SUSSEX COASTAL DRIVING
Terms and conditions.
Last updated: 16 September 2026
These terms apply to driving lessons and related services provided by Sussex Coastal Driving. By booking or paying for a lesson, the pupil—or the person booking on their behalf—agrees to these terms.
1. Driving lessons
Lessons may be booked for 1 hour, 1.5 hours or 2 hours, subject to availability. Block bookings are also available.
Lessons will normally begin and finish at the agreed location. Any change to the pickup or drop-off location must be agreed with the instructor in advance.
2. Payment
Lessons must be paid for in advance by cash, card or another payment method agreed with the instructor.
Where a parent, guardian or another person books lessons for a pupil, that person will be responsible for payment unless otherwise agreed.
Sussex Coastal Driving may change its lesson prices. Pupils will be informed before any new price applies to their future lessons.
3. Block bookings
Block-booking payments must be made in advance.
Lessons already taken will be deducted from the block. Any applicable late-cancellation or missed-lesson charges may also be deducted from the remaining balance.
If a refund is requested, lessons already used may be recalculated at the standard pay-as-you-go rate. Any remaining balance will then be refunded, subject to any reasonable charges already incurred.
Block bookings cannot be transferred to another person without the instructor’s agreement.
4. Cancellations and changes by the pupil
At least 48 hours’ notice must be provided when cancelling or rearranging a lesson.
Where less than 48 hours’ notice is given, the full lesson fee may be charged if the reserved lesson time cannot reasonably be filled by another pupil.
Failure to attend a lesson without notice may also result in the full lesson fee being charged.
Sussex Coastal Driving may consider genuine emergencies at the instructor’s discretion.
5. Changes and cancellations by the instructor
Sussex Coastal Driving may rearrange or cancel a lesson because of illness, a vehicle breakdown, a pre-booked driving test, severe weather, major traffic disruption or another circumstance beyond the instructor’s reasonable control.
As much notice as reasonably possible will be provided. Any lesson cancelled by the instructor will be rearranged or fully credited to the pupil at no additional cost.
6. Late arrival
Pupils should be ready at the agreed lesson time.
If a pupil arrives late, the lesson will normally finish at the originally agreed time and the full lesson fee may still apply.
If the instructor arrives late, the lost time will be added to the lesson where possible or carried forward as a credit.
If the instructor has not arrived within 15 minutes of the agreed time and has not made contact, the pupil should contact Sussex Coastal Driving before leaving.
7. Licence, eyesight and fitness to drive
Pupils must:
- Hold a valid provisional or full driving licence appropriate for the vehicle.
- Inform the instructor of any changes affecting their entitlement or fitness to drive.
- Meet the legal eyesight standard.
- Wear any glasses or contact lenses required for driving.
- Inform the instructor of any medical condition or medication that could affect safe driving.
- Attend lessons free from alcohol, illegal drugs or anything else that may impair their ability to drive safely.
The instructor may refuse to begin or may end a lesson if the pupil is not legally entitled, appropriately prepared or fit to drive safely. The full lesson fee may be charged where the circumstances are within the pupil’s control.
8. Safety and conduct during lessons
Pupils must follow the Highway Code, drive responsibly and follow reasonable safety instructions given by the instructor.
Sussex Coastal Driving operates a zero-tolerance policy towards threatening, abusive, discriminatory, harassing or otherwise inappropriate behaviour.
A lesson may be ended immediately, and future tuition may be suspended or permanently withdrawn, if the pupil or anyone acting on their behalf behaves inappropriately or puts another person at risk.
9. Driving offences
Pupils are responsible, subject to applicable law, for offences they commit while driving. This may include fines, penalty points or prosecution.
The instructor will not ask or encourage a pupil to break the law. Nothing in these terms removes any legal responsibility that belongs to Sussex Coastal Driving or the instructor.
10. Booking a practical driving test
Pupils should discuss their proposed test with the instructor before booking it.
The instructor’s availability and the use of the tuition vehicle cannot be guaranteed unless the test date, time and location have been agreed in advance.
The pupil is responsible for checking that all test-booking information is correct and that they hold a valid theory-test pass certificate and driving licence where required.
11. Use of the tuition vehicle for a driving test
The tuition vehicle will only be provided when the instructor considers the pupil to be at a safe and suitable test standard.
The instructor may recommend that a test is changed or cancelled and may refuse the use of the vehicle where there are genuine safety, legal, insurance or test-readiness concerns.
The instructor’s professional safety assessment will determine whether the vehicle can be supplied.
If the vehicle cannot be used because of a breakdown or another issue for which Sussex Coastal Driving is responsible, any applicable lesson or vehicle-use payment will be refunded or credited. This does not affect the pupil’s statutory rights.
12. Unsuccessful tests and further tuition
Following an unsuccessful driving test, the instructor may recommend further lessons or private practice before another test is attempted.
Where appropriate, a suitable lesson plan will be agreed with the pupil.
The instructor may refuse to provide the tuition vehicle for another test if the pupil has not maintained the agreed level of practice or is not considered safe and test-ready.
13. Test cancellations and circumstances outside our control
Sussex Coastal Driving is not responsible for practical tests cancelled or changed by the DVSA, including cancellations caused by examiner availability, weather or other circumstances outside the instructor’s control.
Any lesson or vehicle time already provided may still be chargeable. Refunds of the DVSA test fee will be subject to the DVSA’s own policies.
14. Ending tuition
The pupil may stop taking lessons at any time, subject to the cancellation and block-booking terms above.
Sussex Coastal Driving may end the tuition arrangement where there is non-payment, repeated short-notice cancellation, unsafe behaviour, abuse, loss of trust or another reasonable cause.
Any unused prepaid balance will be dealt with fairly after deducting lessons already provided and any valid outstanding charges.
15. Complaints
Any concern should first be raised directly with the instructor so that there is an opportunity to resolve it promptly and fairly.
Sussex Coastal Driving can be contacted using:
sussexcoastaldriving@gmail.com
16. Statutory rights
Nothing in these terms limits or removes any rights or protections provided by UK consumer law.
Where a statutory cancellation or cooling-off right applies, it will remain unaffected by these terms.
17. Changes to these terms
These terms may occasionally be updated. Pupils will be informed of any significant change affecting lessons or payments they have already booked.