To avoid any misunderstandings here are our terms and conditions, we have tried to make them as easy to read as possible. The terms and conditions represent the basis upon which training is offered by Approach School of Motoring. The provision of training is subject to the acceptance of these terms and conditions.
In these terms and conditions ‘you’ or ‘your’ means you – the customer. The use of ‘we’ ‘our’ or ‘us’ means Approach School of Motoring and refer to our ‘instructors’, who are: Paul Dixon or Nikki Dixon.
Requirements for driving legally
You must be aged 17 years or over, (or aged 16 or over and receive the higher rate of Disability Living Allowance (mobility component).
You must hold a valid UK driving licence (Provisional driving licence/Full driving licence) and be legally entitled to drive in the UK. It is your responsibility to present your valid UK driving license at the start of your first lesson. Failure to do so entitles your instructor to cancel the lesson and you will be charged.
You must be able to read (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) a car number plate made after 1 September 2001 from 20 metres. You could be prosecuted if you drive without meeting the standards of vision for driving.
You must inform your instructor of anything that affects your ability or entitlement to drive, eg. loss of licence, medical restrictions.
Your instructor will ensure that their car is taxed and insured for the purpose of driving tuition. The car is fully roadworthy and fitted with dual controls.
Pupils who want to use their own car for their lessons must supply evidence from their motor insurer that they are covered to drive the car when being supervised by a professional instructor in return for payment. The car must also be taxed and hold a current M.O.T certificate where appropriate.
Bookings and lesson arrangements
Bookings will need to be arranged directly between you and your instructor. Once you are registered with your instructor as an active pupil, they will ensure a lesson is available for you on a regular basis. To ensure continuity of learning your instructor will aim to keep the arrangements for your lessons consistent, such as the same day/time each week, however this cannot be guaranteed.
Block bookings:
Lessons can be booked in advance as part of a block of 5 lessons. Dates/times of block bookings can be arranged directly with your instructor. Block bookings are to be pre-paid in full at the start of the block of 5 lessons, payments are due as per the payment methods below. All pre-paid block bookings are valid for 6 months from the date of purchase. Unfortunately if you allow this 6 month period to expire without taking lessons, you will risk losing any remaining lessons. Please speak to your instructor who will help you to resolve any difficulties you may have.
Your instructor will do everything possible to ensure that your lessons start and finish on time but they may have to cancel, postpone or change lesson length and start/finish times under certain circumstances (i.e. dangerous weather conditions). If for any reason your instructor is late for the lesson they will try to inform you of their estimated time of arrival. The lesson will be extended at the end to the make sure you have the full length of your original booking. If this is not possible the extra time will be carried forward to the next lesson. If your lesson is cancelled or postponed any pre-paid fees will be carried forward.
All lessons will start and finish at the same location unless alternative arrangements are agreed with your instructor in advance.
To ensure both yours and the public’s safety, your instructor may need to drive to a suitable training location for your lesson. This journey time will form part of the lesson duration.
In the event that your instructors car has a mechanical fault during the lesson, which can not be resolved, your instructor will carry forward any remaining time onto your next lesson.
Payments and Price Promise
Tuition fees can be paid using one of the following methods:
Cash payments are due at the start of your lesson. Like any type of cash purchase; you are entitled to ask for a receipt. If your require a receipt please ask for this at the time of paying cash to the instructor.
Payments by cheque are due 5 days prior to the lesson to allow time for processing and for this payment to be cleared before the lesson. Any cheques that are subsequently refused by your bank will be subject to an administration charge of £10. Please arrange payments by this method directly with your instructor at the time of booking.
If you prefer to pay by direct bank transfers you will need to arrange this directly with your instructor. Bank transfers are due 3 days prior to the arranged lesson to allow time for the payment to clear before the lesson.
Pre-paid gift vouchers can also be used as payment for tuition, please arrange payments by this method directly with your instructor at the time of booking. Gift vouchers have no cash value and must be used within 6 months of the date of purchase. After the expiration date vouchers will become invalid and the full value will be lost.
Our Price Promise: Your tuition fee rate will stay the same for the duration of your learning with Approach School of Motoring providing that you commit to regular lessons. If you stop having lessons for 4 or more consecutive weeks your agreed rate may expire.
Cancellation Policy
If you need to cancel or rearrange a lesson, at least 24 hours notice will be required. If you don’t give at least 24 hours’ notice of cancellation you’ll be charged the full amount for the lesson(s).
Complaints/Refund Policy
Complaints:
In the unlikely event that you are not fully satisfied with the service you receive from us or if you have any problems and wish to raise a complaint, please speak to your instructor directly who will work with you to help resolve your issue. We can only help if you tell us about your problem first.
Refunds:
Refunds will only be given for pre-paid block bookings where zero hours have been used or for individual pre-paid lessons where notice of cancellation is within 24 hours. Please make any request for refund directly with your instructor and allow 30 days for this to be dealt with.
Discounts, Offers and Gift Vouchers
Discounted rates are only available as block bookings, please see our website for the up to date list of prices. Offers will be posted on the website and social media pages. Approach School of Motoring are entitled to change driving tuition offers and lesson prices at any time.
Gift vouchers can be purchased for any value and used towards the cost of individual lessons or block bookings. When purchasing gift vouchers please be aware they are valid for 6 months from the date of purchase. Unfortunately if you do not make a booking to start your lessons within 6 months of the expiry date, it will then become invalid and the full value will be lost.
Test bookings and arrangements
When you are ready to do so, you will make the bookings for both your Theory and Practical test via the gov.uk website. If you have any problems when doing this please speak to your instructor who will be happy to help.
Please speak to your instructor before booking your Practical test to confirm that they agree your driving is test standard and to avoid any disappointment if your instructor is unavailable. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) requires you to give three clear working days to cancel your test without charge. This may mean that you may lose your test fee if you book a short notice test without speaking to your instructor first.
You can choose to take the Practical test in either your driving instructors car or your own car.
If you wish to use your instructors car for your test, a minimum of a 2 hour booking is required. This is to allow for travel time to/from the test, 1 hour lesson prior to the test and use of car for the test.
Your instructor is entitled to withdraw their car for the use on your test, should they feel you are not ready. This is to ensure the safety of you, the examiner and the general public. Your instructor will always give you a minimum of 5 working days notice to allow you the opportunity to rearrange the test without charge.
Your instructor cannot be held responsible for tests cancelled by the DVSA due to bad weather, sickness, staff shortages or other reasons. Such cancellations are beyond our control and therefore the lesson fee and ‘use of car’ fee will be charged. You can make a claim for compensation from the DVSA, Information and advice on doing this is available on our website.
In the unlikely event that a DVSA examiner declines to go out on test in your instructors car because it’s not roadworthy for any reason, your instructor will pay for you a replacement test and there will be no further charge for usage of the car for the rearranged test.
Code of Conduct
Approach School of Motoring instructors agree to abide by the conditions of the Professional Code of Conduct. In the unlikely event of a complaint or dispute, the guidelines of this code will be adhered to.
Use of Personal Information
Approach School of Motoring uphold and are in accordance with the Data Protection Act (1998).
All personal information and details given to Approach School of Motoring are used to deliver the service intended and records are kept strictly confidential. We will never share you information without your knowledge and consent. For further information please visit: Privacy Policy.
Limitation of Liability
Our instructors are not liable to you (the pupil) for any loss or damage caused relating to any business interests such as lost profits, lost earnings, loss of opportunity/business or business interruption, including in no event liable for negligence or breach of statutory duty.
Your rights
These terms and conditions do not affect any protection a pupil has under consumer legislation.
PLEASE SIGN BELOW TO CONFIRM THAT YOU HAVE READ AND AGREE TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
SIGNED:
(Pupil)
PRINT NAME:
DATE:
