Terms & Conditions for driving lessons with Go Ahead Driving School

Booking & Payments

Lessons must be booked and paid for in advance unless agreed otherwise by the instructor. Payment responsibility remains with the person who books and agrees to these Terms & Conditions.

• Advance payment may be required before a lesson slot is confirmed.
• Lesson prices may change depending on market conditions, availability, location, lesson type or instructor schedule.
• Prepaid lessons should normally be used within 3 months of payment being accepted unless agreed otherwise in writing.

Cancellations

Lesson time is reserved specifically for you. Cancellations and rearrangements must therefore be handled fairly for both learner and instructor.

• You may cancel or rearrange without charge by giving at least 48 hours’ notice.
• If you cancel or rearrange with less than 48 hours’ notice, the full lesson fee may remain payable.
• Your instructor may waive the late-cancellation fee in exceptional circumstances at their sole discretion.

Driving Lessons

Lessons are arranged around safety, progress and suitable preparation for real road conditions. The instructor has a duty of care and may refuse unsuitable bookings or test requests.

• Lesson date, time, location and duration should be agreed with your instructor.
• Two-hour lessons may be recommended for better progress and more varied road experience.
• Your instructor may refuse or cancel a booking if safety, diary, progress or suitability issues arise.

2. Booking And Payments

2.1 Advance Booking And Payment

Lessons must be booked and paid for in advance unless agreed otherwise by the Instructor.

2.2 Third-Party Payment Cards

Lessons may be paid for using a card or payment method belonging to a third party, for example a parent, guardian or family member. By booking a lesson, you confirm that you are authorised to use the payment method provided.

2.3 Responsibility For Fees

The person who books the lesson and agrees to these Terms & Conditions remains responsible for all lesson fees, cancellation fees and any costs arising from chargebacks or payment disputes, regardless of who owns the payment card or payment method.

Booking And Payments Continued

2.4 Instructor Responsibility

Go Ahead Driving School will not accept responsibility for any acts, default, failure or omission on the part of an instructor who does not carry out their obligations, unless Go Ahead Driving is legally responsible for that matter.

2.5 Payment Timeframe

You must pay your Instructor’s fees for all lessons within 48 hours of a lesson booking being accepted, unless agreed otherwise. Lessons are normally charged on an hourly basis or according to the lesson package agreed with your Instructor.

2.6 Current Lesson Fees

You can obtain information on current lesson fees from the Go Ahead Driving website, booking page, or directly from your Instructor. Lesson fees are subject to change due to market forces, availability, location, lesson type, fuel costs, operating costs or instructor schedule.

Booking And Payments Continued

2.7 New And Existing Pupils

All new pupil bookings will be charged at the current price at the time of booking. Existing customers may be charged at the current rate when prepaid lessons have been used and new payments become due.

2.8 Use Of Advance Payments

Any advance payments made for lessons are made on the understanding that those lessons will be taken within 3 months of the payment being accepted, unless agreed otherwise in writing.

2.9 Payment Methods

You shall make payments in advance directly to your Instructor or through the payment method agreed with Go Ahead Driving or your Instructor. Payment methods may include debit or credit card, online payment platform, electronic bank transfer, payment link or another agreed method. Some instructors may accept cash, but this must be agreed in advance and you may be required to keep credit for at least one lesson on account.

4. Payment Disputes And Chargebacks

4.1 Discuss Concerns First

Any payment dispute or concern should first be discussed with your Instructor. If issues remain unresolved, you should contact Go Ahead Driving by emailing the details of your complaint to info@goaheaddriving.co.uk.

Payment Disputes Continued

4.2 Valid Late-Cancellation Fees

By booking a lesson, you agree not to initiate a chargeback or payment dispute for valid late-cancellation fees applied in accordance with these Terms & Conditions.

Payment Disputes Continued

4.3 Recovery Of Outstanding Amounts

If a chargeback or payment dispute is raised and the fee is found to be valid under these Terms & Conditions, Go Ahead Driving or the Instructor reserves the right to recover the outstanding amount and any associated costs.

5. Your Driving Lessons

5.1 Lesson Arrangements

A lesson will only be made available to you if the lesson is pre-booked and paid for in advance, unless agreed otherwise. You should book a lesson with the Instructor in person, by telephone, by message, through Go Ahead Driving School, through the website, or through another agreed booking method. Following an initial booking, it shall be your and the Instructor’s responsibility to agree all matters relating to each future lesson including, but not limited to, date, time, location and duration.

5.2 Recommended Lesson Length

In the interest of your productivity and benefit, 2-hour lessons may be recommended, as this allows more repetition and experience of varied road conditions. However, your Instructor will assess and agree the most suitable lesson length for you. The minimum length of a lesson will usually be 1 hour and, if you and the Instructor agree, it may be increased by increments of 30 minutes.

5.3 Changes To Initial Booking

Your initial booking with an Instructor may be subject to change by the Instructor due to operational and diary demands, for example another pupil booking a test at that time, vehicle availability, illness, traffic conditions or other reasonable scheduling issues.

Your Driving Lessons Continued

5.4 Instructor Right To Cancel

Your Instructor holds the right to cancel any booking made if they feel that they are unable to fulfil your lesson requests, driving test requirements, safety requirements or learning needs.

5.5 Short-Notice Test Bookings

Go Ahead Driving School may not accept online lesson bookings for pupils who already have a practical driving test booked less than 4 weeks from the date of the first lesson. This is to ensure that a thorough assessment of a pupil’s ability can be made, and sufficient time is given to allow further lessons to be taken or, if necessary, for the test to be cancelled or postponed prior to the DVSA statutory 10 working day period without losing the test fee. The Instructor has a duty of care, so use of an Instructor’s car for your test will only be allowed if they think you are safe and ready to take the test. Go Ahead Driving School does not provide a car for test without assessment and structured learning in advance. Lesson bookings made without 4 clear weeks’ notice leading up to a test may be cancelled and refunded unless agreed in writing in advance.

5.6 Specific Requests

Any specific requests for future lessons will be for the Instructor to accept or decline at their discretion.

Your Driving Lessons Continued

5.7 Declined Initial Booking

If an Instructor decides due to your individual needs, safety, location, diary, vehicle availability or any other reasonable factor that they are unable to accept your initial booking and commence your lessons, they will inform you as soon as reasonably possible.

5.8 Refund For Declined Lesson

A refund for any payment made for any declined lesson will be actioned as soon as reasonably possible. Payments made by debit card, credit card, online platform, payment processor or booking system may take several working days to be processed depending on the payment provider.

5.9 Website And Service Information

Any other information about tuition or services of Go Ahead Driving School or its instructors can be found on the Go Ahead Driving School website or by contacting Go Ahead Driving. You take this information into account when deciding to book a lesson or when making any other decision about tuition or other services with Go Ahead Driving and its instructors.

7. Your Responsibilities As A Learner

7.1 Eyesight

You will have to read a number plate at the legal distance, which is normally 20 metres for a new-style number plate or 20.5 metres for an old-style number plate, with or without eyesight correction before entering the vehicle. Failure to read a number plate at the prescribed distance will mean you may not legally be allowed to drive the vehicle. Your Instructor may provide a theory lesson only, or the lesson may be forfeited at the full rate. You should therefore ensure you have an eye test and have suitable eyesight correction if you feel that you may require it well in advance of the lesson. You must also ensure that your eyesight has not deteriorated before attending a driving test.

7.2 Driving Licence Details

You may be asked by your Instructor to provide your driving licence details and an online share code via GOV.UK. You must bring your photocard driving licence to your first lesson for the Instructor to inspect for insurance and legal purposes. Failure to provide your licence details or photocard may result in the lesson not going ahead.

Learner Responsibilities Continued

7.3 Learner Cancellation With Notice

You may cancel a lesson without charge if you give the Instructor at least 48 hours’ prior notice of the cancellation. If you do so, any sum you paid in advance for that lesson should be refunded, credited or rearranged as agreed.

7.4 Learner Cancellation Without Notice

If you do not give the Instructor at least 48 hours’ prior notice of cancellation of a lesson, the Instructor will be entitled to charge you for the lesson or for any net financial loss suffered due to your cancellation.

7.5 Exceptional Circumstances

If, due to exceptional circumstances including, but not limited to, illness, accidents and bereavement, you cancel a lesson without giving the Instructor at least 48 hours’ prior notice, the Instructor will consider the circumstances and may try to fill that time slot with another pupil if time allows.

Learner Responsibilities Continued

7.6 Lateness

If you know you are going to be late for a lesson, you should contact the Instructor to tell them. If the Instructor is unable to contact you more than 15 minutes after the scheduled start time for your booked lesson, the Instructor will try to provide that lesson but, if they decide that they cannot do so, the lesson will be treated as cancelled without notice by you and the Instructor may decide to make a charge for that lesson as cancelled without notice.

7.7 App Or Booking System Invitation

As a new customer, you may receive an SMS, email or message containing an invitation and a link to download or access any booking app, learner portal or online system used by Go Ahead Driving or your Instructor. When you first open or use that system, you may be asked to accept these Terms & Conditions.

7.8 Legal Conduct

You shall act in accordance with the law at all times whilst on a driving lesson.

9. Driving Tests

9.1 Test Readiness Discussion

The Instructor shall discuss driving tests with you and shall inform you when they feel that you are ready to take a test.

9.2 Booking Theory And Practical Tests

You shall be responsible for booking theory and practical tests. It shall be your responsibility to check the details of the test on your DVSA confirmation email, and it is recommended that you forward a copy of this email to your Instructor to help eliminate mistakes and/or confusion.

9.3 Checking With Instructor Before Booking

You must check with the Instructor before booking to ensure that the Instructor considers that you are ready for a test.

Driving Tests Continued

9.4 Giving Test Details

You must inform the Instructor of all details of your test including, but not limited to, the date and location at least 10 working days before your test date.

9.5 Required Documents

When you attend a test, you must take all required documentation with you. If you do not, your test may be cancelled and you would then lose your test fees paid to the DVSA, as well as the fee you have paid your Instructor for their time.

9.6 Vehicle Breakdown Or Unavailability

If the Instructor has given you permission to use their vehicle for your test but it breaks down or is otherwise unavailable or unusable on the date of the test, the Instructor shall use reasonable endeavours to arrange an alternative vehicle. If this is not possible, the Instructor shall deal with any replacement test or remedy in accordance with applicable law and any written agreement between you and the Instructor.

Driving Tests Continued

9.7 DVSA Test Cancellation

If your test is cancelled by the DVSA giving you insufficient time to provide the Instructor with the required cancellation notice of a booking to the Instructor, you must still pay for the Instructor’s time and/or the use of their vehicle if the time cannot reasonably be refilled. In that case, the Instructor may advise you on claiming compensation from the DVSA for the cost of those fees where applicable.

9.8 Refusal To Use Instructor Vehicle

If you have a test booked and, in the Instructor’s opinion, you do not make the expected progress in your lessons between the date of booking and the test date, the Instructor reserves the right to refuse the use of their vehicle for your test. They will inform you of this decision in writing in advance of the DVSA cancellation period where reasonably possible. Your Instructor and Go Ahead Driving will not be responsible for any fees that you pay for the test which are lost in these circumstances.

11. Liability

11.1 Foreseeable Loss Or Damage

Your Instructor will be responsible for any foreseeable loss or damage that you may suffer as a result of breach of these Terms & Conditions by the Instructor or as a result of the Instructor’s negligence. Loss or damage is foreseeable if it is an obvious consequence of the breach or negligence or if it is contemplated by you or the Instructor when the contract with you is created. Go Ahead Driving will not be responsible for any loss or damage caused by a self-employed Instructor unless Go Ahead Driving is legally responsible for that matter.

Liability Continued

11.2 Liability Not Excluded

Nothing in these Terms & Conditions is intended to, or will, exclude or limit Go Ahead Driving’s or the Instructor’s liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited.

Liability Continued

11.3 Consumer Rights

If you are a consumer as defined by the Consumer Rights Act 2015, or a consumer for the purposes of any other consumer protection legislation, nothing in these Terms & Conditions is intended to or will exclude, limit, prejudice, or otherwise affect any duties or obligations owed to you, your rights or remedies, or any liability to you under consumer protection law.

• The Consumer Rights Act 2015.
• The applicable Regulations.
• The Consumer Protection Act 1987.
• Any other applicable consumer protection legislation, as amended from time to time.

For more details of your legal rights, please refer to your local Citizens Advice Bureau or Trading Standards Office.