Latz Driving School Ltd Victoria — What Students Say About Instructor Laz
3952 Larchwood Drive, Victoria BC · ICBC-approved · BC-MVA licensed · New immigrant program
Beginner + advanced lessons
🌍 New immigrant program
Dual-control fleet
Victoria has a bunch of driving schools. Some big chains. Some small independents. Latz Driving School Ltd is one of the small independents — but it’s the kind of small independent that shows up in “best of Victoria” lists over and over. The reason usually comes down to one name: Laz, the main instructor.
The school is at 3952 Larchwood Drive in Victoria (that’s the Gordon Head / UVic area). But here’s a detail that’s actually more useful for students — you don’t usually go to Larchwood. You get picked up at the Tim Hortons at 1099 McKenzie Avenue, which is basically across from the ICBC McKenzie office and next to Reynolds Secondary. Pretty smart location for lessons — you can practice all the streets around the ICBC office where the road test actually happens.
What Latz Offers in Victoria
Class 7 & Class 5 Lessons
Beginners going from L → N, and N drivers preparing for the full Class 5 road test. Booked by the hour. Fleet vehicles have dual controls on brake and steering.
New Immigrant Program
Specialized program for people new to BC — Canadian road rules, local road signs, Victoria-specific driving conditions. This is what the school is best known for.
Refresher & Advanced
For experienced drivers who want to improve confidence, prepare for a specific test, or brush up after a long break from driving. Popular with anxious drivers.
Pricing isn’t posted online — you’ll need to call or WhatsApp them for a current quote. Payment is required before the first lesson, so plan for that. The pickup point is Tim Hortons at 1099 McKenzie Ave by default. If you need pickup somewhere else in Victoria, there’s an additional fee that has to be paid at booking time.
⏰ Heads up on their cancellation policy
Latz has a fairly strict late arrival policy. If you’re within 10 minutes late, you get the balance of your scheduled lesson but pay for the full hour. If you’re more than 10 minutes late without letting the instructor know, they may leave — and you’ll still be charged. Fair, but worth knowing before you book.
Why the Location Actually Matters
Most Victoria ICBC road tests happen at the McKenzie driver licensing office at 4370 Blanshard Street (near McKenzie Avenue). And that’s exactly where Latz’s pickup point is — right at the Tim Hortons across the way at 1099 McKenzie Ave.
What this means practically: your lessons happen on the actual streets where your road test happens. Not somewhere across town where the layout is totally different. You’ll drive:
- McKenzie Avenue itself — the primary east-west arterial, connects to Highway 17 (Patricia Bay Highway) and Highway 1 (Trans-Canada). Real highway experience.
- Shelbourne Street — busy commercial + residential mix, lots of school zones, common test route
- Cedar Hill Cross Road — quieter residential, good for practising parallel parking and 3-point turns
- Highway 17 access — merging practice, highway confidence, essential for the Class 5 test
- Downtown Victoria — narrower streets, more pedestrians, tourist traffic in summer, tricky one-ways around Chinatown
- Fairfield / Rockland hills — hill starts and grade descent, which the ICBC examiner absolutely tests
Latz has been teaching this route for years. Reviewers repeatedly mention that the instructor knows exactly where the ICBC examiners go — the specific intersections, the specific parking spots for parallel parking, the residential streets for 3-point turns. That local knowledge is what separates a Victoria driving school from a “just teach the basics” school.
What Students Actually Say
These are pulled from real student testimonials and reviews. The name “Laz” (the main instructor) comes up in almost every long-form review.
“Laz is incredibly patient, kind, and knowledgeable — he really knows his stuff and genuinely wants to see you succeed! After practicing with him, I passed my test with ZERO mistakes! I wholeheartedly recommend LATZ Driving School to anyone looking to become a skilled, wise, and safe driver.”
— Class 5 student, first-time pass · ★★★★★
“Instructor Laz, at Latz Driving School, is an amazing, patient and professional instructor. As a parent, I highly valued the feedback he shared with me after each lesson my teen had. My son passed road test at his first attempt.”
— Parent of a Class 7 student · ★★★★★
“That’s when I discovered Latz Driving! The instructor was incredibly knowledgeable and helped me feel fully prepared. Thanks to the lessons I took with Latz Driving, I passed right away! Their lessons are definitely worth it, and I highly recommend them!”
— Adult learner · ★★★★★
“As a new immigrant, I found the lessons extremely helpful in understanding the driving laws in BC. Highly recommend!”
— New immigrant student · ★★★★★
“His calm and encouraging approach truly prepared me for my driving test, ensuring I felt safe and confident. Needless to say that I passed my Class 5. I would absolutely recommend.”
— Class 5 student · ★★★★★
The patterns that keep coming up
Reading through the review pile, three things come up over and over:
- Laz is calm and patient — good especially with nervous students and teens
- First-time pass rate seems high — many reviews mention passing on the first attempt
- Parents love the communication — Laz sends feedback to parents after teen lessons, which is unusual and appreciated
- New immigrants get real value — several reviewers specifically mention the new immigrant program helped them understand BC driving laws
By the Numbers
Latz Driving School Ltd is a member of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce, which is worth noting — smaller driving schools often skip that. It signals they’re operating as a serious local business, not a one-man operation with no accountability structure. Combine that with the ICBC-approved status and BC-MVA licensing, and you’re getting a legitimate operation.
Latz vs Other Victoria Options
Victoria has quite a few driving schools worth knowing about. Here’s how Latz fits in:
Sky Driving School (Victoria)
Perfect 5.0 rating from 440+ reviews, main instructor Hashim. More reviews overall — a bigger name. Fewer “new immigrant program” specifics.
Express Driving School
265+ reviews with a 5.0 rating. Well-established with community platform recognition. Broader range of packages.
DriveWise BC (Victoria branch, on Saanich Rd)
The big chain option — 40+ years of history, wider selection of instructors, classroom + online options. More corporate feel, but more schedule flexibility.
Vic City Driving School (Langford / West Shore)
Better fit if you’re on the West Shore side of Greater Victoria. Not as convenient for downtown / Saanich area students.
Honest take: if you’re a new immigrant, an anxious teen, or you specifically want lessons on the streets around the McKenzie ICBC office, Latz is a really strong pick. If you want a big school with lots of instructor options and packaged programs, DriveWise BC might fit better. If you want the highest raw review count, Sky Driving School is hard to beat.
Common Questions
Where do I take my ICBC road test if I’m learning with Latz?
Most students test at the McKenzie driver licensing office at 4370 Blanshard Street — right across from Latz’s default pickup point at Tim Hortons (1099 McKenzie Ave). That’s the whole point of the pickup location. You learn on the exact roads you’ll be tested on.
Can I use Latz’s car for my ICBC road test?
Their fleet has dual controls (safety feature for lessons), and driving schools generally offer vehicle use for the road test as part of a package. Call to confirm the specific setup for road test day — including the warm-up lesson that usually happens right before the actual test.
Is the new immigrant program actually different from regular lessons?
Yes — it’s specifically structured for people who already know how to drive but need to learn BC road rules, local road signs, and specific Victoria driving conditions. If you had a driver’s license in another country and just need to convert or feel comfortable driving in BC, this program saves you time compared to a full beginner course.
What if I need to cancel a lesson?
Standard driving school rules apply — provide reasonable notice. Their late arrival policy is specific though: within 10 minutes, you get the balance of your lesson but pay for the full hour. Beyond 10 minutes without letting the instructor know, the instructor may leave and you’ll still be charged. Not unreasonable, but worth planning around.
Do I need to have my BC learner’s licence (L) before I book?
Yes. Latz requires you to carry a valid BC Learner’s Driver’s License or a full BC/Canada license to any lesson. If you show up without proof, the instructor can cancel your lesson and there’s no refund. So do the ICBC knowledge test first, get your L, then book with Latz.
How do I actually book?
Easiest is phone, text, or WhatsApp: (250) 893-9800 or (250) 661-0079. Email works too: contact@latzdrivingschool.ca. Payment is required in advance — before your first lesson. Have your BC learner’s licence ready when you show up.
Can I get lessons somewhere other than the McKenzie Tim Hortons?
Yes — but there’s an additional pickup/drop-off fee that must be paid at booking. The default location is the Tim Hortons at 1099 McKenzie Ave because it’s next to the ICBC office and Reynolds Secondary parking lot. If you live somewhere else in Victoria and want home pickup, ask about the fee upfront.
Bottom Line
Latz Driving School Ltd is a legitimate, small-independent driving school in Victoria that has built a strong reputation on one instructor’s personal teaching style. If you’re new to BC, if you’re an anxious teen or an anxious adult, if your parents want an instructor who actually communicates back with them — Latz fits the description.
The downsides are mostly logistical. Pricing isn’t published (call for a quote). The default pickup is fixed at one Tim Hortons unless you pay extra. Payment is required upfront. But these are pretty standard driving school things — nothing that would count as a real dealbreaker.
The best move: call (250) 893-9800 or WhatsApp them, ask about their new immigrant program if that applies to you, and see if Laz has slots. Mention if you’re a teen driver so they can loop your parent in on feedback (which parents actually love). Have your BC learner’s licence ready and be prepared to pay in advance.
Contact Latz Driving School Ltd Victoria
Victoria, BC V8N 3P3
latzdriving@gmail.com
(Near ICBC McKenzie & Reynolds Secondary)
4370 Blanshard Street, Victoria
ICBC-approved & BC-MVA licensed
Instructor Laz named in reviews
Dedicated new immigrant program
Dual-control fleet vehicles
Pickup at McKenzie (near ICBC test)
Parent feedback for teen students
Beginner, Class 5 & refresher lessons
Victoria Chamber of Commerce member
Info compiled from Latz Driving School’s official website, Victoria Chamber of Commerce listing, published student testimonials, and ICBC-approved school records. Confirm pricing, program details, and current lesson availability by calling directly.
