Abraham Axler standing near his childhood home with one of his company’s cars.
Growing up on 73rd and West End Avenue, Abraham Axler didn’t get his driver’s license until well into his twenties—something many native New Yorkers can probably relate to. But when he finally set out to learn, his experience was less than ideal: subpar cars, disorganized booking systems, and instructors who didn’t meet him where he was.
That’s what led Axler—after a stint on Wall Street and earning a prestigious Marshall Scholarship to study public policy in the UK—to open WayPoint Driving School, a modern, digital-first driving school that’s now offering affordable driving lessons on the Upper West Side.
“I was inspired to open a school that was not only high-quality, but also easy to navigate,” said Axler. “You can book your lessons and road tests without ever having to pick up the phone—unless, of course, you want to.”
WayPoint is an expansion of High Ridge Driving School, a trusted institution in Stamford, CT, which has been in business for over 20 years. After Axler acquired it, he brought the same commitment to quality and safety to NYC, where WayPoint is now helping teens and adults become confident drivers—whether they’re behind the wheel for the first time or just need a refresher.
“The care for each student that WayPoint has is evident from the moment you step into the car,” said Ellie, a 30-year-old Upper West Sider.
“I’ve tried several driving schools in NYC and the tristate area,” said another happy customer. “This is by far the best. My teacher was patient, knowledgeable and excellent company. I’ll be back!”
The meeting spot for lessons is conveniently located on 72nd Street between Broadway and Amsterdam, and students can expect clean, well-maintained Toyotas and professional driving instructors who are known for their patience and adaptability. WayPoint instructors have an average of 5 years teaching experience.
Break between lessons; WayPoint knows what’s up.
As someone with learning differences himself, Axler is especially focused on working with students who benefit from a more personalized approach. (To be clear, he doesn’t give the lessons himself.) A graduate of the Stephen Gaynor School, he credits the special education program with teaching him “how to learn”—something he’s instilled into the teaching philosophy at WayPoint.
“Our goal is to make Upper West Siders the safest drivers on the planet,” he says. “That starts with instructors who know how to tailor their teaching styles to each student.”
View this post on Instagram
WayPoint, which boasts flawless reviews on Google, offers private driving lessons for adults and teens, and places special emphasis on preparing students for real-world city driving. That means smart route planning—including quieter spots uptown for practicing three-point turns and parallel parking—as well as insider knowledge of where the parking lots to practice driving are around NYC.
The school also offers the 5-hour pre-licensing course required by the DMV—conveniently online, at just $39, the lowest price available in New York City.
In a unique twist, WayPoint offers free lessons to local artists in exchange for artwork—some of which is proudly displayed on their fleet of cars.
And when he’s not running a driving school, you might catch Axler enjoying a Grey’s Papaya hot dog or visiting the New-York Historical Society—two of his Upper West Side favorites.
To learn more or to book a lesson, visit waypointdriving.com.
