Terms & Conditions

Terms of business

The terms under which driving instruction is provided — a contract between the student (including whoever funds the tuition) and 'R' Drive School of Motoring and its instructors.

You will be informed of any amendments to these terms at least 7 days prior to the amendment. By accepting lessons with us, you agree to the terms detailed below.

1. Code of Practice

Our instructors abide by the professional code of practice published at gov.uk (ADI voluntary code of practice).
We will provide a car which is legally roadworthy, taxed, insured and holds a valid MOT (where necessary).
The instructor’s car will be clean, tidy and fitted with dual controls.
The instructor will be courteous and polite, and will not use improper language or suggestion.
The instructor will not make or receive calls or texts during the lesson unless in an emergency and when the car is stopped in a safe place.

2. Entitlement to drive

You must hold a current, valid driving licence that entitles you to drive in the UK, and produce it at your first lesson. It may be checked periodically.
You must satisfy the requirements of medical fitness to drive, including eyesight — being able to read a number plate at 20.5 metres (67 feet), with glasses or contact lenses if normally worn. If glasses or lenses are required to meet the eyesight requirement, they must be worn at all times while driving.
Any points, endorsements, bans, convictions or restrictions on your licence must be notified to your instructor immediately.

3. Fitness to drive

You must inform your instructor as soon as possible of any medical condition, disability or injury that may affect your ability or entitlement to drive, or if you feel unwell before or during a lesson.
You must not drive whilst under the influence of alcohol (including the day after drinking, which may leave you over the legal limit) or drugs — some prescription and over-the-counter medicines cause drowsiness. Avoid arranging lessons at times when you are likely to be tired, stressed or otherwise distracted.
You must wear suitable footwear and clothing that does not restrict movement or impede your ability to drive safely.

4. Behaviour

We will not tolerate any form of verbal or physical abuse, whether directed at the instructor, an examiner or any other road user.
The instructor may terminate any lesson at any stage if, in their sole opinion, it is inappropriate to continue because of your behaviour, sobriety or state of mind. In these circumstances the lesson fee is forfeited, and providing further transport home is at the instructor’s discretion.

5. Lesson fees

Before or on your first lesson you will be supplied with details of lesson fees, and any fee changes will be notified in advance.
Special offers are provided entirely at our discretion and can be changed or withdrawn at any time without prior notice.
All lessons must be paid for in advance or at the beginning of the lesson, by cash or bank transfer. We do not provide credit facilities under any circumstances — lessons only take place when payment has been received in advance.
Payments made directly to the school make the school responsible for the provision of lessons; lessons paid in advance directly to an instructor make that instructor directly responsible.

6. Change of driving instructor

We aim to provide one instructor throughout your course of lessons to aid continuity.
In special circumstances a change of instructor may be necessary; you have the right to decline lessons from a replacement instructor, though we will not be responsible for any losses (e.g. test fees) if you do.
If you request a different instructor, the request will be granted as soon as possible.

7. Change of tuition vehicle

Tuition vehicles are periodically changed, either permanently or temporarily due to mechanical or other problems.
We will not be responsible for any losses (e.g. test fees) if you choose to decline lessons in a replacement vehicle.

8. Cancellations by the instructor

Lessons may occasionally need to be cancelled at short notice due to adverse weather, a fault with the tuition car, instructor illness or other unforeseen circumstances. Every effort will be made to notify you as soon as practicable, and the appointment will be rearranged to a time suitable for both parties.

9. Cancellations by the student

You must give 48 hours’ notice when cancelling a lesson — including reducing its length — otherwise the lesson will be charged in full. Cancellations must be confirmed by text to the school or directly with your instructor.
Where lessons are repeatedly cancelled, the instructor reserves the right to require a longer notice period, insist on prepayment for all lessons, or discontinue lessons.
If, in the instructor’s sole opinion, you are not fit to drive through alcohol, drugs or any other condition, the lesson will be cancelled and charged in full.

10. Appointment times

Please keep a record of your appointment dates and times. The instructor will wait 10 minutes after the appointment time before deeming the lesson cancelled with insufficient notice.
The instructor will make every effort to be punctual; traffic conditions can sometimes make this difficult, so please allow a 10-minute waiting period. Where the instructor arrives late, you will be offered a reduced rate, the same length lesson where possible, or additional time on a subsequent lesson.
If you need to change the pick-up or drop-off location, 24 hours’ notice is required. Depending on the new location, the lesson may need to start later or finish earlier.

11. Driving tests

Tests should not be booked without first confirming the instructor’s availability and their agreement that you are ready.
We take no responsibility for tests booked at times when your instructor is unavailable. Where possible we may locate a different instructor to enable the test to go ahead on the booked date; if you agree, you accept the replacement instructor’s car for the test.
The instructor’s car is available for test purposes at the same rate as a normal hourly lesson, and only where the instructor agrees you are at test standard. The instructor may refuse the use of their car if, in their professional opinion, you have not reached a sufficient standard of competence — and where possible will give you sufficient notice to cancel the test without loss of the test fee.
Please notify your instructor of the date, time and location of your test. We take no responsibility for incorrect test information provided by the student.
If the DVSA cancels a test within 48 hours of the scheduled date, the allocated time becomes a normal driving lesson under our standard terms.

12. Cancelled driving tests

If a test is cancelled due to a fault with the tuition car, instructor illness or any other reason that is our responsibility, the instructor will pay the cost of your next test fee — unless you were given sufficient notice to cancel the appointment without loss of the fee.
The instructor is not responsible for additional lesson fees incurred whilst waiting for the next test appointment.
If a test is cancelled by the DVSA, full fees for lessons and the use of the car remain payable unless cancelled in accordance with the normal notice period. Where the DVSA cancels at short notice, claiming back a proportion of fees and expenses from the DVSA is the student’s responsibility; the DVSA will arrange a new test date at no extra cost (except in adverse weather, where fees paid to the instructor cannot be reclaimed from the DVSA).
If a test is cancelled because your documents are not in order, because you are ill, because of incorrect test information or any other reason that is your responsibility, we are not responsible for the loss of test fees, and full fees for lessons and the car remain payable.

13. Refunds

Where lessons are paid for in advance, you are entitled to a refund at any time for unused lessons, in accordance with the normal notice period.
Where a prepayment discount was given, lessons already taken will be charged at the normal rate and the balance refunded. Short-notice cancellations (under 48 hours) are not included in any refund.

14. Supervision

For the purposes of assessing, maintaining and improving standards, a driving instructor trainer or examiner may occasionally observe a lesson, with your permission gained beforehand.
Examiners are periodically supervised conducting tests, so you may be accompanied on your test by a supervising examiner — this is a legal requirement.
You will be asked before your test whether you would like your instructor to accompany you — the choice is yours.
With the instructor’s permission, you may allow friends or family to accompany a lesson — for reassurance, to advise whoever supervises your private practice, or to practise carrying passengers.

15. Lessons in your own car

Lessons are normally conducted in the instructor’s car. Lessons in your own car may be given at the instructor’s discretion, and may require an initial assessment in the dual-controlled car first.
Your car must be legally roadworthy, taxed, insured and hold a valid MOT (where necessary), and your insurance must cover the instructor giving professional tuition and driving the car — confirmed in writing by your insurer.
The use of your car is entirely at your own risk, and the instructor will not be held liable for any damage, accident or traffic offences.

16. Student’s property

You are responsible for the care of any property you bring to a lesson. We take no responsibility for loss of, or damage to, your property.

17. Legal liability

In accordance with road traffic law, you are legally responsible for any traffic offences that occur whilst you are in charge of the vehicle.
The instructor will train you to the highest possible standard but cannot be held responsible for the standard of driving or any errors committed whilst driving without the instructor’s supervision, before or after passing a test.

18. Complaints

If you are unhappy with any aspect of your lessons or our service, please raise the matter with us without delay and/or in writing by email to enquiries@rdrive.co.uk, no later than seven days from the date of the cause of the complaint.
If you are not satisfied with the result, you may contact the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency on 0300 200 1122.
Every effort will be made to resolve any complaint or issue.

19. Data protection

We take data protection very seriously. Any data we hold is held securely and is only used for the purposes of the school directly. Your details will not be given to any other party without your permission, unless required by law.
You may be included in mailings we deem of interest; you can opt out at any time through the medium used or by emailing your request to us.