Durham Drivers Academy

Negative experience: Please heed our warning and those left by others and use another driving school. Calls are never returned as promised. Instructor is often rude. During lesson Instructor has students running errands for them. They often don't answer the phone and are difficult to book times with. Once they get paid, all communication with them is difficult. Instruction is very basic, turn here turn there is about it. Read all the reviews and do yourself a favour and go elsewhere.

Fantastic experience: Durham's Drivers Academy offered an outstanding learning experience, where the instructors' expertise and supportive approach made mastering driving skills both easy and enjoyable. Their well-structured lessons helped me build confidence and proficiency, leaving me fully prepared for any driving situation.

Fantastic experience: My daughter passed her driving test with flying colours yesterday!! Thank you so much Durham Drivers Academy for your in-car lessons. Very professional and reliable and I will definitely recommend you to anyone who asks Donna Lafarga - Bowmanville

Fantastic experience: The instructors at Durham Drivers Academy are true experts in their field. Patient, knowledgeable, and dedicated, they tailored each lesson to my individual needs, ensuring that I fully grasped every concept before moving on. Their guidance was helpful, instilling in me a sense of confidence behind the wheel that I never thought possible.

Fantastic experience: I took a set of classes for my G license and the service was amazing!

Fantastic experience: Really good driving school! The online lessons and in care lessons were great! I passed on my road test on my first try!

Negative experience: If I could give this place a 0 start I would. I called for support and got yelled at. First time I called, I told them I want my in person driving classes and the person told me that my time had finished, to send him a message with my name and he would talk to the manager to give me a solution. Three days later, I called and the same person said I lost my money, I have to pay again even if I didn't get any in person driving class. I didnt get any communication from the school that I was in danger of loosing my money or similar - I said. I asked to talk to the manager and the man started screaming at me. I feel so frustrated, sad and angry. How an organization in Canada can have the policy to deny their customers the possibility to talk to the manager to find a solution and instead scream and scare them away via phone. Please, don't choose this place, don't commit my mistake.

Negative experience: If I can give this instructor Saheed a -0 rating I would! He was a terrible instructor! He didn’t teach me anything! I felt like an Uber driver! I spent 10 hours driving straight, left or right! I was taught absolutely NOTHING! He never shows up on time! He was not reliable! On top of that he asked me for gas money!! Now I am with Provincial Driving School, and let me tell you.. they are worth it! Don’t waste your time and money with this school! I guarantee you, you will not achieve anything!

Fantastic experience: Excellent experience - My daughter needed some refresher drives before her G exam. Spoke to Sid who was excellent !! He arrived on time and took her through the passing requirements . Needless to say she passed without any mistakes ... Thx Sid .. Will recommend again !!

Fantastic experience: I highly recommend this driving school! So many driving schools didn't respond to phone calls and emails, but Syed was very responsive and a great instructor. He's honest and calm, which is just what you need when you're preparing for a road test. Thank you for all your support!!

Fantastic experience: Passed easily because of them

Fantastic experience: The instructor is very calm and nice. The training is on point

Fantastic experience: The online portion was pretty engaging and the instructor is very nice and did an amazing job teaching during the in car part of the course. Definitely recommend this course if you live in bowmanville

Fantastic experience: Very helpful teacher. Passed my G2 test first try. Was encouraging and very professional.

Fantastic experience: Very helpful teacher, waited with me while the test center was over an hour delayed, and helped me pass my test!

Fantastic experience: Sid was great during the driving lessons, to prepare for my G Test. Thank you!

Fantastic experience: highly recommended, He helped to not only pass my G2 on my first try, but to really become a better driver and drive safely.

Fantastic experience: This driving school is the BEST!!!! My driving instructor was super nice. He was taught me all the proper driving techniques and gave some tips on what to expect on my driving test. I HIGHLY recommended this school!!!

Fantastic experience: Great Service by Sid i passed my G full in one try he is very calm and helpful he give me many tips and tricks. Highly recommended.

Fantastic experience: Syed is a very good instructor! Super easy going and overall a great teacher! I passed my G2 first try and I would definitely reccomend this driving school to anyone looking for affordable driving lessons!

Fantastic experience: Today was my last in-car and I have had a great experience the entire time. The instructor is very easy going and understandable. He teaches you exactly how to do things and gives you little tricks to remember for your G2 Road Test. I’m confident that I will do great on my test thanks to this course! Highly recommend this one

Fantastic experience: Just finished my driving today and it was an amazing experience! The instructor was fantastic, he helped teach skills, was patient, funny and overall a really good person running a really good school! Highly recommend for new drivers that need to learn!

Fantastic experience: It was a fun experience to help me learn to drive safely

Fantastic experience: The best driving instructor, teaches and prepares you for everything you need to know for you G2 Test. I highly recommend

Fantastic experience: Very professional. Shows you lots of driving skills. Guaranteed to pass.

Fantastic experience: Excellent service. Got me through in my G road test, gave me all correct pointers and test centre specific information.

Fantastic experience: Great teaching

Fantastic experience: Very nice driver! Learned a lot with lots of instruction and patience! Highly recommend Durham drivers academy for new learners! :)

Fantastic experience: This is a great school to start your driving lessons. I hard my G2 and G with them and the instructor was the best. He made sure i learnt everything, thank you

Fantastic experience: Best driving school in Oshawa. I did my lesson before my G test and the instructor told me exactly what I was going to be tested on and patiently guided me. I passed in the first go !!

Negative experience: I have never dealt with anyone more unprofessional, unreliable and ignorant in my life. I finished my in class lessons in April, and I still have not received any in car lessons after making several attempts. (Not to mention I paid for the most expensive package which was about $500, FURTHERMORE, I am a mother of 3) He tells you to call after 7pm, NEVER answers his phone & fails to call you back EVERY TIME. ******DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY ON THIS SPAM/FRAUD BUSINESS*****

Fantastic experience: Very professional, taught me key skills required to pass the driving test. Was able to accommodate me 1 week before test

Fantastic experience: Very helpful, told me how many lessons I would need after the first driving lesson. Fair price. Excellent driving instructor

Negative experience: Took my money and was always “too busy” for in car lessons. Never ended up doing them.

Fantastic experience: Great driving skills they have I have passed my test with saeed sir great people

Fantastic experience: I had a G licence for 20 years then had my licence medically suspended for over 5 years. I had to go through the entire driving process again but without the waiting periods. I passed my G1 on July 17th 2019. I contacted Syed to make arrangements for lessons in preparation for my G2 (G1 road exit test) booked on July 29th, 2019. Syed was an excellent instructor. He was very flexible fitting me in his busy schedule and during my lessons he was attentive, supportive and focused only on my driving abilities during the lesson. Syed used positive reinforcement, praise and was very attentive to skills I needed to work on. I received my G2 licence today with a perfect score during the road test. Will be going for my G road test (G2 exit road test) in a few weeks and will continue with lessons with Syed. I would highly recommend Syed and Durham Drivers Academy. For new drivers I would recommend taking the classroom with driving lessons.

Negative experience: They took all my money from the start, I paid for in classes, all the driving lessons, paid for the car to use for my test. At first he took me to 1 and 2 lessons then afterwards he stopped picking up my calls and said hes busy to call back later this went on for a year and then he told me that I had to pay him all over again for every single thing even the in classes because it's been a year. He didnt give my certification and wouldnt give my money back. This is what he does take your money stall you for a year and ask for more money. He stole my money and has been doing it to other people. When I called him to tell him to finish my lessons he started swearing at me and shouting. I'm planning on taking legal action, as he has been doing this to alot of people. Trust me dont give this man a penny as he will take all the hard working money of yours.

Fantastic experience: Great people , helps you with schooling for new drivers , very good environment!! Thanks to them I passed my G!

Fantastic experience: I booked a single lesson with them to practice for my G test (which I had failed previously). I was very nervous to re-take it but the instructor was very helpful at reassuring me that I was a good driver. He identified all the areas I could improve on (checking blind spots more) and helped me thoroughly practice them. He also gave me a little more time than I had payed for. Overall I was very satisfied, it definitely gave me the confidence needed to pass my test! Thanks!

Fantastic experience: Instructor was great and helpful, passed my g2 on my first attempt and I'm a better driver because of this course

Fantastic experience: Was a lot of help for me when I first started driving in October, i now have my G2 in January. I am thankful for Durham Drivers Academy and I would recommend it.

Fantastic experience: I just took one lesson from syed to appear in G2 road test and he taught me so well to go through it. He is simply the best and teaches you everything in a simplest way to get your license done. So go for it...! Good luck

Fantastic experience: Driving instructor was amazing, helped me through everything I needed to know and ended up passing my g2 road test with ease, highly recommended

Fantastic experience: Very good experience. Best driving instructor and he helped me pass my g2 test. Didn’t think I would pass prior, but he helped me a lot and is a very nice man. Syed is his name. :)

Negative experience: He don’t have any manner to talk with the customer. He was rude and shouting when I said I will pay you every time when I done with the lesson. He started shouting on me and was yelling that I have to pay before I start the lesson. I said I am not going to run away. Even, he was asking for more money then it was decided before. It was 35$ for one hour. He never told me about taxes over 35$ but when it was time of paying, he said that I have to pay 40 $ as 5 $ tax. He told me only 35$ includes everything. He never talk about any taxes. He want me to pay by cash and asking for tax. He even don’t know how to get to my destination. He was lost somewhere and calling me. He was also try to create racism on call. He was talking about my nation and about my back home and telling me that it is Canada and not your country. Finally , I have to tell him bye bye......and find a new academy. It was waste of time. He is also try to wasting time when he get my place just at a time of starting the lesson. To get the money from bank he took long way because he was on the driving sit. He don’t know even how to use the GPS and lost somewhere and never get to the right place. He was talking very rudely and telling me that “ Do you know the price of this car and all kind of such embarrassing question he was asking me. The most bad thing that it was first day and he was trying to waste my time just because I am new driver. Also, he was telling me that you are immigrants and don’t know anything in a rude manner. It was really very bad experience. I never recommend him. When I ask for the owners number he didn’t give me that even because he was afraid of what happened. I want to talk with the owner of this company. My name is manushi Patel.. I want to tell you that please before giving a customer any lesson, please learn the manner first. Your staff doesn’t know even english language. And try to teach me english. To run the business you should be polite, kind and humble. Respect your customer.

Fantastic experience: Excellent service. Walked me through everything. Very nice guy. Played out the same.during the test.

Negative experience: Service here is terrible, the staff are sneaky and are never prepared. He tried to get us to take a longer session after he was an hour and a half late for the class. He is never free to give in class lessons, and will always pass the blame on you. WOULD NOT RECOMMEND!

Negative experience: You will pay but he will never pick up your calls for car lessons. He just wants your money. He kept telling me to wait for Summer as the class wasn't full yet as if I needed a whole class to accompany me to one on one in-car lessons. Summer came, he still didn't pick up my calls. Unprofessional. Don't go to this school. Waste of time and money.

Fantastic experience: Great driving school, instructor is very friendly and professional. Passed test first try. Highly suggest Durham Drivers Academy for drivers ed.

Negative experience: Was told to be there on September 15th at 9 am and when i arrived the place was empty. And when i called their number i was told that they would send me an email to reschedule and that never happened. Find another driving school.

Fantastic experience: The instructor was approachable, calm and encouraging and he is very knowledgeable about all aspects of the driving test. I would recommend him to anyone looking to learn how to drive well, not just how to pass their test.

Negative experience: I am usually not one to complain or write bad reviews but I wanted others to hear of my experience with Durham Drivers Academy and not make the same mistake I did! My overalls main complaint was with the owner/driving instructor himself for these following reasons: 1) You play telephone tag with the instructor in order to book your in car lesson, 2) He has cancelled in car lessons (I get it, things come up) and he will say he will call you back to reschedule but he won't 3) If you call him he will always ask you to "call again tomorrow", again, more telephone tag 4) No return calls for messages left 5) Not accommodating to those with busy schedules or full-time jobs 6) Told me to give him a week to input to the ministry that I've completed Drivers Ed( I actually gave him TWO weeks to complete ) and when I ordered my drivers history there was no record that I completed drivers ed from this current year (needing for insurance purposes). When I called to ask what happened the instructor stated that he told me to call him before ordering the drivers history (he NEVER stated I needed to CALL him prior to ordering but to give him a week to get the information to the ministry). I now have to "call him back tomorrow" and pay AGAIN to receive my drivers license history report. This has put a hold on me obtaining insurance and thus putting a hold on me being able to drive. This has be an inconvenience as I need to be able to drive for work. I have taken a previous drivers ed course years ago and it was operated much more smoothly than this one. Durham Drivers Academy is not organized and it caused me more stress than needed just to complete my in car portion. I picked this school due to it's "Long Weekend Promotional Pricing". Do yourself a favour & spend the extra bit of money to get a better driving school!

Negative experience: Booked a 1 hour lesson and road test with Sayeed for $125. He was supposed to pick me up the morning of the test from the Go station in Oshawa. It snowed that morning and he claimed because of the weather and plenty of traffic he couldn’t get to the Go station and that I should take a taxi to the drive test centre and he would meet me there. I paid $11 to take the taxi there. When I got there, he did not want to give me the one hour driving lesson despite the fact that we had an hour and a half before my exam. He said it was the weather conditions. As we are sitting in the car waiting for my exam to start, he asks me to pay him the full $125! Remember, that’s the price for a 1 hour lesson plus exam. After paying him I had to plead with him just to give me a 20 minute lesson. He gave me 10 minutes. By 8:15, my test was cancelled because of the road conditions. He felt bad enough to give me $25 back after I complained to the DriveTest people about being out that money. If he was an honest man, he would have given me at least $40 – the cost of a 1 hour driving lesson. He’s not a bad guy. Just a greedy one. To his credit, he did teach me a great trick for parallel parking. My advice to anyone considering using Durham Driver’s Academy - find a more scrupulous individual to deal with.