FAQs

While there are other companies that offer stick shift driving lessons, at Shift Bay Area we offer a superior experience. Our instructors are patient and will provide a tailored experience based on your knowledge, aptitude, and interests. Unlike other companies, our lessons and training vehicles are fully insured for your protection. Here are some detailed reasons why you would want to take a lesson with us: 1. Experienced Instructors: Shift Bay Area has a team of experienced instructors who are passionate about stick shift driving and are dedicated to helping students learn the skill. They have years of experience teaching stick shift and have cumulatively helped thousands of students become confident and proficient drivers. 2. Customized Lessons: Every student is different, and we understand that. That's why we offer customized lessons tailored to each student's needs and skill level. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced driver, we'll work with you to help you learn in a way that is right for you. 3. Safe & Stress-Free Learning Environment: Learning to drive a stick shift can be intimidating, but we create a safe and stress-free learning environment where you can feel comfortable and confident behind the wheel. We provide modern, well-maintained vehicles so you can focus on learning without worrying about safety. 4. Flexible Scheduling: Shift Bay Area offers flexible scheduling to accommodate your busy schedule. We offer lessons seven days a week, and you can choose a time and location that works best for you. Whether you want to take a lesson before work, after work, or on the weekend, we can accommodate your schedule. 5. Competitive Pricing: Learning to drive a stick shift can be an investment, and we offer competitive pricing for our lessons. We offer a range of packages to fit your budget and schedule, so you can get the instruction you need without breaking the bank. In conclusion, taking a lesson with Shift Bay Area is the best way to learn how to drive a stick shift car. With experienced instructors, customized lessons, a safe and stress-free learning environment, flexible scheduling, and competitive pricing, Shift Bay Area is a great choice for anyone looking to master this skill.

We require that you have a valid driver's license or at a minimum a driver's permit. At Shift Bay Area our focus is coaching you on how to properly drive a manual transmission car. We don’t review, teach, or work on rules of the road or other driving fundamentals; therefore, it's important that you already know how to drive an automatic transmission vehicle. If you only have a driving permit you are more than welcome to take our lessons. Just note that our lessons won't count towards any DMV requirements, since our only focus is teaching you how to drive a manual transmission car. And finally, unlike other companies we don't have any age restrictions for our lessons. Our only requirement is that you are able to legally drive on public roads.

Not at all! At Shift Bay Area we provide the vehicle for your lesson. We own our vehicles, which means that they're fully insured, regularly inspected, and meticulously maintained to provide the safest learning environment. Not to mention, our sporty Mini Coopers are tons of fun to drive.

Once you book your lesson with us you'll receive a confirmation email that will give you all the details for your lesson. This will include the specific address of your preferred training location (we instruct in the following locations throughout the Bay Area: San Francisco/Brisbane, San Jose, Oakland/Alameda, Redwood City, Concord and Pleasanton), it will include information about your instructor and more details about logistics, as well as things to bring like your driver's license, etc. This confirmation email usually goes out within a couple of hours, and once you receive it you're all set for your lesson. If you prefer, you can also call us at (650) 395-8570 and we can help you book your lesson over the phone.

Once you book your lesson you'll receive a confirmation email that will specify the address of your preferred training location (we instruct in the following locations throughout the Bay Area: San Francisco/Brisbane, San Jose, Oakland/Alameda, Redwood City, Concord and Pleasanton). All of our lessons are behind-the-wheel from the moment you start until the moment you finish, and you'll be learning on quiet public roads throughout your lesson. We don't publish specific addresses on our website because due to road construction, weather and other events, the training and/or meeting location may vary slightly (but it will still be within the same city). If you'd like to know the exact address of your training location before you book your lesson, please reach out to us and we'll be happy to provide you with this information.

We operate in specific training locations throughout the Bay Area, and this is for several reasons: 1. These locations have the right topography to enable us to properly practice all of the exercises (quiet areas for the slow speed portion of our exercises, longer stretches of road for the upshifting and downshifting exercises, hills or inclines for hill control exercises, etc.). 2. These locations are specifically chosen to be in quieter areas, which reduce the anxiety of practicing with a lot of other cars and activity around you. 3. We want you to have a safe and fun learning experience, and the training locations that we choose enable this type of an environment. Unlike other companies that will keep you circling in a parking lot for the entirety of your lesson, with Shift Bay Area you'll be driving on the open road. We feel that this is the best way to build your confidence and your skills, and to allow for this we have chosen specific areas where we conduct our lessons.

Most people prefer to use our Mini Coopers for learning. However, if you already own a manual transmission car and would like to get familiar with your car as you're learning, then we can definitely accommodate you. Note that our insurance policy will not transfer to your vehicle during training, so if anything were to happen to your car you would be solely responsible.

Absolutely! If you've already take a lesson with us and you feel you need additional practice time to perfect your skills or to work on something that's giving you trouble, we offer custom lessons by the hour so that you can focus on your specific needs. If you need one hour of additional practice time you can book one of our Custom Lessons. If you feel you need 2 more hours, feel free to book The Basics lesson and we'll tailor it to your needs. And, if you feel 3 hours would be appropriate for you then you can book the End-to-End lesson and we'll make sure to focus on your goals.

We believe the best way to learn to drive a stick shift car is through a personal one-on-one experience. However, if you'd like to share the experience with a friend and split your lesson with them you are more than welcome to do so. You can also do a lesson at the same time as another person in separate cars, so that you both take the lesson at the same time but you each have your own car and instructor. If you'd like to schedule this please reach out to us and we can help you book your lesson.

Learning to drive a manual transmission car, also known as a stick shift, can be a valuable skill to have for several reasons. Here are some of the reasons why you may want to take a manual transmission driving lesson: 1. Better Control: Manual transmission vehicles give the driver more control over the car. With a manual transmission, you can select the gear that best matches the driving conditions, such as going up hills or driving in heavy traffic. You can also downshift to help slow the car down without using the brakes excessively. 2. Fuel Efficiency: Manual transmission cars are typically more fuel-efficient than automatic transmission cars. With a manual transmission you have better control over the engine's RPMs and can keep the car in a more efficient gear for longer periods. 3. Cost Savings: Manual transmission vehicles are often less expensive to buy and maintain than automatic transmission cars. Additionally, manual transmissions are generally more durable and have fewer mechanical problems. 4. Driving Abroad: In many countries, manual transmission cars are the norm. Learning how to drive a stick shift can make it easier to rent a car and navigate the roads in other countries. 5. Fun: Many people find driving a manual transmission vehicle to be more engaging and enjoyable than driving an automatic transmission. It can be a fun and rewarding experience to learn how to shift gears and control the car. Overall, learning to drive a manual transmission can be a valuable skill that offers many benefits. Even if you don't plan to buy a manual transmission car, the experience of learning how to drive one can make you a better driver and give you a deeper appreciation for the mechanics of a car.

Driving a stick shift car can be easier than you think. Many people have an impression that learning to drive a manual transmission can be challenging, especially if they're used to driving automatic transmission cars. However, with practice and guidance from our instructors it is definitely possible to become proficient in driving a manual transmission car. Initially, there may be some difficulty coordinating the clutch, gear shifter, and accelerator pedal, but with practice this can become second nature. The key is to remain calm, patient, and focused while learning and practicing. Our lessons and exercises are designed to present the information in an easy to understand format, and our goal is to help you reach a sense of accomplishment by the end of your lesson.

This can vary from person to person, but typically our 2 hour The Basics lesson is good enough to help you understand what's involved in driving a manual transmission car, and our 3 hour End-to-End lesson is best for those who want to walk away from the lesson feeling more confident and proficient. All of our lessons are behind-the-wheel from the moment you start until the moment you finish, and regardless of which lesson you choose we'll never rush through your lesson. We go at your pace and stay within your comfort level to make sure the lesson is safe and a fun experience.

Learning to drive a manual transmission car is an investment in both time and money. A lot of other companies that offer this service don't have the quality metrics to guarantee that you'll have a safe, fun, and productive learning experience, and we've had many customers who tried these low-cost companies only to ultimately come to us to properly learn this skill. At Shift Bay Area we've been providing professional quality stick shift lessons since 2018, and we are experts in our field. Our lessons are structured to help you learn the skills quickly, and the information is presented in an easy to understand format. You'll be behind-the-wheel for the entirety of your lesson and unlike other companies, we won't keep you stuck in a parking lot for hours. Our lessons take place on the open road, and we feel this is the best and fastest way to properly learn this skill and build confidence in the process. Give us a try, and join the thousands of successful stick shift drivers who have finished our lessons with the proper knowledge, confidence and a new life skill.