After approximately $4000 in private lessons (with both Jr. and Sr.) My woman finally passed her driving test (the 3rd time) on a rainy Thursday 2 weeks ago.  A few days later she drove my 2015 Toyota Highlander  Ltd (totalling it)  through the dining room wall of my house.  The house, though not completely totaled, is a painful thing to see.  But at least I can have a picnic in my dining room. That's special.   Needless to say, they are not honoring the Asian Driver Guarantee they offered that I paid for.  Charlie...you at least owe me a Chipotle Burrito Read Less

I did the 2-hour practice + DMV test today and managed to pass (much to my disbelief)!! :) Carlos was super friendly, he was on time, calm and super helpful. He pointed out my flaws to me and helped go over how to perfect them and gave tips on what to do for the test. Overall, Carlos was very professional and I could feel he really wanted me to pass. DEFINITELY recommend him!! ^^ And my younger brother will also be attending later this summer. Read Less

Charlie's driving school helped me pass my driving test on the very first try! I was very nervous to get on the road and start driving but with Carlos's help, it all worked out and I became confident on the road. Carlos was very patient and understanding. He also made sure I was comfortable and also taught me a lot about driving. I'm very happy I took Charlie's driving school! I recommend it to everyone! Also really good prices! Read Less

Charlie is a wonderful teacher. Patient, knowledgeable and effective in his teaching methods. I'm so happy, I passed my behind the wheel driving test with zero errors! It was all because Charlie taught me all the skills I needed to know to pass the driving test and above all, to be a good and safe driver. I also found that the pricing was a lot more affordable in comparison to other driving schools. I'd highly recommend Charlie's driving school to anyone. Read Less

Charlie is a wonderful teacher. Patient, knowledgeable and effective in his teaching methods. I'm so happy, I passed my behind the wheel driving test with zero errors! It was all because Charlie taught me all the skills I needed to know to pass the driving test and above all, to be a good and safe driver. I also found that the pricing was a lot more affordable in comparison to other driving schools. I'd highly recommend Charlie's driving school to anyone. Read Less

Great instructors. Very friendly, and a great family business. They have helped me by pointing out mistakes, and to be calm about the test. Even helped along before the test to give an idea on what exactly will be in the test. Read Less

Carlos was awesome. He was very patient and made sure I knew all of the essential for the road test. I'm so happy with the service I passed the road test on my first try after 4 hours of lessons Charlie's driving school is highly recommended by me I'm so happy and so thankful. Thank you so much Carlos!!!!!! Read Less

I went to the Van Nuys DMV, said to be the hardest behind-the-wheel in the valley, but I passed on my first attempt after just one instruction hour with Carlos. He was friendly and relaxed which then made me feel confident, I barely felt nervous at all. He came on time and went over what was most important to pass the test and made sure that I got all the steps right in order to pass. I'd highly recommend this driving school to anyone who wants to pass the first time. Read Less

Carlos is a great driving instructor. He was able to correct my driving errors in a calm, cool and collected way. Carlos, being very relaxed and focused helped me calmly drive and alleviated my driving worries. I took 3 lessons from Carlos to help get me ready for my driving test. Through these lessons Carlos was able to give me advice on keeping my driving smooth and was able to give me the confidence I needed to pass the test. I highly recommend Carlos if you plan on taking your behind the wheel driving exam in Arleta or Winnetka. Read Less

Took my first ever driving test and pass thanks to charlie driving school I was so nervous about taking the test that I even use the restroom at the dmv lol but thanks to charlie he helped me refresh in my driving and made me confident that I'll pass I just want to say thank you charlie school for helping me get my driver license :) Read Less

Yup, this driving school is the right one for you. I passed the driving test (first attempt) and I had a great experience learning from my instructor, Carlos. Calm, diligent, careful, and professional. Can't really ask for more. I spent less than 10 hours learning here, too. Thanks a ton, and best wishes for the future (#Caribbean) Read Less

I've had a wonderful experience here at Charlie's Driving School. My instructor, Carlos, was very calm, careful, and professional, and I didn't think that any part of the learning experience lacked in any way. The business has mostly 5 star reviews, which should indicate something about their methods and effectiveness. Thanks for helpin' me through this milestone in life, and I highly recommend this school to anyone else looking to learn/improve on their driving skills. Best of luck, stay frosty~ Read Less

I signed my 16 year old son up to take his 6 hours of required driving. The instructor was on time all 3 days and not only had my son practice what he needed to so he can be a defensive driver but also told him what to expect on his driving test. They were very flexible in the schedule as we had to get all 6 hours done in a week and a half. I called other instruction schools and the other schools couldn't accommodate our need to jam the classes together. After the 6 hours were complete we decided to use Charlie's service to rent his car and have him take my son for his drive test at the DMV. He picked my son up and had him drive an hour before his test. He took his test and passed first try!! I am a happy parent and highly recommend Charlie's driving school! Read Less

Just passed my driving test on my first attempt with 0 errors thanks to Carlos & Alicia! The driving instructors here are nice and laid-back, all while being professional at the same time. They always came on time to my driving lessons & were very accommodating with my schedule.I had Carlos for my first 3 lessons, and Alicia for my last lesson + driving test day. I know it isn't a huge deal for some people, but I get really anxious when I'm driving. Carlos and Alicia always made the environment very relaxed for me. They would never raise their voices - and they would always help me build my confidence by having me take practice tests. They explain everything to you, and they often remind you of road rules and regulations. They're also very knowledgable of what DMV examiners like and don't like, which is a HUGE plus. I'm so very thankful for having the pleasure of having these two as my driving instructors.Very reasonable prices!Such a great way to end 2015 :) Thanks so much! Read Less

Great Driving School! I had Carlos and Charlie as my instructors, very calm, easy-going and patient individuals. Not boring at all, great sense of humor. Took me about 4 classes to be ready for my exam and I passed on my first try!! Thanks alot guys. Read Less

Best Driving School in CA !  Carlos, the instructor is Asian. He does have an accent which is not heavy, he speaks clear English and is very Helpful. Carlos, will show you how to fix your mistakes, what you did wrong and what your strengths are. This is my 2nd Road Test and I passed! The school offers great packages. Read Less

I specifically asked for two-steering wheels, and was assured the car would have it. When the car came, it only had the breaks/acceleration, but not a second wheel. I gave it a chance anyway, which was horrible, considering the instructor would claw my arm to help me, I ended up with scratches on my wrist. I also asked for a fluent English speaker, so I could understand  instructions, but  again I was sent with a heavy accent instructor and I was unable to understand this person at times.I paid for two hours, but the instructor came 15 mins. late and brought me 20 minutes earlier. I was informed that this instructor had "many years of experience", but I found out while talking, they had different jobs that was food service, etc, and the years didn't match up to what I was told.At the beginning, they ask you abruptly for the money, "Where's the money?", I understand it was for insurance purposes, but they should have informed this beforehand considering I wanted to wait and see if the service was indeed worth it, which it wasn't. My instructor kept contradicting themselves on how I should drive, "give a lot of space...no!no! get closer!!". A lot of space and closer were way different proximity. Read Less

Carlos is AMAZING. Passed my test today with 0 errors. 100%. He is very relaxed, patient and takes you step by step. I highly recommend him. He always showed up on time and very professional.  Thank you charlies driving school! Read Less

I passed on the first go and it had a lot to do with my instructor, Carlos. I have been driving for years, outside of the country, and needed to take the behind-the-wheel test in addition to the written test. I was very nervous to drive and Carlos helped me, tremendously. He was thorough, patient, friendly, calming and explained everything well that I needed to expect on the test. I have now recommended others that I know need to take the test. My entire family will be going to Charlie's Driving Traffic School!! Thank you, Carlos!!! Read Less

I recommend 100%... My instructor was Carlos,  a very nice and lay back guy!It was my first time driving and he made me feel very comfortable. He spoke with a very calm voice, explains everything and he makes sure you are ready to take the behind the wheel exam.Thank You Carlos for everything!!!! Read Less

Let me start by saying that I am older new driver. My instructor was very patient and very friendly. I initially signed up for the 6 hours. On the day of my first lesson, the instructor made sure to tell me to make my DMV "behind the wheel" appointment right away - because there's a long wait. I'm glad I took his advice, plus paid for an extra lesson the week before my test. I learned so much - especially since he made sure that I practiced a lot in the area of the DMV where I was to take my test. I passed yesterday and I'm so thankful I took lessons from this school! Now, I can drive to that Wolfgang Puck Cafe sandwich he told me about! Read Less

My instructor Carlos is a really chill, laid back guy and I enjoyed my lessons with him. I highly recommend taking these classes, he helped improve my driving, spoke in a calm voice and showed me these cool dining spots as well. Not only that, he knows to keep a conversation going. Thank you Carlos! Read Less

I had a great experience with Charlie's driving school. I started with almost no driving experience and my instructor was excellent. He taught me everything I needed to know so that I was ready to pass the driving test the first time around after 5 lessons. I never take the time to write reviews but I feel that this guy deserves credit for being an awesome instructor! Read Less

This is my first time writing a review for anything, but after getting my driver's license after only a couple of one hour lessons with Charlie, I decided I would.Anyway, he's a laid back and charming man with an easygoing demeanor and a way with giving direction.  Not to go directly against the one star post here, but my experience was 110% positive.  Yes, he is a small business, but I paid him to help me get my driver's license and he came through.  Charlie explained the rules of the road as we drove, told me all about the driver's test in a clear and concise manner, was very honest with my driving ability so I knew what to practice, and helped keep my nerves steady by chatting idly with me.  Instead of everything being by-the-books business, Charlie was just a cool guy with a wealth of driving knowledge to impart and good suggestions for improvement.I failed my test the first day due to a critical error and bad judgment on my part, but we went for another practice run the very next morning and I passed immediately afterwards ... and I hadn't driven in almost two years.  Apparently I remembered a lot of basic information, but I did not have the confidence anymore.If you take it easy and let him do his job you'll be successful and even enjoy the experience.  I was frightened to death at first, but he kept me sane with fair criticisms and positive reinforcement.  I took my passing test on the 17th, so this review is a bit late.  But if you need a school to help with your driving test or just want lessons, know little about driving, (as was my situation), and you live in the SFV then I highly recommend this school and Charlie.  I could NEVER have passed that test without his skills and instruction!  :3 Read Less

Charlie was very patient and encouraging. Booking an appointment was easy, I called last minuet and he was very flexible. He was punctual as well. I feel prepared for my DMV license test, as he made me aware of things that would come up. I am confident that I am a better driver now than I was before this lesson, and I highly recommend this school. Read Less

When i first thought of getting my license I was really nervous and I didn't think I would be able to pass the test any time soon. My instructor, Carlos was really patient and made me so much more comfortable being behind the wheel. I was able to pass the driver's test on my first try:) I'm glad I went with this driving school. Read Less

i had a great experience with charlies driving school. I took many lessons and i got better each time. It was my first experience handling a car. Their teaching methods are very effective, calm and professional. I recommend them to everyone that wants to get their drivers license fast and easy thanks again charlie oh and by the way my wife got her license with their help. Read Less

If you have any questions after reading this review, please feel free to contact me, I'm eager for people to know what a disappointment this business is.I should start this off by saying I typically I do not write Yelp reviews, but my experience was so bad I had to share. Charlie's Traffic School only has 3 reviews, and that should give you a pretty good picture of how reputable this company is. For my first lesson, my instructor was 15 minutes late with no explanation. I got over that, and my first lesson went relatively smoothly even though I was a little irked by how he would sometimes spew out rapid-fire instructions and expect me, to react right away, even though we were in a learning setting. Today I had my second lesson, and it was a completely different story. First of all, he gets on the phone and makes an appointment with another student while I'm driving. I'm paying him almost a dollar a minute, and he has the nerve to be on the phone during a driving lesson. We hadn't been in the car for 5 minutes when he starts giving me rapid-fire instructions one after the other (in between rapid-fire criticisms) and when I tell him calmly that I can't take instruction in that way, he tells me, "Are you serious right now," as though I'm making the most ridiculous request in the world. I say yes, because I can't process the information that quickly. Then he goes on to tell me he's saying it calmly, as though speaking calmly makes up for the speed at which he is giving instruction.I tell him the issue isn't the way he is saying it, it's the speed with which he says it because it doesn't give me time to react. I ask him (kindly) if he can move a little slower because I can't handle the rapid-fire instruction today. At some point I believe I said "I can't do this like this."He tell me to make a right turn on a side street and tells me "You can get out of my car and walk if you're not going to pay me."At this point, I was confused...I never said anything about not paying him, or about ending the lesson. All I said was I needed him to move a little slower. I try to explain that to him saying, "I'm not saying I'm not going to pay you, I wasn't talking about money at all."He proceeds to lecture me, saying "This is who I am, you can't expect me to change for you." I tell him, "I'm not asking you to change, I'm just saying maybe tailor your lesson for who you are teaching a little." But isn't that what teachers are supposed to do anyway? I mean you can't teach a more experienced driver and a less experienced one the same way can you? You can't teach someone who has a tendency toward speeding the same way you teach someone who drives too slow right? I believe a certain level of accommodation is a natural expectation in a learning setting...and most teachers (in any setting) would agree with me.Anyway...he yells me not to tell him how to teach...and kicks me out of his car, and while I'm gathering my things, says, "You're too controlling," and continues to lecture me about my character. Completely off topic, and aside from that, I've only spent 2 hours with the guy. And he decides to question my character?After all that, he then proceeds to curse at me. Like F- this and F- that and saying I have issues. At this point, I'm just confused, so I tell him I'm going to complain and I walk home. Seriously. I honestly can't believe how unprofessional Charlie is.I don't know why I didn't realize this before, but Charlie's Driving School is really just a guy, with a car with a sticker on the side that says the name of the school. There's no one to report your complaints to, or to guarantee quality control. It's just Charlie and his car. Literally...call the phone number..that's "Charlie." Its a one-man show and not at all a professional service.My recommendation is that if you're looking for a driving school, look right past this one. There are plenty of great driving schools that are similarly priced (or even cheaper), with more reviews and with instructors that will give you the respect you deserve as a paying customer. You can take a chance if you want, but why bother? Go get your money's worth somewhere else. Read Less

If you want to get your licens in no time Charlie's driving school is the way to go! . I made the best decision when I chose this driving school . Carlos was very patient and very soft spoken and had a great teaching style. I only took three lessons and got my licens the first try.Charlie's driving school is by far te best driving school. Read Less

Today was my 16th birthday, and I passed my behind-the-wheel driving test with flying colors thanks to the superb service of this driving school!My instructor, Carlos, was exerted a calm atmosphere that made me feel very comfortable and confident. I am the third of three siblings who have used Charlie's Driving School. All of us passed the first time on our 16th birthdays thanks to our high-quality driving instruction.I would definitely recommend this service for all who wish to obtain their driver's license. Read Less

Today was my 16th birthday, and I passed my behind-the-wheel driving test with flying colors thanks to the superb service of this driving school!My instructor, Carlos, was exerted a calm atmosphere that made me feel very comfortable and confident.  I am the third of three siblings who have used Charlie's Driving School.  All of us passed the first time on our 16th birthdays thanks to our high-quality driving instruction.I would definitely recommend this service for all who wish to obtain their driver's license. Read Less

I had already taken classes before, but my parents wanted me to gain more experience, so my friend recommended Charlie's Driving Traffic School. I can honestly say I feel way more confident than ever before, and would insist on learning to drive from this school. Charlie was calm when needed to be, down to earth, and makes the student feel at ease. I started out with a serious lack in confidence and focus, and today, because of Charlie's instruction and several hours of training, I am officially a licensed driver, and a very happy one at that! Read Less

Charlie's Driving School is amazing. My 23 year old nephew had never gotten behind the wheel and now he's an expert parallel parker. If you go ask for Carlos, he's very patient and understanding. EXCELLENT!!!!! Read Less