Silicon Valley Driving School

The following is a list of services that SVDS provides. Training is available to anyone, for any particular need, or requirement. SVDS caters to the beginning student whether it be teenager, or adult. Also assist existing licensed drivers to improve their skill and/or confidence. A car can also be provided for the drive test.

• Teenage 6 hours of Driving lessons – Mandated by the State of California, for persons under the age of 18 years.
   
• Adult Driving lessons – Develop the the necessary skills and confidence that will allow a person to drive competently, safely and pass the drive test.
   
• Brush up lessons – typically is a one, two hour lesson, however depending on various needs may require more. Content of lesson will be determined by student’s wants and recommendations made by the instructor.
   
  • Â
    • SVDS will greatly enhance your chance to pass first time, or
      help people pass who can’t pass.
       

  DMV drive test preparation

  • Â
    • Freeway
    • Traffic
    • Parking – including parallel
    • Defensive driving
    • Enhance overall driving skill
    • Accident avoidance
    • Overcome nervousness – develop confidence

  For licensed driver to improve driving skill or advanced driver training

   

• Use SVDS’s car for drive test.
  • Â
    • Their car does not meet DMV requirements (refer to section V. of web page).
    • Want to use car with automatic transmission, family only has manual transmission cars.
    • Don’t have any car to use.

  As a service SVDS allows the usage of training cars for DMV drive test purpose, for a fee. However,a person must display to an instructor that they are capable of passing a drive test. SVDS reserves the right to refuse if the person is not competent.

  The following are various reasons why people have chosen to use our car:
  Warning: To use a rental car for drive test requires a letter of written permission from rental car company, or DMV will not allow usage of that car. SVDS does not know of any car rental company that provides cars for drive test exam.

Tthe following is a list of problems that have happened to students with other driving schools. So beware it does not happen.

• Student can’t pass drive test – fails many times.
• Instructor falls asleep while student is driving.
• Instructor does not teach anything, just lets student drive around.
• Instructor goes to shopping mall and leaves student in car for one hour.
• Student can’t understand the language the instructor is speaking.
• Both instructor and student skip lesson and play video games or go to go cart track.
• Wait 2 months to get first or second appointment.
• Other students in car – that means the driver will drive other student home wasting lesson, because a great deal of straight driving occurs.
• Taught incorrect methods and/or rules.
• Office or instructor calls up and cancels lesson more than once.
• Instructor does not show up for one or more lessons.
• Instructor collects all money on first lesson and never shows up again.
• Student paid $900 in driving lessons and still could not pass drive test, failed many times. Cost for each lesson was cheap, but overall they spend a great deal of money with no result (truly did not learn how to drive competently, nor able to pass drive test).
• Instructor taught only how to drive on DMV test routes but not really teach the skill in how to drive.
• Student does not learn new things each lesson or does not improve each lesson.
• Driving school had two prices for taking student to drive test. Standard price if student fails, if passed charged extra. Price really should be same.

A person may find a real good price on driving lessons, but if they learn next to nothing, they just lost their money. Typically the difference between a poor or fair driving school lesson and a superior driving school lesson can be as little as $10 – $20 per lesson. When considering that the average person will drive 40 – 50 years of their lives, which is a small price to pay for superior training. The little extra money paid will reap big rewards. Rewards such as, good driving skills and habits developed early will minimize or eliminate accidents (loss of money or health). Also being a competent driver will promote confidence and skill thereby making driving a more stress less and problem free. Typically when paying more one gets a more experienced and professional instructor, that provides more comprehensive training as well as making it easier to learn. Finally, good training greatly increases the chance of passing drive test first time, instead of taking several times.

Choosing a good driving school and instructor is very important. The typical person drives 40 to 50 years of their life. You will come to know that driving is an essential part of your life. It is a tremendous convenience and a necessity for most people, since driving is done usually on a daily basis. Therefore, it’s obvious that driving is an important aspect of our lives. Eventually one day you will have to give it up due to old age, or for some other reason. When that day comes, you will find driving to be very difficult to give up, because it has become so much a part of your life.

Since driving is so important it is imperative that you receive correct and quality driving instruction, and practice in the beginning. Developing good skill, competence, and confidence in the beginning pays off big time in future dividends. The dividends are problem free driving with less or no traffic accidents. That translates into money savings – no property loss, medical costs, or being sued. Another dividend is peace of mind due to little or no stress – you truly know how to drive.

The cost of lessons is also a very important factor to most people. When you are determining cost, you should look at overall cost not price per lesson. You may find a price per lesson very low, but if you learn very little each lesson your overall cost could be considerable. Whereas if you spent more per lesson with a more qualified instructor, and learned more rapidly, your overall cost would be less, due to fewer lessons taken. Learning to drive with fewer lessons is also a cost savings in regards to saving your personal time. The following is a true example:

An adult student went to a local driving school and paid $900 in driving lessons and still could not pass drive test, failed many times. Cost for each lesson was cheap, but overall a great deal of money was spent with no result (truly did not learn how to drive competently, nor able to pass drive test).

• Having a more qualified and experienced instructor makes driving easier to learn.
• Learn proper not improper driving skills, rules, and techniques.
• Less hassles in every aspect in the interaction with the school (office personnel, or instructor).
• Good chance of passing drive test first time, instead of taking many times to pass.

Value is looking for a good service or product at a fair price. You get what you pay for – you may find a real good price on driving lessons, but if you learn next to nothing, you loose. You loose your money on the driving lessons, and on possible future losses – due to lack of driving competence. You don’t have to go to the most expensive school to get good driving instruction. By using our guideline on choosing a school you can find a good school without paying an exorbitant price. Typically the difference between a poor or fair driving lesson versus a good driving lesson can be as little as $10 – $20 per lesson. When you consider that the average person will drive 40 – 50 years of their lives, it is a small price to pay for good training.

Bottom line: Choosing a quality driving school is to your benefit!

Congratulations you are inquiring about one of the finest driving schools in California, Olson’s Silicon Valley Driving School (SVDS). SVDS is a State of California licensed driving school that provides high quality driver training for teenage and adult students. Our mind set is to provide comprehensive training that will prepare students to be proficient, safe, and courteous drivers. SVDS truly has the student’s best interest in mind. We want students to be confident and successful in their driving experience.

The driving instructors are state licensed, and very experienced in developing and implementing training to suit individual needs. They create a learning environment that is informative, interesting, and easy to learn. Most importantly the instructor’s main intent is to develop the students driving skills, judgment, and ability to think for themselves. SVDS is dedicated to making the driver training experience as pleasant, satisfying and successful as possible. On the first lesson your instructor will evaluate you skill level, ability, and fear factor. This will allow your instructor to custom tailor driving lessons that will suit your ability and nature, that will allow for greatest possible success with minimum amount of stress.

The office staff are personable, knowledgeable, and helpful. They will answer any questions or concerns you may have about becoming a driver.

Our customers enjoy the best value. For our goal is to provide the highest quality driver training in conjunction with affordable prices.

What to do on the day of the drive test.

• Arrive one-half hour early.
• Report inside at drive test appointment line with the following:
  • A licensed driver (unless already have a temporary license or license from another state).
  • Drivers permit (signed by parent if under 18 years old)
  • Drivers permit (if adult with no temporary license or license from another state).
  • Driver training certificate – OL238 (if under 18 years old)
  • Automobile proof of insurance
  • Automobile registration
• Automobile condition:
  • Working signal and break lights, and horn
  • Driver side window rolls down
  • Front seat belts
  • No bald or low air in tires
  • No large crack in front window
  • Front passenger door opens from inside and outside of car.

The following is a list of steps required by the State of California DMV to acquire an Instructional Driving Permit, and/or Driving License.

Instructional Permit Steps

• Report to DMV with the following:
  • Completed Driving License application form DL44.
  • Acceptable date of birth or legal presence document.
  • Social Security number or letter from Social Security organization allowing to apply for a drivers license.
  • Pay $24 application fee.
• Pass DMV written (within 3 attempts or apply again).
• Pass a vision test.
• Take a picture for license card.
• Be thumb printed.

Note: To avoid waiting in long lines on the day of the test, make an appointment by contacting the DMV via their website (www.dmv.ca.gov), field office or calling 1-800-777-0133.
 

Driving License Steps

• Have passed DMV written test
• Pass DMV drive test (3 chances to pass or required to re-apply).

Note: Appointments are required for DMV Drive Test, these can be made over the phone by calling 1-800-777-0133 or at a field office.

The following is a list of steps required by the State of California DMV to acquire a Provisional Driving Permit and Provisional Driving License.

Provisional Driving permit Steps

• Minimum 15 1/2 years of age.
• Complete driver education – class room training (if under 17 1/2 years old).
• Enroll for driving lessons with a driving school (receive Cert. OL 239) before taking written test.
• Report to DMV with the following:
  • Certificate of Completion of Driver Education (OL 237).
  • Certificate of Enrollment in Driver Training (OL 239).
  • Completed Driving License application form DL44 (parents must sign).
  • Acceptable date of birth or legal presence document.
  • Social Security number or letter from Social Security organization allowing to apply for a drivers license.
  • Pay $24 application fee.
• Pass DMV written (within 3 attempts or apply again). If fail written test, then must wait 1 week before attempting again.
• Pass a vision test.
• Take a picture for license card.
• Be thumb printed.

Note: To avoid waiting in long lines on the day of the test, make an appointment by contacting the DMV via their website (www.dmv.ca.gov), field office or calling 1-800-777-0133. Also, provisional permit is not valid unit you start your Behind the Wheel Drivers Training with a driving school, or reach the age of 17 1/2.
 

Provisional Permit Restrictions

Minors may use the provisional permit to practice with a person at least 25 years old, who has a valid California driver license.

Provisional Driver’s License Steps

• Have driving permit for minimum 6 months.
• Complete 6 hours driving lessons with licensed driving school.
• Complete 50 hours of driving practice with 25 year old licensed driver (including 10 hours of night driving), which parents must sign on page 2 of the permit to certify practice was completed..
• Be at least 16 years old.
• Passing DMV drive test (3 chances to pass or required to re-apply), 2 week waiting period between failed tests.

Note: Appointments are required for DMV Drive Test, these can be made by calling 1-800-777-0133 or going to a field office.

 

Provisional Driver’s License Restrictions

• You may drive alone with your provisional license.
• During first 6 months, you must be accompanied by a driver 25 years old or older if you drive between the hours of midnight and 5:00 am, or if you transport people under age 20 (at any hour).
• During the second 6 months after you are licensed, you must be accompanied by a driver 25 years old or older if you drive between the hours of midnight and 5:00 am. However, You may transport people under age 20 without supervision between the hours of 5:00 am and midnight.

 

Exceptions to Provisional Restrictions

• Medical necessity
• School or school-authorized activity
• Employment necessity
• Immediate need of family member
• Emancipated Minor

Note: Check with DMV on particulars or the California Driver’s Handbook.

The following is a list of helpful questions you can ask driving schools during a phone conversation. We believe this will help you decide which is the best school for you.

• Have all instructors been teaching for years?
  (It takes years to become good at any profession)
• Does the instructor speak a language the I will understand?
• Is it private instruction?
• Are instructors, knowledgeable, professional, personable, and patient?
• Do they provide the same instructor and car for all lessons.
  (Same instructor and same car provides more ease and continuity of training)
• Do instructors always show up for lesson or do they cancel?
• Does the office call student and cancel lesson?
• What is taught during the 6 hours of lessons?
• How much does it cost?
• Days and hours of training sessions?
• Are vehicles well maintained, clean, and fit any size student?