About A-1 Defensive Driving School
A-1 Defensive Driving School is the oldest and top-rated driver improvement clinic in Charlottesville, VA, certified by the Virginia DMV since 1994. Their state and court-required eight-hour course helps students improve their Virginia DMV driving record, avoid license suspension, and get auto insurance discounts. The instructors make the class engaging and fun, with multiple breaks and a one-hour lunch. Students praise the school for its ability to hold their attention, even on a dry subject, and for being an eye-opening experience that teaches valuable lessons. The knowledgeable instructor, Graham, is highly appreciated for making the 8-hour class fly by with engaging stories and a personal touch that helps students understand the importance of safe driving. Many attendees leave feeling more confident in their driving skills and grateful for the helpful and entertaining experience. With its experienced instructors, A-1 Defensive Driving School remains a highly recommended service for anyone looking to improve their driving skills.
I recently took Steven Smalley’s driver improvement course in Charlottesville, and I have to say—he made a long, pretty dry 8-hour session surprisingly engaging.
He brings real energy and genuine enthusiasm, which goes a long way in a setting like this. You can tell he actually cares about what he’s teaching and about the people in the room.
If you need to take a course—whether it’s court-ordered or just to improve your record—I’d definitely recommend him.
This was my first defensive driving class, and would definitely recommend this specific course if required to take one. It is an 8 hour course, so it can feel kind of long. But honestly the time went by fast, there were plenty of breaks, and the final quiz was open note.
Super engaging class, the instructor is down to earth and clear with the information shown. There's plenty of breaks which helps the class go by so much faster, and his engagement with the material helped fill in any gaps caused by the videos! He made a dreadful class go by in an instant