Start Smart Driving Academy

Start Smart Driving Academy is a driving school serving students in the Southwest Metro Denver area. Located in Lakewood, Colorado, Start Smart Driving Academy helps drivers, both new as well as returning-to-the-road, develop the confidence, skill, and awareness for a lifetime of safe driving.

I overall had a great experience!

Vachelle was very professional and helpful with all the questions I had after the test. I overall had a great experience.

Michael C.

I passed my driving test with the 1st try. Highly recommend!

I am a very happy customer! Very good people and business. I was treated with attention and patience which helped a lot. I passed my driving test with the 1st try. Highly recommend!

Tatyana R.

Gary is excellent.

Gary is excellent. I came from India and took behind the wheel session. I feel confident after the session and tips to drive in Colorado.

Ravindra M.

Gary was awesome, very professional.

Took my drive test without having to make an appointment. Gary was awesome, very professional. It took longer to get license afterwards with long lines at DMV.

Erin D

I would suggest you utilize these wonderful people!

I am an old(er) driver. I am new to Denver having been in Brooklyn for many, many years. Vachelle is not only a friendly person, she has this calming sense about her. I was able to confidently take the road test and I passed no problem. I would suggest you utilize these wonderful people and get moving! Thank you Vachelle and thank you Start Smart Driving Academy. Just remember, never drive straight, always drive forward!

Paulie K

They exceeded my expectations and value.

I found them because they had the best price, but they exceeded my expectations and value. They did a great job with my daughter and corrected all the bad habits I was teaching her. Very patient, and great at giving corrective criticism.

Jeanien M.

What an amazing class!

What an amazing class! The instructors Gary and Vachelle were very patient, hilarious, caring, and most of all helpful in their teaching styles. My older brother, my younger cousin, and I all took the class and all learned so much! I couldn’t be any more grateful for the three driving lessons I took with the amazing instructors that allowed for me to pass my driving test! I highly recommend anyone that wants to not only know the basics of driving, but the unique lessons you learn and appreciate throughout the teachings. They really make you feel like family and Gary and Vachelle want nothing more for you than to be safe and to be the best driver you could be. Thank you both!

Julian N.

They were patient even when I would make mistakes.

They helped my get my license so easily and taught me so well, they were patient even when I would make mistakes. I’m so glad I got to meet Vachelle she took me on adventures I had never been and made me feel comfortable. It’s been about a year since I got my license but I still think all my friends and family should come here.

Kayla L.

The best driving academy with professional instructors, especially Vachelle Voss.

The best driving academy with professional instructors especially Vachelle Voss she is one of the best instructors I ever met I highly recommend this place.

Vanarasa B.

I’m very glad that I chose to work with them!

I got my license a year ago a couple days ago, and it was because of Start Smart Driving Academy, I’ve had my license for about a year and haven’t gotten in a single accident or received a single traffic violation for anything. As an avid car enthusiast I drive quite often and really enjoy it, Gary and Vachelle really helped me and taught me really good skills to being a better driver. As long as you pay attention, like genuinely pay attention it will go smoothly and you will be a much better driver. I’m very glad that I chose to work with them and don’t regret that decision at all and look forward to driving for many many years to come with the skills I’ve been taught. Thank you very much!

Weston L

We were very pleased.

Our son did his driver’s education class, and his driving lessons with Gary and Vachelle last year. We were very pleased. He is now a safe and confident licensed driver.

Michelle H.

My daughter’s driving has drastically improved thanks to the skills learned through the school.

Now that my daughter is of the age to get her driver’s license we decided to look around for a driving school and we came across Start Smart Driving Academy. Gary and Vachelle run a very professional and patient driving school. Gary over the course of the six hour behind the wheel with my daughter has been very professional, calm and informative . Gary has allowed me to ride in the car and observe his teaching techniques which is helping me when I’m in the car with my daughter to practice the driving skills he has put together. My daughter’s driving has drastically improved thanks to the skills learned through the school. My daughter and I are glad we made the decision to use Start Smart Driving Academy. Thanks to Gary and Vachelle..

Aaron R.

Their experience with towing lead to some very clever ways to learn.

I recently took the towing class to be more proficient in backing up my camper. Gary was incredibly patient with my lack of skills and in four hours he got me very comfortable in backing this thing up. I’m definitely going to do this again as I get more practice in. Their experience with towing lead to some very clever ways to learn. Thank you!

Brian O.

Highly Recommend

Two of my kids have gone through the program. Highly recommend. Super nice people, great teachers, small town feel as they remember your name.

Jennifer P.

We are now enrolling for 2024 Fall Driver’s Ed Classes. PLEASE CALL (720)379-5910 WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR TO GET SIGNED UP FOR ONE OF OUR DRIVER EDUCATION CLASSES.

DRIVE TESTS CAN BE DONE IN YOUR PERSONAL VEHICLE OR IN ONE OUR COMPANY VEHICLES. IF YOU ARE TESTING WITH AN INTERLOCK DEVICE, THEN YOU MUST USE YOUR CAR.

WE ADMINISTER THE DRIVE TEST, EVEN ON SATURDAYS! IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET YOUR DRIVERS LICENSE TODAY, WE CAN ADMINISTRATOR THE DRIVE TEST USUALLY ON THE SAME DAY OR NEXT DAY IN SOME CASES. WALK-INS ARE ACCEPTED BUT APPOINTMENTS ARE PREFERRED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A DRIVE TEST EXAMINER AVAILABLE WHEN YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO YOUR DRIVE TEST. DRIVE TEST APPOINTMENTS WILL HAVE PRIORITY OVER WALK-IN DRIVE TESTS. YOU CAN BOOK YOUR DRIVE TEST APPOINTMENT ONLINE AT https://www.startsmartdrivingacademy.com/testing/.

THE DMV NOW REQUIRES THAT ANY APPLICANT TAKING A DRIVER’S EDUCATION CLASS OR WRITTEN EXAM MUST PRESENT A PRE-REGISTRATION CODE. YOU CAN APPLY FOR THIS CODE AT https://dmv.colorado.gov/pre-registration. YOU CAN ALSO ACCESS THE PRE-REGISTRATION STEPS ON OUR RESOURCES TAB AS WELL! GETTING PREREGISTERED BEFORE COMING IN FOR YOUR CLASS OR TEST WILL HELP SPEED UP THE REQUIRED PAPERWORK PROCESS.

What is Start Smart Driving Academy?

Start Smart Driving Academy is located in Lakewood Colorado. We teach a State of Colorado approved curriculum. Our focus is to teach you to become a safe and courteous driver in the heavy traffic of the Denver metro area as well as in our mountains.

  • A driving school for teenagers 14 years 6 months and older as well as adults who are learning/re-learning to drive
  • Our lead instructor has a Class A CDL and has driven in all lower 48 states and Canada
  • Our #1 goal is to help you get their driver’s license
  • We will teach you to be a safe, confident, and attentive driver

Why Start Smart Driving Academy?

At Start Smart Driving Academy, we love to drive! We enjoy the open road and relish the experiences that traveling by vehicle can provide. We want to share the responsibilities and enjoyment of driving and teach safe driving skills to our students.

Driving on roadways can be a complex and fast paced activity that needs to be taught by professionals. Our professional driving instructors educate students to reduce the risk of accidents, injury, and property damage that can often occur with new drivers.

  • A typical driver makes at least 20 decisions per mile. We will teach you how to manage the risks, mile after mile.
  • There is less than a 1/2 second of reaction time to avoid a collision. We will teach evasive driving skills to avoid collisions.
  • One in five licensed 16 year-olds will be in a motor vehicle crash. Our mission is to make you a safe driver for life.
  • Distracted driving is the #1 cause of vehicle accidents. We teach our classroom students how to handle distractions so they are prepared for them when they get behind the wheel.

How Do We Teach Safe Driving Skills?

At Start Smart Driving Academy, we use a State of Colorado approved curriculum, utilizing the Drive Right textbook.

  • 30 hours in a classroom setting or online
  • 4-Hour Driver Awareness Course
  • 6 hours behind the wheel, hands-on training
  • City, Rural, and Mountain driving
  • Classroom exercises utilizing Drunk Busters goggles

♦♦♦♦Are you ready to learn to drive?♦♦♦♦

♦♦♦Ask us about our buddy program!♦♦♦

 

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