Plan for two costs: lessons and the DMV. At LLG, one private 2-hour lesson is $200 and packages are $575 to $929. The DMV charges $46 to apply for a first California license. Teens also need driver's ed first ($49.95 online).
One private 2-hour lesson is $200. Three-lesson packages are $575 to $600, depending on the program, and the five-lesson package is $929. See every package and what it covers.
Teens also get a completion certificate after the final lesson of the $600 package.
The DMV's fees aren't part of our prices.
Sources: DMV: licensing fees, DMV: driver's licenses.
Teens need driver's ed first. Teens aged 15½ to 17½ need proof of driver's education to apply for a permit. Our online course is $49.95 and is sold separately from the lessons. On top of the six hours of professional training, teens need 50 hours of practice with a California-licensed driver aged 25 or older, 10 of them at night. Our teen driver checklist has every step (DMV: instruction permits).
You need a car for the drive test. You bring your permit, a car that's safe to drive, proof of insurance and registration, and a California-licensed driver aged 18 or older (25 or older for teens). With a rental car, your name must be on the rental contract (DMV Handbook: the testing process).
You pay online when you choose a package. Paying doesn't reserve a date. After you pay, we contact you the same day, usually within a few hours, to confirm your pickup address, date and time.
If we can't pick up at your address, you get a full refund.
Bring your original, valid California instruction permit or California driver's license to every lesson. A license from another state or country isn't enough on its own.
| When you cancel | What happens |
|---|---|
| 48 hours or more before the lesson | You keep the lesson and book another day. Or ask for a refund, minus a $49.99 fee. |
| Less than 48 hours before, or you don't show up | A $29.99 late-change fee, or the lesson counts as used. No refund. |
| We can't provide your lessons | Full refund, no fee. |
Package refunds: lessons you've used (including ones lost to a late cancellation) are charged at the $200 single-lesson price, then the $49.99 fee comes off. For example, a $929 package with one lesson used: $929 − $200 − $49.99 = $679.01 back.
Package lessons don't currently have an expiry date. Full details are in our Customer Policies.
There's no set number. It depends on your experience and how often you practice, and an instructor can tell you more after seeing you drive. If you're not sure, start with one 2-hour lesson. You can add more lessons later: we’ll send you a payment link.
Teens under 18 are different: the DMV requires six hours of professional training, which is what the $600 package covers. Adults starting from zero can read learning to drive as an adult in San Francisco first.
No number of lessons guarantees a DMV test result. Lessons build the skills; the examiner decides on the day.
See every package side by side on our Lessons & Pricing page. Lessons start at $200 for one 2-hour lesson, with pickup in San Francisco and listed San Mateo County cities.
Private 2-hour lessons in a dual-control automatic car, with pickup in San Francisco and listed San Mateo County cities.
Lessons from $200 for a 2-hour lesson. See all lessons and prices
