students pass the road test on the first try like i did!

M N

Before approaching Alex I had taken 12 lessons with a different driving school, and tried the N-level road test twice. I failed both times, had nothing to show for the 12 lessons I had taken, and did not know how to drive. I had very low confidence in my ability and felt very unsure and apprehensive behind the wheel. Alex took the time to develop a lesson plan that was right for me, and helped me overcome my apprehension and fear of driving. As well as teaching me practical skills and good habits, he was able to identify and overcome the mental blocks which got in the way of my performance. Alex is a very patient teacher who will always give you 100% of his attention and care. He went out of his way to accommodate my irregular work schedule (we even did lessons at 7:00 AM on a Sunday). It took a lot of hard work, but I finally have my N. More importantly, I feel confident in my driving ability and know how to stay safe on the road. I will continue taking lessons with Victoria Driving School every few month to make sure I don’t fall into bad habits. I would recommend Alex to anyone who is serious about become a good, safe driver. Victoria Driving School is well worth the extra money. Paying the discount school got me nowhere.

Julianna Nielsen

Alex is an exceptional driving instructor. Throughout the 12 lessons, he motivated and helped me to become a confident driver. I really enjoyed the hour and a half lessons, each of which were personally tailored to my style of learning and to my interests. Alex was always relaxed during lessons, and offered insightful tips on how I should improve and how I should preform new maneuvers. Each maneuver (3-point-turn, merging, etc.) was broken down into manageable, simple steps. Who knew parallel parking could be so easy!? As a bit of an extra, we would often take a quick break to pick up a fresh brew of Victoria's best coffee (On-Campus UVIC students will appreciate this :D ). Thank you Alex for not only helping me to achieve my N, but also for teaching me how to drive defensively and with confidence.

AGENT BAWANG

hi po this joshua thanks for helping me tob more relax and beconfident on driving... Thanks for being a great instructor

Yannah T

The most unprofessional driving teacher in Victoria. Likes to talk about politics every chance he gets and can't seem to listen when people have other opinions. During our 10 lessons never taught me how to park or drive on the highway.

Kris Roxas

I have known Alex for over decade now & he is a great guy to deal with. He's very professional & is very caring of his students well being & to learning the proper techniques for driving. I would not hesitate to recommend Alex & his driving school. Thank you Alex for helping keep our streets safe with safe drivers ! Ferdie

João Fabrício Wohnrath

Alex is THE BEST instructor that I have ever met. It's not just about passing the test or getting your license. He is going to understand your situation and deliver totally tailor-made lessons for your necessities. By the way, he never asked me to write a review. So, you can trust all these positive reviews and give him a call. I'm sure you will not regret, just like me :)

Olivia Lauren

Amazing service, teaches you thoroughly and gives great feedback.

Gabriel Zaro

Alex is a true "magician". That's about it; I arrived a couple of months ago from Brazil and needed my BC Driver's license, but the dates for the road tests on Vancouver were 2-3 months away and that would've mean winter in my 'scenario' (did I mention I'm from Brazil? ehehhe..), what was a no-no. So I researched a little and found Alex; after explaining my 'situation' and, feeling his confidence over the phone, I scheduled the road test and 2 days later I was on my way to Victoria. The 'bundle' included Alex picking me up at the ferry terminal, spending 2-ish hours practicing with me before the test, take me to the road test, renting the car for the test, clowns and balloons if I passed (or monsters and rituals if I messed with his perfect score) and then take me back to where we've started. Well, the guy's a guru, for sure. After only 2 hours of really assertive teaching, and a few minutes of meditation (yep, dude went all jedi on me!) I got my license at my very first try! It was a crazy day, got to see the island, meet this awesome guy and get my license all in just one day. oh yeah, I forgot to mention that was also my first time driving an automatic car, LOL. He's the real deal. period. Portuguese short version - Galere, encurtando o rolê: só tinha tempo pra fazer a prova bem longe de vancouver. Descobri esse cara em Victoria e marquei um pacote - 1 aula, aluguel do carro e translado pra balsa e pro teste. nunca tinha dirigido um carro automatico antes e era minha primeira tentativa no teste daqui. conheço uma galera de brasileiro que nao passou de primeira, muitos vicios e etc.. pois bem, esté é o cara. dirigimos por 2 horas e ele ainda mandou uma meditação logo antes da prova. resultado: passei de primeira! valeu o investimento, a viagem e a amizade com esse maluco que é MÁGICO! se tiver precisando tirar a carteira em B.C. no Canadá, dá um toque no Alex q o rapaz é Jedi.

Han Qin Xin

I am glad that I learned everything with Alex. Went from knowing nothing and being overly nervous to being able to drive confidently and safely. He is a patient instructor who will teach you how to really drive. I have got my N at this point and I sincerely thank Alex for teaching me!

Paul Beamish

Great out of the box teacher for anyone in the Military like myself.

Adrian Miles

NAILED IT, I aced the test today! Alex is a versatile mentor: instead of a "one-size-fits-all" approach, he gives the appropriate direction and delivers the goods and feedback tailored to the individual. As an introvert and an over-thinker, I required practical experience and guidance on how to engage - I would have easily failed with another school in a dry, scripted environment. Alex knows what to do! Thank you Alex!

Andrew van Wyk

Alex made me EXTREMELY uncomfortable to be with in the car, and it seems he has made a lot of other people feel similarly. Seriously, go to a different school.

vatg Tak

Alex is an excellent instructor, he changes his approach depending on what he feels the student requires and that makes a lot of difference. I had researched a lot before choosing him and all the reviews i read helped me decide, and i am happy i decided to go with him. He teaches safe and defensive driving, and i had no trouble during my test. He gave me honest feedback and that truly made a difference. Thanks Alex !

Heather McCue

Do not recommend. Instructor interacted inappropriately with teen, appears to not have a good grasp on effective and motivational teaching strategies, and offers minimal driving skill feedback. No problem getting refund, thankfully.

Dmitriy Borodiy

Alex is a great instructor who helped me to un-learn some of the old bad driving habits I carried over from my home country, and replace them with new good ones. Passed my road test at the 1st try, and became a much safer and confident driver (according to my wife :) ).He's got some interesting teaching methods too, very innovative and tailored to the student's unique situation. Would definitely recommend!

Cosmic Awareness

I enjoyed my time spent with Alex, he is an upfront and involved instructor who truly cares about helping his students both with driving instruction and in personal development. In a modern age of impersonal business interactions it was a refreshing change of pace to drive with an authentic personality.

Russell Flanagan

I had my N for quite a few years but had never really driven much and didn't have a car. Alex restored my confidence and got me back up to "speed". He has this ability to diffuse the anxiety out of almost any driving situation and then help you drill down to the root cause of that anxiety. If you're excessively detail oriented then he'll help you to step back and focus more on the big picture. This will really free up your driving immensely. A great driving psychologist. Also, Alex has additional skills and if you go for lessons with Victoria Driving School you'll get a firsthand demonstration. Thanks Alex! Edit: Forgot to add that I passed the class 5 test first try.

Tony Le

Alex is an absolutely incredible instructor. Not only he improved my driving skills, but he also improved my mental state. I would recommend him to anyone!

Eric Pazder

Alex helped me polish my driving skills and get my N first try. I now feel more confident as a driver and my parents say I drive safer.

Ruwa Mgodi

Alex is the best driving instructor I've ever had (out of four instructors). Prior to taking lessons with him I was a nervous and impatient driver. He taught me about prioritizing safety on the road and seeing the big picture rather than nit-picking and over analyzing things. This really helped me boost my confidence in my skills and needless to say I got my class 5 license in one try after just 3 lessons with Alex. I highly recommend him as he tailors his teaching method to the student..

K Cronk

Alex is a fantastic teacher. He took my son out on 3 separate occasions as well as a pre-test trip. Alex's philosophy is to make safe drivers for life not just to pass the test. This is how we wanted our son taught. I would highly recommend Alex and the Victoria Driving School for anyone needing to take some lessons. He is a wonderful instructor.

Nidhi Chadha

One of the best driving schools

Toby Prigione

Amazing person!

Erin Mclaughlin

Alex is the best! I was so nervous about getting behind the wheel that I had my L for nearly a year without ever driving. I contacted Alex in hopes of gaining the confidence to drive safely and Alex delivered. 4 lessons later I was confident and skilled enough to take my road test and pass, on my second try! He is one of a kind and absolutely the best. Thank you so much for helping me gain this independent.

Varun Kapoor

Alex is awesome man. Just get your driving lessons from victoria driving school. The best instructor in Victoria. :)

Tyson Ford

The instructor is a complete moron who caused a road rage incident and put his safety of his student at risk. Beware.

Andrew Chan

Alex is an absolutely amazing teacher, he does more then teach you to drive. He teaches and improves your mental state and helps adjust you to become a great driver. I would recommend him to anyone! Also I'm pretty sure he has the cleanest car!

Emma f

If you're looking to learn to better your driving or to pass a driving test, Alex is the person to go to! He is honest with only constructive criticism and he made me feel super comfortable overall where he even went out of his way to make me less nervous by tossing a ball with me back and forth to calm my nerves. Never once did he make me feel bad for an error I made too. He not only helped me get my N but he taught me to be more confident in general and supported me along this journey. Alex also works really hard accommodating everyone into his already very busy schedule. He is not only a driving instructor, but he treats you like a friend and he truly cares about his clients whether they succeed or fail, he always had my back. Thanks again Alex.

Stacey Blyth

I'd held a drivers license for 20 years and never used it. I came to Alex with a lot of apprehension for deciding, after all these years, to take control of the wheel. And, I am so glad that I did! Not only do I feel confident and in control; but we also engaged in enjoyable conversation on a variety of topics as we rode along. It was great to feel so relaxed while learning to maneuver safely under a broad range of conditions. I highly recommend spending time with Alex - You will love it!

Neelam dhami

I randomly picked Victoria Driving school from a google review. I am glad, i met Alex, my instructor. he is calm, extremely patient, pretty blunt, told me what i did wrong. i took 5 lessons and within a week i got my license on the first try. He gives the best instructions, guidance and tips on being a good driver not just to pass the test but for lifetime. I totally recommend them.

Cara P

Alex is a fantastic driving instructor for anyone willing to learn. His patient and hard-working personality has provided me great defensive driving habits. His teaching methods are very effective and I highly recommend taking lessons from him if you want the best possible results.

thairy sanchez

Alex is the best facilitator ever. He is able to adapt his teaching style to the needs and learning abilities of his students. I had more than 16 years of driving experience in my country, so he was focused on ensuring I respect BC road rules. I recommend Victoria Driving School Inc. You would have your driving licenses after your training process.

Kat L

I can't say enough good things about Alex. I had my learner's for over two years and had terrible anxiety about driving. Alex helped me build my confidence and provided observations about my behavior which were thoughtful and really helpful my growth as a skilled driver. His teaching style worked exceptionally well for me. I would urge anyone with anxieties surrounding driving or anyone who wants to improve their skills to call Alex at Victoria Driving School.

Derik Wooster

The best school and really helped with our twins!

Gayle Bueno

Alex is an awesome instructor. He is patient and work with your time. He always makes sure you are confident enough before you get behind the wheel. Just every first time drivers needs. I would highly recommend his service.

jonelle amanda joseph

Alex is an amazing instructor. He teaches you to be confident on the road and helps you relax while driving. I find a huge difference in my driving now. His strategies to calm you down are very effective, I highly recommend Victoria driving school. Thank you for helping me pass the road test, Alex!

Charmaine Jackson

Thank you Alex for the lessons you did with our son. We were very pleased with the strait forward communication with him and helping us teach him some great defensive driving skills. I highly recommend your services to anyone. Very professional and a great value to those wanting to gain driving skills to last them a lifetime.

Alexander Guiney

Excellent instructor, I really improved my driving skills and I pass my road test successfully.

Aleah

Sadly Alex the driving instructor was very unprofessional and unloaded his personal issues into the conversation during lessons as opposed to actually teaching driving skills. I do not feel more confident or skilled as a driver even after several sessions.

Joe Martin

Alex has helped me both pass the drivers test, and become an overall safer driver. He is the most honest and transparent instructor you will get and that is what gives you the motivation to practice hard and drive in a defensive manner. The most valuable tip I ever got off of him which I guarentee you will get nowhere else is, "don't worry about what you need to do to pass the test just remember what you need to do in order to drive safely." His passion for helping you succeed is like no other and frankly without his help I would not be the driver I am today. I absolutely 100% reccomend him to anyone looking for driving lessons out there.

Matthew Stubbs

I am very grateful for Alex's instruction. He helped me to overcome my fears and anxiety of driving. From the moment we started, he listened and understood what I needed to improve my driving. Alex was a dynamic teacher, a friend, a psychologist, and a supremely calm and supportive presence in the passenger seat. In addition, he was flexible and creative with the scheduling and financial arrangements of our lessons. Highly recommend.

Bianca Punani

Alex helps nervous drivers to be calm and safe behind the wheel. He is patient and adjusts his teaching pattern to your individual learning ability. I was afraid of driving, and after 6 lessons, I was able to take my road test and passed. I even had the opportunity to demonstrate the defense driving skills I had learned, during my road test. I would recommend Victoria Driving School to any one looking in need of driving lesson or to simply improve their safe and defensive driving skills.

张载庆

i have gotten a nice result from here with a kind teacher.

charmaine Niebergall

Alex is an excellent, clear, encouraging teacher. I am very impressed with his ability to think creatively, explain things well, and support SAFE, confident, defensive driving. In only 7 lessons over 3 months I got my "N" no problem. He was also understanding of my financial constraints and flexible with re-scheduling lessons with appropriate advanced notice. I would highly recommend him for adults who never learned to drive or want a refresher or want to gain confidence.

Greg Warren

We have worked with Alex and his team in developing a great looking vehicle wrap to match their current branding, website, etc. Alex has been great to work with and the entire team here at The Sign pad highly recommends Victoria Driving School

Ron Heal

Do not at all recommend Alex and Victoria Driving School. There are far better options out there that provide much better value. I purchased a couple lessons for my daughter as a gift and Alex was great to deal with through that process. After her first lesson, my daughter let me know that she was extremely uncomfortable with him and did not want to take the second lesson. Based on my dealings with him, I was surprised to hear that and asked her for details of what she experienced. In her opinion, Alex was very unprofessional: put the windows down and turned the music up loud, asking her lots of questions about Covid conspiracy and anti-vaccination comments, calling her "doctor" in a condescending way (she's in med school), asking her for feedback and when she provided some constructive feedback on how she could get more out of the lesson, he got very defensive and went off on her about all of his experience and all the students he has successfully instructed. In her opinion, he was simply providing directions on where to go and not providing any technical driving instructions. For feedback, she asked for more instruction so she was actually learning from him, and he apparently didn't like that feedback at all. Before selecting Alex and Victoria Driving School, I suggest you read all of his one star ratings as there is definitely a theme between them and what my daughter experienced ... very unprofessional, more interested in talking about politics and controversial current events, and asking for feedback but obviously only if you have positive feedback for him. Alex quickly agreed to provide a refund for the second lesson, and after a couple of reminders from me, I did receive. When I asked him if he was interested in a conversation with me to provide some feedback, he simply ignored me.

Dee Tee

I took three 90 minute lessons with Victoria Driving School after having been without a license for 14 years due to brain injury. I passed the road test with flying colours. I was very nervous at first but once the driving started I realized it was going to be just like my sessions with Alex. The tasks the evaluator was asking me to execute were the same ones we had rehearsed. Alex taught me exactly what I needed to know and he prepared me psychologically by taking me to the testing centre and walking me through everything that would happen on test day. He was perceptive of my strengths and weaknesses and coached me accordingly, in a way that was both creative and concise. Alex doesn't just drill a customer in the rules of the road, he prepares a human to pass the ICBC driving test. Devon Thomas