Terms & Conditions

By taking lessons with Clear Start Driving you automatically agree to these Terms and Conditions. These Terms and Conditions may be subject to change Clear Start Driving.

Driving Lessons:

  • Before your first lesson, you MUST generate a “check code” at https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence and send it via WhatsApp or email to 07886183939 / drive@clearstartdriving.co.uk, along with your driving licence number and/or a clear photograph of the front of your driving licence. This information will be used to check the status of your licence with the DVLA to determine if you can legally take driving lessons and if there are any terms imposed on your licence. 
  • You MUST:
    • be able to read a number plate from a distance of 20 metres (https://www.gov.uk/driving-eyesight-rules). If you require the use of vision correction using either glasses or contact lenses for this, you MUST wear them at all times while driving. 
    • wear suitable footwear and clothing that does not restrict movement during lessons. 
    • inform me if there is any reason why you cannot drive safely or legally. This includes the loss of your valid driving license and includes but is not limited to being under the influence of drink or drugs, including prescribed medication that may affect your ability to drive. 
    • ensure that you are medically fit to drive. If you have any medical condition and you are not sure if your ability to drive is affected, please speak with your doctor and the DVLA (https://www.gov.uk/contact-the-dvla) to report any notifiable medical condition. 
  • If you prefer to take lessons in your own car this is entirely at my discretion. This is due to the lack of dual controls.
  • If agreed upon, you MUST:
    • ensure your car is roadworthy, taxed, has a valid MOT and is insured for you to drive. 
    • check that your insurance allows your instructor to supervise you in your car. Some insurances will not allow professional instructors to supervise (for example, they may class this as business use) or may impose their own minimum age limit for the supervising driver. This is your responsibility to check. 
    • take responsibility for the condition and safety of your car and passengers. I will do my best to prevent any accidents or damage to your car. However, ultimately, you are entirely responsible.

Driving Tests:

  • If I book your test for you, the test will belong to me, and I reserve the right to cancel your test at any given time. Once you have paid for your test in full, the test will then belong to you, and we will only cancel or move it with your agreement. 
  • I reserve the right to decline to take you to your driving test and to withhold the use of my car for the test if:
    • you book your test without prior agreement, and I am unavailable on the day of the test.
    • I believe your driving ability is not at test standard. I will discuss this with you in plenty of time and explain the options available to you. 
  • If you are planning to take your test in your own car:
    • check that your insurance covers you for taking your practical driving test. If it does not, there are temporary insurance schemes available that will cover you for the duration of your test. 
    • remember that if you pass your test, you are now a full licence holder, and your provisional insurance cover will no longer be valid for you to drive home. Plan ahead, and:
      • arrange to have someone who is insured drive you home, or
      • be able to change your insurance policy quickly (or take out temporary insurance) before driving home.

Payments:

  • Payments are made via bank transfer ONLY (account details will be provided to you via WhatsApp, text message, Facebook Messenger or email). When a payment has been received credits will be added to your TotalDrive account. 1 credit equals 1 hour of tuition. 
  • Lessons are to be paid for in full upon booking to secure them. If payment has not been received the lessons will no longer be reserved for you and they may go to other pupils without notice.
  • The price of lessons (that have not been pre-paid) may change from time to time. You will receive prior notice of any price increases. Pre-paid lessons will be honoured at the lesson price agreed at the time of booking. 

Refunds:

  • Refunds will be issued in the form of bank transfer.
    • Refunds cannot be issued if lessons are cancelled by you with less than 48 hours’ notice.
    • If bank details are not provided, refunds cannot be given. 
    • Refunds cannot be issued for lessons already completed. 
    • Upon passing your test and/or once you have discontinued driving lessons for any reason, any remaining credit will be refunded to you at your request.

Cancellations and Punctuality:

  • If you cancel your lesson with less than 48 hours’ notice, you will be liable for the cost of your lesson.
  • It is understood that there may be occasions when you wish to postpone your weekly lesson with advance notice (e.g. for a planned holiday). If you plan to change or cancel your lesson for any reason, please speak to me first. 
  • Any cancellation or postponement of payment without prior agreement will be regarded as the cancellation of ongoing lessons. 
  • If you arrive for your driving lesson in an unfit or unsafe state to drive, your lesson will be cancelled and charged for as above. 
  • When I arrive at the agreed pick-up point for your lesson, if you are not already there, I will text and/or ring you. If you have not arrived or contacted me within 15 minutes, your lesson will be cancelled and charged as above. There is no requirement for me to knock on doors or chase you for your lesson. Punctuality for your lesson if entirely your responsibility.  
  • If you are late for your lesson, your lesson time will be reduced, as I cannot be late for my next lesson. You will still be charged the full price of the lesson as this is considered “cancelling” part of your lesson with less than 48 hours’ notice. 
  • If I am late to your lesson for any reason (such as heavy traffic), you will still receive the full lesson time or the time missed will be owed to you and added to a future lesson. 
  • If I have to cancel your lesson through no fault of my own, for circumstances such as mechanical breakdown of the tuition car, severe weather (which may affect your ability to learn safely), heavy traffic, illness or other unavoidable reasons, I will rearrange your lesson for the next available mutually convenient date and time. 
  • If I feel your behaviour or attitude whilst driving is irresponsible, immature, threatening, dangerous or compromises safety, I reserve the right to cancel and charge for the lesson in progress and cancel any future lessons. 

Accidents and the Law:

  • I will make every effort to avoid damage and accidents, and appreciate that accidents may happen as you are learning to drive. However, if I believe you were driving in a dangerous manner or ignoring my instructions and damage is caused to the tuition car or any other vehicle or property, all future lessons will be cancelled and any credits will NOT be refunded.
  • I will make every effort to avoid you breaking the law or committing any traffic offence. You are under my close supervision during every lesson, and I may use verbal or physical intervention (such as giving an instruction, taking the steering wheel or using the dual control pedals where necessary) to avoid dangerous situations or accidents. However, it is important that you are aware of your legal responsibilities as a driver. 
  • I cannot accept any responsibility for you breaking the law – this includes speeding or other traffic offences, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and any other regulations or laws that you could break whilst driving. 
  • Any fines or penalties are legally the sole responsibility of the driver. This includes provisional licence holders. 
  • It is an offence on my part if I fail to give the driver’s details to the police when asked to provide information as to who was driving at the time of an offence. 

Data Protection:

  • In line with the UK GDPR, by taking driving lessons myself, you automatically consent and agree to me holding your personal information, such as:
    • name, address, contact information, date of birth o driving licence number
    • records of driving progress
    • medical conditions that affect your ability to drive
    • driving test information
    • pictures taken during driving lessons or upon passing your test (with your permission)
    • receipts of payments
    • bank account details (e.g. sort code, account number) for processing refunds. 
  • I will hold your information in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR rules. 
  • I will hold your information for the purpose of being able to provide good quality driving lessons to you. 
  • I will hold your information securely, which is either locked away securely or secured on a phone, tablet or computer, which are all password protected. 
  • Your information is stored on the Total Drive app which is kept secure. Total Drive is used to book your lessons, store your contact information, record lesson progress and information, record payments etc. 
  • Except in cases where the law or insurance claims demand it (e.g. for traffic offences, as outlined above under Accidents & the Law), your information will not be passed on to anyone without your consent. If there is a need to share your information (such as changing driving instructors and sending your progress to them, or booking tests on your behalf with the DVSA), I will explain who I wish to share the information with and why, what information will be shared, and ask for your consent. 
  • The tuition car has a dash-cam which is always recording external front and rear footage and audio for the protection of you, me and the public.
    • If, whilst in the tuition car, you are involved in or witness a traffic accident or any other incident or crime, this footage will be passed on to the relevant parties and authorities (such as insurance, police, etc.).
    • Lesson footage may also be shared temporarily (at your instructor’s discretion) within my driving school and/or with other relevant training providers for monitoring and training purposes. 
    • Any such downloaded footage will be kept securely for a maximum of 1 year before being destroyed. 
    • Non-downloaded dash-cam footage automatically overwrites itself on a loop once the SD card is full. The SD card is also wiped of all data and reformatted at least once every 3 months. 
    • If I wish to keep and use any recorded lesson footage for other purposes (e.g. as a training aid for other pupils), your permission will be sought and you will be asked to sign a form. 
  • You have the right to see any information I hold about you. 
  • You have the right to ask me to destroy any information I hold about you. 
  • Once you pass your driving test, or if you wish to discontinue lessons with me for any reason:
    • your account on Total Drive will be made inactive and kept inactive for a maximum of 7 years before being permanently deleted. 
    • records are kept for 7 years in case you need any of that information again for any reason, and also for tax and accounting purposes. 
    • If you have any questions about these Terms and Conditions, please contact me on WhatsApp or by email. 

Updated: July 10th 2025