Terms & Conditions

1. About these Terms & Conditions

These Terms & Conditions apply to services provided by DriveForward NZ Limited (“DriveForward NZ”, “we”, “us” or “our”), including driving lessons, driver training, assessments and related services.

By booking, purchasing or using any service provided by DriveForward NZ, you agree to these Terms & Conditions. If a booking is made on behalf of another person, the person making the booking must ensure the learner is aware of the terms. Where the learner is under 18, a parent or legal guardian may need to provide consent and accept responsibility for payment.

These terms should be read alongside our Privacy Statement and any service-specific information, quote, booking confirmation or written agreement we provide. If there is an inconsistency, the specific written agreement will apply to the extent of that inconsistency.

2. Our services

DriveForward NZ provides driver training intended to help learners develop safe driving skills, sound judgement, road awareness and confidence. The services available may change over time and may include Class 1 driver training, licence preparation, driver assessments and other services described on our website or in a booking.

The scope, duration, location and price of a service will be explained at booking or otherwise agreed with you. Any course or assessment with specific eligibility requirements will be subject to those requirements.

3. Booking and confirmation

Bookings may be made through our website, booking platform, telephone, email, text message or another method we make available. A booking is confirmed when we accept it and provide confirmation. You are responsible for checking the date, time, location, service and price shown in the confirmation.

Please provide accurate contact details and tell us promptly if they change. We may contact you about your booking, lesson arrangements, safety matters or changes to our services.

4. Fees and payment

Our fees will be communicated before you commit to a booking. Unless stated otherwise, payment is due at the time of booking or before the service begins. We may use a third-party payment provider to process online payments; that provider may apply its own terms.

You are responsible for any agreed fees for services supplied. If a payment fails or remains overdue, we may pause or decline further bookings until the issue is resolved, subject to applicable law.

Any additional charges, including fees for vehicle use, travel outside our normal service area or special arrangements, will be disclosed and agreed before they are incurred.

5. Changes, cancellations and missed lessons

If you need to change or cancel a booking, contact us as soon as possible using the contact details provided in your booking confirmation.

Please give at least 24 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule a lesson without a cancellation charge. Cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice, or failure to attend (“no-show”), may incur a charge of up to the full lesson fee where that charge was clearly disclosed before booking and is lawful in the circumstances.

If you arrive late, the lesson may need to finish at the originally scheduled time so that later bookings are not affected. We will explain any practical limits on the lesson.

If DriveForward NZ needs to cancel or reschedule, we will give you as much notice as reasonably practicable and offer an alternative time or a refund for any prepaid service we do not provide. Nothing in this clause limits any rights you have under New Zealand law.

6. Learner responsibilities and eligibility

You must provide accurate information about your identity, driver licence, licence class, licence conditions, endorsements and relevant driving experience. You must hold the licence or permit legally required for the activity and comply with all applicable licence conditions.

You must bring your current driver licence or other required documentation to each lesson and wear suitable footwear. You must tell the instructor before training begins about any matter that could affect your ability to drive safely, including relevant medication, impairment, fatigue, injury or other circumstances.

You must follow reasonable safety instructions, traffic laws and the instructor’s directions. We may refuse to start, pause or end a lesson if we reasonably believe you are not legally eligible, fit to participate, or able to take part safely. Where a lesson cannot proceed for a reason within your control, the cancellation policy may apply, subject to applicable law.

7. Safety and conduct

Safety is central to our training. You must behave respectfully and must not threaten, harass, abuse or intimidate the instructor or other people. You must not attend or participate while affected by alcohol, illegal drugs, or any substance or condition that makes driving unsafe.

The instructor may take control of the vehicle, direct you to stop, or end the session where reasonably necessary for safety or legal compliance. We may decline future services where there is serious or repeated unsafe or abusive conduct.

8. Training outcomes and licence tests

Training is designed to support your development, but progress varies between individuals. We do not guarantee that you will pass a licence test, achieve a particular result, or be ready for a test after a particular number of lessons.

The decision to issue a driver licence, approve an endorsement or determine an official test outcome rests with the relevant licensing authority or authorised testing officer, not DriveForward NZ, unless a specific service agreement lawfully states otherwise.

Any feedback or recommendation we provide is based on the information and performance observed during training and is not a guarantee of future driving performance.

9. Vehicles and property

Where a DriveForward NZ vehicle is used, you must follow the instructor’s directions and take reasonable care of the vehicle and its equipment. You must not use the vehicle outside the lesson or allow another person to operate it unless expressly authorised.

You are responsible for your personal belongings. To the extent permitted by law, DriveForward NZ is not responsible for loss or damage to personal property unless caused by our failure to meet a legal obligation.

10. Health, fitness and accessibility

You should tell us in advance about any reasonable adjustment or accessibility requirement that may help you participate safely and effectively. We will discuss what arrangements may be possible.

We may postpone or decline a lesson if, in our reasonable judgement, a health, fatigue or fitness issue creates a material safety risk. We will consider the circumstances and any applicable legal obligations.

11. Refunds and consumer rights

If we cannot supply a prepaid service, we will provide an appropriate refund or other remedy as required by law. Refunds for cancellations, unused packages or other circumstances will be assessed in accordance with the booking terms and applicable New Zealand law.

Nothing in these Terms & Conditions is intended to exclude, restrict or modify any right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded, including rights that may apply under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 and Fair Trading Act 1986.

12. Liability

We will provide our services with reasonable care and skill and meet our obligations under applicable law. To the extent permitted by law, we are not responsible for loss arising from inaccurate information supplied by you, your failure to follow reasonable safety instructions, or events outside our reasonable control.

Nothing in these Terms & Conditions excludes or limits liability where doing so would be unlawful. This document does not remove your responsibility to drive lawfully and safely, including when practising outside a lesson.

13. Privacy and records

We collect, use, store and disclose personal information in accordance with our Privacy Statement and applicable New Zealand privacy law, including the Privacy Act 2020. Information may include contact details, licence information, booking and payment records, training plans, attendance, progress notes and assessment outcomes where relevant.

Where an employer, parent, guardian or other organisation arranges training, we may share agreed information about attendance, completion, competency or further training recommendations where authorised and permitted by law.

14. Complaints and feedback

If you have a concern about a service, please contact us promptly and explain the issue and the outcome you are seeking. We will consider the matter fairly and try to resolve it. This process does not limit any rights you may have to use an external complaint or dispute-resolution process.

15. Events outside our control

We may need to delay, change or cancel a service due to circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as severe weather, road closures, vehicle failure, illness, emergencies or government restrictions. We will notify you as soon as reasonably practicable and discuss rescheduling or any refund required by law.

16. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms & Conditions from time to time. The version applying to a booking will normally be the version made available when you booked, unless a change is required by law or you agree to the updated terms. The current version should be published on our website with its effective date.

17. Governing law

These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of New Zealand. Any dispute will be dealt with by the appropriate New Zealand courts or other legally available process.

18. Contact details

Please include “Terms & Conditions enquiry” in the subject line of an email about these terms.

See also our Privacy Statement.