Popular Driving Schools in Metro Manila

We all have our own memorable experiences when we first learned to drive. Some were great memories, while others weren't as fortunate. We know someone who narrowly missed colliding with a truck at the start of the lesson, and what saved the day was the additional instructor brakes the trainer used to stop the car.

Don't let this discourage you from taking lessons from a driving school, though. Panic, nervousness, and mistakes come with the territory when you're learning to drive for the first time. Driving schools know this, and trainers know this. Who better to understand first-time drivers than those who teach driving for a living?

What gives driving schools an edge is their knowledge about the technical and legal implications of vehicle use. And there’s something about professional training that gives students an added boost of confidence. Maybe it’s because we expect trainers to be more objective, and their feedback more candid -- so we take their word for it. Believe us, that pat on the back for a perfect parallel parking will stay with you for the rest of the day.

Taking the Driving School Route

The trick here is to know which driving schools are worth your time and money. Based on our research, Honda Driving School and Smart Driving Institute are well-rated, with favorable-to-good reviews by students. A1, Xcel, Universal, and Socialites Excellent Driving are fairly rated, with mixed reviews by students depending on their instructors. All of them are LTO-accredited. You can learn more about them by browsing through our list of the most popular driving schools in Metro Manila:

1. Honda Driving School

 

Schedule

• Tuesdays to Saturdays and Select Sundays
• 8:25 am - 4:30 pm Day Sessions (Sessions 1-4)
• 5:35 am - 9:10 pm Night Sessions (Sessions 5-6)

Training Courses

• Beginners (No Riding - No Driving Experience)
• Refresher Courses (With Previous Riding – Driving Experience)
• Seminars (Safety, Teen, & Pedestrian Seminars)
• Motorcycle (Basic, Intermediate, Fleet Safety Riding Clinic, Skills Certification, Safety Riding Seminar)
• Automobile (Basic, Intermediate, Fleet Safety Riding Clinic, Skills Certification, Safety Riding Seminar)
• Truck (Truck Certification, Safety Rigging Seminar)

Branches

• Parañaque City

Contact Numbers

• 1-800-10-HONDAPH / 1-800-10-4663274
• (02)-8581-6700 to 6799
• 0917-88-HONDA / 0917-88-46632

2. Smart Driving Institute

Class Schedule

• Depending on branch

Training Courses

• Beginner's Course- 15 and 20 Hours (for students with zero knowledge or no experience in driving.)
• Refresher's Course- 5, 7, and 10 Hours (for students with little driving knowledge & would like more exposure to traffic situations.)
• Masteral Course- 30 Hours (designed to teach advanced driving skills and expertise.)
• Manual Course
• Automatic Course
• Executive Course
• Masteral Executive Course
• Rush Course

Branches

• Caloocan (Mabini, Zabarte Rd., Camarine)
• Las Piñas
• Makati (JP Rizal, Evangelista, Bel Air)
• Mandaluyong (Boni Ave., Maysilo Circle, EDSA-Shaw, Robinsons Forum, Barangka Ilaya, ADB Ave.)
• Manila (España, Taft, Sta. Ana, Harrison Plaza, Sta. Mesa, Binondo)
• Muntinlupa (Bayanan, Alabang)
• Pasig (Pasig Rotonda, Shaw, Countryside Village, SM Pasig, Amang Rodriguez)
• Parañaque (BF Homes, Better Living, Don Galo, Sucat)
• Pasay (Arnaiz, Libertad)
• Quezon City (Ali Mall, E. Rodriguez, Fairview, Kamias, Congressional Road, Timog Ave, Kaligayahan, San Bartolome, Philcoa, Road 20, Roosevelt, Sikatuna, West Ave.)
• San Juan (N Domingo, Greenhills)
• Valenzuela (Karuhatan)

Smart Driving also has plenty of branches outside Metro Manila

Contact Numbers

• 63 (02) 534-7152
• 0949-1808072 / 0906-9754546.

3. A1 Driving School

Class Schedule

• Depending on branch

Training Courses

• Premium Course (Sedan, AUV, Pickup, Compact SUV, Midsize SUV, Van )
• Executive Course (Sedan, AUV, Pickup, Compact SUV, Midsize SUV, Van )
• Rush Course (Sedan, AUV, Pickup, Compact SUV, Midsize SUV, Van )
• Training Center Course
• Fleet Driver's Training & Assessment
• Driver's Education 101
• Car Maintenance 1010
• Theoretical Driving Course

Branches

• Caloocan (Victory Mall)
• Las Piñas (Pulang Lua II, Sm Center Las Piñas, SM Southmall)
• Makati (Glorietta 5, Greenbelt 1, Olympia)
• Mandaluyong (Raymond Tower Boni, SM Megamall, Plainview)
• Manila (Lucky Chinatown Mall, Robinsons Place Manila, SM City Manila, SM City San Lazaro)
• Marikina (Garcia Hospital, SM City Marikina)
• Muntinlupa (Alabang Town Center, Pututan, Tunasan)
• Parañaque (SM City BF, SM City Bicutan, SM City Sucat)
• Pasay (SM Mall of Asia)
• Pasig (Ayala Malls the 30^th, San Miguel, SM City East Ortigas
• Quezon City (Circle C Mall, Ever Commonwealth, Fairview Center Mall, Mindanao Ave.)
• San Juan (Shoppesville Arcade)
• Taguig (Ususan, KarPrt@theFort, Market Market, Sunshine Plaza Mall)
• Valenzuela (SM Supercenter)

A1 Driving School also has plenty of branches outside Metro Manila

Contact Numbers

• 63 (02) 5322272 / 63 (02) 532.7934

4. Xcel Driving School

Class Schedule

• Depending on Branch

Training Courses

• Refresher’s Course (Manual and Automatic)
• Beginner’s Course (Manual and Automatic)

Branches

• Quezon City
• Mandaluyong
• San Juan
• Pasig
• Rizal
• Manila

Other branches soon to open in

• Caloocan
• Manila
• Quezon City
• Pasay
• Makati
• Paranaque

Contact Numbers

• +47 05996

5. Universal Driving School

Class Schedule

• Monday to Sunday, from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Training Courses

• Beginner’s Course
• Refresher’s Course

Branches

• Makati
• Manila
• Pasig
• Taguig

Contact Numbers

• Taguig: +63(2) 643-6369
• Pasig: +63(2) 628-3168
• Manila: +63(2) 484-3532; +63(2) 561-3501; +63(2) 563-4446
• Makati: +63(2) 898-2493; +63(2) 882-6859; +63(2) 729-7288; +63(2) 889-4941

6. Socialites Excellent Driving

Socialites Driving School has quite a number of YouTube lectures and videos that may be helpful for student drivers and LTO license takers, so check them out if you have time.

Class Schedule

Monday to Sunday

• 9:00am - 12:00pm
• 1:30pm - 5:30pm

Training Courses

• Beginner Courses (Manual and Automatic)
• Refresher Courses (Manual and Automatic)
• Premium Courses (Manual and Automatic)
• Home Services

Branches

• Mandaluyong
• Quezon City
• Makati
• Taguig
• Manila
• Rizal
• Paranaque
• Las Pinas
• Antipolo
• Marikina
• Pasig
• Valenzuela

Contact Numbers

• 63 (02) 7417185 / 63 (02) 4738932
• (927) 8219489

Updated by Wilbert Tan on August 13, 2020

Also read:

5 Safety Tips for Driving Near and Around Trucks

Five Basic Driving Tips for Young Millennials