John Nicholson Driving School Terms and Conditions

I, John Nicholson, am the proprietor and representative of John Nicholson Driving School.

Be fit to drive!

Prescribed drugs may have an impact on your ability to drive therefore i must be informed. You must hold a current and valid driving licence which must be produced on your first driving lesson, and at regular intervals throughout your training. Any changes to your driving licence due to medical conditions or driving convictions must be communicated to me immediately. Please ensure that you present yourself in suitable clothing, particularly practical footwear. It is also important to attend lessons with any appropriate glasses or contact lenses for reasons of road safety. If I think you are unfit to drive for failing to meet any of these conditions, the lesson will be cancelled and you will be charged. It is your resposiblity to ensure you are fit to drive I cannot accept responsibility for any injury, loss or damage arising from a driving lesson. 

Lesson payments

Payments to be made at the beginning of each lesson, and can be by cash or Bank Transfer. Cheques are not accepted unless 1 week in advance of first lesson. Block bookings must be paid for in full on the first lesson of that block. Any block booked crash course where 6 or more hours are booked in 1 working week will require 1 weeks notice of cancellation otherwise will be charged due to the difficulty in replacing such amount of hours. Refunds will not be given at anytime for block bookings, however hours paid for in advance will be available for a 12 week period from payment recieved unless they were booked in as a crash course whereas 10 hours or more was booked in for the same week which will then become charged if not giving the 1 weeks notice, i do make exemption for broken bones where driving is physically impossible. This is a special term imposed for anyone suffering a serious injury I.e broken bone or anything which will prevent you from driving for several weeks giving you sufficient time to recover. Any longer than 12 weeks with no tuition and the funds will be forfeited for normal pre booked lessons where a crash course was not taken. (A crash course would consist of 6 or more working hours in the same weeks work from a single indivdual).

5 hours for £49

This deal 5 hours for £49 is a package targeted at getting beginners started. 5 hours will be provided, 3 hours of tuition and the remaining 2 hours will be used for the day of your test including fuel and insurance. The use of this deal can be transfered to another student, however the deal is non-refundable if only part of the hours of tuition are used as this is a package deal. Only new beginner drivers are entitled to use this very cheap deal equalling less than £10 per hour. Between the 3 hours used and test date normal hourly rate will be payable one lesson in advance.

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 Cancellation

48 hours (2 days) notice is required to cancel any driving lesson. If less than 48 hours (2 days) notice is given, the full lesson fee must be paid. I do however waive this charge if you provide a letter from a doctor for sickness. If you suspend taking your driving lessons within a block of pre paid lessons for a period of 12 weeks or more, then any remaining lessons will be forfeited Any crash course which would consist of 6 or more hours bookin  in 1 week would require minimum 1 weeks notice otherwise the will be charged due to the difficulty of replacing such hours in a short period of time, unless it was as a result of a broken bone which i then hold lessons valid for up too 12 weeks as a recovery period. Refunds will also not be given on these at anytime.

I cannot be held responsible for any mechanical or electrical failure or illness which may cause the prevention or termination of a lesson or driving test. If the weather is too severe to take a lesson I can re-arrange your lesson for free based on a proffessional decision. If you decide to cancel at short notice due to weather and the conditions are suitable to drive which i will base on a proffessional decision, the lesson will be chargeable

Lessons

Your driving lesson will be on a one to one basis.  If you would like a parent or friend to come along on your lesson then that can be arranged. You will always receive the full lesson time you have paid for. I will be happy to start and finish your lesson from different locations, providing these are agreed at least one week in advance, and that both are within the usual area of my work.

Fines & Driving Penalties

Whenever you are driving in the school vehicle, you will be under close supervision. However, John Nicholson Driving School cannot be held responsible for any infringement of the law. Any fines that are incurred will be the responsibility of the driver.

Practical tests

I will make every effort to help you reach a good standard of driving that will enable you to pass your driving test, and you must try to maintain regular lessons leading up to your test otherwise your test date might have to be moved back to give you more time to prepare.  The only way to pass the driving test is to be properly prepared.  In the interest of road safety I reserve the right to withdraw the use of my car for tests without prior notice, should you prove to be unsafe and not up to test standard.

Damage to the School Car

During lessons, I will make every effort to avoid damage to the car. However, if I consider that you were driving in a dangerous or unpredictable way during a lesson and actual damage is caused despite best efforts made, you will be expected to pay half towards repairs (up to the level of excess on the instructor’s insurance policy). This will be discussed at the time of the damage. In addition, during driving tests, the examiner will not prevent you, the candidate from hitting the kerb or causing other similar minor damage to the car. Therefore, all damage caused by you whilst on test will be charged to you (up to the level of excess on the instructor’s insurance policy).

Punctuality

I will contact you if I am going to be later than 5 minutes for your driving lesson. The time lost will be added to the end of the lesson if possible, or added to another lesson at a later date. If you are late for your lesson, then that time will be lost.

Holidays and Availability

I will give you notice of holidays or days where I am unavailable. Please ensure that you do likewise.  Please be sure to book your first lesson after your holiday or break in tuition, to retain your place on the diary and to maintain progress.

Code of Practice

I will abide by the Voluntary Code of Practice which has been agreed between DVSA and the main bodies representing Approved Driving Instructors. 

Complaints by clients should be made in the first instance to John Nicholson Driving School. Failing agreement or settlement of a dispute, reference may be made to DVSA’s Registrar of Approved Driving Instructors who will consider the matter and advise accordingly. Should the Registrar not be able to settle the dispute he or she may set up a panel, with representatives from the ADI industry, to consider the matter further or advise that the matter should be referred to the courts or other statutory body to be determined.

By taking driving lessons with John Nicholson Driving School it is accepted that you have read and agree to these terms and conditions.