Mani S.

Mani Sondhi, the owner and operator of Local Driving School, is the most experienced professional of the Local Driving team. He has taught drivers training for 20+ years, and is a DMV licensed traffic school instructor. Mani, perhaps more than anyone else, sees his work as a service to society. He is passionate about teaching students to be safe, wise, and courteous drivers, as well as helping new drivers earn their license. He is a defensive driving professional, and has taught driving across Northern California, including the Bay Area. Mani grew up in Yuba City, CA, studied at San Francisco State University, and worked as a driving instructor while majoring in businesses. Mani has partnered Local Driving with “Donate Life California”, offers free driving education to adults every year, and has raised awareness about traffic safety in his local community. A few of Mani’s hobbies include traveling and playing tennis.

Jot S.

Jot is Mani’s wife, and joined her husband in teaching driving in 2009. She is patient, kind, and knowledgeable. She encourages her students to be both attentive and confident and enjoys helping drivers in her community be safe. As a mother of two wonderful children, she knows how important safe driving is. She enjoys teaching students all over the world. She has a degree in Computer Science. On her free time, she loves traveling, reading, playing games, and spending quality time with her family.

Don L.

Don has served on the Local Driving team for 20 years, but has been a driving instructor for over 20 years. He is an experienced professional who sees drivers training as his career. He has many children and grandchildren, which he says helps him understand and communicate with his students. Consequently, he enjoys working with youth, and values his work as a unique opportunity to help society, specifically by training youth to be safe drivers. He was born in Marysville, CA, and is extremely familiar with Yuba-Sutter county. In fact, his family history in the Yuba/Marysville area traces back to the 1860s. On his free time, Don enjoys riding motorcycles and spending time with his family.

Karan S.

Hello, my name is Karan, and I've been a local driving school instructor for the last 16 years. One of my strengths is I like to get information for all my students in fine detail. So why don't you give us a try and let's teach your kids!

Steve V.

Steve is a very outgoing instructor. He has been teaching students how to drive for the past 5 years. Steve grew up in Lake Tahoe then moved to the Bay Area and attended Diablo Valley College. Steve loves to go snowboarding, spending time with his dog, and listening to music.

Jyoti S.

Jyoti has been teaching for 7 years. She enjoys teaching safe driving as well as learning new things everyday. Jyoti loves to spend her free time with her husband and 3 kids.

Gary S.

Hello, I'm Gary. I work in the I.T. department along with teaching defensive driving for Local Driving School. I've spent nearly my entire life in Yuba City. I enjoy photography and occasionally do freelance work as a wedding photographer as well. I have been teaching for a few years and am very well versed in how to get students to improve their driving regardless of skill level.

Sarah H.

Hello, My name is Sarah and I have been an educator for three years so far and absolutely love it! I have lived in the yuba city area my whole life. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling, concerts, comics, movies, and board games. I have so much fun working at the Local Driving School and can't wait to meet you!

Merry S.

Manik S.

Manik is a skilled pilot and certified ground instructor with over a decade of experience. Originally from India, he moved to the U.S. in 2023 to continue his aviation career. Since 2012, he has trained aspiring pilots and also enjoys teaching driver training to teens and adults. Passionate about travel and cricket, Manik is dedicated to mentoring and helping others succeed.

Kirt E.

Kirt has been an excellent driving instructor with us since March 2018. He has had his CA driving license since age 16 from El Cerrito, so forty (40) years driving – in several states and other countries! Born in San Francisco, Kirt now lives in Pinole Valley, knows the roadways very well and enjoys teaching driving to local bay area students. Married to a Filipina and having traveled extensively in Asia and worked in Hong Kong, Kirt knows how to relate well to students from many different geographical backgrounds. He is married with two wonderful children who are in elementary/middle school. Mr. Ewing is a former teacher, who enjoys using his whiteboard to show situations and have students learn important acronyms such as ‘SIPDE’ and ‘SMOG’ for turns and lane changes. Having given more than 1,400 lessons, Kirt is very relaxed and comfortable modeling good driving skills and being in the passenger seat giving directions and training. He enjoys being personable during the two hours, so time passes quickly. He is super patient, kind and makes sure students learn and improve each time out. Also, he prepares them excellently for their DMV road test!

Druh M.

Druh has been driving for over 30 years. Her goal as an instructor is to have the student learn the theoretical and practical aspects of driving. Druh encourages the student to be alert and aware of their surroundings at the same time have a good eye, hand, and foot coordination. She also inspires the student to enjoy driving by being calm and patient. Druh enjoys playing the ukulele, listening to music, and doing art during her free time.

Sean S.

Sean is from the field of Aviation. He is a former Engineer who takes safety as the first priority. He holds a drivers license from 3 different countries, has 22 years of driving experience, and would like to share the experience, knowledge and skills with the community.

Ricardo M.

Ricardo was born and raised in the Bay Area, where he attended Richmond High School. After graduating, he started working with the U.S. Postal Service. In 2010, he shifted gears and began teaching with Local Driving School, sharing his knowledge and experience with new drivers. In 2017, Ricardo started working as an instructor and later as a DMV test examiner in Austin, Texas. He started working with Local Driving School as an instructor again in 2025. Outside of work, he enjoys relaxing with classic black and white movies, or walking his dog. He also love collecting vinyl records and listening to classic rock and roll music.

Charan G.

Charan, driving instructor at Local Driving School and a full-time college student. Charan is a professional driving instructor, who can present information in an interesting, brief, and humorous manner that enables automatic muscle memory. He is an extrovert person who enjoys technology, video games, traveling, sports, and cars. Charan loves engaging students in conversations to reduce nervousness and fears within students.

Sat S.

David R.

Hi, my name is David. I am 35 years old. I am married with two children, a 15 year old daughter and 6 year old son. Training and helping people has always been something I enjoyed doing and have many years under my belt of personal training/fitness management and helping people build their skill set. I am excited everyday that I have the opportunity to train and help people in such a different way. It brings me so much joy to see people succeed in any skill they seek to learn and the fact that I get to have any contribution in them achieving their goal brings me so much satisfaction.

Cassandra P.

Hello, my name is Casandra, but I go by Cassie. I'm a recent college graduate with degrees in business with a focus on market research and photography. I recently moved here from LA county and speak fluently in Spanish. As a life long student of what the world has to teach us, I have the understanding that students need a calm friendly but consistent approach to understanding. I am privileged to be a part of a great team and have the opportunity to help make roads safer for future drivers. In my time off I enjoy spending time with my family, watching k-dramas, and taking care of my dogs & cat.

Jeff W.

Hello, my name is Jeffery. As a driving instructor, I come to Local Driving School with 10+ years of experience. I really enjoy being a driving instructor. As I am educating students about driving safely, they are educating me about everything from showing a pig at the fair to what's new in their culinary class. As a UC Davis certified master food preserver, I enjoy teaching home canning and preserving to others as part of my volunteering.

Cindi R.

Cindi lives in Oroville, Ca, and has been a licensed driving instructor in Butte county since 2020. She has a passion for teaching and finds joy in watching her students grow in confidence and skill behind the wheel. Outside of teaching, Cindi is a proud mother of five and a grandmother to one granddaughter. In her free time, she enjoys relaxing at the beach and spending quiet time reading a good book.