TLDR: Colin is a fantastic driving instructor; I passed my test; I learned to be a better driver; blablabla...ok, now for an abridged version of my personal story along with unimportant details, because anecdotes are more memorable. My DMV appointment was scheduled for 1:00 pm. (So, I had to be at the DMV at ~12:40 pm.) *queue suspenseful reality TV show music* But my driving lessons started at ~10:40 AM, which meant I had only 2 hours of driving lessons before I was dropped off at the DMV. Will I pass this time, or will I be met with disappointment and failure yet again? DUN DUN DUN! 1. Colin's car's back seats are filled with boxes of mini-signs, binders of instructions, and small toy cars which he runs across the pages of the binders to illustrate different driving situations. He gets a good idea of how much you know, and he gets through that stuff pretty quickly; and then explains in more depth the things that may confuse you. In the rare event that you don't understand it the first time around, simply ask him to explain it again, if he doesn't already notice that you didn't get it. 2. He is very patient, but he is also persistent at helping you get things right. He's not annoyed when you make a mistake, but he helps you feel annoyed by your own mistakes such that you avoid them. E.g. even after he told me to keep checking all the directions when approaching intersections, I kept passing intersections without looking; and he would make "ERRRRR" (a red-error-button-noise-ish-sound) when I did that. It's not annoying, but it reminds you to perform better and notice your mistakes. He taps into the video-game spirit of an intense, burning desire to complete a level perfectly. 3. He helps with the technicalities of passing a driving test, which is really a "performance" in some ways; but he also provides very practical tips which are essential for driving beyond the test. What's especially nice is that he gives specifics. A lot of aspects of driving test preparation have things like "check traffic and be safe and drive good and be cool and stuff." I mean, really vague, unhelpful statements. He gives very specific and memorable ways to help you drive correctly. (For me, mainly in the areas of proper mirror and seating position, backing up, checking mirrors correctly, approaching intersections, merging into bike lanes and center turn lanes, and right and left turns...etc. You get the point.) He addresses with frankness the rigidity of driving test scoring methods, which he knows inside and out, while at once instilling respect for the finer rules of safe driving. Often a seeming contradiction, a paradox of sorts... It's hard to find the right word to describe his attitude. Laid-back, chill? Yes, but also almost...like, passionate?? He's serious about helping you learn to drive correctly and know your material, but he's humorous and relaxed. He almost seems amused, like it's a funny hobby of his that he really enjoys. But he really is great at teaching and knows his stuff well. This driving instructor is the awesome-professor-type that uses jokes, props, and mnemonics to make you remember the absolutely boring-est facts and formulas. So, combine the adventurous spirit of a little kid playing with toy cars and the traffic-rule expertise of a DMV-demigod with an excellence at conveying both the attitude and skill to the student. There are many fun and specific examples I could mention that demonstrate this, but I suppose you'll have to be curious and find out for yourself. (Oh, and I passed this time around. Muahaha!) The End Read Less

Took classes from Capitol city driving school & passed my behind the wheel test on my first attempt. As a first time car driver in US & with little to no car driving knowledge, more than passing the test, the 8 hours of classes / practice ensured I got the basics of safe driving right. The instructor provides direct actionable no-nonsense feedback which was very useful in my progress. Worth the fee & would highly recommend ! Read Less