Terms of Service

Last updated: 01st February 2026

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the L Plate platform, website, applications, and related services (“Platform”). By accessing or using LPlate.app or any L Plate services, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

Please read these Terms carefully before using our Platform.

1. About L Plate

1.1 L Plate Ltd (“L Plate”, “we”, “us”, “our”) operates an online marketplace Platform that enables:

Learners to search for, communicate with, and book driving instructors
Independent Approved Driving Instructors (“Instructors”) to offer lessons, manage availability, and receive payments
A safe and convenient mechanism for payments, scheduling, and messaging

1.2 L Plate does not provide driving instruction and is not a driving school.

1.3 L Plate is not a party to any contract between Learners and Instructors. Each booking constitutes a direct contract between Learner and Instructor.

2. Eligibility and Account Registration

2.1 Learners

To use the Platform as a learner, you must:

Be at least 17 years old; if under 18, you may require parental or guardian consent
Create an account with accurate and complete information
Comply with these Terms and applicable UK law
Maintain the confidentiality of your login credentials

2.2 Instructors

To offer lessons through the Platform, Instructors must:

Hold a valid DVSA-issued ADI licence
Maintain appropriate vehicle insurance for driving instruction
Ensure their vehicle is roadworthy and compliant
Provide accurate availability and profile information
Comply with DVSA regulations and all applicable laws
Process learner data in compliance with the L Plate Privacy Policy

3. Marketplace Relationship

3.1 L Plate is an intermediary platform only.
We facilitate connections, messaging, scheduling, and payments between Learners and Instructors.

3.2 Instructors operate as independent contractors, not employees, partners, agents, or representatives of L Plate.

3.3 L Plate does not:

Provide driving lessons
Supervise instructors
Guarantee instructor competence, availability, or conduct
Guarantee test results or learner outcomes

3.4 Each Instructor is solely responsible for:

The safety and conduct of lessons
Maintaining legal qualifications
Providing a safe vehicle
Ensuring adequate insurance
Their interactions with Learners

3.5 Learners acknowledge that driving lessons involve inherent risks. You participate at your own risk.

4. User Responsibilities

4.1 General Conduct

All users agree to:

Use the Platform lawfully and in good faith
Not engage in abusive, harassing, or discriminatory behaviour
Not attempt to circumvent payments or the Platform
Not misuse, hack, or damage the Platform
Provide accurate information and keep it updated

4.2 Learners

Learners agree to:

Attend lessons on time at the agreed location
Follow safety instructions provided by Instructors
Behave respectfully and responsibly during lessons
Only operate a vehicle when permitted and supervised
Provide truthful information regarding driving experience

4.3 Instructors

Instructors agree to:

Maintain DVSA compliance
Keep availability updated
Provide lessons professionally and safely
Maintain insurance, MOT, and roadworthiness
Not teach illegal manoeuvres or unsafe practices
Handle learner messages respectfully
Protect learner data in accordance with privacy law

5. Booking, Payments & Platform Fees

5.1 Booking Process

(a) A booking is confirmed when:

The Learner selects an available lesson slot on the Platform;
The full payment is successfully processed through the Platform; and
A booking confirmation is issued via the Platform, email, or SMS.

(b) Once confirmed, the booking forms a direct contract between the Learner and the Instructor. L Plate acts solely as an intermediary facilitating availability, communication, and payment processing.

(c) Instructors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of their availability. A lesson time is not guaranteed until confirmed under clause 5.1(a).

5.2 Payments

(a) Learners must pay the full lesson price at the time of booking.
This price includes the Instructor’s base price and L Plate’s markup.

(b) Payments are processed securely through:

Stripe Connect, for card payments; or
BACS transfer, for eligible Instructors approved by L Plate.

All card details are handled exclusively by Stripe.
L Plate does not store, process, transmit, or have access to card information.

(d) For Instructors receiving payouts via BACS:

L Plate will initiate transfers according to the payout schedule communicated to the Instructor.
Eligibility for BACS payouts is determined solely at L Plate’s discretion and may require verification checks.

(e) L Plate may deduct a Platform Service Fee, which includes our markup and may include third-party processing costs (such as Stripe fees), before releasing funds to the Instructor.

(f) Instructors receive payouts only after the scheduled lesson has been completed, unless otherwise agreed in writing by L Plate.

(g) Payout timing may differ between Stripe and BACS transfers due to external banking processes outside L Plate’s control.

5.3 Pricing, Markups & Platform Fees

(a) Instructors set their own base lesson price (for example, £40 per hour).
This base price is determined solely by the Instructor.

(b) L Plate applies a Platform Markup to the Instructor’s base price.
The current markup is 18.4%, of which approximately 3.4% covers card processing fees, with the remainder representing L Plate’s service charge for providing access to the Platform, marketing, payment processing, customer support, and operational services.

the Instructor’s base price; and
L Plate’s Platform Markup.

(d) Instructors are paid their base price, minus any applicable deductions, after the lesson is completed and according to the payout method in use.

(e) The Platform Markup constitutes the Platform Service Fee charged to Instructors for use of L Plate’s systems and services. This fee is deducted before payout.

(f) L Plate may amend the markup percentage or fee structure. Instructors will be notified of any changes at least 30 days in advance. Learners will continue to see only the final total price.

5.4 Packages, Intensive Courses & Deposits

(a) L Plate may offer lesson packages, intensive courses, test packages, or deposit-based products (“Packages”).

(b) Where a deposit is paid, this secures planning, instructor matching, and provisional allocation only. The remaining balance must be agreed and paid before lessons commence.

(c) All Packages are subject to instructor availability, learner suitability, and any eligibility criteria stated at the time of booking.

(d) Payment of a Package or deposit does not guarantee lesson availability, test attendance, or test outcomes.

6. Cancellation & Refund Policy

Refunds, cancellations, deferrals, and reallocations are governed by this Section and any applicable product-specific terms presented at the time of booking.

6.1 Learner Cancellations

(a) 72 hours or more before the lesson start time:
Learners are entitled to a full refund of the lesson fee.

(b) Less than 72 hours before the lesson start time:
No refund is automatically due. Refunds at this stage are entirely at the Instructor’s discretion, except in genuine emergency circumstances.

(d) User error or incorrect booking information:
If a refund must be issued due to learner error or failure to review available information (including but not limited to: booking manual vs automatic incorrectly, booking without checking stated availability expectations, or failing to meet the recommended 2-week lead time), L Plate may deduct a £20 administration fee from any refund processed.

(e) Booking suitability disclosure:
Learners acknowledge the information published on LPlate.app, including:

“We ask learners to book at least 2 weeks before they want to start lessons. This helps ensure consistent availability with a suitable instructor. If you're looking to begin in 7–14 days, we'll do our best to help, but we can't guarantee a match at short notice. For requests under 7 days, we're usually unable to assist, as our instructors are typically fully booked during that time.”

Refunds requested due to misunderstanding or disregarding this information may be subject to the administration fee described above.

6.2 Instructor Cancellations

(a) If an Instructor cancels a confirmed lesson, the Learner will receive a full refund of the lesson fee.

(b) L Plate may assist the Learner in rescheduling with the same Instructor or an alternative Instructor, where possible. However, we do not guarantee lesson availability or alternative placement.

(c) Repeated or unreasonable short-notice cancellations by an Instructor may result in suspension or removal from the Platform.

6.3 Weather/ Emergencies

In cases of severe weather, dangerous conditions, or genuine emergencies, L Plate may waive cancellation fees at its discretion.

6.4 Test Packages, Mock Tests & Test-Day Support

(a) Learners are solely responsible for booking their own practical driving test with the DVSA. L Plate does not book tests on behalf of Learners.

(b) Test-day driving, including use of an Instructor’s vehicle, is conditional upon Instructor approval following a mock driving assessment confirming that the Learner is test-ready.

(c) Learners must provide a minimum of 14 days’ notice of their test date, time, and test centre in order to arrange test-day support.

(d) If the Instructor determines that the Learner is not test-ready, test-day driving will not proceed. In such cases, the mock test remains completed and the test-day portion may be deferred or reallocated toward further lessons, subject to availability.

(e) No entitlement to refunds arises solely due to a Learner being deemed not test-ready.

7. Reviews & User Content

7.1 Users may leave reviews of lessons and Instructors.

7.2 By posting content on the Platform, you grant L Plate a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use, display, modify, and distribute that content for Platform operation.

7.3 L Plate may remove content that is abusive, misleading, defamatory, or violates these Terms.

8. Prohibited Activities

Users must not:

Harass, intimidate, or threaten others
Provide false or misleading information
Attempt to bypass the Platform to avoid fees
Use bots, scrapers, or automated systems
Interfere with, disrupt, or harm the Platform
Collect or harvest personal data without consent
Upload viruses, malware, or harmful content

Violation may result in immediate account termination.

9. Insurance & Liability

9.1 Instructor Insurance

Instructors must maintain valid, appropriate driving-instructor insurance at all times.

9.2 L Plate Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, L Plate is not liable for:

Accidents, injuries, or incidents during lessons
Instructor actions or omissions
Learner behaviour or negligence
Vehicle damage, defects, or breakdowns
Loss of profits, opportunities, data, or business
Third-party services (Stripe, hosting providers, etc.)
Indirect, incidental, or consequential losses

Our total liability is limited to the amount paid to us in relation to the specific transaction giving rise to the claim.

10. Platform Access & Service Availability

We aim to provide continuous access, but we do not guarantee uninterrupted service.

Maintenance updates, outages, or security events may temporarily restrict access.

We may modify or discontinue parts of the Platform with reasonable notice.

11. Third-Party Services

Your use of third-party services (including Stripe, Google Login, Apple Login) is subject to their own terms and privacy policies.
L Plate is not responsible for third-party failures or actions.

12. Account Termination

We may suspend or terminate accounts for:

Violating these Terms
Fraudulent or unsafe behaviour
Poor conduct or repeated complaints
Providing false information
Instructor failure to maintain ADI status or insurance

Users may close their account at any time via the Platform.

13. Data Protection

Use of personal data is governed by our Privacy Policy, which forms part of these Terms.

14. Dispute Resolution

L Plate encourages users to resolve disputes amicably.

We may provide mediation assistance but are not responsible for resolving disputes between Learners and Instructors.

Legal disputes must be brought before the courts of England and Wales and are governed by English law.

15. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms occasionally.

Material changes will be communicated at least 30 days before taking effect.

Continued use of the Platform constitutes acceptance of updated Terms.

16. Indemnity

Users agree to indemnify and hold harmless L Plate Ltd from claims, losses, or damages arising from:

Their misuse of the Platform
Breach of these Terms
Illegal or unsafe conduct
Instructor or learner negligence

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found invalid, the remaining sections remain fully enforceable.

18. Contact Information

For legal or support enquiries:

L Plate Ltd
Email: Support@LPlate.app