1. DRIVING LICENCE
Clients must personally insure that they are the holders of a valid signed current driving licence, which must be produced at the first lesson and will be regularly checked by the driving instructor. Clients must inform the driving instructor if they receive any endorsements on their driving licence during the time they are receiving tuition.
Clients must inform their driving instructor of any disabilities they have which might affect their ability to drive.

2. APPOINTMENT CARD
The Big Red L Company will issue an appointment card either prior to or on the first lesson, all clients are advised to keep the card with them during lessons to enable an accurate record of training and to aid in future booking of lessons at the end of a lesson.

3. CLIENT WELL BEING
In the interest of comfort and safety, clients are advised to wear suitable footwear and comfortable clothing that does not restrict any movement, please ask your instructor for any advise you may require.

4. TUITION FEES 

Payments - General
a. Payment for lessons should be made by cash or cheque to the instructor, Credit card payments can be made at the office or via telephone. 

b. Lesson rates are as listed on the internet, quotations from office staff are valid for 60 days.

c. A driving lesson is defined as lasting 60 minutes. 

d. All accounts must be cleared before proceeding on an official driving test.

e. Introductory offers and Block booking discounts are only available when payment is made in advance of the lessons.

Payments - Intensive Courses

The Assessment Lesson needs to be paid either in advance to the office or on the day of the lesson direct to the instructor.

To secure the course we need a deposit of £100. * We use this to pay for the Driving Test Fee, which is payable to the DSA (Driving Standards Agency)

To remain secure the balance of the course needs to be paid a minimum of 10 working days before the start of the course.

5. REFUNDS

Refunds - General

POSTPONEMENT OR CANCELLATION OF A LESSON BY DRIVING SCHOOL
a. If by reason of a vehicle failure or emergency a lesson has been postponed at short notice, an alternative appointment shall be made with mutual consent. Should postponement be a driving test, the driving school shall be responsible to the pupil for the fee of the next test if it cannot be cancelled within the required time, regardless of the client's continuation of lessons with the school. Clients should appreciate that it may not always be possible to notify cancellation if a breakdown occurs on the way to a lesson.

b. Driving tests take priority over lessons, therefore, a lesson already booked may sometimes have to be cancelled or postponed if the school receives short notice of a driving test.

c. Except provided for in a) above, the school will where possible give notice of rearrangement or postponement of a lesson within the same time limit as the school imposes upon a pupil postponing or cancelling a lesson.

d. If circumstances arise that a change of instructor becomes necessary, the pupil shall have the right to decline and also the right to discontinue lessons with the school.

POSTPONEMENTS OR CANCELLATION OF LESSONS BY CLIENTS
a. At least 48 hours notice of postponement or cancellation of a lesson is required. Late cancellations will be charged for as specified in the fees section.

b. Such notice to the school or instructor (in writing or by telephone) shall be deemed to have been served on the day that the communication is received at the schools premises, where it will be timed and recorded by a member of our staff. Telephone answer machine messages and text messages will not be considered as the school having been notified of cancellation or postponement of lessons.

POSTPONEMENTS OR CANCELLATION OF A TEST
a. The attention of clients is drawn to the fact that a statutory period of notice is required under government regulations for the cancellation or postponement of a test.

b. If possible the pupil will be advised in good time of the advisability of cancelling a test. The school/ instructor cannot be responsible for the loss of the test fee if the pupil fails to immediately notify the test booking office. The address and telephone number is given on the test appointment document.

c. The instructor cannot be held responsible for any postponement or cancellation of a test by the testing authority - at whatever notice.

Refunds - Intensive Courses

Once an intensive course has started we cannot offer any refunds as each instructor will not be able to fill the space in their diary at short notice.

Pupil cancellation refunds are made according to the following schedule -

15+ working days = 100% refund
10+ working days = 75% refund
5+ working days = 50% refund
2+ working days = 25% refund

Instructor cancellation refunds are made according to the following schedule -

1+ working day = 100% refund

Once course has started we offer 100% refund on balance of lessons plus £50 goodwill gesture. Plus test fee if this has been lost. We cannot accept any further liability.

6. SCHOOL/INSTRUCTOR GUARANTEE
a. The school/Instructor guarantees that only legally authorised instructors will give tuition.

b. Instructors official authorising documents will be displayed on the windscreen of the car and may be inspected freely at any time.

c. If an authorised trainee instructor is used, a pupil may expect a senior supervising instructor present during some of the lessons.

7. THE DRIVING TEST
a. Your instructor will advise the appropriate time to make an application for a driving test. The advice will be based on the client's progress to date. It does NOT imply that the necessary standard has been reached or that it will for certain be reached by the appointed test date. The school/instructor will not hesitate to advise, where necessary, the postponement of the test. This condition is intended to save the pupil expense, unnecessary failure and the consequent delay in waiting for another test and obtaining a full licence.

b. The school/instructor reserves the right to withhold the use of the school car for the test or lesson, if in the opinion of the instructor the client is:
Not at driving test standard
Medically unfit (including eyesight)
Under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Is not properly licensed to drive
Consistently fails to keep, or is late for appointments
Falls into arrears over payment
If for any other reason, the instructor considers the client will be unsafe to handle a motor vehicle.

c. Clients may be accompanied on the test by a supervising examiner, whose job is to ensure that official standards of testing are observed by examiners. This is a legal requirement and is in the public interest.

d. You are reminded that when you go to take your driving test you must take the required documents. Failure to comply with this regulation will mean the examiner will have to cancel your test; you will forfeit your test fee and have to apply for a new test date.

e. In the event of the test appointment being sent to the client, they are required to notify the school/ instructor as soon as possible, of the date and time of the test and show the document to their instructor on their next lesson. The school/instructor cannot accept any responsibility for booking an incorrect time or date of a test unless the appointment document is produced. If the appointment is sent to the school/instructor, then an undertaking is given to show the client the document on the next lesson or notify them as soon as possible. The document will be handed to the client on request.

8. INSURANCE
a. School cars are fully insured for tuition and driving tests. The insurance certificate is available for inspection.

b. No liability of any kind can be accepted by the school/instructor for the loss of, or damage to any property belonging to, or in the possession of the client.

9. LEGAL LIABILITY
a. Clients should be aware that their instructor’s primary objective is to promote road safety and in doing so he/she will have to issue instructions which the clients must be prepared to carry out without undue argument.

b. The instructor will make every effort to train you to the highest standard but can in no way be held liable for any errors you commit whilst driving and unaccompanied by your instructor either before, during or after a test pass.

10. COMPLAINTS
a. If you are unhappy with any aspect of your tuition you should notify your instructor without delay and no later than seven days from the date on which the cause of complaint arose. Every effort will be made by the school/instructor to satisfactorily deal with the complaint; these terms of business and the code of practice for approved driving instructors form the basis for negotiations.

b. Should any dispute be unresolved mutually then the client has the right to refer the matter to: DSA. http://www.dsa.gov.uk/

By booking lessons with The Big Red L Company you are agreeing to our terms.