Terms and Conditions

 
These Terms and Conditions set out our ground rules for all of your Driver Training. To be clear – these rules apply to both the Customer and your “Gerry Petticrew Driving School” Driving Instructor. The only exception to the rules herein would be where the Driver Training Vehicle is unexpectedly off the road due to mechanical failure. These Terms and Conditions are an integral part of your tuition, and must be agreed prior to the start of the first lesson.

It is your responsibility to attend all lessons with a valid Provisional Driving Licence, if a lesson is attended without such a licence – the full lesson price will be due. Your Instructor reserves the right to refuse to provide you with tuition or to cancel any lessons you have agreed to or booked, without liability, if you fail to provide him/her with the licence prior to your first lesson.

The contract for driving tuition is solely between you and Your Instructor. You and your Instructor are responsible for agreeing all matters relating to the timing, location and duration of individual lessons.

Lessons booked as part of a block booking (10 / 20 or 30 hours) will be honoured at the discounted rate. Lessons pre-paid of less than 10 hours are subject to change without notice should prices be changed. Lesson Prices are as shown on the Driving School website; these may be varied at any time by the Driving Instructor. All prices include VAT at the prevailing rate. The cost of block booked tuition is based on the lesson price in force at the time that the Booking is made and will be honoured for a period of 6 months from the date of the booking. If you fail to use a minimum of 50% of your block booked tuition within the first 6 months of the booking date, we reserve the right to increase the price of any unused tuition time.

Payment – Lessons must be paid for in advance unless by prior arrangement and agreement with your Instructor. Discounts are available for pre-paid lesson bookings. Please contact the office for details.

Pick Up points – Your Instructor will be pleased to start and finish your lesson from different pick up points – providing these are agreed at least one week in advance – and that both are within the usual area of work for the Instructor.

Cancellation Policy - Lessons can only be cancelled with 24 hours notice. Where a cancellation is received within this period, the full cost of the lesson will be due unless the lesson is re-booked within 5 days. Where repeated cancellations occur, the Instructor reserves the right to charge for the cancelled lesson. Successful Driving Training depends on continuity of tuition – this policy is in place to maintain this progress. This policy may only be varied by your Instructor. 

Communication - All communication must be in person – not via a relative or friend. This is for both security and data protection. Therefore no changes to appointments will be accepted by text, email or answer phone message. Your Instructor will provide you with his mobile number on which to speak with him.

Re-arrangement Policy - Lessons cancelled but re-booked and taken within 5 days have no additional charge.

Bad Weather – Lessons will be taken as booked unless advised by the Instructor in every circumstance. If weather is such that your Instructor feels that a lesson needs to be re-arranged – he will be in contact with you.  If you have concerns – speak with your Instructor.

To ensure that communication channels are in place – please ensure that your Instructor is aware of your mobile and landline numbers.

Holidays and Availability -  Your Instructor will give you the maximum possible notice of holidays / days where he is unavailable; please ensure that you do likewise. Please be sure to book your first lesson after your holiday / break in tuition, to retain your place on the diary – and to maintain progress.

Refund Policy – Refunds for lessons not taken will only be made in exceptional circumstances, and entirely at the discretion of the Instructor. Lessons already taken will not be refunded under any circumstances.

Practical Tests will only book with your Instructor’s agreement.  If a Test is booked without the Instructors agreement – there will be no assurance that his car will be available for the Test. Please consult with the Office where any doubt exists. Be aware that the Office can book your Practical Test at no additional charge, and ensure that the Test is booked at a time where the Instructor and his car are available.   

Your instructor will:

(1) Provide you with driving tuition at the hourly rate communicated to you from time to time;

(2) Recommend what are, in their opinion, the most appropriate training methods and aids to help you study for your theory and hazard perception test;

(3) Design a course of lessons to match your specific driving and learning needs from your first lesson right through to your practical test;

(4) Provide you with on-road lessons which will last two hours or such other duration as you and Your Instructor will agree in advance;

(5) Provide a presentable, modern, properly maintained and dual controlled car for each lesson;

(6) Recommend, where appropriate, advanced courses to help you develop your skills for: Motorway driving, driving in extreme weather conditions and the Pass Plus;

(7) Give you relevant feedback during your lesson and record your development in your Progress Record at the end of each lesson;

(8) Monitor your progress, advise and recommend what is, in their opinion, the appropriate time to apply for your practical driving test and where required, they will advise whether it should be subsequently rescheduled;

(9) Provide training on a one-to-one basis with no other learner in the car;

(10) Honour the full time booked for each lesson, which should include an introduction, Practical training and a debrief at the end of your lesson;

(11) At all times conduct themselves in a professional manner including:

i. being courteous and considerate to you

ii. Avoiding physical contact except in an emergency

iii. Not smoking during your lessons

iv. Restricting mobile phone use to emergencies or for your benefit

(12) Reserve the right to cancel a lesson or finish a lesson early on grounds of road safety;

(13) Not discriminate against you and will always abide by the law;

(14) Endeavour to be on time at the agreed pick-up point and be available for the full duration of the lesson booking, subject to any circumstances beyond their control;

(15) Endeavour to give you a minimum of 24 hours notice (excluding Bank Holidays) should a Lesson need to be rescheduled;

(16) Respond professionally to any worries or issues that you may have and try to resolve them to your satisfaction.

Health and Safety - Please ensure that you present yourself in suitable clothing – particularly practical shoes. It is also important to attend lessons with any appropriate glasses / lenses for reasons of road safety.

Drink / Drugs /Medication -  if you are taking any medication that may affect your ability to drive – please discuss this at the earliest opportunity with your Instructor.

Be aware that where a pupil presents themselves for a lesson in a condition that the Instructor believes to be unfit due to the effects of Drink or Drugs – the lesson will be aborted on the grounds of road safety – and the full lesson price will be due. There will be no exceptions to this rule.

There will be No Smoking at any time during any lesson.

Gerry Petticrew Driving School commits to fulfil its responsibilities with regard to Data Protection. Any information and information provided will be treated as confidential, and handled securely.

Mobile telephones will not be answered by Pupil or Instructor during the lesson. Please remember to switch off your phone at the start of all lessons to prevent distraction.

Recommendations - Gerry Petticrew Driving School offers an incentive to its Customers – for each new Customer that begins training with Gerry Petticrew Driving School, we will provide a free hour lesson to the Customer recommending the Instructor. For more information – please discuss this with your Instructor.

Confirmation of acceptance of the Terms and Conditions;

……………………………………………………………………………………………………; DSA Approved Driving Instructor 

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..; Pupil.

Supplementary Terms and Conditions ; Pass Guarantee

The Pass Guarantee Course operates with strict conditions that require the commitment of both Pupil and Instructor to achieve a successful outcome. The key Terms and Conditions of the Pass Guarantee are as follows ;

1. To qualify for the Pass Guarantee – the pupil must have signed a copy of these Terms and Conditions.

2. A minimum of 2 hours tuition per week must be taken throughout the Driving Course.

3. Where a holiday / break is taken – the hours missed are to be re-booked with the Instructor in the week immediately before or week immediately after the holiday.

4. If a lesson is missed due to illness or similar unavoidable situation – the lesson must be re-booked within 7 days of the original booking.

5. A test may only be booked once all sections of the Record of Progress are completed to an independent standard in the view of the Instructor.

6. A Mock Test must be completed and the results / feedback applied prior to the DSA Practical Driving Test.

7. The DSA Practical Driving Test may only be taken once the Instructor has confirmed that the appropriate number of lessons has been completed.

8. Payment for a further DSA Practical Driving Test will only be made where  points 1 to 7 (inclusive) above have been fulfilled.

9. The Pass Guarantee only applies where the subsequent DSA Practical Driving Test is booked and taken with the current Instructor. Under no circumstances will cash refunds be made.

10. The Pass Guarantee applies only to DSA Practical Test fees – and not to lessons or any other costs incurred during the course.

11. Tests and courses booked with previous Instructors / Driving Schools are not covered. 

12. Pass Guarantee Courses are not transferrable.

13. The Pass Guarantee offer may be withdrawn at any point.

14. The Pass Guarantee Terms and Conditions may only be varied or amended by the Driving Instructor.

Confirmation of acceptance of the Terms and Conditions ;

……………………………………………………………………………………………………; DSA Approved Driving Instructor 

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..; Pupil.