London Driving Academy ("we", "us", "our") is the data controller for personal data collected through this website and our booking process. We are committed to protecting your privacy in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

1. What data we collect

Account & booking data — name, email, phone, postcode, transmission preference, chosen package.
Lesson data — pick-up address, lesson history, progress notes and instructor feedback.
Payment data — processed by Stripe; we store only masked card details and a Stripe customer ID (no full card numbers).
Communications — messages you send us by email, WhatsApp, SMS or web form.
Technical data — IP address, device, browser, referring pages, collected via analytics cookies (see section 6).

2. Why we use it (lawful basis)

To deliver your lessons — performance of a contract (UK GDPR Art. 6(1)(b)).
To take payment and issue receipts — performance of a contract and legal obligation (Art. 6(1)(b), (c)).
To send lesson reminders and service messages — legitimate interest (Art. 6(1)(f)) in preventing missed lessons.
To send marketing emails — only with your prior consent (Art. 6(1)(a)), which you can withdraw at any time via the unsubscribe link.
To keep accounts and satisfy HMRC requirements — legal obligation (Art. 6(1)(c)).

3. Who we share it with

Your assigned instructor — to plan and deliver your lessons.
Stripe (payment processing) — see Stripe's privacy policy.
Our hosting, email and SMS providers acting as processors under written contracts.
The DVSA, if you ask us to book a theory or practical test on your behalf.
Law enforcement or regulators where required by law.

We do not sell your personal data to third parties.

4. How long we keep it

Booking and lesson records: 6 years after your last lesson, to satisfy HMRC.
Marketing lists: until you unsubscribe or after 24 months of inactivity, whichever is sooner.
Website analytics: up to 26 months in aggregated form.

5. Your rights

Under UK GDPR you have the right to:

Access the personal data we hold about you.
Rectify data that is inaccurate or incomplete.
Ask us to erase your data ("right to be forgotten") where our lawful basis allows.
Restrict or object to certain processing, including direct marketing.
Port your data to another provider.
Withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent.

To exercise any of these rights, email bookings@londondrivingacademy.co.uk. We will respond within one calendar month. If you are unhappy with our response you may complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.

6. Cookies

We use a small number of cookies:

Strictly necessary cookies for authentication, session and cart state — these are always on.
Analytics cookies (e.g. Google Analytics 4) to measure how visitors use the site — these only load with your consent.

You can withdraw or change consent at any time by clearing your browser data or via your browser's cookie controls.

7. Security

We use HTTPS across the site, encrypted database storage, and role-based access controls for staff. Payment information is handled entirely by Stripe under PCI DSS. Despite our safeguards, no online service is 100% secure — please contact us immediately if you suspect unauthorised access to your account.

8. International transfers

Some of our processors (e.g. Stripe) may transfer data outside the UK. When this happens we rely on the UK's adequacy decisions or on the International Data Transfer Agreement / EU Standard Contractual Clauses with UK Addendum, as appropriate.

9. Contacting us

London Driving Academy, 8 Ascham End, London E17 5EB.
Email: bookings@londondrivingacademy.co.uk
Phone: 020 8050 9933

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The current version is always available at www.londondrivingacademy.uk/privacy.

Privacy Policy