Terms and Conditions for Diamond Drive School of Motoring

1.  You must be of legal age and produce a valid UK / Photocard provisional Category B driving licence. If an older paper licence is held then you must produce a valid passport as photographic identification.
For Motorway, Pass Plus or Refresher lessons a full valid licence must be produced with identification as above.
You must meet the minimum eye test requirements, which means you must be able to read a standard UK approved number plate at a minimum distance of 20.5 metres (67 Feet). If you need to wear glasses or contact lenses in order to meet this requirement then you must wear them whenever you drive.
2.  You must notify me of any change of your ability or entitlement to have driving tuition, for example if your provisional licence has been revoked or for medical reasons such as epilepsy.
3.   If you wish to cancel a booked driving lesson, a minimum of 48 hours’ notice must be given. Failure to give 48 hours’ notice will result in the lesson(s) having to be paid for. Lessons can be cancelled by telephone or text message but must be acknowledged by your instructor.
4.   If your instructor turns up on time at the pre-arranged pick up point and you do not show your instructor will wait 10 minutes, if there is no contact made between you. After 10 minutes they will leave and you will have to pay for the lesson.
5.   I will endeavour to be on time, however, due to unforeseen circumstances such as breakdown, accidents, holdups, etc. lesson times may need to change or even be cancelled. If cancelled by your instructor, no fee will be charged.
6.   Lessons must be paid for in advance or at the time of the lesson by cash, bank transfer or cheque. I will advise you whom the cheque should be made payable to.
7.   You must not be under the influence of drugs / alcohol during the training. In the event of there being any signs of drugs / alcohol misuse, I will withhold the use of the training vehicle for use of tuition or driving test until you are in a legal and fit state to drive. Any prescribed medication that may affect your driving should be declared to myself and to the DVLA medical board.
8.   Should you fail to reach a satisfactory standard of driving and are likely to be a danger to other road users, or are in an unfit condition through substance or alcohol abuse as described above, the ADI has a responsibility to the DVSA examiners not to allow use of the training vehicle for the purpose of the driving test. This is in the interest of the pupil, the examiner and other road users and is a precautionary safety measure. DVSA guidelines do not allow for a pupil to take a practical test just for the experience.
9.   No responsibility can be taken for tests cancelled by the DVSA for whatever reason. Lessons will have to be paid for but can be claimed back from the DVSA. The instructor cannot be responsible if you fail because of the eyesight test. Your instructor will be responsible if the test is cancelled due to the condition of the tuition vehicle.
.Non-Payment of Lessons CAN NOT and WILL NOT be tolerated. If you do not have enough money to pay for the Lesson please inform me beforehand. It is not acceptable to ask me at the end of a lesson if you can pay me next week. I will also not hesitate to use Legal Action to acquire non-payment from clients through the use of Small Claims Court.

Frequently Asked questions

How many lesson does it take to Pass the Driving Test ?

This is a very difficult question to answer because everybody is different and they learn at different rates. The DVSA recommend that the most successful Driving Test candidates have had an average of 40 hours of tuition with a Fully Qualified Approved Driving Instructor and plenty of private practice. I am very experienced at advising clients when it is best to apply for the practical test and I frequently carry out Mock driving tests so you will know what to expect and the progress you are making.

Do I have to pass the Theory Test before I start my lessons?

No. You can start your driving lessons as soon as you have your Provisional Driving Licence. I  will offer you unlimited free access to Theory Test Pro, a Website that will fully prepare you for the Theory test and it will advise you as to when to apply for it. Having said that, many people do take and pass the Theory before they start the lessons, but experience shows, once people do start driving it does heighten the chances of passing 1st time.
 

Will the car that I'm learning to drive in be fitted with dual controls?

Yes. My Diamond Drive Tuition Vehicle is fitted with a dual control clutch and brake for your safety and reassurance. It also has a rear facing reversing sensor to help you with your reversing.

Do you do intensive driving courses?

As a general rule I do not offer fully intensive courses (i.e. learn to drive in a week) as the pass rate for these courses can be lower. The most lessons I would advise somebody to have would be 90 mins a day 2-3 times a week.

I am very nervous will my Instructor take this into consideration?

 Most people are nervous when they start learning to drive.  I am  trained to a high standard and extremely used to dealing with nervous pupils.  I will offer you reassurance and advice throughout the whole course.

Where will I be taken for my 1st driving lesson?

I am highly skilled in choosing very quiet and suitable locations for complete beginners and will not take you on to unsuitable roads if you are not ready. This may involve me driving you to locations at the beginning of some lessons. This time , though, will be kept to a minimum.

Can I get picked up and dropped off at different locations ?

 It is normally acceptable to do this but please give me plenty of notice so that they can plan my day around you.

Do all lessons have to be one hour?

No. I can do one and a half hour as well. In rare circumstance I am able to do two hour lessons but experience has shown me that it can be quite tiring for the Instructor and trainee to drive for two hours. Many clients find it is very difficult to be able to concentrte for this amount of time.

 Do you do lessons in Automatic cars ?

 No Sorry. Unfortunately I don't offer lessons in Automatic cars at the moment

 What car will I take my Driving Test in?

You will normally take the test in the car that you learn to drive in except in the extreme case of mechanical breakdown. If this occurs Diamond Drive will aim to supply a replacement vehicle. Some people may to prefer to take their Driving Test in their own car which is fine. I always advise people that if they want to do this then some of the lessons will be conducted in their own vehicle.

Can my Instructor sit in the back of my car during my Driving Test ?

At Diamond Drive we actively encourage instructors to sit in the back of as many tests as possible because it quite often makes the candidates a lot less nervous. At the start of the Driving Test your Examiner will ask you if you would like your Instructor to sit in the back during the test. It will be then up to you to decide but this decision is usually made prior to the test.

How can I book lessons with Diamond Drive?

 If you are interested in booking lessons with us there are various ways to contact us. The cheapest and easiest way is to send a Text Message to me stating your Name and the word Lessons. My Mobile number is 07929586712. I will then aim to contact you as soon as possible. If you wish to call me please be aware that I will not be able to answer calls during lessons or while I am driving so then just please leave a Voice message. I will get back to you as soon as possible.

 Alternatively you can E-mail me at russell- baker@sky.com. As I am out most of the day teaching I may not be able to reply to you until the evening.

You may also wish to leave me a message on Facebook or Twitter. More details can be found on our Contact Us page. You can also purchase Gift Vouchers on the website store but please read the Terms and Conditions before purchasing as I do not cover certain areas.