Benavides Driving School celebrates 50 years of service in the Rio Grande Valley

3 weeks ago 78

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Benavides Driving School is celebrating 50 years in business, making it one of the longest, continuously operating local businesses in South Texas.

The family-owned business was established in 1975 by the late Cameron County Commissioner Pedro “Pete” Benavides in Brownsville. His brother and current owner Mario A. Benavides was 14 years old when his older brother opened the school.

Mario said the idea of opening a driving school rather than starting any other kind of business was Pete’s idea.

“At the time, Pete was working as a driving instructor with Reyna Driving Systems, based out of Austin and San Antonio. He would travel from town to town with a trailer, teaching up to 30 adults at a time each month. Even those who couldn’t read, he patiently taught the road signs, rules, and driving skills needed to pass the driving test,” Mario recalled. “Pete also taught in the Brownsville Independent School District’s driver education program. However, when the state stopped offering driver education in public schools, he saw an opportunity to commercialize driver training in the Rio Grande Valley. That vision led to the founding of our school—making us the first driving school to open in Brownsville, Texas.”

In 1975, Pete Benavides purchased his first franchise from the Reyna family and officially opened his doors in April of that year. The school was located on the second floor of the Majestic Building in downtown Brownsville.

“We started with one vehicle, one location, and one instructor,” Mario said. “Today, we’ve grown into a trusted name in driver education, with major locations in Brownsville, Harlingen, and McAllen. Our fleet now includes 15 driver education vehicles, and our team has expanded to over 30 employees.”

Classroom and vehicle instructors, office staff and advertising efforts have been driven by Benavides’ siblings, their spouses, and children, including Mario’s wife, Anne, daughter Ashley, and Commissioner Benavides’ widow and current Pct. 1 Commissioner Sofia Benavides.

“So many of us grew up in the family business,” Mario said.

Mario took over the family business in 1997, after he bought it from his brother and his wife, Sofia, who played a vital role in the early years of the driving school.

“My journey with the business began much earlier, as a student in one of the very first Teen Driver classes back in 1975,” Mario said. “In those early days, I also worked part-time after school, cleaning the office and running errands. It has been a true honor to carry on this legacy and continue serving families throughout the Rio Grande Valley.”

Just like any business, Benavides Driving School had its share of challenges.

“Financial stability, vehicle maintenance, and instructor recruitment and training have all required constant attention,” Mario said. “In the early days, we had to send our instructors all the way to San Marcos for certification. Now, we’re proud to offer in-house training, which not only saves time but also strengthens the quality and consistency of our program.”

Mario said Benavides Driving School has developed a recognizable brand of vehicles as well as dedicated employees who have been employed for over 30 years.

“That kind of loyalty is rare and speaks volumes about our company culture,” Mario said.

One of the more complex aspects of running a driving school has been navigating the ever-changing oversight agencies, Mario said.

“We started under the Department of Public Safety’s Driver Training Division, then moved under the Texas Education Agency, and now fall under the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR),” he added. “Each transition brought new rules and requirements, but we’ve always adapted and adjusted. Keeping up with changes in traffic laws and driver education standards is an ongoing responsibility. Our instructors are required to complete annual continuing education courses to remain licensed, and we take that responsibility seriously.”

Mario said the growth in the Rio Grande Valley has had a significant impact.

“With the arrival of companies like SpaceX and LNG, there’s been a boom in infrastructure and population. That means more traffic and more complexity on the roads, making our mission to teach safe, defensive driving more important than ever, especially for teens and young adults,” he added.

Benavides Driving School has taught tens of thousands of people, as well as adults who come in after years of being afraid to learn.

“Our old slogan used to be, ‘It was hard getting started, but we taught a burro to drive—people are easy.’ It always got a laugh, but it also made a point: no matter where you’re starting from, you can learn,” Mario said. “Watching someone who thought they’d never drive walk out with a license, a new sense of confidence, and new opportunities—that’s something that never gets old. That’s what makes all the challenges worth it.”

Benavides Driving School currently serves three Valley locations with campuses in Brownsville, Harlingen and McAllen offering teen and adult driver education, defensive driving classes, and court-mandated certificate classes.

There are currently no plans to expand but Mario said expansion is always a possibility down the road.

“For now, we’re focused on growing through partnerships, and we’ve been doing that successfully for over 50 years,” he said. “We have long-standing contract site agreements with several school districts, including Brownsville ISD, Port Isabel ISD, Harlingen ISD, San Benito ISD, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD, and McAllen ISD. We also have a strong partnership with Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, where we’ve provided driver education for many years.”

Benavides Driving School offers innovations that set them apart from other driving schools, Mario said.

“Our state-of-the-art training vehicles are equipped with the latest technology to create a safer, more supportive learning environment. In addition to dual-brake systems, dual mirrors, and interior and exterior cameras, some of our newer vehicles are equipped with advanced safety features—including automatic emergency braking,” he said. “These systems are designed to activate if a student fails to brake in time and the instructor doesn’t engage the instructor brake quickly enough. It adds an extra layer of protection for both the student and instructor.”

In the classroom, students receive the most current and accurate information as the driving school is continuously updating materials with the latest laws and regulations from the Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Texas Education Agency, and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).

“We also offer online driver education courses for students who prefer remote learning, and we’re proud to provide all of our courses in both English and Spanish,” Mario Benavides said. “This bilingual approach helps us better serve the diverse communities throughout the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.”

On the 50^th anniversary of Benavides Driving School, Mario shares his thoughts on this milestone.

“Honestly, I never imagined Benavides Driving School would one day celebrate 50 years—and I don’t think my brother Pete ever imagined it either. Pete was more than just the founder of BDS—he was our foundation. When we lost our mother, Pete stepped in and became my legal guardian. I was just 15,” he said. “He made sure I stayed in school, got my education, found a job, and eventually found my place in the business. Over time, I became an instructor, then an administrator, and finally an owner. That journey wouldn’t have been possible without his guidance and belief in me.”

Pete Benavides passed away in 2006, but his presence is still felt in everything the company does.

“He had a heart for people—especially adults who came in scared and unsure if they could learn to drive. He’d sit with them, calm their nerves, and say: ‘Nosotros entendemos que no están haciendo esto—aprender a manejar—por cosa de lujo. Es por cosa de necesidad. Y por esa misma razón, le vamos a ayudar. Ya lo más difícil ya lo hizo: registrarse. Ahora va a ser fácil con nosotros en Benavides’,” he said. “That spirit of compassion and encouragement is what made BDS different then—and it’s what still sets us apart today. My family and I are incredibly blessed to carry on what Pete started. We owe so much to him, and we strive every day to honor the legacy he left behind.”

Mario shares his advice to people starting a business.

“My best advice to anyone starting a business is this: genuinely care about every single customer who walks through your door. Don’t just provide a service—provide support. Take the time to help people in every way you can,” he said. “Go beyond the basics. It’s not just about answering questions like ‘How much is the course?’ or ‘When does it end?’ It’s about listening, being patient, and giving more than what’s expected.”

Mario said none of this would have been possible without the support of his family.

“In the early days, it was my brother Pete who laid the foundation and believed in me when I needed it most. And over the years, it’s been the unwavering support of my wife, my children—Mario Jr., Jeff, and Ashley—that kept me going. Without them, I truly don’t believe I would’ve made it to 50 years in this business,” he said. “I’m also deeply grateful to our incredible team, many of whom I consider family. Their dedication, loyalty, and care for our students have been essential to everything we’ve built. But more than the years, more than the business, what I’m most proud of is the tens of thousands of students we’ve had the privilege to teach—helping them become safe, confident drivers. That’s the true reward. That’s the legacy.”

The post Benavides Driving School celebrates 50 years of service in the Rio Grande Valley appeared first on Rio Grande Guardian.

Read Entire Article