Last updated: September 2026
By booking driving lessons with Gearshift Driving School, you agree to these Terms & Conditions.
Gearshift Driving School is the trading name of Gearshift LTD. Driving lessons are provided by Marcin Katarzynski, DVSA Approved Driving Instructor (ADI).
Driver training
My aim is to help you become a safe and confident driver. I will provide training to a professional standard and act in accordance with the DVSA Code of Practice for Approved Driving Instructors.
Learning to drive involves making decisions and responding to changing road conditions. While I will supervise and assist you during lessons, I cannot guarantee that you will pass a driving test or prevent every mistake from occurring.
For motorway or refresher lessons where you already hold a full driving licence, you will need to show a valid licence before training begins.
Licence and fitness to drive
You must:
- be legally entitled to drive the vehicle used for your lesson;
- hold a valid UK or Northern Ireland provisional Category B driving licence, or a full licence where appropriate;
- bring or provide your driving licence when requested;
- meet the legal eyesight requirements for driving; and
- be fit to drive safely.
You must be able to read a vehicle number plate in good daylight from 20 metres for a new-style number plate, or 20.5 metres for an old-style number plate. If you need glasses or contact lenses to meet this standard, you must wear them while driving.
You must tell me if anything may affect your ability to drive safely, including alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription or over-the-counter medication, illness or a medical condition.
If you are unsure whether a medical condition or medication affects your legal ability to drive, you should seek appropriate medical advice and check the relevant DVLA requirements.
I may refuse or end a lesson if I reasonably believe that you are not legally entitled or fit to drive safely.
Lessons and bookings
Lessons are normally two hours long.
Pickup and drop-off are from an agreed location within Plymouth PL1–PL6 unless we agree otherwise.
Lessons are booked directly with me, normally by WhatsApp. A lesson is confirmed once we have agreed the date and time.
Driving tests
Please tell me as soon as you book a practical driving test so that I can check my availability.
Use of the Gearshift tuition car for your practical test is subject to my professional judgement. I must be satisfied that you can drive safely and independently and that using the car for the test is appropriate.
If I do not believe you are ready or that it would be safe to use my car for the test, I may refuse its use. Wherever reasonably possible, I will discuss this with you before test day and explain your options.
If I book a driving test on your behalf, it may initially be booked through Gearshift LTD. Once you have paid for the test, I will not cancel or change it unless you ask me to do so or there is another legitimate reason requiring action.
You are responsible for bringing the documents required by DVSA for your theory or practical driving test.
If DVSA cancels your test
Gearshift LTD is not responsible for a test being cancelled by DVSA.
Any lesson or vehicle time already provided remains payable in accordance with the booking arrangement.
Depending on why the test was cancelled and the notice provided, you may be eligible to claim certain expenses directly from DVSA. Current eligibility and claim rules are determined by DVSA and may change.
Cancellations and punctuality
Please give at least 48 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or change a lesson.
Lessons cancelled with less than 48 hours’ notice are charged in full.
If I arrive at the agreed pickup location, I will normally contact you by text message or phone. If I have not heard from you within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time, I may cancel the lesson and charge the full lesson price.
If you are late, the lesson will normally still finish at the originally agreed time and the full lesson price remains payable.
If you cancel more than two lessons in a row, or more than 25% of your booked lessons, I may release your regular lesson slot so that it can be offered to another learner.
If I need to cancel a lesson because of a vehicle problem, unsafe weather or road conditions, illness or another unavoidable circumstance, I will arrange another suitable time with you. You will not be charged for a lesson that I cancel and do not provide.
Behaviour and safety
I may stop or cancel a lesson if your behaviour makes it unsafe or unreasonable to continue, including dangerous, threatening or aggressive behaviour.
During a lesson I may need to intervene to keep the vehicle and other road users safe. This may include verbal instruction, taking control of the steering where necessary, or using the vehicle’s dual controls.
Payment
Payment can be made by bank transfer, cash or another method agreed with me in advance.
Individual lessons should normally be paid at least 48 hours before the lesson starts, unless we have agreed otherwise.
Block bookings of five or ten lessons must be paid in full before the first lesson in the block.
Current lesson and block prices are published on the Prices page.
Block bookings and refunds
Block-booking hours must be used within three months of purchase, unless we agree otherwise.
Lessons already taken are not refundable.
If you cancel a block booking, unused lesson time can be refunded. Lessons already taken will be recalculated at the standard non-block hourly rate that applied when the block was purchased. That amount will be deducted from the amount originally paid and the remaining balance refunded.
Accidents, damage, fines and penalties
I will supervise you and take reasonable steps to prevent accidents and damage. However, learning to drive involves risk and mistakes can occur.
If damage is caused because you deliberately or unreasonably ignore a clear instruction intended to prevent damage or danger, I may ask you to contribute towards the resulting reasonable repair cost. Any such situation will be considered individually.
As the driver, you may be legally responsible for offences, fines or penalties arising from your driving. Where I am legally required to identify the driver or provide information to the police or another competent authority, I will do so.
Insurance
Gearshift LTD maintains Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance.
The tuition vehicle is insured for its intended driving-instruction use.
Dashcam and lesson records
The tuition vehicle uses an externally facing dashcam and records audio.
Information about why recordings are made, how they are used and how personal information is handled is explained in the Privacy Policy.
Lesson and progress records may also be managed using Total Drive. Further information is provided in the Privacy Policy.
Complaints
If you are unhappy with any part of your training or the service you have received, please contact me first so that I have an opportunity to understand the problem and try to resolve it.
Marcin Katarzynski
Gearshift Driving School
Email: gearshiftschool@gmail.com
Phone/WhatsApp: 07415 692969
If a concern about an Approved Driving Instructor’s professional conduct cannot be resolved directly, you may also use the complaints routes made available by DVSA where applicable.
Governing law
These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
Nothing in these Terms & Conditions affects any statutory rights you have as a consumer.