AA Driver's Seat / AA Te Kaiurungi: Terms and conditions

The following terms and conditions apply to the range of driving lessons offered by the AA Driver's Seat driver training programme.

AA Driver's Seat: Starter Session for new drivers

  1. Available to all those on a Learner Licence (Class 1).

  1. Each Starter Session is an hour in duration; consisting of a Background Briefing, In Vehicle Skills Assessment and a Planning Debrief to set up the next steps.  

  1. The Starter Session is limited to one per student. All further lessons are booked as Driving Lessons. 

  1. The AA Member discounted Starter Session does not form part of the maximum 10 discounted lesson offer and is booked separately.

  1. The Starter Session will be conducted in the instructor’s dual control vehicle for safety reasons.

  2. The support person attending the lesson may contribute to the Briefing and Debrief, but for safety reasons may not provide input into the In Vehicle Skills Assessment.

  3. A Starter Session must be prepaid and booked online. Bookings are subject to availability.
  4. A valid AA Membership number is required at the time of booking the discounted Starter Session.
  5. The AA Member discounted Starter Session does not form part of the maximum 10 discounted lesson offer and is booked separately.
  6. If you arrive within 10 minutes after your agreed booking time, the In Vehicle Skills Assessment will be shortened by an equivalent amount of time, at the driving instructor’s discretion.
  7. Any cancellations or changes to your booking must be made online or in writing via contacting your driving instructor at least 24 hours prior to the commencement of your session.
  8. All BEV (Battery electric vehicles) and PHEV (Plug-in petrol hybrid vehicle) owners if you wish you take the lesson in your own car then you must ensure that your vehicle has a current RUC (Road User Charge) licence and present proof of this before any driving lesson. Instructors are required to verify the RUC licence and will cancel the lesson if the vehicle does not have a current RUC licence displayed and the current odometer reading is less than the ‘maximum distance recorder’ shown on the RUC label (including the distance needed for the lesson) and you will be charged the full lesson fee.
  9. All lessons are in the instructor's dual controlled vehicle unless other arrangements are made prior with your instructor.
  10. Vouchers are valid for one year from the date of purchase and lapse if not redeemed during the period of validity.
  11. The discounted Starter Lesson does not form part of the maximum 10 discounted lesson offer and is booked separately.

AA Driver's Seat: Driving Lessons

  1. Available to all those on a learner, restricted or full licence (Class 1).

  1. You must bring your current and valid physical licence (not a digital or photocopied version), corrective eye wear (if required as a condition on your licence) and appropriate closed shoes to every lesson. Failure to meet any of these requirements will result in a lesson cancellation and incur a cancellation fee equal to the lesson fee. 

  1. Each Driving Lesson is an hour in duration and tailored to your needs.   

  2. Your Driving Lesson will start and finish at your selected location, chosen when booking.  

  3. The support person (Parent/Caregiver) has the option to attend the lesson but for safety reasons must not provide input into the practical driving lesson.
  4. You may not have any other passengers (e.g. children or infants) in the car as they may distract you from driving.
  5. All Driving Lessons must be prepaid and booked online. Bookings are subject to availability.
  6. To be eligible for the discounted offer, the learner must hold a current AA Youth, Associate or Full Membership.  
  7. All Member and Non-Member offers are subject to change and notice thereof will be provided online.
  8. When joining as a new AA Member, you need to allow a minimum of 24 business hours before booking any Member discount lessons.
  9. All of our instructor's vehicles are fully insured, dual controlled and have an in-car camera for your safety.
  10. To be eligible for the AA Membership discounts, your valid AA Membership needs to be linked to your online profile prior to completing any purchase or making any bookings. Presentation of a proof of AA Membership after a paid purchase or booking will not be accepted to claim for retrospective AA Membership discounts.
  11. Lessons are non-transferable.  
  12. All lessons are in the instructor's dual controlled vehicle unless other arrangements are made prior with your instructor.
  13. Driving Lessons can be conducted in the instructor’s dual control vehicle or your personal vehicle, if agreed upon with the instructor.
  14. When using your personal vehicle, you must ensure that your vehicle has a valid registration, WOF, and be of a WOF standard at time of lesson, for example the brake light and indicators must operate. Failure to meet this requirement will result in a lesson cancellation and incur a cancellation fee equal to the lesson fee.
  15. When using your own vehicle for the lesson, the insurance is your own responsibility. Please check with your own insurer to ensure you have the correct cover.
  16. The offer of 10 discounted lessons for AA Members can include any of these combinations: Driving Lessons, 5 Lesson Package, Practice Restricted Test & Practice Full Test. If taking more than 10 lessons they can be booked online, at the full fee.
  17. If you arrive within 10 minutes of your scheduled booking time, the Driving Lesson will be shortened by that amount of time, at the driving instructor's discretion. E.g., If you arrive to your booking 5 minutes late, your booking will be shortened to 55 minutes long.
  18. If you arrive more than 10 minutes late to your agreed booking time, it will result in a lesson cancellation and incur a cancellation fee equal to the lesson fee.
  19. All BEV (Battery electric vehicles) and PHEV (Plug-in petrol hybrid vehicle) owners if you wish you take the lesson in your own car then you must ensure that your vehicle has a current RUC licence and present proof of this before any driving lesson. Instructors are required to verify the RUC licence and will cancel the lesson if the vehicle does not have a current RUC licence displayed and the current odometer reading is less than the ‘maximum distance recorder’ shown on the RUC label (including the distance needed for the lesson) and you will be charged the full lesson fee.
  20. Any cancellations or changes to your booking due to any reason must be made online or in writing more than 24 hours prior to the commencement of your lesson. The lesson credit will get added to your profile and you can re-book online.
  21. If you cancel online more than 24 hours prior to the commencement of your lesson, the lesson credit will get added to your profile and you can re-book online.
  22. Cancellation or changes for any reason including sickness (to chosen instructor, time or date) within 24 hours prior to the commencement of your lesson will incur a cancellation fee equal to the lesson fee.
  23. Any cancellation or termination during a lesson, or within the cancellation period of 24 hours will incur a cancellation fee equal to the session fee.
  24. If you fail to arrive for your booking it will result in a lesson cancellation and incur a cancellation fee equal to the lesson fee.  
  25. Vouchers are valid for one year from the date of purchase and lapse if not redeemed during the period of validity.
  26. AA may share basic information like name, lesson schedule, booking status and post-lesson notes with the organisation paying on behalf of the student for driving lessons. This is for the sole purpose of keeping them updated. AA handles information in line with the latest regulations and policies, ensuring confidentiality and security. 
  27. Our instructors are committed to following NZTA Waka Kotahi guidelines while conducting driving lessons and preparing students for their driving test. Instructors are not permitted to conduct lessons along the test routes to avoid students becoming proficient only on the specific route and then potentially being at risk when driving on different routes and when handling different driving conditions. It is a NZTA Waka Kotahi guideline that we do not teach the test route, AA Driving School teach safe driving skills with the goal of helping students to pass their practical driving tests and prepare them to drive safely in different driving conditions when tested. 
  28. AA Driving School shall not be liable to you or to any third party for any modification, price change, suspension or discontinuance of the Service.
  29. AA Driving School - Driving Lessons reserves the right at any time and from time to time to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, the Service (or any part thereof) with or without notice. 
  30. Prices of all Services are subject to change with or without notice. 
  31. Credit card security is implemented using secure SSL encryption on all transactions and processed using a secure, trusted, PCI compliant payment gateway and used by AA Driving School - Driving Lessons for payment processing.
  32. All fees and transactions are in New Zealand dollars. 
  33. Lesson credit – The lesson package credits will expire 24 months from the date of purchase. After expiry, the lesson credit will automatically be converted in to account balance that can be used towards any product(lesson/session) within the AA Driving School online booking system. Book Driving Lessons | AA Driving School - Driving Lessons
  • Utilizing account balance - While the lesson credit may be expired, the account balance can still be used to book a driving lesson. The cost of a new driving lesson booking will be based on the current pricing at the time of booking, not at the original price at the time of credit issuance. This would mean that you may have to pay the difference to book a lesson after the original credit expiry. If you have purchased with the membership discount, you would still need an active AA membership to take advantage of any member discount at the time of booking. 
  • Refund - You can request a refund at any time by clicking on Email Us | AA New Zealand and it will processed to the card used for the purchase. 
  1. We reserve the right to terminate the assessment if: 
  • You engage in any behaviour that your instructor determines is reckless; or
  • You fail to comply with the instructions or directions of the instructor before/during the assessment; or  
  • Your instructor has assessed your driving skills/competence and deemed you to be unfit/unsafe to drive; or  
  • You show any signs of impairment that will impact your ability to drive safely.   
If your lesson is terminated for any of the above reasons, you will incur a cancellation fee equal to the lesson fee.

AA Driver's Seat: Practice Restricted Licence Test 

  1. Available to all those on a Learner Licence (Class 1).  

  1. Each Practice Restricted Test is an hour in duration and is based on the Restricted Licence Test requirements.

  1. The Practice Restricted Test can be conducted in your personal vehicle or the instructor’s dual control vehicle, if agreed upon with the instructor.     

  2. All BEV (Battery electric vehicles) and PHEV (Plug-in petrol hybrid vehicle) owners if you wish you take the lesson in your own car then you must ensure that your vehicle has a current RUC licence and present proof of this before any driving lesson. Instructors are required to verify the RUC licence and will cancel the lesson if the vehicle does not have a current RUC licence displayed and the current odometer reading is less than the ‘maximum distance recorder’ shown on the RUC label (including the distance needed for the lesson) and you will be charged the full lesson fee
  3. Vouchers are valid for one year from the date of purchase and lapse if not redeemed during the period of validity.

AA Driver's Seat: Practice Full Licence Test  

  1. Available to all those on a Restricted Licence (Class 1).  

  1. Each Practice Full Test is an hour in duration and is based on the Full Licence Test requirements.

  1. The Practice Full Test is conducted in your personal vehicle.

  2. You must ensure that your vehicle has a valid registration, WOF, and be of a WOF standard at time of lesson, for example the brake light and indicators must operate. Failure to meet this requirement will result in a lesson cancellation and incur a cancellation fee equal to the lesson fee.

  3. All BEV (Battery electric vehicles) and PHEV (Plug-in petrol hybrid vehicle) owners if you wish you take the lesson in your own car then you must ensure that your vehicle has a current RUC licence and present proof of this before any driving lesson. Instructors are required to verify the RUC licence and will cancel the lesson if the vehicle does not have a current RUC licence displayed and the current odometer reading is less than the ‘maximum distance recorder’ shown on the RUC label (including the distance needed for the lesson) and you will be charged the full lesson fee.
  4. Vouchers are valid for one year from the date of purchase and lapse if not redeemed during the period of validity.

Code of conduct

As a student participating in driving lessons with AA Driving Instructors, you are expected to adhere to the following code of conduct before and after each session: 

  • Respectful Behaviour: Students and instructors are expected to always maintain professional and appropriate behaviour during the driving lesson and within all communication before and after each session. Treat your driving instructor, other road users, and pedestrians with respect and courtesy at all times.
  • Listening and Following Instructions: Pay close attention to your instructor’s guidance and follow their instructions carefully. Your instructor is experienced and has your best interests in mind. 

  • Feedback and Communication: Communicate openly with your instructor about any concerns, difficulties, or questions you have regarding your lessons after the session.

  • Zero-Tolerance Policy: AA Driving School has a zero-tolerance policy towards abusive behaviour or the use of inappropriate language towards driving instructors or external contractors and within all communication before and after each session Any such instance of inappropriate behaviour will result in immediate action. 
  • No drug/alcohol policy: AA Driving School has a zero-tolerance policy towards the use of drugs and/or alcohol, if a student is believed to be under the influence this will result in immediate action of the lesson being cancelled. 
If a student is found to be using abusive language or engaging in disrespectful behaviour towards a driving instructor, the following consequences may apply:
  • The instructor has the right to refuse commencing, or immediately withdraw during and after a lesson. 
  • The instructor may cancel any related bookings. 
  • The student may be suspended from further lessons with other driving instructor unless approved by AA Driving School. 
  • In extreme cases, the student's enrolment with AA Driving School may be terminated permanently. 
AA Driving School aims to provide a safe and respectful learning environment for both students and Instructors. By adhering to these policies, we ensure that everyone can benefit from effective driving lessons without fear of abusive behaviour.

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