Licensed Training

DMV licensed driving school (#E2117) with a team of fully trained and licensed driving instructors.

Safe Vehicles

California BAR-certified inspection of all our training SUVs. All training vehicles are fully licensed and insured.

Flexible Schedule

Driving instructors are available after school, on weekends, and on holidays.

Premier Program

Our program takes students through the entire licensing process, from Drivers Ed to the DMV drive test.

A Driving School You Can Rely On

We work to teach defensive driving and the lifelong habits that will keep our students safe during their teens and throughout the years beyond.

  • • Behind the wheel instruction program and instructor training program created by retired CHP Officer Richard Richards.
  • • Drivers education curriculum developed and taught by retired CHP Captain William Perlstein.
  • • Driving instructors have a combined 80+ years of law enforcement experience and have taught thousands of students throughout Monterey County.

Drivers Ed Classroom

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Drivers Training

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7,000+
Graduates
6
Instructors
24
Years in Business

Pricing Plans

Students must complete Drivers Education to take the DMV permit test.
After getting a permit, the DMV requires 4 lessons (6 hours) of Drivers Training.

In-Person

Drivers Education

Classroom
$ 280 / class *
  • Don't Waste Time Online
  • Accelerated (4 days)
  • DMV Approved
  • Ret. CHP Instructors
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Most Popular

Teen Drivers Training

Ages 15½ to 19
$ 150 / lesson *
  • Behind the Wheel
  • Just 4 Lessons
  • Pay As You Go
  • Individual Instruction
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Adult Drivers

20 or Older & Seniors
$ 120 / hour
  • First Time Drivers
  • Adult Drive Test Practice
  • Foreign Adult Drivers Training
  • Senior Driving Assessment
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Business Training

Custom
$ 120 / hour
  • Pre-hire Assessments
  • On-site Training/Presentations
  • Post-collision Review
  • Individual Instruction
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   * Price displayed is discounted for payment by check or cash, as well as Venmo and PayPal when available. Payment by other methods including credit card, billing, purchase orders or payment plans, are at the non-discounted rates of $360 for drivers education and $175 for behind-the-wheel lessons.

Ratings and Reviews

Excellent4.9★★★★★ Based on 23 reviews from review us onStephanie P.Stephanie P. ★★★★★ They're the best driving school in Monterey County.Stephen P.Stephen P. ★★★★★ Truly a 5-star experience from Drive Carmel. Great classroom instruction from Bill, who really cares about his students and makes sure every single one...Alyssa W.Alyssa W. ★★★★★ The BEST program on the Monterey Peninsula! From the highly organized in-person learning to the safe and efficient behind-the-wheel training, it doesn't get...Julie H.Julie H. ★★★★★ My son had taken an online education class and was not passing the written exam at the DMV. I signed him up for the education class with Bill and he got so...Maria T.Maria T. ★★★★★ My daughter just completed her drivers training course. Carol was her instructor and Carol was fabulous! She was patient, she was calm, she guided and...Ginny C.Ginny C. ★★★★★ Recommended by a friend for our 16 year old daughter. We were completely satisfied with both the classroom instruction and the on the road instruction. EXCELLENT company and staff. Well worth the money spent. Classes were local and drive instructor took her on the roads she uses every day. She not only learned the rules of the road but obtained confidence driving. Great way for both novice drivers and kids with some experience. Our daughter came home talking excited about the information she received during class!Nicholas DNicholas D ★★★★★ Beautiful, fall all year longMelanie I.Melanie I. ★★★★★ It was important to us for our teen to attend an in-person Driver's Ed class and due to covid the one local to us wasn't operating in person. We drove from...Cori T.Cori T. ★★★★★ Drive Carmel is awesome. I were very impressed with the team. We were fortunate enough to have Bill as our daughter's driving instructor and he was great. He was very thorough and always returned my emails and phone calls in a timely fashion.The process was super simple and very convenient! He would either meet her after school for her lesson or we met him at a central location.Bill was very professional, patient and an awesome teacher. He is full of valuable information and experience and a nice gentleman that my daughter felt VERY comfortable to talk with and ask questions! He never made her daughter feel nervous and kept encouraging her with good words of advice and gave her a lot of confidence.Our other daughter went through the same program, but had a different instructor who was awesome too. I can't say enough good words about the company. The school is very professional and they really care about their students and want to ensure they provide the best guidance for their driving safely.As a parent who has been through this program twice, I TOTALLY RECOMMEND them!! A++ in my book. Thank you for making my daughters safe, defenvise drivers.Paul C.Paul C. ★★★★★ From what my son has shared about the program, the instruction was great. He stated he learned a great deal and was more then happy to correct his parents...kristina M.kristina M. ★★★★★ If your looking for an amazing driving school, and Driver's ed teachers please contact Drive Carmel. After spending some time without driving I felt I...Ruby B.Ruby B. ★★★★★ Such great educators!Krisanta S.Krisanta S. ★★★★★ My youngest of four children just completed her behind-the-wheel instruction with Bill at Drive Carmel. I can't recommend this teacher enough. My daughter...Raymond D.Raymond D. ★★★★★ My daughter recently concluded a week's Drivers Ed training at her school, who offered the students a summer Driver's Ed course, taught by William...Jacqueline C.Jacqueline C. ★★★★★ Great program. Very pleased with the level of instruction. My son not only enjoyed it but learned everything he needed to to pass the test!Hetty Y.Hetty Y. ★★★★★ This is a great program. My daughter had a very positive experience, and I'm confident she'll be a safer driver from the instruction she has received. I...Hetty Y.Hetty Y. ★★★★★ This is a great program. Excellent communication and instruction.Brian H.Brian H. ★★★★★ We moved to Seaside from the san fernando valley, and my daughter needed drivers ed so we landed on Drive Carmel. She loved it! The teacher a former CHP...matthew M.matthew M. ★★★★★ Outstanding program! Bill and his staff have it dialed in. Excellent in class instruction and comprehensive driver training that really help a teen or anyone with the new challenge of driving a car safely. Highly Recommendselene S.selene S. ★★★★★ I just finished my first lesson with Officer Richards and it was amazing. He really took the time to keep me relaxed and comfortable while driving. It felt really good to learn from someone who isn't a friend or family member because it gives you a better insight into what to expect going into driving when you don't have to depend on people you are already familiar with. 10/10 would recommend Officer Richards.matthew M.matthew M. ★★★★★ Excellent program which came highly recommended and did not disappoint. Bill and his staff offered top notch in class instruction and driver training. My...Lisa D.Lisa D. ★★★★★ Very positive, 100%!Quite simply, Bill and Drive Carmel deliver the best curricula with all the pointers and behind the wheel coaching the student needs...Stefanie P.Stefanie P. ★★★★★ My son thoroughly enjoyed his instructors, classes, and driving lessons. Drive Carmel did a fantastic job preparing our son well for both the permit and...Paul C.Paul C. ★★★★★ From what my son has shared about the program, the instruction was great. He stated he learned a great deal and was more then happy to correct his parents on issues he learned about. He said the instructors were all fun, engaging and provided current information on the topic being taught. We would highly recommend this driving school to others.Penpak F.Penpak F. ★★★★★ Chris was a fantastic instructor who was very patient and professional. My husband couldn’t believe the improvement in my driving and I was able to get my license within a couple of months. Choosing Drive Carmel really made a difference and I am extremely happy I made the choice to call them. I would recommend this company to anyone—friends, family, and business colleagues.Jacqueline C.Jacqueline C. ★★★★★ My son loved this program and learned so much from the instructor. The stories shared really made an impact! Passed the written test first time round!K W.K W. ★★★★★ My adult son needed to brush up on his stick shift skills for a new valet job he starts on Monday. He finds "Drive Carmel" on the web. It offers a 1.5 hour...Raymond D.Raymond D. ★★★★★ My daughter recently concluded a week’s Drivers Ed training at her school, who offered the students a summer Driver’s Ed course, taught by William Perlstein/ DRIVE CARMEL.I HIGHLYHIGHLYHIGHLY recommend this man’s school to the parents of a permit-eligible age child.I give Mr. Perlstein seven stars out a possible five. Here are three reasons why: Mr. Perlstein is a qualified expert: a retired, 17-year veteran of the California Highway Patrol, Bill gives his students firsthand, real-world information about the rules of driving and the consequences of not following those rules. He gave excellent instructions about managing the driving experience, and some often hilarious coaching on behavior and choices if/when one is pulled over.Second, Bill is a compelling speaker, who brought the material to life with humor and insight. After the first day and for the rest of the week,my daughter woke up an hour early, thrumming with excitement about the class and an eagerness to learn.Thirdly, Bill gave the class comprehensive support, mentoring them through the class, joining them at the DMV to lend his support and to congratulate their successes: the class had a 100% passing rate on the test.Like many parents, I find the prospect of my daughter driving a bit terrifying. I’m a lot more confident about getting in the passenger seat with her, following the above-and-beyond levels of coaching she received from Mr. Perlstein and Drive Carmel.Lisa D.Lisa D. ★★★★★ If I could rate higher I would. The best driver training for our daughter meant we could only use Drive Carmel - trust the other 5 star reviews, you will be confident that your teen is ready when Drive Carmel trains them.js_loader

Classroom Drivers Education

Finish class in only 4 days.

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1340 Munras Ave
Suite 330
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 625-3994
Drive Carmel
Locations Served: Salinas, Monterey, Sand City, Del Rey Oaks, Pebble Beach, Pacific Grove, Marina, Seaside, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Castroville, Spreckles, Fort Ord, Prunedale, Big Sur, Gonzales, Carmel Highlands. Lessons begin and end on the Monterey Peninsula.

Job openings: Instructor Position
Contact us: learn@drivecarmel.com
© Drive Carmel - 2023