Let me tell you something a little embarrassing. I used to be really jittery about driving. I mean, I used to play racing games in college and watched action movies, but when my parents started pushing me to learn driving for real? Boy, was I a wreck.
It wasn’t like I didn’t have support! My family helped me look into driving schools and I joined online classrooms. But my first day behind the wheel was straight up embarrassing. I was lucky to have a patient instructor!
Now that I’m less shaky in the driver’s seat, I’ve been looking into driving instructors in Calgary to help me pass my insurance reduction test. Luckily I had friends to help me throw together a list and go through some lessons, and here are our favorites!
How much does it cost to get a driving instructor in Calgary?
Getting yourself a driving instructor in Calgary can cost you anywhere from $100 to $1100, depending on how many hours are included in the courses, whether the instructor provides car rentals, and any online lessons.
Table of Contents
1. Calgary King Driving School
Address: 315 Hawkdale Bay NW, Calgary, AB T3G 3M8
Contact Details: +1 587 717 7080, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM
- Closed on Sunday
One daunting part of learning to drive is the cost of lessons, so it’s always handy to have a budget before committing. Luckily, our search eventually led us to the Calgary King Driving School, after we got to hear about their pricing.
We immediately got to see why. Their course pricing was transparent and upfront, readily accessible just from their website and at the school itself, detailing the cost of brush-up lessons and any car rentals.
On that note, we did find the pricing for their brush-up lessons to be on the higher side, at least compared to their standard course packages. New drivers might be able to get good value, though more experienced drivers might find the price a little steep.
Of course, we just had to check out the lessons for ourselves and weren’t disappointed! The environment fostered by their instructors was calm and focused, helping student drivers keep their attention on the road.
We also appreciated how clear the communication was from instructors before and during the actual lesson. They were readily able to provide tips on subjects like lane control and right of way, which should come in handy for new drivers.
His constant encouragement makes all the difference
“I passed my road test and feel much safer on the road now. Thank you, Hamid at Calgary King Driving School. He’s calm, his constant encouragement makes all the difference , and he explains everything in a way that actually sticks. If you want an instructor who builds confidence and actually prepares you for the test choose Hamid.”
– Mr. Dilini Wijedasa, Google Review
Makes learning to drive stress-free
“Hamid is an awesome driving instructor! He’s super patient, explains everything clearly, and makes learning to drive stress-free. He always focuses completely on my lessons and helps me understand my mistakes in a way that makes me a safer and more confident driver. I’m so glad Hamid was my instructor, and I’m happy to say I passed my Class 5 road test today. I highly recommend Hamid to anyone learning to drive!”
– Ms. Samaneh Moghimi Shahri, Google Review
2. Frank Driving School
Address: 1615 20a St NW, Calgary, AB T2N 2L6
Contact Details: +1 403 975 0308, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday: Open 24 hours
Most students might know that the quality of your study is highly affected by how you click with your instructors, and the same goes for driving! With the Frank Driving School landing on our radar as a beginner-friendly spot, we just had to see it for ourselves!
Just on our first visit, we were surprised at how varied the team was! There were multiple instructors available for a range of tests, whether you’re looking into brush-up lessons or a dedicated truck driving school course.
We were also pleased by how friendly and approachable the instructors were when we reached out. Each was able to explain which tests they specialized in along with the general lesson plans.
Finally, we also got to see their lessons in action. We were particularly pleased by the ample time they allotted both to theory and practice, with the team making efficient use of their two hour sessions to cover as much ground as they could!
One thing we did note was the strict scheduling however. We found their class slots a little limited, so we’d advise checking their availability regularly if you’re planning on joining them as a student.
Makes a huge difference for the better
“The lesson is two hours long, but i felt like only 15 minutes with my instructor Ayham. He’s enjoyable, patient, knowledgeable, always smiling, and confident that I can learn easily. His presence as an instructor makes a huge difference for the better. Thank you for frank driving school .”
– Mr. Akhil Pur, Google Review
He guided me through various scenarios
“My experience at Frank Driving School was great. My instructor, Ayham, was very patient and greatly helped me improve my driving skills. Knowing my goal was to practice safe driving, he guided me through various scenarios and challenging road sections. He explained road signs and driving techniques in detail and helped me work on my weaknesses.”
– Ms. Naomi Ma, Google Review
3. Above All Safety Driving School
Address: 55 Westwinds Crescent NE #115, Calgary, AB T3J 5H2
Contact Details: +1 403 590 0080, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday: 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM
The number one rule in driving is safety for the driver, the passengers, and even fellow drivers on the road. With that in mind, we couldn’t resist dropping by to see if the Above All Safety Driving School lived up to its namesake!
The first thing that caught our attention was the lesson plans themselves. When we reached out, we managed to get a look at these and found them helpfully structured so that new and returning drivers had a clear plan to follow for each session.
But where their instructors shone most was in practice drives! From what we saw, the instructors demonstrated good knowledge of how to navigate in and around Calgary, which is a plus in our book for drivers unfamiliar with the area.
We also took note of their lesson packages, especially for brush-up lessons. These ran for multiple days with clearly defined hours for theory and road training, helping drivers refamiliarize themselves with road rules and navigation.
That being said, one process we found particularly strict was the procedure for swapping instructors. We’d definitely recommend clarifying the exact steps for these before committing to a lesson just in case you don’t click with your instructor.
Made sure I fully understood lane control
“I completed five brush-up sessions with Above All Safety driving school and passed my Class 5 road test on the first attempt today. The training was excellent, very structured, calm, and confidence boosting. My instructors consistently gave helpful tips, corrected small habits, and made sure I fully understood lane control, right-of-way, and exam expectations. Overall, a very professional and supportive experience. I’m grateful for their guidance and highly recommend them to new and experienced drivers.”
– Mr. Binoy Mavatton, Google Review
Explained in good detail about the key tips and tricks for driving
“I had a great experience for my brush up course with the driving school. Paul, my instructor was very knowledgeable about the road conditions and he explained in good detail about the key tips and tricks for driving in Calgary not only helping me pass but also to become a safe drive on the roads. Very professional, reliable and always on time and will highly recommend the school for both new and experienced drivers.”
– Mr. Aman Gautam, Google Review
4. Chinook Driving Academy
Address: 4620 Manilla Rd SE unit 16, Calgary, AB T2G 4B7
Contact Details: +1 403 281 8050, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Closed on Saturday and Sunday
Driving lessons aren’t necessarily just about getting familiar behind the wheel. There’s plenty to know outside of it too, from road signs and regulations to basic car maintenance. In this regard, the Chinook Driving Academy caught our eye.
The main reason for that was accessibility. Their scheduling was notably flexible when we reached out, so students could book lessons at convenient times and dates and reschedule as needed.
That said, one limiting factor to this was the availability of instructors. We found it a little difficult to request clarification on each instructor’s schedule when we reached out, so we’d recommend reaching out directly to the instructor for these if possible.
We also appreciated the availability of online classrooms for their lessons in theory! We found this very convenient for students who find themselves unavailable to attend on-site lessons, helping keep them on track with their driver’s ed.
Finally, on our own visit we were especially stuned by their fleet of rental cars. Upon getting to be in one during a lesson, we found these comfortable and well-maintained which made for a pleasant driving experience.
Very good way to learn if you’re feeling nervous
“My experience with my driving instructor, Amit, was very good! He was very helpful whenever I had questions or concerns, and he answered them so that I fully understood before we tried again. 100% recommend! Really really helpful and a very good way to learn if you’re feeling nervous.”
– Ms. Scarlett Melcher, Google Review
I could see her confidence and skill level grow
“I was impressed with Chinook Driving Academy. My daughter didn’t have much driving experience, but Amit put her at ease and I could see her confidence and skill level grow after only one or two lessons. She took the basic course which was 10 hours driving plus 15 hours classroom time (which she did online) and she passed her driving test the first time!”
– Ms. Nichola Spiers, Google Review
5. Universal Driving School
Address: 3770 Westwinds Dr NE #203, Calgary, AB T3J 5H3
Contact Details: +1 587 577 2033, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Like any form of study, road tests make up a massive part of driver’s ed. If you’re looking into a driving instructor to get you prepped and ready for road tests, then the Universal Driving School might be up your alley!
Right off the bat, we noted the team’s expertise in road tests. When we reached out, the team was readily able to offer us advice on what was expected during road tests and what instructors were looking for, which provided some good starting guidelines.
Following these were their course plans, which they also offered us. We found these plans very well structured, with clear timelines and allotted hours for both in-vehicle and theory classes.
Finally, we were also pleased with their additional study resources! Their advice and suggestions on road tests were easily accessible from their website, and the team could be easily reached for advice before and during lessons.
That being said, one complication we faced was a change of driving venues during lessons. Though initially booked for a lesson around NE, we ended up going around Downtown instead on short notice, so we’d keep that in mind before booking.
Amazing instructor and course plan
“Amazing instructor and course plan throughout the lessons. High-stress situations and unfamiliar concepts were introduced calmly and clearly. Upcoming road test was discussed in great detail allowing for me to fully understand what was to be expected. Many thanks to Sajid, my instructor :)”
– Ms. Jessica Tetreau, Google Review
My instructor really helped with telling me all the particular rules
“I had already been driving with my learners for a couple of years, however I wanted to make sure I ace the actual driving test so I decided to take an insurance reduction course online and in car driving and my instructor really helped with telling me all the particular rules that the test people look for, he also taught me all the types of parking. Overall very informative.”
– Mr. Rayyan Karmally, Google Review
