Emilio is a great instructor! I had several lessons with him, he was always on time, patient and funny. He shared with me years of knowledge and experience to help me become a safe driver and pass my driving test without breaking a sweat. Becoming a great driver with Emilio is a piece of cake! Read Less

English and Spanish driving school! (and review!)I've just passed my exam yesterday!Emilio is a great instructor and excellent person!! He's patient, gives great feedback and instructions, makes you feel really comfortable. During our classes, he did care about me, my concerns, and our safety above all, he took the time to work with me, my complicated schedule (I have 2 babies), made me feel confident behind the wheel, and taught me things that so far no one else explained to me!! I have a more complete idea of driving skills than ever, even when I used to have a driver's license before! (yes, it does help taking classes even when you've been driving for a while!!). For scheduling, I had to leave a voice mail a couple of times, and I always received a call back really fast. I started speaking with Maria Elena, Emilio's sister, she was amazing. Now Macarena is helping doing her part. I didn't have the chance to take a class with her, but I spoke with her over the phone and she's really sweet! Made me feel like a friend. I'm truly thankful to the family team of Rivadavia Driving School! Highly recommendable!!Ayer tome mi examen y ya tengo la licencia!Emilio es un gran instructor y una excelente persona! Es paciente, da muy buen feedback e instrucciones, y te hace sentir realmente comoda. Durante nuestras clases, realmente se preocupo por mi, mis miedos, y ante todo nuestra seguridad; se tomo el tiempo para trabajar conmigo, mis complicados horarios (tengo 2 bebes), me hizo sentir confiada detras del volante, y me enseño tecnicas que hasta ahora nadie me habia explicado! Puedo decir que tengo una idea mas completa de las habilidades necesarias para conducir, aun cuando solia tener licencia antes! (si, ayuda mucho tomar clases aun cuando se estuvo conduciendo por bastante tiempo!). Para hacer las citas, a veces tuve que dejar voice mail, y siempre recibi llamadas de regreso muy rapido. Comence hablando con Maria Elena, la hermana de Emilio, era muy buena. Ahora Macarena esta ayudando a cubrir el trabajo que ella solia hacer. No tuve oportunidad de tomar una clase con ella, aunque hablamos por telefono y es realmente muy dulce!! Me hizo sentir como si fueramos amigas. Estoy sinceramente agradecida a la familia de Rivadavia Driving School!! Altamente recomendable!! Read Less

I got my license when I was 17, abroad, and moved here 6 years ago. I hadn't been behind the wheel for over 12 years. I wanted to regain my confidence on the road with some lessons before I take the test. I found Rivadavia here on Yelp and scheduled a few lessons and a driving test. Emilio is a great teacher and I passed the test in Daly City with no problem. Read Less

Emilio & Macarena, the father-daughter team who taught all of my lessons, are both great, patient instructors who helped me pass my drive test on the first try.  Altogether I took around 10 lessons with them, & I also used their car for my DMV drive test--scheduling was really easy.  Most of my classes were with Emilio, including my pre-test lesson, but my first few classes were with Macarena.  Macarena is a great instructor if it's your first time behind the wheel, as she's very patient & gives confidence-boosting feedback as you drive.  Emilio was great at helping me to develop my skills; he gives short, clear instructions, & points out your mistakes without judgment.  Although they teach the same driving skills, Emilio & Macarena have very different teaching styles--so feel free to try out the other instructor if one doesn't fit your preferred teaching style. Read Less

I just finished a course of lessons with Rividavia yesterday, ending in a very successful driving test. Emilio was patient and thorough in his teaching, making his student intuitively understand the right way to drive in a given scenario. His focus on "professional driving" shows in the safe, defensive methods he teaches. I went from having basically zero experience to feeling fully at home behind the wheel in 10 lessons, and I doubt I could have done it without Emilio and Macarena!Deducting 1 star because over half my lessons were rescheduled before they took place, albeit with adequate notice. Read Less

Just passed my test today! I had experience driving in a foreign country, took no lessons, and failed the first time. After that, I took classes with Macarena who was amazing and passed. She was great at identifying my mistakes and going through them again and again until I got it right. Highly recommend it! Read Less

Just passed my driving test today after 6 lessons (12 hours total) behind the wheel with Rivadavia Driving School. I got a nearly 50/50 split between Emilio and Macarena in terms of lessons taught. Both very different styles of teaching but both work, it might be worth considering when booking lessons.Emilio is very straight forward and to the point. He walked me through some basic techniques and just got me to repeat them over and over until they stuck. He was very quick to correct any mistakes I made. He also likes to sit back and just observe you driving quite a bit, especially after you've learnt the basics. Definitely gives you a deep dive into learning to drive, which works for a lot of people, especially those wanting to learn very quickly.Macarena is a lot more encouraging and supportive rather than direct. She was the one who gave me my warm up lesson and took me to my test. She'll also correct your mistakes in a calm manner then run through some basic safety questions as you drive. She'll also chat to you as you drive which helps a lot in terms of just feeling natural behind the wheel (but could be a distraction for others, worked for me). Likely the better choice if you're rather hesitant behind the wheel.So depending on how you learn direct vs. encouraging, might be worth requesting a specific teacher when arranging your lessons over the phone.I unfortunately had to cancel 4 of my 10 lessons due to a scheduling issue that came up with work. Even then, they only charged me for one of the missed lessons and didn't even push me for the money. I had to remind myself to pay it. Very thankful for them being understanding and allowing me to cancel them at such short notice. Read Less

Highly recommend Rivadavia driving school. Emilio makes learning how to drive easy and fun. Also he emphasizes on being a good driver more than just focusing on the behind the wheel test. If you learn to be a good driver you automatically pass the test! Emilio is not only a great teacher but also a wonderful person, very patient and understanding. Right after the first class I knew I was in good hands. Passed the driving test in San Francisco in one go! Thanks Emilio! :) Read Less

Emilio is a very good and patient driving instructor.  He helped me learn how to drive.  I am a later learner who had fear of driving.  He is soft spoken, calm and totally fearless.  He shares many driving tips and instills good driving habits from the beginning. I was able to pass my driving test the first time around.  I am even considering returning for more lessons to make sure that my confidence level is high.  If you would like to learn how to drive safely, I would recommend taking classes from him.  It is definitely worth the investment.  Nothing is more important than your safety. Read Less

Not only Emilio is a fantastic driving teacher but he's also a great human being. I am so thankful for everyone's testimonials on Yelp as it helped me to find him and I think he is a gem of a teacher. I was, like most people are describing here, very anxious and nervous about driving after a traumatic first experience with an impatient and irritable driving teacher who (believe me or not) once fell asleep as I was driving on the highway which almost got us into an accident. I hated driving, each lesson was nerve wrecking, and I  ended up never passing my test and thought I would never do so. Fast forward 15 years later, here I am in Emilio's car and although I was pretty nervous the first class, he gradually made me feel comfortable driving. His teaching method is both enjoyable and memorable. I took my second class today and I was already way more confident, able to apply all of the things he had taught me the day before and learning more defensive driving technics. I cannot believe I've waited so long to get back behind the wheel but I'm convinced that I'm learning with the best teacher in town! Read Less

What an amazing ride (no pun intended)! I have to say that I never thought I would drive let alone in San Francisco. I'm a city girl-born and raised in SF. Never felt the need to drive as I take public transportation all the time. Things change. Being a late bloomer, my fears about driving became overwhelming. I thought to myself, "You'll never get over your fear therefore, you'll never drive." I took the first step and took the written test (note: I am a bad test taker...and so the pressure was on). I passed and then the second step: let your husband teach you to drive or leave it to a professional. I chose the professional (mind you, my husband is good driver--but I know he'd put too much pressure on me--a nervous driver doesn't need that). I called this school because of all the wonderful reviews I read..and it was the best decision I made. I worked with Emilio and he was VERY PATIENT. My first lesson with him, I was a nervous wreck-white knuckling the steering wheel, unsure of myself and low confidence. He kept his cool and tried to make me feel comfortable with his sense of humor and for the first time, I drove...and in the city. Each time I worked with him, my confidence got better and so did my driving. He would always remind me of his tips, make sure I was creating good habits and that everything was going to be okay. After 10 lessons, it was time to take my driving test (this was yesterday). Everything I had worked hard for to get to this point--I did my best to remember all the helpful tips Emilio taught me. We had two hours before the test to practice and calm my nerves. I was nervous and Emilio would tell me that I was going to be okay. My turn finally came...and I passed the test! I couldn't believe it! I am relieved and excited...but to be honest, it was never about the license...it was more about making sure I was a safe and confident driver...knowing how to drive well.Even with passing the test..I still want to continue to build my skills and confidence BUT I really couldn't have done it without the confidence and patience of Emilio. Thank you so much and call this place if you want to drive well and learn from the best! Read Less

I am so grateful for Emilios classes. He knows the art of teaching. He repeats until you learn, he is VERY patient and he knows great little tricks that will make you a great driver. He does not only teach you for the test, he also teaches you how to drive in the real world. Emilio even gave me tips on how I could practice driving with my husband while staying friends. At one point I felt like Emilio was driving the car a bit too much (since he has pedals in his copilot seat) and I brought this up with Emilio. He listen to me and truly changed his behavior so that I felt like I had more control over the car. I was very impressed and happy about that. I now have my license and I am giving most of the credit to Emilio. He will also give my many laughs which is awesome when you are nervous about driving. Read Less

Emilio's professionalism, warmth and expertise is off-the-charts. I highly recommend Rivadavia Driving School to any adults who are learning a bit later in life!Within a month and a half of driving with Emilio, I had my license.Each lesson with Emilio was enjoyable. I was a very nervous beginner at 24 years old but Emilio made sure I felt comfortable, and was quite patient. His use of repetition and humor is quite entertaining. Very grateful for his wealth of experience and tips and tricks - they helped me passed my drive test! Read Less

I am a mature driver from Australia and had to learn how to drive on your side of the road. Emilio was very helpful and patient and his daughter Macarena was fun, warm and entertaining. Between them they nursed me through the difficult process of applying for a license and sitting the driving test from scratch. Thank you Rivadavia driving school for turning me into a California driver. Macarena helped me develop my driving mantra: "drive like it's raining." I had to learn to be safe and cautious. By the time they got me prepared for the test I felt quietly confident and passed on my first time without any drama.Natasha Read Less

I was a complete afraid beginner with no driving experience when I decided to take classes at Rivadavia School. This week I finished my classes and passed the driving test :)Emilio is the type of teacher you'll always remember. He is patient, he will trust you and make you feel confident. I'd recommend the school to everyone that would not only want to pass the test but really want to learn how to drive safely. Read Less

I'm 35 born and raised in San Francisco and never needed a car. When it can time to lean to drive I was nervous. That did not matter.This place is likely the best driving school in the city and well worth the $$$. Emilio is incredibly informative and entertaining. You will learn everything you need to know to pass your test and be a safe confident driver. Emilio lets you drive. From your first lesson you will be doing most of the work. Emilio will step in when he needs to and will develop your confidence in your abilities quickly. I would recommend them to any one learning to drive. Read Less

Emilio is such a fun, knowledgeable, and punctual teacher. He is very patient and teaches in a manner that has helped me remember the rules of the road over the years. I brag about never being in an accident in all my years of driving experience thanks to Emilio's defensive driving techniques. I was able to pass my driver's exam without a problem and I was very happy with the results. He also taught my 4'11" foot tall mom how to drive so well that she was able to drive a 14 foot U-haul truck from the East Bay to San Francisco. Emilio is a great teacher. Read Less

Emilio is an amazing teacher and didn't even give me a chance to be nervous about driving. The entire experience was incredibly positive and my knowledge and skills increased greatly within just the first two lessons. I am so grateful for Emilio's patience and kindness as an instructor. I highly recommend this driving school. (Simone F. using her mother's yelp account) Read Less

Stephanie is amazing she answers all your questions. Angel who was my instructor was Amazing!! He loves his job, he loves to drive and loves to teach people. I had 5 lessons with him and he never once gave attitude if you made a mistake he would simply show you how to correct it . Day of the road test he made us all feel confident and was cheering us on while each of us took the test. I passed my road test on the first try.Read Less

Highly recommended. I went from no driving experience to a licensed driver in a few weeks. Emilio is the best teacher! He not only taught me how to drive very well but also shared his secrets which gave me a big perspective on how to think as a driver. From highways to residential areas. He's able to identify the areas you need improvement and help create good driving habits. He'll walk you through different scenarios and prepare you very well---with a lot of practice---for the test. Emilio always picked me up on time which was very convenient. He also has a great sense of humor which makes you feel confident in those tense moments where you need it. The car is new, always clean, and he's always very attentive. My whole experience was very incredible and now I'm a confident driver all thanks to Rivadavia Driving School. Read Less

Rivadavia Driving School is by far the best driving school I've experienced. Emilio is extremely patient with his students, humorous, and absolutely positive in general. He provides vivid instructions, and he will guide you through each process one step at a time. Emilio taught me many tips from the start. You will learn a lot from him. He cares about his students, and most importantly, safety. He will not only teach you how to drive, but how to become a safe and professional driver. I highly recommend this school anyone wanting to learn how to drive!Read Less

Just got my very first driver license TODAY! That was my first test and I nailed it with only 2 minors!! I was so surprised that I did such a good job but to really think about it, it was all because of Emilio's wonderful teaching that made this test so easy. A plus about his driving class is he not only teaches me how to pass the drive test, which is fairly basic, but he showed me all the "magic" that helped me develop this defensive driving habit. I had 13-15 classes each of which consisted of 2 hours approximately, and before this I have never touched a wheel! I'm planning on taking 3 more lessons to enhance on driving on freeway, which was not required in the test, on parking and on driving in heavy traffic. I couldn't more appreciative to have found this awesome gentleman and really worked hard to earn this license. After all, driving is more than just to get pass a test. It should always be about your own safety, other drivers' and pedestrians' as well. Strongly recommended. Read Less

Highly recommended. Rivadavia took me from complete beginner to a licensed driver in just a few weeks. Macarena and Emilio are fantastic instructors and create and effective safe learning environment. I passed my test but still plan to take a couple more lessons with them, just to keep developing my skills!Importantly, the instructors don't just teach for the test - you'll learn safe driving and good habits as you take lessons from them. You'll drive in residential areas, on the highway, in busy downtown traffic, so you get a lot of experience in different situations. And when I took my test, Macarena gave me a good amount of prep right before, and helped guide and give me confidence right up to the moment the DMV examiner came.  I do recommend trying out lesson with both, as they have somewhat different teaching styles (and different cars - Macarena's is easier to handle, but Emilio's is faster and will force you to adapt quickly). You might find yourself more attuned to one or the other. I myself took half my lessons with Macarena and the other half with Emilio, and learned in different ways with both. Read Less

I am so thankful to Emilio , for teaching me how to drive! And for helping me get over my fears and anxiety when driving!. The first classes I was very nervous and apprehensive, but as I completed each lesson, I grew more and more confident in my abilities as a driver. Emilio is highly, patient, courteous and gracious. He was also very informative and thorough, prior to the test we covered every single possible scenario which gives you all the confidence required to pass the test. He gives you praise when you warrant it and he is honest with you when you make a mistake, but never in a harsh way. I highly recommend this driving school for both beginners and those who have some driving experience abroad and need to get an American driver license. Read Less

rivadavia driving school yeah if your looking for someone to teach you driving you definitely should enroll and check this school out they have a different kind of teaching that you will never get to any other school emilio is an awesome teacher his going to teach you a awesome styles and he will help you avoid common error on driving test well all i want say is GReaT teacher+AWESOME CAR(james bond style)= PROFESSIONAL DRIVER Read Less

This is the best place in the city for driving school. I went to a lot of school before I found this one, but man does this one blow them all out of the water. I was a nervous driver, but not I have a lot of confidence in my skills because Emilio taught me great driving techniques. He is courteous and a good teacher. Teens would do really well here as I came as a teenager as well. But adults would do great too, Emilio is very versatile and a good communicator. You'll pass your exam on your first try for sure! Read Less

I enjoyed taking driving lessons with Emilio. He was patient, safe and not boring at all! He made me feel comfortable and excited about taking my driving test. one of the best driving schools in the bay area. If your nervous about driving, then this is the place for you! Read Less

This was definitely the best choice for a driving school. Before driving with Emilio, I was extremely afraid of driving. But he challenged me in a way that made me comfortable behind the wheel. He made me feel very at ease with his patience and great sense of humor. He did a great job of explaining to me various driving techniques and teaching me skills that helped me to be the confident driver I am today. I passed my test on the first try and to this day I agree that it was worth every penny! If you're looking for the best driving school, this is it! Read Less

Emilio Guerrero is a superb and dedicated instructor. He teaches defensive driving techniques with patience and encouragement. I am very grateful for his support when I was nervous & afraid and for helping me get my driver's license. I actually had fun during my driving lessons because of Emilio's charismatic personality and the fact that I got to learn in a convertible car. I strongly recommend this driving school - professional, courteous and highly experienced & knowledgeable. Read Less