Meet Our Bay Area Driving Instructors
Our team of DMV-certified driving instructors and dedicated staff are committed to helping you become a safe, confident driver through personalized instruction and exceptional service.
4.9from 829 Google reviewsOffice Manager
Our dedicated office manager ensures smooth scheduling and communication for all your driving lesson needs.
Nikki is our Office Manager and the main point of contact for all student needs at Bay Cities Driving School. She handles lesson scheduling, manages any changes or emergencies, and promptly responds to all inquiries via email and text. Nikki is dedicated to making the enrollment process smooth and ensuring clear communication between students, instructors, and families.
Our Driving Instructors
Meet our experienced, patient, and professional driving instructors who are committed to your success on the road.
Sandra is a DMV-certified driving instructor with over 5 years of experience guiding students of all ages. Known for her calm and patient demeanor, she tailors each lesson to address individual needs and foster clear communication. Sandra creates a supportive and respectful learning environment that helps ease the stress and anxiety often associated with driving. Her dedication to personalized instruction empowers every student to develop the skills and confidence needed for safe, lifelong driving.
139 five-star Google reviews
“I would 100% recommend Sandra as an instructor. She is very nice and very great person to drive would recommend her to everyone.”
Bee is a DMV-certified driving instructor with over 4 years of experience is known for her passionate teaching style and her high attention to detail, ensuring students learn the exact and correct techniques for operating motor vehicles. In her prior career, Bee worked for several autonomous driving companies, where she was responsible for fleet safety and operations. She takes great care to ensure that students follow proper procedures, and she values safety above everything. Students that enjoy Bee's lessons tend to be the ones that need a strong foundation in driving and want to not just pass their driving test but excel!
152 five-star Google reviews
“We booked lessons with Bee at Bay Cities Driving School after several of our relatives learned from her and passed their driving tests. What kept our family coming back was her personality. She’s patient, honest, and specific about what to practice. Bee takes the time to explain how to ease onto the gas, brake smoothly, and steer through a turn. If you make a mistake, she tells you what to adjust and gives you a chance to try again. She does all of that while keeping an eye on traffic and checking that you feel ready to continue. What we appreciate most is that we leave each lesson knowing exactly what to work on. Bee is a top-notch instructor, and we’d recommend her to anyone getting behind the wheel for the first time”
Mike is a DMV-certified driving instructor with over 4 years of experience teaching students of all ages. His main focus when teaching is to ensure first time students build their confidence and practice driving safe skills. He teaches with an emphasis on safety, and enjoys watching students grow with each lesson.
21 five-star Google reviews
“Mike has been such a wonderful driving instructor! He is incredibly kind, patient, and encouraging, and has really helped my daughter feel more comfortable and confident behind the wheel. She always comes away from her lessons feeling more capable and at ease. We’ve had such a positive experience with him and would absolutely recommend Mike to anyone looking for a supportive and knowledgeable driving instructor!”
Joel is a DMV-certified driving instructor with over 4 years of experience. He loves being able to work with students one on one and finds it rewarding to teach such a useful life skill to students. Joel is very patient, calm, and funny, and nervous drivers do well with him. He finds it satisfying to see students grow with each lesson, and when you pass the test he says it feels like he's passing for the first time!
91 five-star Google reviews
“Joel was an excellent and amazing teacher! He was very thoughtful, patient and calm when teaching me how to drive. I would highly recommend booking him to teach you how to drive”
Lorenzo is a DMV-certified driving instructor. He enjoys teaching learners safe, efficient, and confident driving habits that last a lifetime, so your friends and family never feel nervous with you behind the wheel. He's a UC grad who's always loved sports and music—he's played basketball, football, track, and tennis in school, and those passions still fuel his life today. Lorenzo is very calm under pressure, clear in his explanations, and committed to making every lesson engaging and stress-free. Whether you've never driven before or you're an adult brushing up on skills, he'll guide you to master the road with a focus on safety, responsibility, and confidence. In his words, "Let's get behind the wheel together and turn driving into a skill you'll enjoy and excel at for a lifetime!"
66 five-star Google reviews
“Lorenzo is wonderful! Our son really enjoyed his lessons with him. Lorenzo made it fun, explained everything calmly, was positive, and gave our son confidence. We can highly recommend Lorenzo.”
Cesar is a DMV-certified driving instructor with over 11 years of experience who teaches individuals to drive with confidence, responsibility, and safety in mind. Learning to drive can feel a little overwhelming at first, but the goal is to make the experience as calm and comfortable as possible. I'll help you build your confidence, so you feel ready to handle driving situations you might encounter on the road. Whether you're a complete beginner or just need a bit of practice before your test, we'll work with you at your own pace, making sure we focus on what's important for you. No pressure, just steady progress with a supportive approach. I offer comprehensive lessons that cover everything from basic controls, safe vehicle operation and get you ready of passing the CA DMV test. Ready to get started? Let's make you a safe and confident driver!
11 five-star Google reviews
“Cesar was a very nice and patient teacher, he really helped me learn the basics and how to pass my license test.”
Josh is a DMV-certified driving instructor who has taught hundreds of lessons in California. Josh has driven across the United States many times as well as driven internationally, and sees driving not only as a necessity for adult life, but also a way to broaden your horizons and help explore the world. He loves to help new drivers build their skills and confidence behind the wheel so that they feel self-assured, composed, and empowered when they begin driving on their own. Josh tailors each lesson to meet the student's current skill, knowledge, and confidence level, and can help you develop at your own pace and comfort-level
31 five-star Google reviews
“Josh was amazing. My teenage daughter felt he did a great job of explaining the rules of the road while also guiding on the technical aspects of driving a car. He’s very personable, easy to talk to and thorough with follow-up to both parents and teenagers.”
Elton is a DMV-certified driving instructor with over 4 years of experience. Elton is all about helping students feel confident, safe, and in control behind the wheel. He spent many years working in autonomous vehicle testing, mapping, and data collection all over the United States, where he also trained new drivers, so he brings a strong understanding of both traditional and cutting-edge driving skills. His teaching style is patient, straightforward, and focused on real-world driving, so you're not just passing the test, you're becoming a solid driver for life. Outside of work, Elton is big on sports, especially basketball, and you'll usually find him watching games, playing pickup ball, gaming, driving his drop top coupe, or riding his motorcycle.
28 five-star Google reviews
“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Elton is such a great driving instructor! He’s superrrr chill, patient, and makes learning to drive so much less stressful. I’ve had other instructors before, but they were really quiet so we didn’t interact much. Elton actually communicates with me, gives me clear instructions, and makes sure I know what I’m doing. He’s very encouraging and easy to feel comfortable around. Definitely recommend him to anyone looking for a driving instructor!!!!!!!”
Najia is a DMV-certified driving instructor who is kind, strong, and family-oriented. She enjoys helping others, learning new things, and maintaining a positive outlook on life. Najia speaks multiple languages, including English, Hindi, Urdu, Farsi, and Pashto, which allows her to connect with students from many different backgrounds. She believes in facing challenges with patience, confidence, and compassion, and strives to create a calm and encouraging environment for everyone behind the wheel. Outside of work, Najia enjoys supporting her children, staying organized, and bringing positivity into everyday life.
8 five-star Google reviews
“My son had his driving classes with Najia, and he enjoyed her lessons. Najia taught him different skills and gave good feedback. Najia was easy going and courteous. She was also accommodating in pickup locations.”
Eric is a DMV-certified driving instructor with over 4 years of experience. He is a dedicated and hardworking professional who enjoys helping people learn important driving skills to become safe, confident drivers. Eric is committed to providing excellent service, maintaining a positive attitude, and continuously improving his skills. He speaks English and Filipino, which helps him connect with students from diverse backgrounds. In his free time, Eric enjoys spending time with his family, pursuing personal growth, exploring new places, hiking, and mountain biking.
8 five-star Google reviews
“Eric is a good and encouraging instructor. He answered all my questions and really helped me!”
Mahmoud is a DMV-certified driving instructor with over 4 years of experience. He knows learning how to drive can feel stressful, but it doesn't have to be. Mahmoud keeps his lessons chill, easy to follow, and fun so students can relax, build confidence, and enjoy learning. He speaks English and Farsi, which helps him connect with students from diverse backgrounds. He especially loves seeing the moment when a student realizes they can actually do it on their own. Outside of work, Mahmoud enjoys hiking on weekends.
15 five-star Google reviews
“Mahmoud was an excellent instructor for my daughter. He is patient and very good at teaching people to drive.”
Ray is a DMV-certified driving instructor with 6 years of experience teaching middle and high schoolers in the classroom, and he's excited to bring that experience to the road. His mission is simple: confident drivers, not nervous ones. Ray's approach favors positive reinforcement over pointed-out mistakes, and progress over perfection. He is fluent in Spanish, so language is never a barrier to learning. Whether you're getting behind the wheel for the first time or need a confidence reset before test day, Ray builds a plan around your challenges — structured, judgment-free, and built to get you road-test ready. Off the road, you'll find him on the golf course, chasing a different kind of perfection.
1 five-star Google review
“I had ray as my instructor he was super kind, patient, and helpful I’d definitely recommend!”
Michael is a DMV-certified driving instructor with over 2 years of experience who has helped hundreds of students learn to drive safely and pass their drive test. He is calm and an expert at tailoring each lesson to the student's experience level, working through the fundamentals and everything needed to feel confident on test day. With years of real-world driving across most of California and living in Los Angeles without a single accident or traffic ticket, Michael teaches habits that last well beyond the exam.
2 five-star Google reviews
“My daughter felt very at ease with instructor Michael. She said he was really relaxed and didn't make her feel stressed at all. Her comfort level and interest in driving has definitely increased since doing these driving lessons.”
Alan is a DMV-certified driving instructor with over 4 years of experience. He stays calm and patient under pressure, creating a supportive environment that helps students feel comfortable as they learn. Alan speaks English and Spanish, which helps him connect with students from diverse backgrounds. Outside of work, Alan enjoys coaching and supporting his son.
15 five-star Google reviews
“Alan was my instructor, and he went above and beyond with his instructions. His the right guy for the job”
Brett is a DMV-certified driving instructor with 1 year of experience, a retired high school teacher who taught for 20 years, and a commercial pilot. Brett makes learning fun and never gets upset with mistakes, so students can relax and build confidence at their own pace. Brett speaks English, Spanish, and Portuguese, which helps connect with students from diverse backgrounds. Having lived in 5 countries, Brett brings a wide view of the world to every lesson.
1 five-star Google review
“Brett was great best instructor book him!!!! I passed my behind the wheel after booking him a day before he was extremely kind and helpful to giving me the tricks to passing my test !”
Brett serves San Jose, Morgan Hill + Gilroy on Wednesdays
Meridith is a DMV-certified driving instructor with 1 year of experience, and she spent 8 years before that teaching her kids and their friends to drive. A native of Oakland and a 5th generation Californian, she has over 35 years of driving behind her and more than 30 years of teaching and working with both youth and adults. Meridith has driven almost everything out there, from her tiny convertible to transit, fleet, and double decker buses and semi-trucks, which gives her a deep appreciation for safety, skill, and adaptability on the road. With a passion for driving and education, she came to Bay Cities to help students build their skills and be ready for the changing Bay Area roads. In her spare time, you'll find Meridith coaching middle school students in Science Olympiad, leading Girl Scouts on adventures around the globe, crafting, or enjoying time with her family.
Rated by our students on Google
Our instructors are rated 4.9 from 829 Google reviews by students and parents.
Read recent reviews
Gerson is a DMV-certified driving instructor who has been teaching full-time since 2024. Gerson combines an educational background as an after-school teacher with professional data collection driving experience and advanced defensive driving certifications. Gerson believes real-world confidence comes from short, frequent practice, so students are encouraged to take the wheel during everyday errands like trips to the grocery store, school, or a restaurant. Gerson speaks English and Spanish fluently, which helps connect with students from diverse backgrounds. Outside of work, Gerson enjoys running, going on hikes, and playing guitar.
Rated by our students on Google
Our instructors are rated 4.9 from 829 Google reviews by students and parents.
Read recent reviewsReady to Learn with Our Expert Team?
Schedule your behind-the-wheel training today and experience personalized instruction from our experienced, patient, and professional driving instructors.