Terms of Business

These Terms of Business explain the basis on which driving tuition and related services are provided by Ashley Legacy Driving LTD, trading as ALD Driving School (“ALD”, “we”, “us” or “our”).

• Company number: 15853268
• Registered office: 190 Park Road, Dukinfield, England, SK16 5LP
• Email: info@alddriving.co.uk
• Telephone/WhatsApp: 07759 971182

The person receiving tuition is referred to as the pupil or you. Where somebody else books or pays for tuition, they must ensure that the pupil has read and follows these terms. If the pupil is under 18, a parent or legal guardian must accept these terms and will be responsible for payments and cancellation charges.

By booking a lesson, making a payment or accepting these terms through Total Drive or another booking system, you agree to these Terms of Business. Nothing in these terms affects any statutory rights that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

• Normal lesson price: two hours costs £76. Discounted prepaid packages are available at the prices in section 7.
• Flexible start time: we may offer to start up to 15 minutes before the booked time or may arrive up to 15 minutes after it. The full lesson duration will still be provided.
• Pupil cancellations: at least 48 hours' notice is required. With less notice, the full booked fee is payable and any payment for that lesson is normally non-refundable and non-transferable.
• Missed lessons: a failure to attend or to be legally and safely able to drive is treated as a late cancellation.
• Driving tests: a test booking does not guarantee use of the tuition vehicle. Vehicle use must be agreed with the instructor in advance.

The full terms below explain these points and the limited exceptions that apply.

1.1 Tuition will be provided by a Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) approved driving instructor (ADI).

1.2 These terms apply, where relevant, to learner driving lessons, refresher training, motorway lessons and car-and-trailer or caravan training. Any additional terms for a particular course will be explained before it is booked.

1.3 Lesson content, routes and exercises will be adapted to the pupil's ability, experience, progress and learning needs. The instructor will decide what is safe and suitable for the pupil at that stage.

1.4 Lessons normally begin and finish at the agreed location. A different collection or finishing point must be agreed in advance and may affect the available lesson time or price.

1.5 The booked lesson time may include briefings, demonstrations, driving to a suitable training area, breaks reasonably required for safety, progress reviews and the end-of-lesson summary. These are all part of the tuition.

1.6 We will keep a reasonable record of lessons delivered and the pupil's progress and will provide feedback on progress and future training needs.

2.1 You must be legally entitled to drive the relevant vehicle in Great Britain and must hold a valid provisional or full driving licence appropriate for that vehicle.

2.2 Before tuition starts, and again when reasonably requested, you must provide the information or DVLA check code needed for the instructor to check your driving entitlement. You must immediately tell us about any change affecting your licence, including revocation, disqualification, endorsements, licence expiry or medical restrictions.

2.3 You must meet the legal eyesight standard for driving. An eyesight check may be carried out before your first practical lesson and may be repeated if reasonably necessary.

2.4 If you cannot provide evidence of your entitlement to drive, do not meet the eyesight standard, or cannot legally take the lesson, the instructor may refuse or end the lesson. Where this is caused by the pupil and could reasonably have been avoided, the full lesson fee remains payable.

3.1 A lesson is booked once its date, approximate start time, duration, collection point and price have been agreed or confirmed through the booking system.

3.2 All bookings are subject to instructor and vehicle availability. A regular weekly or fortnightly time may be offered, but it is not guaranteed indefinitely.

3.3 If you repeatedly cancel, rearrange, arrive late or fail to pay, we may release a regular slot and require future lessons to be booked individually.

3.4 Ending regular tuition does not cancel a lesson already due within the next 48 hours. That lesson remains subject to the cancellation policy in section 5.

4.1 The booked start time is a target time. Traffic, road closures, weather, incidents or the safe completion of a previous lesson may affect the instructor's arrival.

4.2 The instructor may offer to start the lesson up to 15 minutes before the booked time or may start up to 15 minutes after it. For example, a lesson booked for 10:00 may be offered a start between 09:45 and 10:15.

4.3 An early start will only take place if the pupil is available. A pupil will not be treated as late merely because they cannot begin before the booked time.

4.4 Unless an earlier start is mutually agreed, the full booked lesson duration runs from the later of the booked start time or the instructor's arrival time. The finishing time may therefore be up to 15 minutes later than originally expected. Pupils should allow for this when arranging work, appointments, lifts or other commitments after a lesson.

4.5 We will try to let you know if the start time is likely to change, but this may not always be possible while the instructor is driving or supervising a pupil.

4.6 If the instructor expects to arrive more than 15 minutes after the booked time, they will contact you as soon as safely practicable. You may either accept the revised time or cancel without charge and receive a refund or credit for that lesson.

4.7 If a delayed start means the full booked duration cannot be provided, the missing instructor-caused time will be added to a future lesson or credited. It will not be taken from the pupil's paid tuition time.

5.1 You must give at least 48 hours' notice to cancel or rearrange a lesson. The 48 hours are measured back from the booked start time shown in the booking confirmation, not from the beginning or end of the flexible window in section 4.

5.2 Notice should be given directly through Total Drive, by telephone, text message or WhatsApp. A cancellation is effective when it is received. If you use another method, such as email or social media, it is not treated as received until we acknowledge it.

5.3 If at least 48 hours' notice is received, the lesson can be rearranged without a cancellation charge. Any payment made specifically for that lesson may instead be refunded on request.

5.4 If less than 48 hours' notice is received, or you do not attend, the full booked lesson fee is payable. Any amount already paid for that lesson will be retained and is non-refundable and non-transferable. If the lesson was prepaid as part of a block, the relevant hours will be deducted from the block.

5.5 The short-notice charge reflects the loss of instructor time reserved exclusively for the pupil and the difficulty of filling that time at short notice. We will not recover twice for the same loss. If we fill the whole cancelled slot with another paying pupil, the cancellation charge will be refunded or credited. If only part of the slot is filled, an appropriate partial credit or refund will be made.

5.6 A missed lesson or short-notice cancellation includes a situation where the pupil:

• is absent from the agreed collection point;
• is not ready within the waiting period in section 6;
• has supplied an incorrect collection address;
• cannot produce evidence of a valid driving entitlement when reasonably required;
• does not meet the legal eyesight requirement;
• is unfit or unsafe to drive;
• is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or adversely affected by medication;
• is wearing footwear or clothing which makes safe control of the vehicle impracticable; or
• otherwise cannot legally or safely take the lesson for a reason within the pupil's control.

5.7 Illness, work changes, childcare difficulties, travel disruption and similar events do not automatically remove the short-notice charge. We may waive or reduce it where there are genuinely exceptional circumstances. Any decision to do so is discretionary and does not alter the policy for future lessons.

5.8 This section does not limit any statutory cancellation or refund right, and a charge will not be applied where it would be unlawful or would exceed the loss we are legally entitled to recover.

6.1 You should be ready at the agreed collection point at the booked start time and should monitor your phone around that time.

6.2 If the instructor has arrived and you are not ready, the instructor will normally wait for up to 15 minutes after the booked start time. If the instructor arrives after the booked start time, the instructor will make reasonable efforts to contact you before leaving.

6.3 If you have not attended or contacted the instructor by the end of the waiting period, the lesson may be treated as a missed lesson under section 5 and the full fee will remain payable.

6.4 A lesson delayed by the pupil will normally finish when it would have finished had the pupil been ready on time. The full fee remains payable and pupil-caused lost time will not normally be added to a later lesson.

7.1 Unless a different arrangement has been agreed, lesson fees must be paid in advance or no later than the start of the lesson.

7.2 The current tuition prices at the effective date of these terms are:

Lessons are normally provided in two-hour sessions unless another duration is agreed. The 5, 10, 20 and 30-hour options are prepaid discounted packages. Any special offer or different price will be confirmed before payment.

7.3 Use of the tuition vehicle for a practical driving test is charged at the price specifically agreed for the total time reserved, including any warm-up lesson, travel, waiting during the test and return journey. The expected duration and total price will be confirmed before the test-day booking is accepted. The DVSA test fee is separate and is paid to the DVSA by the pupil.

7.4 Prices may change. Existing fully paid lessons will be honoured at the price paid. For unpaid future lessons, we will give reasonable notice of a price change, and the new price will apply only to lessons taking place after the stated change date.

7.5 Any overdue amount, including a valid cancellation charge, must be paid before further tuition or use of the tuition vehicle may be provided.

8.1 Prepaid credit belongs to the named pupil and may not be sold or transferred without our agreement.

8.2 On written request, unused prepaid tuition will be refunded, less:

• the price of lessons already supplied;
• valid short-notice cancellation charges;
• any other amount properly due under these terms; and
• where a genuine discounted package was purchased, any difference between the discounted rate and the normal rate for lessons already taken, provided this was made clear when the package was bought.

8.3 Refunds will normally be made to the original payment method within 14 days after the amount due has been agreed. If that method is unavailable, another reasonable method may be agreed.

8.4 Completed lessons are not refundable merely because the pupil later changes their mind or is unhappy with their test result. This does not affect remedies available where a service has not been provided with reasonable care and skill.

9.1 If you enter into a contract online, by telephone, through an app or away from our business premises, you may have a legal right to cancel that contract within 14 days without giving a reason.

9.2 To exercise any applicable right, send a clear statement by email to info@alddriving.co.uk or by post to the registered office above. You do not have to use a particular form.

9.3 If you expressly ask us to begin providing tuition during a statutory cancellation period, you must pay a proportionate amount for tuition actually supplied before you cancel. If the service has been fully performed following your express request and acknowledgement, the statutory right to change your mind may end.

9.4 The lesson cancellation policy in section 5 applies subject always to any statutory cooling-off right which applies to the booking.

10.1 You must be medically and legally fit to drive. You must tell the instructor before a lesson about any medical condition, injury, eyesight issue, fatigue, medication or change in circumstances which may affect safe driving or your legal entitlement to drive.

10.2 You must not attend while under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs or any medication or substance that adversely affects your ability to drive safely.

10.3 If the instructor reasonably believes that you are impaired, unfit or unsafe to drive, the lesson may be refused or stopped. Where the issue is attributable to the pupil, the lesson will be treated as a short-notice cancellation and the full fee remains payable.

10.4 It is the pupil's responsibility to notify DVLA of a relevant medical condition where the law requires this. The instructor cannot decide whether a pupil is medically entitled to hold a licence.

11.1 Pupils must act respectfully, follow reasonable safety instructions and take proper care of the tuition vehicle.

11.2 Abusive, threatening, discriminatory, sexually inappropriate, deliberately distracting or dangerous conduct will not be tolerated. Smoking and vaping are not permitted in the tuition vehicle.

11.3 The instructor may give verbal directions, use the dual controls, take the steering wheel or make another proportionate physical intervention whenever reasonably necessary to protect people or property. An intervention is part of safe tuition and does not by itself indicate any failing in the service.

11.4 The instructor may change the route, pull over, take control or end a lesson immediately if continuing would create an unacceptable safety risk.

11.5 If a lesson is ended because of the pupil's serious or repeated misconduct, impairment or refusal to follow safety instructions, the full lesson fee remains payable. If it is ended for a reason not attributable to the pupil, unused time will be credited or refunded.

11.6 To the extent permitted by law, the pupil may be responsible for reasonable repair or exceptional cleaning costs caused deliberately, recklessly or by continuing to disregard a clear safety instruction. The pupil is not responsible for ordinary mistakes made while genuinely learning under instruction.

12.1 A mobile phone must not be used while driving unless its use is lawful and has been agreed for a training purpose, such as navigation. It should otherwise be switched off, silenced or safely stored.

12.2 Pupils are responsible for checking that they have removed their personal belongings at the end of a lesson. We will take reasonable care of property found in the vehicle but are not responsible for loss or damage unless caused by our failure to take reasonable care.

13.1 We may need to cancel, shorten or rearrange a lesson because of illness, an emergency, vehicle breakdown, mechanical problems, dangerous weather or road conditions, a driving test, DVSA commitments or another event outside our reasonable control.

13.2 If we cancel a lesson, the pupil will not be charged. Any payment for tuition not supplied will be transferred to a replacement lesson or refunded, at the pupil's choice.

13.3 If only part of a lesson is lost for a reason attributable to us, equivalent time will be provided or the value of the lost time will be credited or refunded.

13.4 We are not responsible for losses caused by a delay or cancellation which we could not reasonably avoid, but this does not exclude liability which cannot lawfully be excluded.

14.1 We will take reasonable steps to provide a properly maintained, roadworthy and appropriately insured tuition vehicle fitted with dual controls.

14.2 An alternative vehicle may occasionally be used. We will give as much notice as reasonably possible, particularly where the controls or dimensions differ materially.

14.3 Mechanical faults can occur despite proper maintenance. If a fault prevents a lesson from continuing, affected tuition time will be rearranged, credited or refunded.

14.4 The instructor may refuse to use the vehicle where continuing could be unsafe or unlawful, including because of severe weather, warning lights, damage or a suspected mechanical defect.

15.1 Tuition in a pupil's own vehicle must be agreed in advance. The owner or keeper is responsible for ensuring that the vehicle:

• is insured for the pupil to drive and for paid professional driving instruction;
• is taxed and has a valid MOT where required;
• is roadworthy, safe, clean and legally compliant;
• displays legal L plates where required; and
• is suitable for the planned tuition.

15.2 The instructor may require evidence of insurance and other documents and may inspect the vehicle before tuition. The instructor may refuse to use it if there is any reasonable concern about safety, legality, insurance or suitability.

15.3 The pupil or vehicle owner remains responsible for the vehicle, its insurance and any excess. We are not responsible for damage, breakdown or loss involving the pupil's vehicle unless caused by the instructor's negligence.

16.1 The pupil must book and manage their own car driving test through the official GOV.UK service. ALD and the instructor cannot book, change, swap or cancel a car test on the pupil's behalf.

16.2 Before booking or changing a test, the pupil should discuss readiness, instructor availability, the proposed test centre and the proposed date and time with the instructor. The pupil should use the instructor's ADI reference number when booking so that the DVSA system can check availability.

16.3 The pupil is responsible for complying with the DVSA's current booking, change and cancellation rules. At the effective date of these terms, a test fee is normally refundable only if the pupil cancels at least 10 full working days before the test date. DVSA rules may change and the pupil should check GOV.UK.

17.1 Booking a practical test does not automatically reserve or guarantee use of the ALD tuition vehicle.

17.2 Use of the vehicle is subject to:

• prior agreement with the instructor;
• instructor and vehicle availability;
• the test centre, date and time being acceptable;
• the pupil demonstrating a safe and appropriate test standard;
• the pupil attending any reasonably requested assessment lesson;
• the vehicle being roadworthy and suitable on the day; and
• all lesson, cancellation and test-day tuition fees being paid.

17.3 The instructor has the final professional decision on whether the vehicle can safely be supplied. The vehicle may be withheld if the pupil's driving presents an unacceptable risk, if the instructor reasonably believes the pupil is not at a safe test standard, or if insurance, legal, mechanical or safety requirements cannot be met.

17.4 Where reasonably possible, any decision to withhold the vehicle because of the pupil's standard will be explained early enough to allow the pupil to manage the test within the DVSA deadline. The instructor may still withdraw the vehicle later if a new or serious safety concern arises.

17.5 If the pupil cancels an agreed test-day booking with less than 48 hours' notice, the full ALD fee for the time reserved is payable under section 5. This is separate from any test fee retained by the DVSA.

18.1 We are not responsible for a test which the DVSA cancels, delays, terminates or changes, or which cannot proceed because of the pupil's documents, eyesight, conduct or legal eligibility.

18.2 If the DVSA cancels or delays a test after instructor time has begun, we will use the reserved time as tuition where reasonably possible and safe. Any charge will reflect tuition or instructor time actually supplied or reasonably lost and will not amount to double recovery.

18.3 The pupil is responsible for making any application to the DVSA for reimbursement of eligible out-of-pocket expenses following a DVSA cancellation. We will provide reasonable evidence of relevant charges on request.

18.4 If our vehicle or instructor becomes unavailable and the test cannot proceed, any ALD charge for services not supplied will be refunded or credited. We are not responsible for the DVSA test fee or other consequential costs where the problem arose despite reasonable care and could not reasonably have been avoided. This does not affect any liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.

19.1 The tuition vehicle may use front and rear road-facing dash cameras for safety, security, insurance and evidential purposes. Audio is not recorded.

19.2 Footage is not provided as routine lesson footage and will normally be overwritten automatically unless it is retained for an incident, complaint, insurance matter, legal claim or legal obligation.

19.3 We process personal information needed to provide tuition, check entitlement, manage bookings and payments, communicate, keep progress records and meet legal, insurance and regulatory obligations.

19.4 Personal information and dash-camera footage will be handled in accordance with the ALD Driving School Privacy Notice. Services such as Total Drive may also process information under their own privacy terms.

19.5 A photograph, review, pass photograph or other material identifying the pupil will only be used for marketing with separate permission. Refusing or withdrawing marketing consent will not affect tuition.

20.1 Any practice outside a paid lesson is separate from ALD's services. The pupil, supervising driver and vehicle owner are responsible for ensuring that the driver, supervisor, vehicle and insurance arrangements comply with the law.

20.2 Advice given during a lesson does not make ALD responsible for how a pupil or supervising driver conducts private practice.

21.1 Learning progress and the number of lessons required vary between pupils. We do not guarantee that a pupil will reach test standard within a particular number of hours or pass a practical or theory test.

21.2 A practical test result is decided independently by the DVSA examiner and depends on the pupil's performance on the day.

22.1 Either the pupil or ALD may end the tuition arrangement. Any lesson already taking place within the next 48 hours remains subject to section 5.

22.2 We may suspend or end tuition where there are reasonable grounds, including:

• unpaid fees or repeated late payment;
• repeated late cancellations, non-attendance or lateness;
• abusive, threatening, discriminatory or inappropriate behaviour;
• persistent disregard of safety instructions;
• concerns about legal entitlement or fitness to drive;
• misuse of the tuition vehicle;
• a serious breakdown in the working relationship; or
• circumstances making continued tuition unsafe or impracticable.

22.3 Following termination, legitimate unused prepaid credit will be refunded in accordance with section 8 after any valid charges have been deducted.

23.1 We will provide services with reasonable care and skill.

23.2 We are responsible for loss or damage which is a foreseeable result of our breach of these terms or our failure to use reasonable care and skill. We are not responsible for loss or damage which is not foreseeable or which results from inaccurate information, unlawful conduct or a failure by the pupil to follow reasonable instructions.

23.3 Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability which cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

24.1 If you are unhappy with any aspect of the service, please contact ALD first so that the matter can be investigated and, where possible, resolved.

24.2 Complaints should be sent to info@alddriving.co.uk and should include the pupil's name, the relevant lesson date and enough information to understand the concern. We aim to acknowledge a complaint within five working days and provide a substantive response within 14 working days. If more time is needed, we will explain why and provide an updated timescale.

24.3 If a complaint cannot be resolved directly, a pupil may seek consumer guidance from Citizens Advice. Concerns about an instructor's professional conduct may also be raised with the DVSA ADI Registrar at instructorconduct@dvsa.gov.uk.

25.1 We may update these terms to reflect changes in the law, DVSA rules, prices, technology or the way services operate.

25.2 A change will not retrospectively remove a right or refund already due. Significant changes will be brought to existing pupils' attention and will apply to bookings made, renewed or rearranged after the stated effective date.

26.1 If any part of these terms is found to be unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining terms will continue to apply.

26.2 A delay in enforcing a term does not mean that either party gives up the right to enforce it later.

26.3 These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales. A pupil living in England or Wales may bring proceedings in the courts of England and Wales. A pupil living elsewhere in the United Kingdom retains any right to bring proceedings in their home courts where consumer law provides it.

Ashley Legacy Driving LTD trading as ALD Driving School. Company number 15853268. Registered office: 190 Park Road, Dukinfield, England, SK16 5LP. Email: info@alddriving.co.uk. Telephone/WhatsApp: 07759 971182.