Learning to Drive

Does professional quality driving instruction matter to you? It should, because safe driving is NO Accident! In our 23 years of service toward shaping safe Bay Area drivers, you might say our attention to quality and professionalism are the hallmarks of our students' success!

It starts with hiring only the best and brightest instructors with exceptional interpersonal and communication skills. Next, we have a proven teaching formula that is designed to get you the best results in the shortest period of time.

But please, don't just take my word for it -- find out what our students think here and on yelp.com

Trusted and Verified

• DOJ Smart Search Verified
• Email Verified
• Facebook Verified
• Phone Verified

Get directions

Friend Reviews Write a Friend Review

• Pamela   December 6, 2009

  Derrick is a godsend. He came when I desperately needed to learn how to drive to maintain my independence. I have Ceberal Palsy and I was told that I couldn't drive at all because of it, which is where my desperate plead took over and needed a person who was qualified for what was said to be impossible. I don't actually remember how I found Derrick, but all I know is that he was there for me. He is the most patient, honest, soft-spoken driving instructor I have ever met. He does not stress a person out, does not scold you when you make a huge mistake...he just calmly asked what happen and moves on with the lesson without ANY negativity on your abilty to be able to drive at all. Derrick has a very good eye as to knowing what a person needs in order to be safe driver when the student may have no clue what they need. My experience with Derrick has been life-changing. It's been well over ten years since I took lessons from Derrick, but his teachings still rings in my head whenever I have to parrallel in a tight space or make a U-turn. I not only gain tremendous confidence in my driving, I gain an awesome friend in Derrick.

• Nancy   December 1, 2009

  Derrick, the chief instructor at Apex is UNBELIEVABLY FANTASTIC!
  My youngest daughter, Kim, is a high functioning Down Syndrome woman (33)  and her lifelong dream has been to learn to drive!  Luckily I met Derrick at a local Disability Fair about 3 years ago.. I finally called him to see if KIm could be taught to drive.  He said that he could tell after the first lesson and the 2 of them came back with huge smiles on their faces.
  He has patiently worked with Kim for a year or more.. and she just passed her learners permit.. She knows so much that she passed with 100% and is now "back seat driving" to tell me what to do!
  
  He would get a medal of honor if they gave them for outstanding driving instructors.  I give him 6 stars out of 5!    
  thank you,   Nancy, Kim's mom!

• Joe   November 22, 2009

  I hghly recommend Apex Driving School and encourage you to call Derrick for lessons. Derrick taught my first two sons to drive and the 3rd is signed up now. Both boys passed their first driving test with perfect scores. Derrick's methods are tried and true plus he has a very calming influence on his students.

• Reilly   November 21, 2009

  Learning to drive can be very stressful. But Derrick's extreme calm and patience made it a painless experience. He never got short with me, even when I repeated the same mistake over and over. He has a trick for everything, and all of his instructions are simple. And he keeps you at ease with his amusing smalltalk and anecdotes. I am very glad that I chose to learn to drive with Apex.

• Kundan   November 19, 2009

  Two things about Derrick Scott I will always remember: his soft smooth voice and his patience. When you are driving you need a soft atmosphere to reduce the tension that you already have. When you make the same mistake again and again, you need to be corrected persistently again and again, in a way that makes you do better the next time, no matter how trivial the mistake is or how many times you make the same mistake. Derrick has a few simple philosophies that makes you feel comfortable and natural behind the wheel. He is quick to identify your weaknesses, and work on it patiently. As a new and late driver I got my license in the first attempt at DMV, that too in the city of San Francisco, which is tough to drive even for experienced drivers. When I was looking for a driving instructor, I had a choice. I am glad I made the right choice!

• Leslie   November 18, 2009

  I learned how to drive at the age of 39 and would never have driven without Derrick's help. Before taking driving lessons with Derrick I was terrified of driving and had given up hope. About a year and a half ago I literally sat in the kitchen one night and cried about it. I felt so restricted without a car but I was just so scared of being behind the wheel. However, when I had my son I decided to give it one more try. Fortunately, I found Derrick. I honestly don't believe I would have ever driven had I not found him. He is extremely professional, patient and knowledgeable about driving. He is also very focused on safety. I now drive every single day. I take my son to the parks, museum, doctor's visits, etc. and have even driven over the Golden Gate Bridge. He is an exceptional teacher. I took a total of 10 lessons with him and have been driving confidently for the past year. Derrick is a God sent for anyone afraid to drive that really wants to be a good driver someday.

• Richard   November 17, 2009

  Being apprehensive to driving vehicles, I decided to take the plunge and learn to drive. I thought it would be embarrassing and extremely difficult for me at my age. My driving instructor (Derrick) was a complete professional from the first day I met him, till my last day when I successfully completed and passed my driving test.
  
  Derrick did not minimize my fears, but allow me to confront them at my pace. His calm demeanor allowed me to feel relax behind the wheel. He was always able to present clarity to areas that were hazy to me. He simplified driving to a point, I never thought it could be so easy. Teaching safety behind a wheel belongs to those with exceptional communication skills and Derrick is more than exceptional communicator!
  
  I would highly recommend to anyone wishing to learn to drive and practice safe driving, they should use Apex Driving School. You will truly find the process of learning to drive and passing your driving test to being, really simple and easy with Apex Driving School. If you are worried about your hectic schedule interfering with driving lessons. Fear not, Apex Driving is very flexible and accommodating to meeting even the most demanding of schedules. While I cannot speak for all their driving instructors, I can speak in regards to my driving instructor, Derrick...you cannot go wrong with him!

• Agnetha   November 17, 2009

  Derrick is an outstanding teacher. Not only is he patient but makes the class fun by adding a cup of humor to his learning techniques. He made me feel very comfortable and it was easy and fun learning from him.

• Lian   November 16, 2009

  " I was blessed to have Derrick as my driving teacher because he teach with his heart and he is very passionate with his work. For some, it is just a job but for him it is different. His goal for the community is to teach every individual who came to him to be a safe and assertive driver." Thank you! He is great!!

• Tushar   November 16, 2009

  I feel very fortunate to have met Derrick Scott and having taken my Driving Lessons through Apex Driving School. Derrick is a thorough professional, and a master of his craft. I never thought learning to drive a car for the first time would be so easy, well, he made it easy. Not only did he teach me how to drive effortlessly, he also taught me some of the best practices in safe driving.

• Fern   November 16, 2009

  After being in the hospital for 4 months and being fraile and scared, Derrick really made me feel comfortable with driving again. I gained not only the confidence that I could do it but new valuable driving skills that I hadn't known before. I highly recommend him.

• Ken   November 16, 2009

  I am a quadriplegic that needed some training with new adapted controls for driving. Derrick was a great teacher and gave me some great advice. He was very professional and knowledgeable about different driving aspects. I enjoyed the teaching sessions not just for the great training, but also for the kind and courteous service.

• Somaya   November 16, 2009

  Derrick was an incredible teacher - intuitive, patient, smart as a whip, and extremely knowledgeable.
  HIGHLY recommend and would advise any nervous beginners out there to go for Derrick!

• Liping   November 16, 2009

  I feel very very lucky to have found Derrick when I was just starting to drive. He made me feel safe to drive and fun to learn to drive! He is the best!!!

• Miki   November 16, 2009

  Derrick is truly an exceptional teacher!
  i would recommend him to anyone--esp. those of us that are of "a certain age!"

• Sophie   November 16, 2009

  Derrick is an excellent teacher. I would recommend hiom to anyone who wants to learn how to drive.

• Mary   November 16, 2009

  I would recommend Derrick to people who have anxiety about driving, and/or learning disabilities or other disabilities. He was recommended to me for my son by the Department of Rehabilitation, a state agency that provides vocational services to Californians with disabilities. My son was reluctant to drive. Derrick knew how to engage him and was both a sensitive and pragmatic teacher. My son passed the driving test the first time and did well on it. He is comfortable driving; and, yes, he does comment on other drivers (and me) not meeting Derrick's guidelines for safety on the road!

• Diane   November 16, 2009

  Derrick did a great job of teaching my son to drive. He knows that building a good relationship is very important for many kids when they are facing something new. My son quickly felt that Derrick was a great friend and supporter he could rely on. The driving instruction was excellent. My son is a good, safe, and confident driver now. He passed his test the first time. Now when he sees other drivers bending the rules, he usually comments that that person obviously did not have Derrick as a teacher. He is also quite fond of giving me driving tips he learned from Derrick. Learning to drive was a great experience for him. I highly recommend Derrick and his company.

• Jonathan   November 15, 2009

  We are the parents of two very thoughtful and well-trained teen-aged drivers (19 and 17 years old.) Both were trained by Mr. Derrick Scott, so when we heard that Mr. Scott had posted his services on thumbtack.com, we were very enthusiastic about making our testimonial on his behalf.
  
  Mr. Scott had two types of challenges withour teen-agers: 1) Our 19 year old was frankly a reluctant student driver, and 2) Our 17 year was a VERY enthusiastic student driver.
  
  Mr. Scott's ability to quickly assess the profile of the student driver was critical to his success with our two student drivers. For our reluctant student driver, he was extremely patient and started with the very most basic driving scenarios. For our enthusiastic student driver, Mr. Scott started with slightly more adventurous routes and scenarios. In both cases, Mr. Scott connected with our student drivers precisely to meet their driving profile.
  
  The result was that both passed their driving tests, in San Francisco's DMV, the first time.
  
  We could not have been happier with having chosen Mr. Scott and we recommend his services without reservation to other parents of student drivers.

• Lauren   November 15, 2009

  Derrick is an amazing driving instructor. When I came to him needing a refresher course b/c I had let my license from NYS expire and needed to take the road test to get my CA license, Derrick was great. He came on time to pick me up, worked with me for 2 hours, and then helped me through the DMV process. I passed with 0 mistakes marked off!
  
  He is a thorough and experienced driving instructor who can point out mistakes and help even experienced drivers as well as newbies. I would recommend his services to anyone looking to pass their road test with flying colors :)

• Liam   November 15, 2009

  The service provided by Apex Driving School and Derrick Scott is of great quality. Mr. Scott's calm and direct teaching style stresses the importance of safety and helps the student learn safe and correct driving technique in just a few hours of instruction. I would recommend Apex Driving School to any new driver.