Love Driving School

I found Love Driving School and Mr. Durant, the highly competent, kind, and endlessly patient instructor after doing extensive research on the various schools around Boston and surrounding towns. I have to say that the research paid off. I am female, in my early 30s, and first time driver. After around 16 hours with Durant I was able to take my driver's test with calm confidence and got my license on the first try! The 16 hours began with Durant picking me up outside of Sullivan Station on the Orange line on a pretty big busy street. He has you get right into the driver's seat and acquaints you with the car as well as pulling forward and reversing and working with the breaks before telling you to pull away from the curb and into traffic when it is safe. What an introduction to driving! I was definitely nervous but am infinitely happy that I didn't waste time and money driving around a parking lot for my first few lessons. Durant absolutely made me feel safe and confident from the beginning. Even in the first 30 minutes of being on the road his calm demeanor and sense of humor make you feel at ease. After I became comfortable driving in the city we worked on reversing, parallel parking, and three point turns. He had great pointers throughout to help you remember how to preform each maneuver. Finally there have been concerns about Durant not letting you use the mirrors. Not once did this impede my driving and even gets you more used to checking your blind spots which is particularly important in this city when doing right turns to avoid all those crazy bikers. Also there was one review posted by a female who had concerns about Durant saying inappropriate things to females. NOT ONCE in all my time with him did I ever feel even slightly uncomfortable. In fact I found him to be incredibly polite and considerate regarding women. I highly recommend Mr. Durant and Love Driving School. You will not be disappointed! more

My experience with Durant was really good. I have to say that the ""mirror issue"" came to me as a shock at the beginning but later I appreciated it very much. I just got a package of 10 hours and passed the road test like a piece of cake. Thanks to Durant with his excellent vision, I learned a lot from him especially the parallel parking. So guys and girls, I highly recommend him, and if you get the chance to work with him, my advice to you is just to listen to him and follow his instructions. He definitely knows what he is talking about. more

I just finished eight two hour lessons with Durant of Love Driving School and passed my test last week, and am very happy I studied with him. I am in my early sixties, had not driven since I was 22, and knew it would be like learning all over again. Other reviewers said things I heartily agree with . Durant is strict, but that was what I needed, to be sure I was learning good habits. His sense of humor makes the lessons enjoyable, too, and helps cement what he is trying to teach you. He is also very good at building one's confidence, which is half the battle in preparing oneself to take the test, and ultimately to feel comfortable behind the wheel. more

I had to pass my road test for conversion of a foreign license. The driving instructor very efficiently prepared me for the test by pointing out some of my driving habits that would endanger a succesfull test. I had an hour of very effective instruction, and I passed the test without any problems. more

I chose Love Driving School after doing some research in Internet and I don't regret. I took the 10 hour package and after that and one driving lesson before the road test I've got my license. Durant will tell you everything you need to pass the exam. He will tell you every mistake you made and you if you listen to him carefully you'll be well prepared for the road exam. It is true that his phone is ringing during your lessons because his schedule is pretty booked, so arrange your lesson earlier. Thanks Durant. more

After not driving for five years (and having minimal experience before that), I needed some lessons to get back on the road. So I browsed around and eventually decided to give Love Driving School a try despite some reservations about the idea of a one-man driving school. (When I first learned how to drive many years ago, I took lessons at a more typical school.) Well, having just finished five hours of driving with Durant over the past three weeks, I can say that I now feel more comfortable driving than I ever have before and I recommend Durant most highly. Durant is a great teacher. He's patient and encouraging yet tough, which is important -- it takes a dose of humility to be corrected, but that's how you learn, and his sense of humor helps take the stress out of it. Durant is also extremely perceptive of students' skill levels; I noticed this both during my own lessons and while in the back seat being driven home by students after me. He adapts to give each student a lesson that stretches them just slightly beyond their current comfort level, providing more detailed instructions if you're nervous and letting you make more decisions by yourself when you're ready. I had wondered at first whether an independent driving instructor would be as professional as a ""real"" school, but as it turns out, Durant actually started out teaching at such a school before starting his own. Looking at his logbook one day, I discovered that in the past 10+ years he has had 5000+ students! He's professional and punctual (usually five minutes early), he knows the rules of the road, and he knows the roads, taking you to specific places to get exposure to different types of junctions, etc. It's also nice to know that since Durant is so popular, he's not after your money -- he has plenty of business already. Partway through my lessons I mentioned that I was thinking of doing some practice on my own with ZipCar, and he told me he would recommend that; he felt I was ready. The one thing I did find a bit odd was that he teaches people to drive without mirrors, but having once witnessed a minor accident caused by a driver who was relying too heavily on mirrors, I can understand why he's trying to build safe habits. Overall, he deserves the all the high marks he's getting. more

I took nine hours of driving with Durant, having never driven before. I gained some confidence driving but I never learned any techniques from him. He doesn't answer any questions, he doesn't let you use mirrors (until the day of the test when he suddenly tells you to adjust them!?!) and he in general just makes you drive around the city, hardly ever stopping to go over techniques. It is a really frustrating experience and I think that many people are fooled by him because they've never driven with anyone else before, and he is definitely friendly and relaxed. He is so booked up that it's really difficult to get a consistent amount of teaching, and for example I paid for 10 hours and only got 9! I feel that he is really more interested in the money, and doesn't care so much about you. I could go on and on. The only reason I passed my road test was because I booked five additional hours of lessons with Brookline Driving School who taught me every maneuver really well and more tips for the test. Don't book with Love Driving School. This guy is popular for the sole reason that learners don't know any better. more

I took more then ten hours of driving with Durant. I did not like it. There were few things I learn from him but very few. In more then ten hours we did not start working on parking. He does not let you to use the mirrors!!!. He is trying to convince you that the examiner would fail you if you use them. This is not true. In real everyday driving you must to use mirrors.On Motor Vehicle web site is recommended strongly to use mirrors except for backing up. He makes uncomfortable remarks to women. IIf you try to challenge him with the driver's manual he is getting angry-passive aggressive.He also is trying to scare you about the exam and convinced you to get more hours. He does not give you feed back on what you are doing. I also believe that he is suspiciously friendly with the examiner in Cambridge which made me wondering if passing or failing the exam is an honest decision or not. I do not believe most of the reviews positive about Durant are true. I found that the negative reviews about him are true. He is talking a lot on the phone and not paying attention at what you are doing. The driving lesson is not worth it: between his talking on the phone, going to pick up the next student, stooping for Durant to go to restroom, etc, there is not much left from your lesson for you to learn. more

Ok, so i got my driving license last week. This is the first time i get my license ever. After got my learning permit, i looked for a school where i could practice for the road test. I picked out 2 schools which have the most reviews online: International Driving School (IDS) and Love Driving School (LDS). I wanted to try out the IDS first because it was cheaper. I booked with them though phone, but they never picked me up. I was waiting to see if they would call me to apologize or something like that, but nothing at all. So I contacted the LDS. I tried 1 hour and then decided to get the 10 hours package for $400. And it's worth the money! I was a nervous driver, but after the lessons with Durant, I am very confident in driving now. The road test was so easy for me, because everything i had to do was just exactly the same as in the lessons. I am glad that the International Driving School didn't pick me up that day ^.^ I recommend Love Driving School to anyone who is preparing for the road test. And make sure you book your hours early, because he is extremely in demand. more

Approaching his training car on the first day, Durant greeted me with a big handshake and introduced me to his lawyer, sitting quietly in the back seat. Durant warned me that in the event of an accident, she would document the situation for legal purposes. Then she yelled out to Durant, ""If I'm your lawyer, where's my paycheck Mr. Love?!?!"" I absolutely love LOVE DRIVING SCHOOL. Durant is a great teacher with 12 years experience teaching local residents to drive the SAFE way. His zen-like philosophy on teaching uses humor and patience to ease new drivers behind the wheel. He adapts to your needs. Durant has a 10-hour class special, which I used to pass the driving test. I recommend spreading 2-hour classes over a month. Durant is extremely in demand (his phone WILL ring), but he is great at accommodating your schedule when you ask. I used Durant's car to take the test and he was also my driving test sponsor (required in MA). He gave me lots of tips about the test and made sure I was ready before I took it. TIP: Scheduled your last class an hour before the test to help you prep. I recommend Durant at Love Driving School if you want to be a safe driver and learn from a wise teacher and even wiser person. more

I had a bad experience with Love Driving school. Since the online reviews were so positive, I assumed it must be the best around. But although Durant was pleasant and (most of the time) courteous, my experience of the lessons was terrible. First, he was constantly answering his phone and organizing his diary, apparently paying no attention to how I was driving for long stretches at a time. He didn't seem to remember what he had told me at a previous lesson and would not practice the things I had been told that I would practice with him. Most of the lessons were spent dropping back the previous client to their home and then driving to the home of the next client, rather than finding a suitable place to do the practice I needed (especially parking, 3-point turns, reversing etc). When I challenged him (politely) about some of the things that were bothering me about the lesson, he was disinterested and said that that's how all of the driving schools operate. But its not true. I subsequently changed and tried Friendship Driving School in Somerville (instructor Paul) and it was much, much better (despite not getting such positive online reviews). more

I just passed my driving test on the first try on Friday. I have taken about 10-12 lessons with Durant and I couldn't be happier. Durant is not only patient but he also is in tune with people's emotions and can pick up on anxiousness and nerves and quickly puts you to ease. I grew up in Queens and lived in Boston for 12 years- having no idea how to drive. Since I am relocating to burbs, I needed to get my license and feel confident in driving. My lessons with Durant paid off. While he can be strict, this is to your advantage. He teaches you what you MUST know for the test. AHEM- KNOW THE HAND SIGNALS! They really do ask! And he has a really easy going sense of humor. He can dish it out and take it too. I appreciated the humor in our lessons, especially when I was at first scared of running down cyclists and entire families. Overall, this was a very positive experience and I will miss my weekly driving lessons with Durant. But he got me to where I needed to be. For anyone looking to learn, Durant comes highly recommended. more

Durant is a very nice and demanding teacher. He tells you the right things to do in the test. Practice in class can be painful as he has a high standard on students, but it all pay off when you get your license without any difficulty. \r He is super busy and is always fully booked. So, make sure you schedule your time well. more

I took a few classes with Durant and liked the way he gently corrects your mistakes and gives you plenty of practice to smooth out your problem areas. Just make sure you book well in advance because he is insanely busy at times and it can be tough to get a slot at a short notice. Pros: Polite, thorough Cons: Busy more

Durant is an excellent teacher. He is patient, he explains everything very clearly. He makes sure you know how to pass the test and he prepares you to drive well overall. He is also funny. He notices when you get stressed and manages to bring your stress down. Learning how to drive could have been stressful and painful but with Durant, I actually had a lot of fun. And, yes, I passed the test the first time, right after he said I was ready. more

Durant is a great teacher (he could teach a thing or two about teaching to those professors at big schools). I got my license on first try. Took about 10 lessons. Thanks Durant. Pros: too many Cons: annoying cell phone tune more

Durant is a great driving instructor who knows what it takes not only to pass the road test but also to be prepared to drive on the road thereafter. I passed my test on my first try after 4 weeks of driving on the road with him. Ask Durant to be your instructor too! more

Durant is a really wonderful teacher - very patient, very good at explaining even really difficult aspects of driving, like parallel parking. On a personal level, he's so nice and understanding of how difficult learning to drive can be. Make sure you book a lot of lessons in advance, though - he books up fast! Pros: Durant, the teacher Cons: overbooked more

It is not without reason that Durant has the highest ratings among the driving instructors in the Cambridge area. He is patient, honest and professional and will make you feel at ease while learning. He will not get tired correcting your mistakes so don't get tired of him correcting you. Feel free to communicate your concerns or fears because he will listen and answer to you.Thank you Durant. Pros: Knowledge necessary to pass the test but not only more

Durant is a fantastic teacher and if you want to pass your drivers test your first time, he is the man to go to. I have really bad anxiety, but Durant is a calm, patient, and firm teacher who is kind but only praises you when you do something right. He adjusts his teaching style to whatever your particular needs are as a student and will go out of his way to focus on specific things that you need extra practice with. He loves teaching and it shows in the way he teaches. I couldn't ask for a better teacher. Pros: Best Driving School experience I could have asked for more