By booking a driving lesson with Thumbs Up Driver Training, you agree to these terms and conditions set out below. Please read these terms and conditions carefully as they are the basis of your contract with me for driving tuition. In these terms and conditions: ‘I’, ‘me’ or ‘myself’ refers to Kim Gibson and Thumbs Up Driver Training, and ‘you’ refers to the pupil in receipt of driving tuition.
Payments and Cancellations
Payments can be made by bank transfer at least 48 hours in advance of the lesson. When cancelling or rescheduling a pre-booked lesson, a minimum of 48 hours' notice is required, or the lesson fee may be charged.
Block bookings are charged at a reduced rate compared with the pay-as-you-learn hourly rate. For any reason you decide not to continue with your lessons before completing all pre-paid lessons, then the lessons used will be charged at the higher hourly rate and deducted from the balance to be refunded.
To the best of my ability, I will ensure that your lessons start and finish on time. If I arrive late, I will make the time up, if possible, at the end of the lesson or with mutual agreement at the end of the next lesson. However, if you arrive late, the lesson will start at the time of your arrival and end at the pre-arranged time. If you fail to turn up for a lesson, then the full lesson fee will be charged. Under circumstances beyond my control, e.g., severe weather or traffic conditions, I reserve the right to cancel or change lesson times and duration. If this is the case, the lesson fee will be waived or carried forward.
If you do not show for your lesson, I will attempt to contact you, and I will wait ten (10) minutes before leaving. If this happens, you will be charged the full lesson fee.
I reserve the right to cancel a lesson at short notice if I believe you to be unfit to drive due to the effects of alcohol, drugs (prescribed or otherwise), or any other condition that would make driving illegal or dangerous. This also applies if I deem your behaviour to be unreasonable or abusive towards myself or any other road users. In such circumstances, you must pay the full lesson fee.
Responsibilities
You must hold a current, valid UK driving licence (provisional or full), which will be checked online in advance of your first lesson with me. I may also ask you to sign a licence declaration form. You will also bring your provisional driving licence with you on your first lesson. Your eyesight will be checked on your first lesson, as you must be able to read a car number plate from a distance of twenty (20) metres (with the aid of glasses or contact lenses if necessary). You must inform me of any medical condition/medication that may affect your ability to drive or obtain/retain eligibility to drive. You must inform me IMMEDIATELY of any change in your eligibility for a licence, or if you are no longer fit to drive, whether due to a deterioration in your eyesight, health, or other reason, for example, a licence being revoked. You are liable for any motoring convictions gained while driving on a lesson or on a driving test.
Driving Test Bookings
Since May 2026, it is your responsibility to book and manage your own driving test via the official DVSA booking system.
You must adhere to the following conditions when booking your driving test:
You must book your driving test directly via the GOV.UK website: www.gov.uk/book-driving-test.
You must only book a driving test following a discussion with me regarding your test readiness, and once we have both agreed on an appropriate timescale.
You must enter my PRN (Personal Reference Number) when booking your test (this can be obtained from me before booking).
You must check my availability to accompany you to the driving test before booking.
You must not change your driving test date or test centre without prior discussion with me.
You are expected to book your driving test at the Blyth Driving Test Centre unless otherwise agreed with me in advance.
Failure to adhere to the above conditions may result in refusal to use the driving school vehicle for your test.
Test readiness
Before booking a driving test, we will discuss your progress and come to a mutual agreement about whether you are ready.
To be deemed ready for a driving test, you must be able to confidently say yes to all of the following:
You do not need prompts from your driving instructor.
You do not make any serious or dangerous mistakes when driving.
You can consistently pass mock driving tests.
You can manage your nerves effectively.
I, your driving instructor, agree you are ready.
You must be able to drive completely independently before your driving test.
You must have completed at least 2 consecutive mock test passes.
If you cannot meet all of the above criteria, we will have an honest conversation about postponing your driving test.
If you cannot meet all of the above criteria, I reserve the right to withhold the use of the tuition vehicle for the driving test.
Safety is paramount; therefore, failing to reach the required standard will result in my informing you of my decision to reschedule or cancel your test if I consider your standard of driving could cause a risk to public safety. Or indeed cause damage to my car. In the event that you disagree with my decision regarding your ability to meet the required standard of driving, I reserve the right to withhold the use of the driving school car for the test. Under such circumstances, I accept no liability for any loss caused to you arising from my refusal to provide the use of the school car.
If you choose to proceed against my advice, you will need to source your own suitable vehicle.
While I will make every effort to ensure the vehicle supplied for test will be fully roadworthy and comply with all legal requirements at the start of the test, I cannot be held responsible for vehicle failure that occurs during the test, and I am not liable for any loss arising out of or in connection with any such failure.
I will make every effort to make the school car you are learning in available for your test. In the event of an accident or mechanical breakdown of the school car, I will endeavour to supply an alternative vehicle, which may be a different make/model; however, this is outside my reasonable control, and I cannot be held liable for failure to provide an identical specification vehicle. If I am unable to supply an alternative vehicle, my liability is limited to paying for a new test date only.
As it is beyond my control, I will not be held responsible for test appointments cancelled by the DVSA due to bad weather, strike action, sickness, staff shortages, or any other reasons. Such cancellations are beyond my reasonable control, and the lesson fee and ‘use of car’ fee for the booked period will be charged. However, in such circumstances, you may be able to claim limited compensation from the DVSA, for which I can advise you on the process.
If, for any reason, you have to cancel your driving test, the DVSA requires that you give notice of ten (10) clear working days, not including Sundays or public holidays. Failure to do so will result in a loss of your test fee.
On test day, it is your responsibility to bring with you your provisional driving licence. You must also be able to read a registration plate at a distance of 20 metres. Your eyesight is your responsibility. Failure to read the registration may result in the DVSA examiner refusing to conduct the practical driving test due to safety reasons.
During the practical test, the DVSA examiner is there to assess your driving ability and therefore does not supervise you. It is, therefore, your responsibility to ensure no damage is caused to the driving school car or any third-party property. In the event of any damage caused, you will be liable for the cost of repair or the cost of the insurance excess fee, whichever is appropriate at the time.
These conditions do not affect any rights you may have under consumer protection laws.
Your Information
Your details will not be shared with any third party other than DVSA, DVLA and the Police. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information about how we collect, store, and use your information
