The 10 Best Driving Schools in Calgary

Photo credit: Shutterstock

By Julia Leblanc

If you’ve been hankering to gain independence on the road and start driving on your own, the best driving schools in Calgary are available to help you.

To help you pick one, we’ve come up with a list of these schools based on their range of services, affordability of lessons, and even their customer ratings. Only the very best schools made it to our list.

So, to jumpstart your journey on the road, check out our list below for the best driving schools in Calgary.

1.  Roadrunner Driving School

Roadrunner Driving School is a licensed driving school that offers clients lessons on how to drive properly, safely, and responsibly. Their mission is to give people freedom as much as independence through their lessons and services.

Roadrunner Driving School is one of the best driving schools in Calgary because aside from field drives, they also offer in-classroom lectures for an in-depth look at the rules and regulations of driving.

Highlights

• Car training
• Car rental
• Classroom insurance reduction certificate

Customer Reviews

Roadrunner Driving School is recommended by their customers for having excellent teachers with great experience, and for having patient and kind instructors who give great advice.

Some customers shared their reviews:

“I took brush up classes from ROADRUNNER and Harjinder was my instructor. I am glad to tell that I passed my class 5 road test in the first attempt. Thank you to Harjinder who is brilliant at what she does. Very calm, patient, friendly, encouraging and goes into detail with everything. Thank you once again.”

“The Instructors did a good job,they provided good service and patience. I spent most time with William and he did a good job answering all my questions and sorting any thing I didn’t understand.”

2.  A Proactive Driving School

A Proactive Driving School is an award-winning driving school that’s considered one of the best driving schools in Calgary.

They provide instructors who make sure to focus on each student as they try to navigate the road. The school also provides training programs to assure safety and mastery of driving.

A Proactive Driving School is also known for prioritising you individually, and for providing budget-friendly courses made to help encourage better drivers.

Highlights

• Insurance reduction
• Brush-up lessons
• Corporate fleet society

Customer Reviews

A Proactive Driving School is best known for having instructors who will teach you not just how to pass the exam, but also how to be wise behind the wheel.

Some customers shared their reviews:

“Considered Best driving school in Calgary right now. Check out their reviews!!! Professionalism, affordability, great experienced instructors (the instructors were senior instructors at AMA, so you’ll be getting AMA quality for much less)and the insurance reduction is a great deal. Highly recommend!”

“Highly recommended! I was really experiencing anxiety before my road test, thanks to my instructor John Odlum, he was very patient with me, reviewing everything I should watch out for, and long story short, I passed the road test! Thank you John!”

3.  Driving 101

Driving 101 is a driving school that’s devoted to delivering the most convenient and most beneficial education to people who want to learn what it takes to be on the road.

They provide different lessons and courses at reasonable prices, and strive to prove that you will get your money’s worth.

Driving 101 is one of the best driving schools in Calgary, and they promise to guide you in both driving and preparing for your road test.

Highlights

• Classroom education
• On-road education
• Free mock test

Customer Reviews

Known for offering flexible programs, Driving 101 is also recommended by their customers for their friendly drivers.

Some customers shared their reviews:

“My son had an excellent experience, passed his drivers test on the first try! The gentleman in the office was always so helpful, answered questions promptly, rescheduled appointments and was very accommodating.”

“Highly recommended. I took this course and enrolled my little brother at the same time. We both really enjoyed the classroom session with tahsin! He is very knowledgeable and a great instructor. I passed my road test! Great experience overall.”

4.  My Way Academy

My Way Academy, one of the best driving schools in Calgary, is a registered and licensed driving school that aims to teach their clients the best driving programs.

They also offer lessons held in classrooms to better teach the rules when it comes to driving, and to better help students acquire the confidence they need once they advance to the road.

The driving instructors of My Way Academy are all certified, promising to provide a safe space for anyone who wants to learn how to drive properly.

Highlights

• Insurance reduction
• On-road training
• Brush-up courses

Customer Reviews

My Way Academy is praised by their customers for their promising instructors who teach great lessons.

One customer shared a review:

“instructors are very patients. I’ve started with Zero experience and i ended up passing the road text. i had both instructors and i can tell that no matter how experienced you are they will teach you some trick that will make you drive smoothly.”

5.  Derek Brown’s Academy of Driving

Derek Brown’s Academy of Driving offers quality, sociable, and professional driving lessons to clients who want to learn how to drive safely and skillfully.

The company is one of the best driving schools in Calgary and has been around since 1970. They’ve grown since and now have over 15 cars and 6 trucks that they use for lessons.

Derek Brown’s Academy of Driving also provides personalised driving lessons to meet your needs, and give you an experience that you will take with you even once you’re driving on your own.

Highlights

• Great courses for beginner drivers
• Trucking courses
• Winter driving courses

Customer Reviews

Knowledgeable instructors who provide great experiences — that’s what customers of Derek Brown’s Academy of Driving like best about them.

Some customers shared their reviews:

“Best driving training experience you can possibly have! Highly recommended, whether you need class 5 or class 1! Best in the industry!”

“thanks to derek brown, excellent in in class and in car. learned a lot and its worth every penny you pay.thanks to Hamza, gave tips that helps me overcome my left turning weakness.”

6. Jonas Truck Driving School

Photo credit: Jonas Truck Driving School

Jonas driving school can help you to be the safest driver. They love teaching teens and adults how to drive.

With their skilled instructors, it is assured that you are comfortable as much as possible. They are experienced, honest, and friendly that makes them unique among the driving schools in Calgary.

Highlights

• Over 10 years of experience
• 20% to 40% discount on Insurance for new Drivers
• Skilled instructors

Customer Reviews

Here’s a review from one of Jonas Truck Driving School clients:

“I took driving school and I learned a lot ,it very Good driving school ^_^  I recommend this place for anyone that is trying to learn how to drive.” 0 Adil Osman

Here’s another one:

“A good all round experience with Jonas Driving School. What stood out for me was the variety of driving instructors that they have; i greatly benefited from the driving sessions i had with 4 different instructors; i would recommend that you request for the same opportunity as a potential learner to gain the most out of the driving sessions. I wrote my driving road test last week and cleared it. Thank you to the team at Jonas Driving School for their guidance!” – Ali Zaidi

7. One 2 One Driving School LTD

Photo credit: One 2 One Driving School LTD

One 2 One Driving School LTD specializes in nervous learners. Their professional instructors are accredited by Alberta Transportation.

Male and Female instructors are available for your preference. They also have online insurance classes that will not require you to come to the classroom.

Highlights

• High customer satisfaction rating
• You get what you pay for
• Patient and experienced instructors

Customer Reviews

Here’s a review from one of One 2 One Driving School LTD clients:

“A friend of mine suggested me to use their services for driving lessons. He is very patient, punctual an honest. Would definitely recommend this school for driving classes.  :)” – Jas Hans

Here’s another one:

“[Excellent experience! Most definitely recommend them. Passed my Test in the first attempt. 

Very knowledgeable. They know what they are talking about and will guide you well.” – Shraddha Shah

8. Protruckers Driving Academy

Photo credit: Protruckers Driving Academy

Protruckers Driving Academy’s mission is to minimize the increasing rate of road injuries and fatalities. With their services, you will learn fast and good.

Their instructors are very patient and professional and will help you until you’re confident. They are also highly recommended with a 5-star rating by previous clients.

Highlights

• Skilled instructors
• No collision approach
• Trucks are in good condition

Customer Reviews

Here’s a review from one of Protruckers Driving Academy clients:

“Excellent school and expert instructors there I took classes and got my Class 5 and 3 license quickly as well as the air brakes course clearly recommend this school to achieve your work goals now we are exercising what we have learned. Best regards” – Carlos B.

Here’s another one:

“Great place! with very fine people that will help you achieve your goal. Thanks Emmad and Adel to help me get my class 1 drivers license.” – Guillermo T.

9. Southtrail Driving School

Photo credit: Southtrail Driving School

Southtrail Driving School was listed in The Canadian Driving Lessons Team’s Top 25 Most Popular Driving Instructors and Schools for 2017. They are the most popular driving lesson in Calgary City and number three in Calgary.

They offer free 15 hours of online novice education. They are also certified by Alberta Transportation.

Highlights

• Plexiglass installed
• Instructors wear mask
• Touchpoints disinfected

Customer Reviews

Here’s a review from one of Southtrail Driving School clients:

“I was able to pass my road exam with only 35 points, Nelson was an amazing teacher and was able to stay calm and professional. I would most definitely recommend for someone who wants to pass their test the first time. it was an overall amazing experience!!” – Taylor

Here’s another one:

“Nelson was an excellent guide in teaching me the ways of the road, and  prepared me for my driving test. he is very professional with his work.  he knows his stuff and how to make different parts of driving apart of  your thoughts for every drive. I am very happy I got the chance to take  the course with him.” – Kendra

10. A1 Advance Driving School

A1 Advance Driving School is an academy for individuals aspiring to learn how to drive and know more skills that are relevant to the road. With over 20 years of experience, their students have more than 95% pass rate that is born out of their adequately trained and professional instructors.

Servicing in areas such as Airdrie and the wider Calgary area, instructors can conveniently pick clients up and drop them off after at their desired location, so they don’t have to worry about transportation. This makes booking a lesson with them more convenient and time efficient as well.

They are also available all week and even on some holidays so clients will have minimal problems when it comes to fitting their driving classes amid their busy schedules. Furthermore, they have a full price list of services that they offer that they constantly update to ensure that clients get the best deal out of their lessons.

While they service only limited areas, they offer discounts for senior citizens and other promotions for other common individuals at times.

Highlights

• Offers drop-off services
• Senior Citizen discounts
• Over 95% passing rates

Customer Reviews

Here is a review from their client:

“John is a fantastic instructor and made him really comfortable. They focused on everything important and when it came test time my nephew wasn’t nervous at all because he had been trained so well. Adn by the way… he passed the driving test and got his license on the first try! The staff is awesome too! They were able to maneuver through any schedule conflicts with such ease.” – Michelle K.

Driving on your own is a different kind of adventure that requires you to have discipline, focus, and patience altogether. These driving schools will help you develop those traits so you become a master of the road!

In addition, if you’re looking for a car and you’re on a budget, check out our list of the best used car dealerships in Calgary so you can score a good price! These dealerships can help you find your first ever car too!