I passed!!! I had 3 instructors in New York but Ernesto was best one. He explains everything simple way. Every lesson was very productive. I learn quick. It was worth it to pay $100 per class. I highly recommend. Read Less

Fraudsters!My sister signed up for driving lessons. Ernesto promised $250 for 3 lessons and driving test. Even though she paid, he refused to take her for the test. Complete rip off and terrible work ethic. Read Less

Let me start by saying that I passed, my father passed, my sister and all the people who I have recommend.  Ernesto is the best!! He is straight foward so if he tells you that you need more practice it's only because YOU DO!... I took 2 classes with him, a total of 4 hrs and I still felt like I needed more practice but he told me I was ready to take the test! that just shows that he is an honest man because if he just wanted my money, he would agreed that I needed more classes. However he knew I was ready.  He is awesome and everyone whom I have recommended agrees with me.  He teaches you step by step and it's really patient. If you are scheduled for a driving test and he feels you are not ready, he'll rather have you wait until you are, so he will recommend you reschedule. If you still don't have a appointment he will do it for you when he feels you are ready. He is AMAZING, I will definitely recommend him^_^ Read Less

Ernesto is BRILLIANT! Learning to drive for the first time in a new country - I had to start right at the basics. Ernesto was patient and methodical and taught me to become a responsible and confident driver. We did 8 hours training, his rate was fair. He scheduled my appointment and took me to the DMV on the day - I past my test first time. Thank you Ernesto! Great guy - Highly recommended!! Read Less

Don't go this place. He just wants your money. I paid $100 to take the driving test and he didn't let me do so and I had to cancel my driving test. He even went to get his food during my driving test preparation. Ridiculous! Don't even. Read Less

I recently moved from New York City to Los Angeles and needed to drive. I am over 60 and was a little concerned about driving and taking a road test. I called Genesis 1 and told them my situation. They were simply amazing. Ernesto was my instructor and he took the time to find out what my concerns were and where I would most likely be driving. He insured that I practised driving in the area where I live and most likely would drive. This included downtown LA. He taught me very slowly and methodically each thing I would need to know and we did them over and over till I felt confident. He was professional, always on time, honest and most of all patient. Patient with someone who had not driven in over 30 years. I did pass the road test on the first try and of course was very happy, but I knew if I didn't pass that Ernesto would examine why I failed and would work with me until I did. Read Less

I am 29 years old, never drove a car in my life.Ernesto was my instructor.He explained me everything very carefully and simply and we moved on step by step.I learned how to drive in no time.All together I took 10 hours of driving and I passed the test from the first time.I would recommend him to anyone! Read Less

ERNESTO is a unprofessional instructor!!!He attempted to try and ask me out instead of doing what he was paid to do. I refused to take any further lessons and they would not take my calls due to my complaint about instructor Ernesto.Watch out for him ladies, don't be aloneSincerely Disappointed Read Less

Let me start by saying that I PASSED!!! Prior to taking driving lessons with Genesis Driving School, I practiced with a friend on the basics. Before taking the behind-the-wheel test, I decided to take proper driving lessons with a professional to make sure I'm driving properly and ready. Thank god I did! I got Ernesto as my driving instructor and he's the best! Ernesto, if you're reading this, thank you thank you thank you!1. He corrects your bad driving habits. I thought I didn't have any, but when we went over the mistakes that I've made, it made me realize that I really wasn't ready for the test. 2. Not only does he give you advice on how to pass the driving test, but he also gives you pointers on how to be a safe driver overall, which is what I was looking for. 3. He's very co guy. Throughout my whole lesson (10 hours) I felt really comfortable driving with him. He chats with you to make you feel comfortable, but is always focused on the road and your driving. 4. He's very professional. He was always ON TIME! We did have to reschedule a lesson once, but he called me ahead of time. He was also flexible with the lessons. I have a full time job so I had to take lessons early in the morning (6:30 am). He would pick me up from my downtown apartment and then take me to my workplace after the lesson which was 2 hours. I can't say enough good things about my experience with Ernesto and Genesis driving school. If you are a new driver, or want to make sure you're ready to take the behind-the-wheel, I strongly recommend taking lessons with them. It's worth all your time and money. Read Less

I wish I could give no star! This school is a scam and a ripoff and Ernesto is the worse! I contact Ernesto two weeks ago and explained him I have last then a month to pass my driving test because my intentional driver license going to expire. He said no problem u will pass the text by then. I was happy. Beside him canceling on me and reschedule the Appointments over and over again making my class short in 10-15 min every time. He even stopped in the middle of my Lassen to get himself food while I'm waiting for him and I'm paying for it! But the worse thing  he didn't show up to my driving test! and never answered his phone or called me back. I payed him head of time that was a mistake! I will recommend all of you to stay away from this school this!! Read Less

So I'm not gonna write a long review. Just wanna say that I PASSED MY DRIVING TEST TODAY!!!! I had 4 lesson with my instructor Ernesto who is a very professional teacher. He's strict and demanding but it only made me realize my mistakes and not repeat them during my test.I would strongly recommend that you go and study with Ernesto. You won't regret it!Cheers and good luck. Read Less

I had Ernesto as my instructor and he was great. I've never driven before and I was able to pass the exam after 4-5 lessons in three weeks or so. He was able to teach me step by step on improving and if you listen to him, you can pass the exam easily. Price is moderate, and I was able to pass after two tries. Read Less

I would definitely Genesis Driving School to anyone, whether you're a beginner or have had some driving experience. I had taken driving lessons and gone through the whole license process in Canada when I was a teenager, but hadn't driven since. So, I thought since I hadn't driven in several years I should take a few lessons just for practice before getting my California License. I was recommended Genesis by a friend who had done her lessons through them, and couldn't say enough good things - and she was right! I ended up learning WAY more then I thought I would. There was a lot that I had never been taught before, even in my previous driving school, that the instructors at Genesis taught me. Both instructors I dealt with were very patient, and very thorough (as well as very nice and supportive!). If there was any area I was having trouble in, they were great at letting me know what I needed to improve exactly, and how to improve it. They would go over everything with me until I got it 100%. When driving with the instructors it's obvious how much experience they have doing this. They both gave me a ton of great, practical tips for general driving, and taking the driving test.I only took 4 lessons with them and I feel like I've greatly improved as a driver and feel much more comfortable on the road. I was also very prepared for the driving exam, which I passed! Read Less

I'm a fan because I am a lifelong New Yorker learning how to drive for the very first time, and in Los Angeles at that.  If I could get a license, in 6 weeks, and not hit anything, anyone can!!!My experience from the beginning was pretty easy.  I called and asked for Ernesto (the owner of the school) because I had read a review elsewhere that he was great.  He answered but was booked for weeks so he referred me to Gary.  Oh Gary, I LOVE Gary!!!  He is the kindest, most patient, sweet-hearted man you will ever meet.  He is professional, he is ON TIME ALWAYS, and you will think you hired him as your personal cheerleader.  Your accomplishments are his.  He knew his stuff, he walked me through every step of the driving test.  He gave me pointers and hints on how to make turns easier, he even drew me diagrams (as I am a visual learner)!!  I can't say enough about him.  And I am a tough cookie, I ask a lot of questions, I swear like a sailor when frustrated and he took it all in stride.  I gave him a big hug today goodbye - he even gave me a highway lesson AFTER I got my license last week so we could ensure I was comfortable.Pricing - cheaper than anything I have seen around.  It was $220 for 6 hours of lessons (3 two hour sessions, plus lesson and the test) and $50 for any additional two hour lesson.  You really hit your groove in the second hour so I wouldn't recommend trying to do 1 hour lessons.  They are fluent in English and Spanish.  Also, even though they are located in Downtown L.A., they will work with you anywhere.  I work in Santa Monica and they would pick me up after work and my lesson was driving myself home to Downtown.So why 4 stars?  I think Genesis is a great school, but being an HR person, I like my shop run clean and there were a few things that frustrated me:      1) On my 1st driving test day - Ernesto was supposed to pick me up.  He didn't show.  I get emergencies happen - but I didn't even get a phone call.  Gary was great though when I called him, got to the bottom of it, and they rescheduled me another test.     2) On the rescheduled test - Ernesto showed up early and I was thankful.  BUT he showed up in a different car than I had been practicing in!!  I would have appreciated a heads up.  Most people are already nervous but to see a bigger car on test day - f*&%s with your head right?!Being a loud mouth, I expressed my frustration and we spent two hours before the test getting me comfortable with the car.  Now for what it's worth, business etiquette aside, Ernesto was AMAZING.  He knew the ins and outs of the DMV, understood what they were looking for, he was stern and pointed out all the places a tester would take points off but he wasn't mean.  I could tell he cared about his business, the students, and it's evidenced from the fact that they have a 95% first time pass rate with the DMV.   By the end of the day Ernesto and I were friends and I respect him a lot but if I'm gonna be a true Yelper, I had to tell you what went down.  The people at the DMV knew him and so I got a tester who was saying hello and go in the car and said "oh yeah, we know Ernesto, I'm sure you'll do fine."  That put me at ease immediately.So all in all - I would recommend this school to anyone.  In fact, my friend's wife is going to start with Gary soon.  I think what happened to me was fluke (not showing the first day - shit happens right).  Though I would ask if the car you are practicing in is the one you'll be driving on test day, if that is important to you.  For me it turned out to be a good thing, because if you can actually drive, then you can drive any car (well unless they showed up with a stick shift!).So thank you to my friends at Genesis.  And if you are sending your kids to driving school, Gary will do them good if they need some gentle handling and Ernesto will give them a kick in the butt if they need one.  I was happy they didn't laugh at the old New Yorker trying to learn 12 years later than normal. Read Less