Riverside has 3 DMV-licensed driving schools offering behind-the-wheel training, part of roughly 20 licensed schools across Riverside County and the wider Inland Empire. Compare them below by how long the California DMV has licensed each one, their Google rating, and the price they publish for the six hours of professional instruction California requires for teen drivers. If none is a fit, nearby Corona and Temecula each have their own licensed schools a short drive away. For teens aged 15½ to 17½, behind-the-wheel lessons come after the 30-hour drivers ed course that earns the learner’s permit.
Riverside driving schools at a glance
Compare Riverside driving schools
| School | Current license since | 6-hr price | Per hour | DMV test car | Pickup | Languages | Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1Freeway Driving SchoolLic. E4481 | 201115 yrs | 4.9★207 reviews | call | n/a | unknown | Yes | English · Spanish | Mon-Fri 9 AM - 4 PM · Sat-Sun Closed |
| #2Aery Driving SchoolLic. E4650 | 201610 yrs | 3.5★62 reviews | $445 | $74 | Yes | Yes | English | Mon-Fri 10 AM - 5 PM · Sat-Sun Closed |
| #3Icon Driving SchoolLic. E0672 | 2026first year | 4.8★63 reviews | call | n/a | No | Yes | English | Mon-Wed 8am-7pm, Thu 7am-7pm, Fri 8am-5pm, closed Sat-Sun (Yelp); lessons 7 days a week |
Current license since = the date the California DMV issued the school's current occupational license (public record). A school that re-licensed under a new owner or business entity shows the newer date, so it is a license-record fact, not years in business. Prices and hours are as stated on each school's own website or listing and change without notice; confirm before booking. Per hour = stated package price divided by package hours.
Aery Driving School
Aery Driving School operates from 5750 Division St, Suite 202A in Riverside and also lists Temecula, San Diego and Oceanside locations. It offers 6-hour behind-the-wheel packages for minors and adults, online drivers ed, a car for the DMV driving test, and home, school or office pickup, and claims more than 20 years in service.
Freeway Driving School
Freeway Driving and Traffic School is at 9980 Indiana Ave, Suite 12, Riverside, and offers behind-the-wheel training, online drivers ed and a $49 online traffic school under a separate license (E1745). It advertises free pickup and drop-off, bilingual male and female instructors, and dual-brake vehicles with GPS and video monitoring; BBB lists a May 1992 start date. The main website returned HTTP 403 to automated fetches, so behind-the-wheel prices were not captured.
Icon Driving School
Icon Driving School is at 4505 Allstate Dr, Suite 18, Riverside, and offers a 6-hour behind-the-wheel package for drivers under 18 and a 2-hour package for adults, with free pickup and drop-off from home, work or school. The website claims over 25 years of experience, does not publish prices, and states it does not provide a car for the DMV test.
No schools match those filters.
License data from CA DMV public records; verify independently. Online-only providers licensed in Riverside are excluded here because they don't offer local in-person lessons. Spot something wrong? Report an issue with a listing.
What behind-the-wheel lessons cost in Riverside
California requires teens to complete 6 hours of professional behind-the-wheel instruction. Among the 1 Riverside schools that publish a price, the 6-hour package runs $445, about $74 per hour. 1 of 3 schools provide a car for the DMV road test, usually as a separate add-on. 3 offer pickup and drop-off from home or school. The 30-hour drivers ed course that earns the learner's permit is a separate cost; online it is $32.99.
Riverside schools that publish prices quote the 6-hour package in the mid $400s; Icon and Freeway ask you to call. Aery rents a car for the DMV test for $185.
How a teen gets licensed in Riverside
- At 15½, finish the DMV-approved 30-hour drivers ed course. Online it is $32.99 and self-paced; it earns the certificate the DMV needs for a permit.
- Book a permit appointment at the Riverside or Riverside East DMV office, bring the drivers ed certificate, proof of identity and residency, and pass the 46-question knowledge test.
- Hold the permit at least 6 months and log 50 hours of supervised practice, 10 of them at night.
- Complete 6 hours of professional behind-the-wheel with one of the DMV-licensed schools above (compare prices in the table).
- Book the road test at a DMV office; several local schools rent a car for the test if the family car is not suitable.
Teen driver? Start here
Behind-the-wheel comes after drivers ed.
California teens 15½ to 17½ need the DMV-approved 30-hour course first. That is what earns the permit these lessons require.
How to choose a driving school in Riverside
- Confirm the school's DMV license is active (verify link on every listing) and note how long the current license has been held
- Ask whether the price includes the full 6 hours behind-the-wheel, and what a DMV test car costs on top
- Check pickup and drop-off from home or school, and how lessons are scheduled (2-hour blocks are typical)
- Compare Google ratings against review count; a 4.9 from 200 reviews says more than a 5.0 from 6
- Ask about instructor experience, dual-brake vehicles and lessons in your language if needed
- For teens: finish drivers ed first so the permit is in hand before the first lesson
Riverside driving school FAQ
- Where do I take my driving test in Riverside?
- At the Riverside DMV field office (6280 Brockton Ave) or Riverside East (6425 Sycamore Canyon Blvd). Book a road-test appointment at dmv.ca.gov; it is free and cuts the wait.
- How much do behind-the-wheel lessons cost in Riverside?
- The state-required 6 hours runs about $445 at the Riverside school that publishes a price; others ask you to call. A car for the DMV test is typically an extra $185 to $275.
- Which Riverside driving school has held its DMV license the longest?
- Among Riverside city schools, Freeway Driving School's current license dates from 2011 and Aery's from 2016. Icon Driving School's current license was issued in 2026, which reflects a re-licensing of the business rather than a new school; each listing shows the exact date from the DMV record.
- Do I need drivers ed before behind-the-wheel lessons?
- Yes. California teens aged 15½ to 17½ must finish a 30-hour driver education course ($32.99 online) to get the learner's permit that behind-the-wheel lessons require.
- Can adults take behind-the-wheel lessons in Riverside?
- Yes. Adults are not required to take lessons, but every Riverside school listed offers adult packages, often at a slightly different price from the teen package.