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Tanner City Auto School We're proud to say we currently have taught generations of safe drivers. We provide Male and Female Certified driving and classroom instructors. There is usually never a long wait for road lessons. We have 4 places in the Peabody and Danvers area and serve the Northshore area.
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Parent class does not need to be completed before the classroom lessons. Tanner City Auto School is a place where the young and old alike can learn the skills and rules required of them to be a safe, responsible, and courteous driver. Tannery City Auto School offers many programs to get you the instruction you need.
If we are setting up a test for you PLEASE make sure you do not have another appointment scheduled with the Registry or our appointment will be cancelled by the Registry. You must complete the entire course at least 2 weeks prior to being put on list for testing. The registry charges $50.00 for the license and $35.00 for the license Application fee for a total of $85.00.
2 hours of Parental participation including instruction on driver's education curriculum, junior operator restrictions and penalties and tips for teaching your child to drive during the 40 hours or parental supervision. Allows for 30 hours of parent/guardian-supervised driving if child completes advanced driver training course.
Reviews (28)
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Mel Rizzo
Jun 05, 2022
Horrible customer service if they answer the phone. Very disorganized. Always messes up road lessons when they were booked way in advance. We paid a lot of money And can barely get anyone on the phone and have a lot of difficulty booking road lessons
Briana R.
May 21, 2022
During Covid they held virtual classes with up to 50 student. When it came time for road lesson never had any driver available and you'd wait a month out for a lesson and couldnt book more than 2 at a time. Then once finished with lesson (almost a year) you had to wait months for a road test. 3 people prior to my daughter failed the test. One kid didn't even leave the parking lot! How?

So about 1000$ in, over a year time frame and no license to show for it. So now we can book another road test but I'm sorry no appointments till July ( it's May) another 135$ ($10 fuel surcharge even though the test is less than a mile) ohhh sorry since she'll be 18, it's more money to book the road test! ANOTHER license fee as well! So disappointed in this business and will be contracting the BBB Monday! The only business they are in is scamming kids and parents out $100s of dollars!
Adrian The Man
May 09, 2022
A disgrace of a driving school scheduling road lessons took very long to book the people in the office don't know what they are doing getting my drivers license here was a roller coaster and they don't teach you the things that are on the road test my dad paid about 800 bucks for all of this not worth it wish I went somewhere else
Evelyn J.
May 08, 2022
Don't enroll! they have no drivers and horrible customer service. You are required to pay up front and then you can't schedule road lessons because they don't have drivers.
Christine P.
Apr 03, 2022
This place appears to be a scam. Took our money and never had enough instructors to give road lessons. Classroom instructors gave out old information about dmv locations (that no longer exist) and processes. It should be shut down. If you had the same or similar experience, I'd highly recommend you file a complaint with the BBB and the MA department of consumer affairs.
Peter Leger
Aug 19, 2021
If i could give no stars, i would. this establishment services a very poor quality of communication. there is a lack of organization within and it makes difficult to complete what should be a very smooth process. getting my license has been one of the most stressful things i've had to do and i largely blame Tanner City. I would call their office for information about my delays and they would play hot potato with my call or send me in the wrong direction for information. i largely recommend to anyone looking for drivers ed, to go else where.
Leonardo Di Coolprio
Jul 09, 2021
The staff at tanner city auto school are great the people at the office always return your calls in a timely manner, and are so helpful. the lessons are great and the road lesson instructors are extremely helpful and very professional, i took some lessons with north shore driving school, it was okay but the owner who brought me out wasn't the most professional and very condescending, but of course with good intentions.

What i didn't like was when I took the road test through tanner city I personally felt that the road test examiner was grading a bit too hard and wasn't fair. know you cant pick and choose or refuse a road test examiner and that this person is just from the rmv not a staff at tanner city, but i genuinely feel like the examiner was unrealistic with her decision to fail me on the mistakes she considered to be worthy of failure. im taking my exam for the third time (hopefully ill pass) with tanner city after not having the best learning experience with north shore driving school in lynn for my second road test. best, cc
Amy Palmer
Jun 25, 2021
My youngest daughter just got her license through Tanner City, as did my oldest daughter 4 years ago, they both had great experiences as did i every time i called with questions or to schedule road lessons everyone in the office was very helpful and professional, if i left a message i would get a call back very quickly from a pleasant professional employee.

The day of the road test my daughter was a bit anxious and the two men who checked her in calmed her nerves by reminding her of what she learned in class and driving lessons, great company and great people!
Debra Innis
Jun 13, 2021
Hello Meagan Riccio. I wanted to personally address your review of Tanner City and that of myself. I only wish your sister had posted since she was the student in the class. I am only a part that represents Tanner City. They have many great employees. The owners are incredible and work so hard even when one of them had serious events going on in her life.

Their dedication to making sure every student gets the knowledge they need to be safe on the road is extremely important to them. We as their staff, are held to a high level of expectations for each student's success. All classes on Zoom are recorded and saved. The owners are able to review each class. If I behaved in the manner that you stated as an employee, then I should not be teaching.

I don't ever have to yell. My classes are all very structured so that students know what is expected of them from day one. They are able to do their job in a safe and welcoming environment on line and or in the classroom. It is also not in my nature to yell. I am strict, I will say that. Your parents, and every other student's parents, pay Tanner City quite a bit for all of us to do our jobs in a respectable and successful manner.

It is also expected that the student's do their job. I always have students write exit letters during their final class. I have close to 2,000 letters. I will honestly say, I have never received a negative review from any of them. Sure, some didn't like spending their time in class, but they thanked me in a mature response, and realized how much they had learned.

They also made me know how they knew, at the end of the program, how important it was to be able to take on the responsibility of driving. Just hearing those words, I am very grateful. I then knew that they weren't the same students who came into class that first day. They learned and they grew from what was presented to them. Again, I only wish that your sister, who was the student that I gave my all to teach, was the one who posted the review. I wish you both the very best. Please stay safe on the roads! Ms. Innis
Kaitlin O.
Jun 02, 2021
I had a great experience with Tanner City Auto: I have had my license in Ireland for a few years but I moved to America and it was time to get my American License. I did two lessons, one with Nicole and the other with Jimmy around the Danvers/Peabody/Lynn/Lynnfield area, both instructors offered me great feedback and were very professional. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience.

Once I was ready for my driving test which Tanner City had set up for me, I made my way to the location on May 29th, I waited in the check in office in West Peabody with two gentlemen whom I never caught their names who offered me great tips and reassurance as I waited for my test. Right as I was about to sit in the car, I saw my driving test examiner get berated by an unhappy student who I presume did not receive the pass he was expecting, I didn't catch what he said but I saw his hands flying, he jumped out of the car leaned into the vehicle to shout at the man who only did his job to the best of his abilities, watched as he jumped back into the car to give more of his grievances and finally getting out of the vehicle leaving the man alone.

At this point I did not know what to expect, nonetheless I hopped in, made my examiner aware that whatever decision he makes on my driving ability I will respect his judgement no questions asked and I was astounded by how calm his demeanor was. He was very kind, understanding and gave CLEAR, CONCISE, and in ENGLISH directions. I was visibly nervous and he had me take a few deep breaths before continuing the test. I had the most enjoyable, calming and insightful experience with Tanner City, and I will be recommending them in the future!
Phil is a terrible human being
May 08, 2021
One of the driver instructors that takes your test is named Phil. If you have him just cancel your road test because he failed me for some of dumbest reasons. One of them he said should be "a little faster" When I parallel park. If I go to fast the car will be not right and I will fail so that was one. Also when I got into the car he was in a terrible mood like I could tell I just did not have a chance with him at all. I asked my mother if I can just not do it in the beginning cause I already knew the out come.
Heather Boutchie Connerty
Dec 20, 2020
Tanner City was perfect in every way. Super organized, responsive to messages, pleasant, great instructors..I could go on and on. We unfortunately started at another school which was a complete disaster. I have recommended Tanner City to all my parent friends. Thank you for a great experience.
Kevin Wood
Aug 14, 2020
Great experience with both my kids. Instructors were nice and showed patience. Everyone was eager to help with whatever you needed to get done... even during a pandemic.
Shiori G.
Jan 26, 2020
They didn't answer the questions I asked and also super unprofessional. Unbelievable. They didn't tell me the time for the road test and I had to contact and make sure with them. Then they sent me a rude email. Got offended.
Quinn M.
Apr 20, 2019
For all of my lessons I had a guy named Ryan who was the best! I was very nervous to start lessons but as soon as I got in the car I instantly felt better. He is very nice and reassuring and made me feel more confident in driving. He helped me learn how to do everything including parallel parking and three point turns as well as just how to become a better more aware driver, and on te second lesson we went on the highway!

I definitely recommend tanner city and Ryan for any lessons, he is the best! I passed my test with confidence thanks to Ryan. He also likes to make sure everything including driving and observations are done on time so you can get your license asap!
Grace G.
Aug 10, 2018
They are always cancelling on students and never have openings. The drivers are good and friendly but it's impossible to get a lesson. I have been forced to schedule over a month in advance and they cancel on me days before the lesson and offer me another time in six weeks. I have been waiting to get my license for over a year now because of Tanner's incompetence. Thanks to their horrible management, I am over a year and a half behind where I should be in my driving.
Kelleigh S.
Apr 03, 2018
I waited a long time to go to driving school (I was 24), so I didn't need the in-classroom portion. I took three road lessons with a very nice gentleman. He was stern but in that nice way where they want to make sure you get the importance of what they are teaching. After the end of the third lesson he said I was ready to take the driving exam.

I was shocked how fast everything happened. I scheduled my road test with Tanner City, it was canceled due to snow (fair enough) and it was reschedule a couple days later. After that, when I went to take my test, I only waited about 30 minutes, and they started tested two at a time which was fine. I passed with flying colors on the first try and I would definitely recommend this auto school!
Monica G.
Jan 10, 2018
I sent my two sons through this driving school. They were very efficient setting up times around the kids' schedules. Never late, when had to cancel always let us know ahead of time. I was very impressed when my younger got behind wheel after few driving lessons. He felt more confident and would tell me exactly what the driving school taught him which was all good. Price is very reasonable. You should feel very good sending your child to this auto school. Thanks Tanner City Monica G.
J
Aug 22, 2017
In April 2016, I went to take my license test with this company. Before I met the aforementioned Phil, I had no issues with this company. Phil is a license test instructor and is quite honestly the rudest person I have ever met. He made fun of my nervousness, sarcastically questioning why I looked "like a ghost". He failed me for a non-existent reason and yelled at me to the extent that the sponsor in the car tried to defend my driving. Phil is a disgrace and has an appalling personality, and he absolutely should be fired.
Rachel M.
May 28, 2017
I understand that yelp is usually full of angry customers, but on this occasion, do yourself a favor, and listen to all the negative reviews of Tanner City. The only good thing I can say is that my instructor (Christine) was very nice. Other than that, this business is managed very poorly. The process of getting a license through Tanner City is rushed and disorganized.

My testing date was changed multiple times. I understand that some things are out of the auto school's hands and more involved with the registry, but when you cram 20 students into one night of testing, that's just being greedy. It is impossible to get in contact with the school, and their prices are ridiculous. Instead of having a Saturday morning test (one of the reasons I went through an auto school), my test was rescheduled for a Monday night when it was rainy and dark.

I waited close to 2 hours to take my test and sat in a room panicking. Not to mention that when you get in the car, you will be tested 3 students at a time. If I am paying 100+ dollars, the least the school can do is not pack the vehicle like a clown car. I am not sure how Tanner City is still in business, honestly. I went to Ringer's Auto School after failing at Tanner City, and the experience was seamless. I would recommend calling Michelle at Ringer's 100x over. I only wish I had listened to the negative reviews and went to anywhere but Tanner City sooner!
Matt R.
Jan 31, 2017
I enrolled my daughter through the Tanner City website, she and I are OK with the instruction and services that we purchased. My issue is with their business practices, specifically what I see as bait-and-switch pricing. Web page prominently proclaims "Total Cost $700.00 ($650 if paid in full up front)". My card was charged $92.00 more than that however, when enrolling.

The charge went through as $742.00 and not $650.00. I did approve the higher amount but only after my calls, and emailed question, went unanswered. I asked if I could avoid the surprise and not-mentioned $42.00 "checkout-screen" charge by paying on the first day of lessons.but they did not answer. I did not want to miss out on the $50 discount so I went ahead and paid, $742.00.

Nobody called to offer me the discount so I called again and left a message. they called back and said they would apply the $50 as a credit toward upcoming RMV fees. Not happy with the hidden charge structure.
Rachel H.
Nov 11, 2016
DO NOT go here. This is the WORST driving school you could go to, first of all I had several lessons and they do not teach you proper methods of driving that you will be tested on the road test. I was scheduled for 4:44pm in the afternoon, and took it at nearly 7:00 at night, after long lines of waiting in a crowded classroom. The road examiner I had was very rude and interfered with the testing, and made me feel super uncomfortable. I would NOT recommend this school to students, young teens, or even adults. It is a complete waste of money that you will not get back.
Pita S.
Aug 06, 2016
Great class my son learned a lot and was actually teaching me a few things. However the road lessons scheduling is terrible. Cannot book online only request a call back which is absurd this day and age and it's extremely difficult to book any. That is a major flaw in an otherwise good experience
Nik R.
Jun 15, 2016
Was offered a really low price for sending group of 5 to a different driving school and tanner city offered to match price. I asked very specifically if there would be any other fees. I was told no.and ended up being charged extra fees for all 5 kids. Will now recommend people to the other driving school (that was honest about prices)
Sheri W.
May 09, 2016
Waste of time. Paid for an hour instructor only gave me a half hour. (Both times) Very unprofessional, no enthusiasm to teach me anything on the road. Also wasn't greeted upon arrival to set up for my first appointment very rude.
Lisa B.
Apr 30, 2016
I'm only giving Tanner City one star because 0 isn't an option. The instructors were unbelievably unprofessional. Being an already nervous driver, I did not find any of the instructors helpful. They never answered the phone, they gave out wrong information, and the instructors were jerks. One instructor, Dennis, set me back an entire summer because on a road lesson, he did nothing but scream at me.

He then proceeded to bring me to a complete stop on an exit off the highway because I was going 3 mph over the speed limit. I did not drive for the rest of the summer. When I finally went to take my test, the registry cop they used (Phil) was rude and yelled. He was on the phone the whole time, and then he failed me even though he wasn't paying attention.

The second time I took it, I got Phil again. He immediately remembered me when I got in the car and said, "What are you going to do wrong this time?" He failed me again, because I stopped at a stop sign, then pulled forward so I could see and stopped again. He told me I "Tried to accelerate in front of a moving car and I could have killed us." The double stop was taught to me by Tanner City.

For my third test, I went with North Shore Driving School in Salem, MA. They were absolutely amazing. I took 2 road lessons with Charlie, and I learned more in those lessons than I did in all my lessons at Tanner City. I took the test at the Lynn Armory, and I passed no problem thanks to them. I do not recommend going to Tanner City. If you want a pleasant experience, go to North Shore Driving School.
Lindsay M.
Oct 16, 2015
This only has one star because zero stars isn't an option. Tanner City has to be the absolute worst driving school. I am 26 and struggled with driving for a long time. I figured I would need some courses to brush up on driving before taking a test. Six lessons later, I went there and failed FIVE road tests. Why? Because there was no preparation.

I told them what I was uncomfortable with and needed help on and they gave me half asses answered on how things "should" be done. The sponsor who sat in the back made snippy little comments about how she was glad she was looking down when I made a mistake because she would have screamed otherwise, and was generally texting or talking on the phone which is highly distracting, especially to a new driver.

One of the registry people who gave the test didn't even say hello, she was rude, and ended up swearing at me when I failed. It was a bullshit fail and she knew it, so she decided to spin it as though I were the rude one. Never ever go here! If you're a parent, DO NOT TAKE YOUR KIDS HERE! Use North Shore Driving School in Salem. They actually help you pass the test!
Jackie K.
Sep 07, 2013
DO NOT GO THERE! They don't return calls, it took six weeks for them to cash the check I wrote them, they tried to get $100 more from us although we had already paid for driving lessons and the use of their car. We had to reschedule because the incompetent woman in their office never told my husband we had to pay the registry prior to the road test until the day before the road test which was on a Saturday. The told us that our son was ready for the road test but my son ended up failing. I wish we never went there, they suck.