Albany, NY (WRGB) — The New York State DMV says the owner of a driving school in Albany County is facing charges after losing the license to operate the school.
According to the DMV, students of Learn to Drive School Inc. had complained about deceptive practice that left them feeling unsafe. This includes being taken to road tests in vehicles and with instructors they had never seen before, paying for instruction that wasn’t given, being told to drive in vehicles that were not inspected or road-ready, and being used to pick up and drop of other people who were not students.
Charles Lanza is facing several charges related to the complaints in both Albany City Criminal Court and Bethlehem Town Justice Court. The Albany County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.
The DMV says Lanza lost his driving school license in March 2025 but continued to operate the school. They say he told students at road test sites to say they did not take lessons with his unlicensed school. The DMV also says a website is still accessible online with the false claim that the school is licensed.
According to that website, Learn to Drive School offers a $305 lesson package that includes the use of the school’s car for a final road test, but students must take at least one lesson with the school to be able to use that vehicle. The website also claims 25 years of experience, alongside the claim of being state-certified.
An address given for the school was formerly home to Trinity United Methodist Church. It was not immediately clear who owns the property at the time of this report.
Prospective driving students can find licensed driving schools and information on courses at the DMV’s website. The DMV says it cannot accept certificates provided by unlicensed schools.