SmoothDrive Terms & Conditions
SmoothDrive Terms & Conditions
Last updated: 18 August 2026
These Terms & Conditions explain how SmoothDrive provides driving tuition directly, helps learner drivers find independent driving instructors across the UK, and provides pupil referrals to participating driving instructors.
By using SmoothDrive's services, submitting an enquiry or accepting a pupil referral, you agree to the terms that apply to you.
PART A — TERMS FOR LEARNER DRIVERS
1. About SmoothDrive
SmoothDrive provides driving tuition directly in Worthing and surrounding areas and also operates an instructor-matching service to help learner drivers across the UK find driving instructors covering their area.
Website: www.smoothdrive.org.uk
Throughout these Terms, “SmoothDrive”, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to SmoothDrive Driving School.
2. Finding a Driving Instructor
Learners can submit their details through the SmoothDrive registration form.
We may use information including your:
Name and contact details
Postcode
Manual or automatic preference
Previous driving experience
Preferred lesson availability
Intended start date
Driving test information, where relevant
Other information you voluntarily provide
to try to identify a suitable instructor covering your area.
Submitting an enquiry does not guarantee that an instructor will be available.
3. Independent Driving Instructors
Unless SmoothDrive expressly tells you otherwise, instructors introduced through our UK matching service operate as independent driving instructors.
The instructor is responsible for providing your driving tuition.
Once an introduction has been made, you and the instructor should agree directly on matters including:
Lesson price
Lesson duration
Lesson dates and times
Payment method
Cancellation terms
Refund arrangements
Pick-up and drop-off arrangements
Lesson packages
Use of the instructor's vehicle
Use of the vehicle for a practical driving test
SmoothDrive does not set or control an independent instructor's lesson prices, diary or individual terms of business.
Your instructor should provide or explain their own terms of business.
4. Instructor Status
SmoothDrive aims to refer learners only to instructors who are legally entitled to provide paid driving tuition.
This may include Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) and trainee driving instructors who are legally authorised to provide paid tuition.
Learners may ask an instructor to confirm their registration or licence status.
5. SmoothDrive Worthing Lessons
Where SmoothDrive provides your lessons directly in Worthing or another area we directly serve, you are booking tuition with SmoothDrive rather than using our independent instructor referral service.
SmoothDrive's local prices are displayed on our website or confirmed with you before lessons are arranged.
Local availability depends on the SmoothDrive diary.
6. Driving Lesson Prices
Driving lesson prices vary depending on location, instructor, transmission type, lesson duration and other factors.
Prices displayed as SmoothDrive Worthing – Local Lesson Prices apply to lessons provided directly by SmoothDrive in its stated local service area.
Independent instructors determine their own lesson prices.
Always confirm the lesson price with your instructor before starting tuition.
7. Payments
For lessons provided by an independent instructor, payment for driving tuition will normally be made directly to that instructor.
SmoothDrive does not normally collect payment for driving lessons provided by independent instructors.
SmoothDrive is therefore not responsible for refunding money paid directly to an independent instructor.
Any dispute regarding lesson payments made directly to an instructor should normally be raised with that instructor first.
8. Cancellations
Independent instructors determine their own cancellation and missed-lesson policies.
Learners should check these terms before booking lessons.
For lessons provided directly by SmoothDrive, the SmoothDrive cancellation policy communicated when booking will apply.
9. Driving Tests
Learners are responsible for booking and managing their own practical car driving tests through the official GOV.UK service.
SmoothDrive and driving instructors cannot book, change, swap or cancel a learner's practical car driving test on their behalf.
Learners should discuss their intended test date with their instructor before booking where possible.
10. Use of an Instructor's Car for the Driving Test
A driving test booking does not automatically guarantee the use of an instructor's vehicle.
Use of an instructor's vehicle is subject to that instructor's availability, terms and professional judgement.
An instructor may refuse use of their vehicle where they reasonably believe that the learner is not ready to take the test safely or where the instructor or vehicle is unavailable.
Learners should confirm vehicle availability before making arrangements for their test.
11. Learner Responsibilities
Learners are responsible for:
Holding the appropriate valid driving licence
Meeting the legal eyesight requirements
Providing accurate information to SmoothDrive and their instructor
Attending lessons at agreed times
Following reasonable safety instructions
Treating instructors and vehicles respectfully
Being legally and safely fit to drive
An instructor may refuse or terminate a lesson if they reasonably believe continuing would be unsafe or unlawful.
12. No Guarantee of Availability or Test Success
SmoothDrive cannot guarantee:
Instructor availability in every postcode
Immediate lesson availability
A specific instructor
A specific lesson price
A particular vehicle
Particular lesson times
A practical driving-test appointment
That a learner will pass their driving test
We will make reasonable efforts to help find an instructor where possible.
13. Personal Information
Personal information submitted through SmoothDrive may be shared with an appropriate instructor for the purpose of responding to your enquiry and arranging driving tuition.
Our handling of personal information is explained in the SmoothDrive Privacy Policy.
PART B — TERMS FOR DRIVING INSTRUCTORS
14. The SmoothDrive Instructor Network
Independent driving instructors may participate in the SmoothDrive network and receive opportunities to accept learner-driver referrals.
Participation does not create an employment relationship, worker relationship, franchise, partnership, agency or joint venture between SmoothDrive and the instructor.
Participating instructors remain independent businesses responsible for their own driving tuition services.
15. Instructor Eligibility
An instructor accepting SmoothDrive referrals must be legally entitled to provide paid driving tuition.
The instructor is responsible for maintaining all licences, registrations, insurance and other legal requirements applicable to their work.
SmoothDrive may request reasonable evidence of an instructor's status before providing referrals.
SmoothDrive may refuse or stop providing referrals where there are reasonable concerns about an instructor's eligibility, professional conduct or suitability.
16. Pupil Referrals
SmoothDrive may offer an instructor details of a prospective pupil whose requirements appear to match the instructor's area, transmission type or availability.
An instructor is under no obligation to accept a referral.
SmoothDrive does not guarantee any minimum number of pupil referrals.
Referral availability depends on learner demand and other factors.
17. Referral Fee
SmoothDrive may charge an instructor a referral fee for a pupil referral that the instructor chooses to accept.
The applicable referral fee will be clearly communicated to the instructor before the instructor accepts the referral.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, no fee is payable merely because SmoothDrive offers an instructor an opportunity that the instructor declines.
By accepting a referral after being informed of the applicable fee, the instructor agrees to pay that referral fee in accordance with these Terms.
18. What Counts as an Accepted Referral
A referral will normally be treated as accepted when the instructor confirms to SmoothDrive that they wish to receive the pupil's contact details or otherwise agrees to take responsibility for contacting the pupil with a view to providing lessons.
SmoothDrive may provide sufficient non-identifying information before acceptance to allow the instructor to decide whether the enquiry is suitable, such as:
General postcode area
Manual or automatic requirement
Approximate experience level
Preferred availability
Intended start time
Relevant test information
Personal contact details should normally be provided after the instructor accepts the referral.
19. Payment of Referral Fees
The instructor must pay the agreed referral fee within the payment period communicated by SmoothDrive.
SmoothDrive may issue an invoice or payment request.
Failure to pay an undisputed referral fee may result in the instructor being suspended from receiving further referrals until the outstanding amount is paid.
Repeated non-payment may result in removal from the SmoothDrive instructor network.
20. Duplicate or Existing Pupils
An instructor should notify SmoothDrive promptly if a referred learner:
Is already an existing pupil of that instructor
Has recently contacted that instructor independently
Has previously been referred to that instructor by SmoothDrive
Where the instructor can reasonably demonstrate that the learner was already their customer or genuine existing enquiry before the SmoothDrive referral, SmoothDrive may cancel the referral fee.
21. Invalid Referrals
An instructor should contact SmoothDrive promptly if they reasonably believe that a referral contains invalid contact details, is fraudulent or does not represent a genuine learner enquiry.
SmoothDrive will review the circumstances.
Where SmoothDrive agrees that a referral was invalid, the referral fee may be cancelled, refunded or credited as appropriate.
A pupil simply changing their mind, failing to answer the telephone, cancelling later or deciding not to continue lessons does not automatically make a genuine referral invalid.
22. No Guarantee of Lesson Income
SmoothDrive provides a referral opportunity.
We do not guarantee that:
The pupil will answer the instructor
The pupil will book a lesson
The pupil will attend a lesson
The pupil will purchase a particular number of lessons
The pupil will remain with the instructor
The instructor will earn a particular amount from the referral
The instructor is responsible for converting the referral into a customer and managing the subsequent professional relationship.
23. Instructor Prices and Payments
Independent instructors determine their own lesson prices and payment terms.
SmoothDrive does not determine the amount an independent instructor charges a pupil unless a separate written arrangement expressly states otherwise.
Payments for driving tuition should normally be made directly between the learner and the independent instructor.
The instructor is responsible for:
Collecting lesson payments
Issuing any appropriate receipts
Managing advance payments
Handling cancellations
Providing refunds where required
Keeping appropriate business and financial records
Meeting their own tax obligations
24. Instructor Terms of Business
Independent instructors are responsible for providing learners with their own appropriate terms of business.
These should cover matters relevant to their tuition, including lesson prices, lesson duration, cancellation arrangements and conditions for use of their vehicle for a practical driving test.
25. Professional Standards
Instructors receiving SmoothDrive referrals are expected to behave professionally and lawfully.
This includes treating learners fairly, maintaining appropriate insurance and vehicle standards, providing safe tuition and complying with applicable DVSA requirements.
SmoothDrive may suspend or remove an instructor from the network where serious or repeated concerns arise.
26. Learner Information and Data Protection
Pupil information supplied by SmoothDrive must only be used for legitimate purposes connected with responding to the pupil's driving lesson enquiry and providing driving tuition.
Instructors must not sell, disclose or use pupil information for unrelated purposes.
Independent instructors are responsible for complying with applicable UK data-protection requirements in relation to personal information they receive and subsequently process.
27. Contacting Referred Pupils
Instructors should make reasonable efforts to contact accepted referrals promptly.
If an instructor discovers that they cannot accommodate the pupil after accepting the referral, they should inform SmoothDrive as soon as reasonably possible so that SmoothDrive may attempt to find another instructor.
28. Circumventing the Referral Service
An instructor must not intentionally use information supplied through SmoothDrive to avoid an agreed referral fee.
Where an instructor accepts or begins teaching a pupil introduced through SmoothDrive, the applicable referral fee remains payable in accordance with the terms agreed when the referral was accepted.
29. Ending Participation
An instructor may stop receiving new SmoothDrive referrals at any time by informing SmoothDrive.
Any referral fees already validly incurred remain payable.
SmoothDrive may also suspend or terminate an instructor's participation where appropriate.
PART C — GENERAL TERMS
30. Complaints
Complaints relating to tuition provided by an independent instructor should normally be raised with that instructor first.
SmoothDrive may assist with communication where appropriate but cannot guarantee the outcome of disputes between independent instructors and learners.
Complaints about SmoothDrive itself should be made directly to SmoothDrive.
31. Liability
Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where doing so would be unlawful.
Where SmoothDrive acts only as an introduction or referral service, the independent instructor remains responsible for the driving tuition they provide and matters under their control.
SmoothDrive remains responsible for services provided directly by SmoothDrive and for obligations that cannot legally be excluded.
32. Website Information
SmoothDrive aims to keep information on www.smoothdrive.org.uk accurate and up to date.
However, lesson prices, instructor availability, service areas and other information may change.
Learners should confirm important details with their instructor before making payment or beginning tuition.
33. Learning Resources
SmoothDrive may separately sell educational materials, driving lesson plans and other learning resources.
Purchasing educational materials does not include driving tuition or guarantee access to an instructor unless expressly stated otherwise.
Separate terms provided by the relevant sales platform may also apply.
34. Changes to These Terms
SmoothDrive may update these Terms as its services or legal requirements change.
The latest version will be published on the SmoothDrive website with the date it was last updated.
Any changes will not remove statutory rights that have already arisen.
35. Statutory Rights
Nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude or restrict statutory rights that cannot legally be excluded.
Where applicable consumer law provides rights that conflict with these Terms, those statutory rights will take priority.
36. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
Nothing in this section affects any mandatory consumer rights regarding jurisdiction that may apply.
37. Contact SmoothDrive
For questions about these Terms, learner enquiries or the SmoothDrive Instructor Network, please contact SmoothDrive through:
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