1st SGT Driving Academy - New York, New York

Jennifer Phang

1st SGT is one of the best driving schools I've been to and I've had my share of driving schools over the years. It did take me awhile to get my license, however George's teaching style, you will rarely find in NYC since a lot of driving schools will do the bare minimum, just for the money.

I would recommend everyone of any age to learn how to drive with him. He is very detailed and he can be tough, but if the end result is you getting your license, then it would have all been worth it. He is very friendly and knows everyone in the neighborhood, and his game plan is not to just teach you how to pass the test, but also to be a good driver in general, by being informative and reinforces safety protocols to live by.

Many driving schools in NYC will give you an old driving video for the 5 hr pre-licensing course and you'd only need to watch 15 min to get your certificate, however George actually uses that time to teach important skills and the rules of the road which will help you understand the road better and avoid getting points off during the road test.

Driving in NYC can be very scary with the constant road fixtures, jaywalkers, bikers/scooters and reckless driving, and so George can be helpful when it comes to gaining confidence to driving in such a busy city.

George and his wife make it very easy to schedule lessons, which are usually scheduled close together, along with a road test, to make the lessons more efficient but obviously don't only count on the lessons to learn how to drive, you definitely need to drive more on your own as well.

I've been fooled by a bunch of driving schools that have 5 star ratings , it's always trial and error with them, but with 1st SGT, it's a confirmed really great school for a complete newbie to someone with some driving experience.

I would highly, highly, highly recommend!

Divyansh Kumar

If you're looking for an outstanding driving instructor in Manhattan, I would highly recommend Sgt Driving Academy. George’s deep knowledge of driving techniques and New York traffic nuances was incredibly helpful. Scheduling was flexible, and he was super punctual. Thanks to George, I passed my driving test on the first try. He’s a top-notch instructor who truly cares about his students’ success.

GTX499 Youtube

I chose George because of the overwhelmingly positive reviews. After taking his lessons and passing the road test, I've come to reiterate these testaments: George is an instructor you can trust and will come to cherish. He makes sure to equip students with both the mechanical and cognitive skillsets to be safe yet confident drivers. Not only so, but it is also a pleasure to be in his company, as George's witty remarks are always able to create a lighthearted atmosphere, which I found to be especially enjoyable when navigating anxiety-inducing streets such as East Broadway.

I'd recommend George to anyone in a heartbeat.

Jeffrey Chen

George has a great balance between serious mode and joking mode. He is an extremely reccomended instructor 10/10 will always recommend.

Maryaline Catillon

George is the best driving instructor. Over the course of the lessons (10 or 15 lesson packages) you go through all you need to know to pass the road test smoothly. He makes you practice until you are ready and gives a very clear and honest assessment of whether you are ready or not before taking the test. Very knowledgeable about driving safely, the road test, and teaching foreign drivers. Military-grade efficiency (he taught in the army before and it shows). Highly recommend.

Chloe T

Mr. George prepared me to pass my road test on the first try. During lessons, he offers constructive criticism and tells you exactly what to expect when taking the test so that you feel more than prepared. He also helps you to develop good driving habits, which is especially important for first-time drivers like me. I would highly recommend.

khizrah naveed

George is a great driving instructor! I had learnt how to drive internationally but hadn't driven in a while so ended up taking the 5 class course with George to refresh. He was extremely helpful going overall the major points of the test and I was able to pass on my first try! Would highly recommend the academy to anyone looking to get their license in New York

Joris Van Hecke

Perfect school for foreigners! The Sergeant gave me loads of helpful tips for driving in the US when you're used to other countries (Europe in my case). Thanks to him, I passed my driving test on my first attempt! Highly recommend!