Prestige Auto School

Ron is the greatest driving instructor in Brooklyn. I took classes with him 5 – 6 years ago and have never been in an accident, which I credit him for. He gave me the skills to be vigilant on the road and avoid other people’s mistakes, he prepared me for so many events that could happen while driving. Ron was so patient, caring, professional and passionate about his job. He is confident in his students whether or not they are confident in themselves. Anything that you need to assist in the process of learning to drive, park and what have you (that’s reasonable and legal of course) he is willing to help with. Be it drawing diagrams, helping you create a mantra, or even paragraph to study to help retain the skills he does! I promise you that whatever you spend is totally worth it if you want to learn the RIGHT way to drive. If most of Brooklyn attended this school we would have much better drivers on the road. Don’t be cheap and let a family member teach you because guess what, you learn their bad habits and shortcuts, go to Prestige. No they’re not paying me for this review and I don’t work there I’m just eternally grateful to Ron for believing in me and helping me to be a safe driver. It’s years later and I recommend anyone who asks for a driving school to go there.

I don’t write reviews often but as I’ve been raving about my driving classes to all of my friends, I figured I should. Ron is an INCREDIBLE teacher. Like, any who teaches anything, even if they already have a driver’s license, should take his class to follow his example. He is calm and patient. He starts from the very beginning (how to adjust your chair, how to hold your steering wheel, etc) so you feel safe and comfortable in the car.
I am a lifelong NYer (=non-​driver) but when I found out I would be moving out of state and would need to drive, I signed up for classes at Prestige (which happened to be around the corner from my apartment). I unfortunately moved from NY before I could take enough classes to feel ready for the road test and really regret that I am unable to finish my lessons with Ron.

Best place ever! If you’re afraid of the road and afraid of siting behind the weel, buy a package and ask for instructor Ron. I got my licence several years ago but never drove after that because I left for Europe where most of the cars are stick shift. When I came back to the states, I had forgotten how to drive properly and was too scared to sit behind the weel. That’s when I made the wisest decision: I went to prestige and after 6 sessions, I proud to say that I can drive safely and with no fear.
Ron is the most accommodating, patience, fun and excellent driver instructor. I would recommend to all my friends!

Five stars for the quality of instruction! Long story short, I grew up in NYC and got my driver’s license when I was in college. Then, being a typical NYer, I never drove again. Who needs to drive in New York, right? Well, after about a decade, I decided that it was time to start using my license for its intended purpose, not just to get into bars.
I stopped by Prestige because it’s so close to where I live and it turned out to be a total gem. My instructor, Ron, is THE best. He is totally calm, patient and encouraging. I was a textbook nervous driver when I started (i.e. scared sh*tless) and he totally got me out of that. I actually feel comfortable on the road now, which is something I never thought I would say. I didn’t need to take the road test, but if I did, I have no doubt that I would have passed on the first try.
Lessons are $ 33 per a la carte, or can be purchased at a slight discount in packages of 6 – 20 lessons (with or w/​o the road test option). Worth every penny, IMO.

A bit of a mixed experience.
I bought a package deal with this auto school that included 6 lessons plus car for road test for $ 242 (single lessons are $ ³³⁄₄₅ min). I also took the DMV 5 hour class here.
My instructor, Mr. James, was nothing short of phenomenal. Very patient, courteous, and full of useful suggestions, he painstakingly taught me how to do things I’ve been doing for 25 years[1] differently. That is, the way the examiner wants you to do them. If you follow what Mr. James says, you WILL get your license.
Mr. Jean, the business owner and instructor for the DMV 5 hour class, was also very good. I mean: he must have given that class a gazillion times, and still he managed to show some enthusiasm, if not passion, about his work. Moreover he spent quite some time at the end of the class to answer any questions the students might have had regarding the road test.
The problems are with Maggie, the person from the office you have to deal with to book lessons, the road test, etc… Here are a few examples:
1) When I booked the first driving lesson, Maggie did not tell me that I was supposed to pay half of the package deal at the first class, cash. Luckily, I had enough cash with me that day to pay that at least in part in part. Equally, I wasn’t told that I was supposed to pay the remaining of the package deal by the third class, again in cash. This is not a minor detail, since if you haven’t paid in full, in cash, by the third lesson, they will not consider that a package deal any more. So, it would be nice if they actually said all these things upfront when I called the first time.
2) I had to leave the country for 3 weeks in between lessons; making a reservation 3−4weeks in advance turned out to be a major, major issue. Apparently generating the lesson calendar/​schedule for the following month is extremely hard. Just as hard it was to schedule the road test 4 weeks in advance[2].
3) One time Mr. James had to cancel a class, but Maggie never called me to let me know.
4) Maggie was supposed to call me the evening before the road test, but she never did. In fact, every single time Maggie told me she would call me back she never did. I ended up calling Mr. James myself, and made arrangements for the road test directly with him.
2.5 stars; rounded up to 3 since in the end I got the license.
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[1] I have a European driving license, and been driving manual transmission cars all my life.
[2] This is particularly puzzling since Mr. Jean told us during the 5 hour class that the waiting list for a road test was 4 – 6 weeks, and we had to book the test immediately.

If you live in any neighborhood other than Crown Heights Brooklyn these people are not helpful unless you can come to them. They can’t even drive 20 blocks, a 10 minute ride in heavy traffic. Completely ridiculous.

If you DO NOT have a driver’s license you WILL get one through Prestige. After yearrrrrrrsss of trying to overcome my phobias and learn how to drive I found my way to Prestige. ROGER, the kindest most patient teacher on the planet showed me all that I needed to know to pass my road test, which I FINALLY did in 2010. ROGER even draws diagrams for you if there is something about the road that just doesn’t compute while you’re behind the wheel. What a refreshing change of pace from my experiences with other driving schools. (Instructors who yelled or fell asleep in the passenger seat during lessons.) This place offers packages of lessons and road test appointments. There are no Sunday lessons.