Nelson Bartley is the owner and operator of Bartley's Driving School. He is the classroom instructor and one of the driving instructors. He has been teaching Driver's Ed since 1972. Nelson retired after 37 years as a Lieutenant with the Portland Police Department. Nelson graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a B.S. degree on Social Studies.

Nelson completed a course in accident reconstruction from Northwestern Traffic Institute in Evanston, Illinois. For three years 1977 thru 1979 he investigated serious and fatal accidents working in the traffic division.

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General Information Report

MINIMUM AGE: Students must be at least 15 years old when they start the course, this is required by Maine State Law. Students will also need to show a copy of the original birth certificate. COST: The total cost of the course is $560.00. This covers classwork and driving. INSTALLMENT PLAN: You can pay the full amount on the first day or you can pay in two installments.

Ernesta Kennedy

Sep 11, 2021

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Nelson and his team are all wonderful, friendly and professional. The driving was complete in a timely manner and I was impressed by where the driving took place; a great mix of rural, city and highway driving. My oldest son had a great experience and my middle son is already signed up for his turn.

Anne Mikkelsen

Jun 04, 2021

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Outstanding driving school--from in-class instruction to hands-on driving lessons, particularly mastery of turns, parking (especially parallel parking), highway driving, rules of the road, and safety! Highly recommend a road-test review with instructor from this school shortly before taking test. Their students who do the road-test review pass 90+ percent of the time.

Louise McDaniell

May 03, 2021

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They were mostly teaching lessons on back roads, not in the city. The skills that are necessary to learn and practice for driving were not reviewed nearly enough. They just want to get you in and out as quickly as possible. I'm really disappointed.

Lauryn Casey

Apr 20, 2021

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Bartley's Driving School made it super easy to get my permit and it feels like it went by so fast! (even during these unprecedented times). Scott Dunham was the absolute best and Mr. Bartley made it super easy to schedule driving times that worked within my schedule. I'm sad to have it over because I looked forward to learning with Scott, driving with Steve or Jeff (wonderful instructors, super sweet, and taught me well). Taking my class through them made me feel prepared to hit the road once the classes were over.

Sandy Doona

Apr 08, 2016

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My son Jim & my daughter Kristina both attended Bartley's Driving School. I am pleased to say they are both great drivers today! Thank you Bartley's Driving School

Henry Morgan

Jan 16, 2013

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Best drivers ed school ever! I took his class almost 2 years ago and I had so much fun there. He made driving easy, got to learn how to drive in busy Portland and find county routes there without using the highway, he made book work seem so easy and not boring. It was totally worth the ride and time. I miss Bartley's driving school.