Terms and conditions

1. QUALIFICATIONS
As a minimum, your Driving Instructor will be licensed by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to give driving tuition.

2. DRIVING LICENSE AND EYESIGHT
The learner must hold a current valid driving license (provisional or full) which must be produced in full (i.e., both photo card and counterpart) on or in advance of their first lesson. The learner must check that they can read a number plate at a distance of 20.5 metres (67 feet, or about 5 average sized car lengths) with glasses if normally worn

3. PAYMENTS
Please note that payments must be made in advance of training. To book a course, a 50% deposit or the full course fee (if the course start date is within 4 weeks of the booking date) is required.

4. REFUNDS
Once the booking has been accepted by the instructor, a binding agreement is made between yourself and the instructor.
Any refund is entirely at the discretion of the instructor. In all cases, any hours already taken will be charged at the full hourly rate and an administration fee of £25.00 will apply.
Gift vouchers have no cash value and are not refundable in any circumstances.
This does not in any way affect your statutory rights to be provided with the goods and services you have bought (see section 9).

5. LESSON POSTPONEMENT
Provided the instructor can easily obtain additional work given a reasonable notice period for any lessons postponed, no penalty will be incurred. If this is not possible, the full training fee for the period in question may be lost or charged. The instructor reserves the right to postpone lessons if he or she feels that the weather or road conditions are unsuitable or dangerous. The instructor cannot be held responsible for any costs incurred as a result of him or her having to postpone any lessons for whatever reason

6. THE DRIVING TEST

a. Bookings
Driving tests can be booked by you or your instructor on your behalf. Driving test bookings always take priority over other lessons. Therefore, your lesson may be postponed to allow for someone else’s driving test and vice versa. Changes to lesson bookings as a result of this will be notified immediately. Test appointments must be notified and agreed with your instructor as soon as they are known, otherwise he or she cannot guarantee to be able to provide a vehicle for your test

b. Use of the Vehicle
In the interests of customer and public safety, your instructor reserves the rights to withhold the use of a car for the test, if in their opinion, your driving is actually or potentially dangerous.

c. Test Cancellation
Three clear days’ notice of cancellation or postponement is required by the DVSA. Failure to provide the required notice will result in the loss of your test fee. Please double check with the DVSA regarding their current rules on cancellations and re-bookings.
Your instructor cannot be held responsible for any postponement or cancellation of test by the DVSA. However, he or she will do all that is possible to arrange another test as quickly as possible and to help you reclaim expenses from the DVSA

7. PUNCTUALITY
In their own interests, learners are advised to be punctual for their lesson appointments.
The instructor would normally wait for a maximum of 15 minutes before the lesson would be abandoned and the lesson fee forfeited or become due for payment. Any time spent waiting after the booked lesson time will be subtracted from your lesson at the instructor’s discretion.
A reciprocal waiting time may be necessary if the instructor is delayed due to unforeseen circumstances. Any time lost as a result of this would be made up by the instructor either at the end of the normal lesson time if possible, or at a later date.
Wherever possible, if the instructor is likely to be more than 5 minutes late, they will notify you.

8. LEARNER COMFORT AND SAFETY

a) What to wear
In the Interests of comfort and safety, learners are advised to wear suitable footwear and clothing which does not restrict movement. Please also wear glasses or contact lenses if you require them.

b) Medication
Learners must also take note of any medication that they are taking that may affect their ability to drive and advise their instructor accordingly before taking any lesson booked. Failure to do this may cause your lesson to be cancelled and become chargeable at the full price rate.

c) Alcohol and drugs
Also, if the instructor has any suspicion that the learner has consumed alcohol or taken drugs prior to the lesson, the lesson will be cancelled and become chargeable at the normal full price rate.

9. YOUR STATUTORY RIGHTS
Nothing in these terms and conditions will reduce your statutory rights relating to faulty or misdescribed goods or services provided

All professional driving instructors have a statutory obligation to provide you with goods and services fit for the purpose for which they were bought and as described.

If you have any doubts about your statutory rights, please contact your local Trading Standards department or Citizens Advice Bureau