I took classes mainly with German and I can tell he is a great teacher! He helpfully points out all the ways to improve. He is very patient and helps you practice until perfection. He is very efficient, uses every minute, and is always on time. He is a natural teacher, pays such close attention, and always knows what to say, when and how. Even though I have driven before, I learned so much more from him. I also had one class with Valerie who is also very good. She has lots of helpful tips. She explains things very clearly. Read Less

My daughter (19 yo) took 5 classes with German and Michelle at the Mercer Island location. They are excellent teachers — calm, clear, positive, specific feedback and tips. Location is great for student drivers, too. I strongly recommend this school. Read Less

They are crooks, the guy on call asked me to sign up for Knowledge and skills test and told me will refund you the money. They didn't. They charged me 65$ for test whereas it's 40$ everywhere else. 911 is way more professional as compared to them and you would have way more probability of getting a license with them. Read Less

Worst place. Charged me over 65$ just for driving test that too in my own car. Everywhere else they charge only 40$. They are also very unprofessional. Go to 911. Your probability of getting a license is much higher Read Less

I scheduled my driving tests here. It's really a hassle to schedule tests with them. They charged me 80$ for the test when the cost was 50$. I had to repeatedly call them for the refund. I wouldn't recommend scheduling tests here, 911 is a much better center and are more  transparent with the process. Read Less

They did not let us check for availability of time frames before buying a package of lessons. We were told to pay first and then can schedule lessons on line ourselves. Then after we paid, we found out there is only one instructor at this site per day and he is pretty booked with very limited availability, he only has a couple of slots in the middle of regular work hours per week. Then the instructor took the student (who is has an international driving license and is already driving in the city) on the road and instead of teaching the student what we specifically asked for to refine her skills,  did a beginner lesson, and then told the student to buy a package of 50 lessons. We then called to find another site with another instructor and they were all booked unless we wanted to go got Kirkland to take lessons. We asked for a refund, and they even charged us a service fee to give us the rest of our money back. Read Less

I had a great time with these folks. Michelle is the nicest, most caring instructor, who integrates jokes and fun moments into the classes. German seems to love what he does, and is always in a great mood to take you on a drive! Read Less

I have 20 years of driving experience, only one ticket twelve years ago, and no accidents. I accidentally let my out-of-state license expire and had to go through testing. Marty picked me up from the West Seattle location and gave what felt initially like a very easy and fair test. He didn't say anything during the drive other than instructions, but then failed me with a 78 (out of 80 to pass). His list of hits seemed very arbitrary and he wasn't able to articulate where most of them had occurred. One of them he called an 'improper lane change' (for 4 points) but said it occurred while easing up to the curb on a 2 lane residential street at 5mph (at his instruction). He said I lifted one of my hands from the steering wheel at one point... I most certainly did not. Another time he had me park on the side of a residential street and act like I was backing out of a driveway. He said even though I was backing slowly and looking over my shoulder, I didn't stop at the sidewalk. But we had literally parked right past the sidewalk, and were thus starting the maneuver from the place I was supposed to stop at. I had already visually cleared the sidewalk for a hundred yards in both directions. The point was that because none of the hits were mentioned at the time, I was in no position to contest them. It was just his stubborn word that they happened. I understand that driving tests are subjective by nature, but I distinctly felt that he was lying to my face about these things. Very convenient to collect money from someone and then make them retest. In short, this guy was an absolute clown, and now I'm out a hundred bucks. Run far away from these people. Read Less

My son took the Teens Driving Course and Collision Avoidance Class at Defensive Driving School in Issaquah during the summer of 2016.  The scheduling for drives was easy because you can do it online so if you need to cancel or change your appt, it is easy.  We also got email reminders so there is no excuse if you need to change or cancel your appointment within 48 hr. which it very fair.  Isaac Kim was my son's instructor.  He is professional and knowledgeable, but most of all, he is great with the kids taking the teen driving course.  Isaac made it fun for my son and my son really remembered a lot because of his excellent teaching in class and on the road.  I would also recommend the Collison Avoidance Class.  My son grumbled about having to take it on a Saturday morning, but boy, did he changed his mind!  He had so much fun learning to handle and to make decisions when driving a car that needs to stop suddenly and avoid collisions in real situations.  He gained a lot of confidence behind the wheel that day and most of all, had hands-on experience doing it in a safe, closed driving course.  The parents also had a turn on the course and I learned a thing or two that day!  I also recommend that as a parent to go along on one or more of the drives so you can observe and learn how your teen is learning with his/her instructor.  After all, you will be the one practicing driving with your teen so it's good to be consistent with what he/she is learning.  I highly recommend Defensive Driving School in Issaquah! Read Less

I have had a great experience at Defensive Driving School. I sent my daughter through the teen program. The instructors were great. The classroom portion was very good and I learned a lot at the parent session. Scheduling the driving appointments online was easy and having the text reminders was a great help. I will be sending my next two kids here as well. Read Less

I just passed my driving test. I am so excited and want to tell other people my positive experience here! Thanks for my instructor - Jim Freaney, he is really professional and patient. As an adult and foreign driver, he rebuilt my confidence of driving in this country. I leant some useful safety driving skills from him, he deserves to be the best instructor :) Read Less

Bear with me as this is detailed:For the knowledge test: i was scheduled in Seattle and arrived to a shabby building (high school). No one waiting there and i stood wondering where is the tester. He shows up on time and to be honest he was professional and the test was kind of generic.For the driving test: i was scheduled at west seattle location. They say wait next to some grocery store, so you can't find them in their office. After waiting there i saw their colorful car park. I approached the car in an effort to introduce myself and tell the tester i was on time. She ignored me standing next to the car until she decided to get out of the car and acted surprised i was there. So i took the test, failed by getting a 76 and here is how she delivered the news: unfortunately u have not passed, u were too safe and hesitant and you slowed down when it came to roundabouts etc etc u didn't pay attention to blind spots etc etc. so i said thank you and she replied: oh by the way next time don't approach the instructor's car and stay next to the grocery store. I realized that 90% of her failing me came from my approaching the car which i did out of courtesy.Unfortunately i decided to retake the test with her: boom fail again. Didn't come to a full stop at a stop sign etc etc. totally understandable and i don't mind. But here is the funny part: when u parallel parked you didn't turn your wheels. It was a flat road not uphill or downhill and she never said treat it as uphill etc. Summary: if you value your money don't go there. At least not to the West Seattle location. Read Less

Very good school! The trainers do their best of the utmost about their job. I studied with Anna, she is knowledgeable and teaching-oriented. I am foreign and new in USA. Although my English, she explained everything to me with patience so the trainings were very beneficial. Thank you! Read Less

Did the 12 1-hour lessons package with Jim. The instructor was encouraging, precise, patient, and made me feel comfortable while driving. This was important to me since I was a novice. Overall, it was a positive experience. Read Less

I'm an adult, and I've moved to the US recently. I had never driven before, as I had always lived in large European cities with very good transportation. Turns out, the US are pretty different!Anyway, I had to learn how to drive. I booked a pack of twelve lessons including a knowledge test as well as a skill test. Their website was simple to use, and you can easily book the lessons online. Their schedules weren't too busy, and I was able to book two to three lessons a week for over a month, right at lunchtime. Very convenient. I had to reschedule a bunch of lessons, and it was really easy to do, by email directly (I could have called, but I don't like the phone).I did most of my lessons with Michelle. She was simply great. Very calm, professional, helpful, and she went out of her way to teach. You could tell she cared. I was a bit afraid at first, because this system where you're passing the test with the same people that are teaching you seemed weird - I mean, wouldn't that mean they would make more money if you failed your test? Just one lesson with Michelle, and I had no doubt at all anymore.We went very progressively, at the rhythm I wanted. She did a great job taking notes, and I always felt she knew exactly what we had already covered and what we still had to do at every lesson right of the bat. That's no small feat given that she has many students in different locations. I used the school car, and it was great: the car was brand new, clean, comfortable, large enough to be representative but not too large.Anyway, thanks to her, I was able to get my driver license easily, first try, only a bit over a month after having driven for the first time. I feel confident (but not too confident), and I know I have good basics covered to drive as safely as I can.Would 100% recommend. Also, I finished up my lessons right before they moved their Eastgate office to Lake Hills, so I've never seen their new location except from the outside, but it seemed nice. It's well located. Read Less

Took my drivers test here and although I passed, the lady I was assigned with was nothing but impatient. Her attitude was just unnecessary. I would only say come here because it's quick and a bit easier than other locations. Read Less

Be Careful, This place will just waste your money and time, They won't let you pass the road test if you don't pay the large amount of money (could be over a thousand dollars) to join their driving lessons. Read Less

Worse driving instructor ever, she was rude and impatient, just because I ask her to repeat an instruction does not give her the right to treat me this way, goto the one in u district, much kinder people there. Read Less

The classes were fine, but the opportunities to actually drive with an instructor have been limited; the drives have been cancelled with as little as half hour notice (had the student cancelled with less than two days notice, s/he would have been charged); rescheduling means waiting weeks for another appointment.  It's been over six weeks since my child started with Defensive Driving and so far there's only been one lesson behind the wheel of a car.  Given what I paid, I'm outraged and  regret sending my child to Defensive Driving School. Read Less