Terms & Conditions

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 48hrs in advance of lesson. When cancelling or rescheduling a pre- booked lesson a minimum of 48hrs notice is required or lesson fee may be charged. For COVID-19 related cancellations please refer to our COVID-19 Code of Practice.
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. In the event that 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 point 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 circumstance 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 be 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 if there is 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, licence revoked. You are liable for any motoring convictions gained while driving on a lesson or on driving test.

Practical Test

I normally book the test for you after discussing with you your readiness to drive safely and unsupervised with the skills required to meet the standard for the DVSA driving test. When booking the test, I will require from you the current DVSA test fee. Safety is paramount therefore, failing to reach the required standard will result in me 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.

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 of which I can advise you on the process.

If for any reason you have to cancel your driving test, it is a requirement of the DVSA that you must give notice of three (3) clear working days, not including Sundays or public holidays. Failure to do so will result in a loss of your test fee. In order for me to cancel your test on your behalf I will require you to give me notice of 4 clear working days to enable me to give appropriate time to meet the DVSA deadline. I cannot be held responsible if, for any reason the DVSA system is unavailable at that time.

On test day it is your responsibility to bring with you your provisional driving licence and theory test pass certificate. 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 not supervising 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.