Drive Carmel

Drive Carmel is a Driving School in Marina, CA, located at 1340 Munras Ave Suite 330. It holds a rating of 4.90 based on 60 reviews.

Founded in 1999 by Mary Gifford, the school transitioned to new ownership in 2018 when retired CHP Captain William Perlstein and retired CHP Officer Richard Richards partnered as owners. Richards developed the behind-the-wheel instruction program, and Perlstein revamped the drivers education curriculum. The team of instructors has a combined 80+ years of law enforcement experience and has taught thousands of students throughout the Central Coast. In 2025, Drive Carmel acquired Drive Rite Driving School in Hollister from longtime owner Martha Fowles.

Drive Carmel is a DMV licensed driving school (#E2117) with a team of fully trained and licensed driving instructors. California BAR-certified inspections cover all training SUVs, which are fully licensed and insured. The program takes students through the entire licensing process, from Drivers Ed to the DMV drive test. Driving instructors are available after school, on weekends, and on holidays.

The school does not advertise, with business driven almost exclusively by word of mouth. Drive Carmel proudly sponsors school and student events, programs, sports, and organizations, especially those that keep students safe, like Sober Grad Nights.

Office hours are by appointment. Training hours are 7 days/week from 8 AM to 6 PM.

BizScoreAI awarded the business a Schema & Structure score of 100 out of 100, which ensures AI assistants and search engines clearly understand the business and its offerings. The business also achieved a Performance score of 81 out of 100, reflecting fast website loading that retains visitors and supports search engine rankings.