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STALLION School of DrivingCHICO · BUTTE COUNTY · LIC E0271
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HOME/ABOUT STALLION

About Stallion School of Driving, ChicoNot a franchise.Your neighbors.

Stallion School of Driving is a local, DMV-licensed driving school based in Chico. Our team knows Butte County traffic, what the DMV drive test scores and how to get you licensed with patience, care and clear coaching.

Rear of a Stallion training SUV showing California DMV driving school license E0271
BUSINESSRATE · BEST OF 2026 BASED ON GOOGLE REVIEWS BEST DRIVING SCHOOL IN Chico 2026
2026 awardBest Driving School in Chico 2026Awarded by BusinessRate, based on Google reviews. #1 Benchmark Score among Chico driving schools: 275 of 300.

Trusted & recognized.

Partners & standards

At a glance

Stallion School of Driving is a local, California DMV-licensed driving school (license E0271) in Chico, CA.

  • Office30 Landing Circle, Suite 102, Chico, CA 95973
  • LessonsPrivate 2-hour behind-the-wheel lessons with DMV-licensed instructors, one student at a time.
  • CarsLessons in premium dual-control SUVs: the instructor has their own brake.
  • Where we driveAcross Butte, Glenn and Tehama counties, with pickup at home, school or work.
  • Help in SpanishSpanish-speaking families can call or text 530-630-9998.
  • Online driver edThrough our Stallion Drivers Ed Academy.
WHAT WE STAND FOR

We teach the test, and the habits that keep you safe after it.

01ExcellencePremium SUVs, a structured curriculum and instructors who hold themselves to a high bar.
02SupportiveNervous beginners to confident pros. No judgment, no rush.
03ConfidenceReal-world skills: highway, night, defensive driving, not just the test route.
04ResultsStudents leave prepared, with habits that last. Families leave with peace of mind.
Our story

A local school, built from the ground up.

Stallion was started in Chico by a dad of three boys who knew how nerve-wracking it is to hand over the keys for the first time. He wanted something better than the driving schools he saw: calmer instructors, cleaner cars, smarter systems, and lessons that help people feel safe, not stressed.

It isn’t a franchise. It’s a local business with a team that knows these roads, teaching one student at a time in modern SUVs with an instructor brake. The goal is bigger than the test: drivers who look far ahead, keep their space and stay calm, for life.

Today Stallion teaches teens and adults across Butte, Glenn and Tehama counties, with online booking, pickup at home, school or work, and written notes after every lesson so families always know what to practice next.

Our mission

Safer roads, one new driver at a time.

We teach the habits that prevent crashes: looking far ahead, keeping space, spotting hazards early and staying calm. Every lesson is private, two hours long and ends with written notes so families know exactly what to practice.

Safer streets

Every student we train is one more careful driver on the roads our own families use. That is the point of every lesson, not only the test.

The next generation

Many of our students are teens driving for the first time. We teach the habits that keep them safe in their first months on their own, when crash risk is highest.

Better drivers for life

Passing the test is a start. We also teach what the DMV never checks: looking far ahead, keeping a space cushion and staying calm in traffic and on the highway.

What you learn, lesson by lesson →Read how we teach →
Your three lessons

What you learn, lesson by lesson.

Three private 2-hour lessons, each on its own day. Each one adds a new kind of road and a new skill, so nothing piles up.

  1. Lesson 1

    Control and confidence

    Where: Quiet streets near Bidwell Park

    You learn
    • Seat, mirrors and every control, including the instructor’s brake
    • Smooth starts and full stops at the limit line
    • Right and left turns in the correct lane
    • Saying out loud what you see (commentary driving)

    By the end: Start, stop and turn smoothly, with your eyes up the road.

    Your instructor checks
    Pre-drive safety & controlsParking lot drivingIntersections · stopRight turn · complete
  2. Lesson 2

    Traffic and decisions

    Where: The Esplanade, East Avenue and downtown Chico

    You learn
    • Choosing a lane early and holding it
    • Lane changes: mirror, signal, shoulder, go
    • A three-second following distance
    • Pedestrians, cyclists and right-of-way at busy intersections

    By the end: Drive in multi-lane traffic calmly and decide early.

    Your instructor checks
    Lane change · leftLane change · rightBusiness / urbanIntersections · through
  3. Lesson 3

    Highway and test-day ready

    Where: Highway 99 or Highway 32, once you are ready

    You learn
    • Entering, merging and exiting at highway speed
    • Scanning 12 to 15 seconds ahead for hazards
    • Backing along a curb
    • A full mock drive test with examiner-style directions

    By the end: Merge at highway speed and drive a full mock test with confidence.

    Your instructor checks
    Freeway/highway · mergeFreeway/highway · exitBacking · straight backingLesson behavior

    Your DMV training certificate is in your hand at the end of lesson 3, once all 6 hours are complete and paid.

Every student is different: the instructor repeats a stage when a skill needs more practice and adds one as soon as you are ready. After each lesson you get written notes: what went well, what to practice at home and the focus for next time.

How we teach

Nine habits, every lesson.

  1. 01Commentary drivingStudents say out loud what they see, what could happen and what they will do. It makes scanning visible, so the instructor can correct the thinking, not just the steering.
  2. 02Look far aheadWe train eyes 12 to 15 seconds down the road, then back to mirrors and the near zone. Early information means earlier, smoother decisions.
  3. 03Keep a space cushionFollowing distance, an escape route to the side and room behind. Most crashes students avoid are the ones they never get close to.
  4. 04Mirror, signal, shoulder, goEvery lane change and turn uses the same four-step routine until it is automatic, including the blind-spot check examiners look for.
  5. 05Hazard perceptionParked cars with drivers inside, bikes near downtown, school zones, farm equipment on rural roads. We name local hazards on real Chico-area roads.
  6. 06Graduated exposureQuiet streets first, then traffic, then highways and night or rain practice. Confidence is built step by step, not rushed.
  7. 07Calm correctionInstructors coach in short, clear phrases and never shame a mistake. Nervous drivers learn faster when they feel safe.
  8. 08Written notes after every lessonFamilies get what went well, what to practice and the focus for next time, so the 50 supervised hours build on each lesson.
  9. 09Beyond the testSkills the DMV never checks but Valley driving demands: easing back onto the pavement when a tire drifts off a rural shoulder, firm controlled braking, passing farm equipment on two-lane roads like Highway 32, and merging onto Highway 99 at traffic speed.
The whole method, the evaluation and the results →
Safety first

Style is how we drive. Safety is why.

We train in IIHS Top Safety Pick+ SUVs with dual brake controls, so your instructor can stop the car at any moment.

IIHS Top Safety Pick+ SUVsOur training SUVs — 2025 Mazda CX-50 and 2025 VW Atlas Cross Sport models — earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s highest safety award.
Dual brake controlYour instructor has their own brake pedal and can stop the car at any moment, so new drivers practice real roads with a safety net.
Experienced, licensed instructorsOur instructors bring 15+ years of combined behind-the-wheel teaching experience. Every one is DMV-licensed, and every lesson is private: one student, full attention, the original permit checked at every pickup.
Habits that prevent crashesLooking far ahead, keeping a space cushion and spotting hazards early, practiced the same way every lesson.

Sources: IIHS · 2025 Mazda CX-50 · IIHS · 2025 VW Atlas Cross Sport. See how we teach →

Inside Stallion

The cars you learn in.

Stallion’s red Mazda CX-50 training SUV
Mazda CX-50 · IIHS Top Safety Pick+
Driver’s seat and dashboard of a Stallion training SUV, tan leather interior
Where you sit: calm, clean, modern
A Stallion training SUV at night with the Stallion crest on the dashboard screen
Night driving practice
Stallion’s red Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport training SUV
VW Atlas Cross Sport · IIHS Top Safety Pick+
Rear of a Stallion training SUV showing the California DMV school license E0271
California DMV school license E0271
THE FACTS

Stallion Chico, on the record.

Our name, license and contact details.

LEGAL NAMEStallion School of Driving
DMV LICENSECalifornia driving school E0271
MAIN OFFICE30 Landing Circle, Suite 102, Chico, CA 95973
CALL OR TEXT530-630-9998
EMAILSupport@stallion-school.com
SERVICE AREAChico, Durham, Paradise, Orland, Corning, Oroville, Gridley, Biggs
WEBSITEstallion-school.com
The instructors

Patient. Licensed. Actually chill.

Join the team →
Sean Johnsonbaugh, driving instructor at Stallion School of Driving, Chico
Sean JohnsonbaughDriving instructorCA DMV INSTRUCTOR LICENSE I3316016

Sean is a DMV-licensed driving instructor with years of hands-on experience helping teens and adults gain confidence behind the wheel. Known for his calm and patient teaching style, Sean focuses on building safe, smart driving habits that last for life. Whether you’re nervous about your first lesson or preparing for your test, students love Sean for making each session simple, focused, and judgment-free. He’s dedicated to helping every driver pass with confidence — and drive with pride.

“A huge thank you to Stallion Driving School and especially to my instructor, Sean.”
Thilini R. · Google review
“Really great guy and chill. 10/10 would recommend”
Oliver R. · Google review
AB Haddadi, driving instructor at Stallion School of Driving, Chico
AB HaddadiFounder · lead instructorCA DMV INSTRUCTOR LICENSE I2854012

Hi — I’m the founder of Stallion School of Driving, and also a dad to three awesome boys. So yeah… I get how nerve-wracking it is to hand over the keys to someone for the first time.

That’s exactly why I built this school. I wanted something better — calmer instructors, cleaner cars, smarter systems, and a vibe that helps people feel safe, not stressed.

This isn’t some big franchise. It’s a local business, built from the ground up with care, real hustle, and a mission to make driving lessons better for everyone — students, families, and instructors too.

Along the way, not everyone wanted to see us win. Some people tried to knock us down or play games behind the scenes — but we stayed focused, stayed kind, and kept showing up.

Today, I’m proud of what we’ve built — not just a driving school, but a team. A culture. A place where people feel supported and seen.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope we get to meet you or your teen soon — and help make driving a milestone worth celebrating.

“Shout out to Haddadi for getting me from zero experience to driving on busy streets and parking lots within the first lesson.”
Charlie M. · Google review
“He is a calm, polite and professional instructor”
Anvar · Google review
Success stories

From nervous to licensed.

What families wrote on Google after their lessons, in their own words.

Passed the driving test
“I’m happy to share that I passed my driving test! A huge thank you to Stallion Driving School and especially to my instructor, Sean. He was patient, clear, and encouraging throughout my lessons, explaining everything in a way that made me feel confident and prepared.”
Thilini R. STUDENT · GOOGLE REVIEW
Passed on the first try
“Amazing! I took 4 lesson and passed my test on the first try!”
Karen M. STUDENT · GOOGLE REVIEW
Busy streets in lesson 1
“Great experience, as a first time driver my instructor took me through all the basics of the road with great instruction and I was able to get on the road in no time. Very friendly with helpful instruction, shout out to Haddadi for getting me from zero experience to driving on busy streets and parking lots within the first lesson.”
Charlie M. STUDENT · GOOGLE REVIEW
Finished the 6 hours
“Just Completed my 6 hours behind the wheel with my instructor Sean, really great guy and chill. 10/10 would recommend this school to people who are looking to get their license.”
Oliver R. STUDENT · GOOGLE REVIEW
Confident in the city and on the freeway
“My sister found this school on Google Maps. Scheduled 2 classes with AB and don’t regret it. He is a calm, polite and professional instructor that makes you feel more comfortable while driving. Taking his class was important for me to be more confident driving in the city and freeway.”
Anvar STUDENT · GOOGLE REVIEW
Overcame the fear of driving
“The instructor was really patient, friendly and helped me to overcome the fear of driving. He is an amazing instructor!! He is quite flexible with schedule. He explained me all my mistakes which was really helpful during behind the wheel test.”
Sruthi V. STUDENT · GOOGLE REVIEW
From our families

Why families choose Stallion.

★★★★★
“As a parent, I felt 100% satisfied and comfortable. The car pulled up, clean and professional, with a kind instructor who put my daughter at ease. I watched them drive off with full trust. I highly recommend Stallion to any parent.”
Monica S.PARENT · CHICO · GOOGLE REVIEW
★★★★★
“They actually cared about me learning — not just passing the test. Stallion isn’t like other schools, it’s worth every penny. My instructor showed me real driving skills, not just how to pass. I feel confident on the road now, and I passed my DMV test on the first try!”
Alex G.STUDENT · CHICO · GOOGLE REVIEW
★★★★★
“Professional, patient, and incredibly helpful. I was super nervous about learning to drive, but Stallion made everything feel so smooth. The instructor was calm and explained things in a way that made sense. The car was spotless and modern — nothing like the old driving schools.”
Jasmine R.STUDENT · PARADISE · GOOGLE REVIEW
★★★★★
“I’m happy to share that I passed my driving test! A huge thank you to Stallion Driving School and especially to my instructor, Sean. He was patient, clear, and encouraging throughout my lessons, explaining everything in a way that made me feel confident and prepared.”
Thilini R.STUDENT · GOOGLE REVIEW
★★★★★
“Amazing! I took 4 lesson and passed my test on the first try!”
Karen M.STUDENT · GOOGLE REVIEW
★★★★★
“Great experience, as a first time driver my instructor took me through all the basics of the road with great instruction and I was able to get on the road in no time. Very friendly with helpful instruction, shout out to Haddadi for getting me from zero experience to driving on busy streets and parking lots within the first lesson.”
Charlie M.STUDENT · GOOGLE REVIEW
★★★★★
“Just Completed my 6 hours behind the wheel with my instructor Sean, really great guy and chill. 10/10 would recommend this school to people who are looking to get their license.”
Oliver R.STUDENT · GOOGLE REVIEW
★★★★★
“We are so thankful about how easy Stallion Driving School made the process for my daughter. Her instructor was beyond PROFESSIONAL, COURTEOUS, and KNOWLEDGEABLE! I would highly recommend this driving school to anyone in the Oroville area as the drive is worth the amazing service!”
Amanda G.PARENT · OROVILLE · GOOGLE REVIEW
★★★★★
“My daughter had a good positive experience with Stallion driving school. The instructor was very friendly and easy to work with. I appreciated the final mock evaluation sheet that she was given in preparation for her DMV behind the wheel test. Overall great experience!”
Chris S.PARENT · GOOGLE REVIEW
★★★★★
“My sister found this school on Google Maps. Scheduled 2 classes with AB and don’t regret it. He is a calm, polite and professional instructor that makes you feel more comfortable while driving. Taking his class was important for me to be more confident driving in the city and freeway.”
AnvarSTUDENT · GOOGLE REVIEW
★★★★★
“The instructor was really patient, friendly and helped me to overcome the fear of driving. He is an amazing instructor!! He is quite flexible with schedule. He explained me all my mistakes which was really helpful during behind the wheel test.”
Sruthi V.STUDENT · GOOGLE REVIEW
★★★★★
“We had a great experience with Stallion Driving School. My son thought his instructor was very nice and patient with him. He’s completed 3 behind-the-wheel training sessions and is ready for his Driving test now!”
Jocelyn S.PARENT · GOOGLE REVIEW
★★★★★
“Stallion Driving School, was the only driving school that reached back out to me when trying to set up appts for my daughter. The instructor was really cool and understanding. He was on time and personable. Great service.”
Kimberle B.PARENT · GOOGLE REVIEW
★★★★★
“The best instructor I’ve ever had he is Super polite he will train your pretty good. He will make sure you know everything and drive like a professional before your test. He will go over everything with you and make sure you understand it. 5/5 stars”
Michel J.STUDENT · GOOGLE REVIEW
★★★★★
“Stallion driving school was amazing. They got back to me promptly and communicated really well with pickup times, cancellations, or any other needs. My son breezed through the driving course and is ready for the DMV test.”
Lisa B.PARENT · GOOGLE REVIEW
★★★★★
“Friendly, courteous and very knowledgeable. My son stated to me the driving instructor was very personable. We both would highly recommend Stallion Driving School.”
Kerri W.PARENT · GOOGLE REVIEW
★★★★★
“Very professional and they worked well with my son with little driving experience, great communication and service!”
Marisol M.PARENT · GOOGLE REVIEW
★★★★★
“Had a great experience at Stallion School of Driving! Instructors were knowledgeable and patient, and customer service was top-notch. Highly recommend!”
Romaan K.STUDENT · GOOGLE REVIEW
★★★★★
“Ab is a very calm instructor and it was easy to learn with him. He stays calm and he is very nice.”
Nathan R.STUDENT · GOOGLE REVIEW
★★★★★
“Definitely do your lessons with Stallion Driving School. Ab was extremely nice and respectful and also very helpful and supportive!”
William O.STUDENT · GOOGLE REVIEW
★★★★★
“My experience was overall really great, super kind and helpful and funny. The cars are really new and nice and easy to drive. I highly recommend!”
Jack M.STUDENT · GOOGLE REVIEW
★★★★★
“Excellent experience and instructor! Definitely built my confidence. Highly recommended!”
Ashjan H.STUDENT · GOOGLE REVIEW
★★★★★
“Super nice driving instructor with an epic and fancy car!! I learned so much and I definitely recommend!”
Luke S.STUDENT · GOOGLE REVIEW
Read all 170 reviews on Google (4.9★) ↗
All reviews, in one place →
Stallion mascot waving

Come drive with us.

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