Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

The Driving Training Centre ("The DTC", "we", "us", "our") is a driving school operating across Edinburgh and selected areas of Scotland. We also operate The DTC Test Swap, an online learner-to-learner driving test matching service for Great Britain. Our contact details are available on the Contact page.

2. What personal data we collect

We may collect the following personal information:

• Name, email address, phone number, postcode and contact preference when you make an enquiry
• Your postal address if it is later needed to create or manage your learner account
• Driving licence information relevant to your lessons and test bookings
• Lesson progress, assessment notes, and test results recorded by your instructor
• Payment and billing information necessary to process transactions
• Information you provide through our contact forms, including preferred lesson type and area

4. How we use your data

We use your personal data to:

• Provide driving lessons and related services
• Match you with a suitable instructor in your area
• Record your progress and prepare you for driving tests
• Process payments and manage your account
• Communicate with you about lessons, scheduling, and your account
• Send optional SMS service updates about your enquiry, lesson bookings and reminders, practical test reminders, and Test Swap matches or confirmations where you have opted in
• Create and manage Test Swap accounts, check possible matches, send service notifications and support an agreed learner-to-learner swap
• Give a linked instructor limited visibility of relevant test slots and availability decisions where you have supplied or confirmed the instructor relationship
• Prevent misuse, investigate reports and keep the service secure
• Meet legal and regulatory obligations

SMS service updates are optional and are separate from marketing. If you opt in, you can withdraw that permission at any time through your notification settings, by contacting us, or by replying STOP to an SMS.

5. Legal basis for processing

We process your personal data under the following legal bases: performance of a contract (to deliver lessons or provide the Test Swap service), legitimate interests (to operate, secure and improve our services, communicate about your account and prevent misuse), legal obligations (including appropriate record-keeping), and consent where required (including optional marketing or mobile contact preferences).

6. Data sharing

We do not sell your personal data. We may share relevant data with your assigned instructor, service providers that host the website or deliver email and SMS messages, payment processors, professional advisers and public authorities where legally required.

For Test Swap, another matched learner sees only the information needed to assess and complete a proposed swap. Where cross-platform matching is enabled, test-slot, matching and workflow information may be securely exchanged with MoveMyTest.co.uk so a learner from The DTC can match with a learner using that service. A booking reference is only exchanged through the protected process after the required confirmation. The DTC does not automatically submit a test change to DVSA; the learners must complete the official change directly with DVSA by phone.

7. Data retention and deletion

We retain personal data only for as long as it is needed to provide our services, protect users, resolve disputes and meet legal obligations. Lesson and financial records are retained for the period required by law. Test Swap listings expire when they are no longer capable of matching, match records are closed or archived when the workflow ends, and protected booking-reference records expire after their limited call window.

A Test Swap learner can permanently delete their standalone account from the Account page. This removes their Test Swap account with The DTC and associated learner-side listings, matches and protected booking-reference records; it does not delete a separate learner portal account with The DTC or alter a DVSA booking. Some minimal records may be retained where required to investigate misuse, establish legal claims or meet a legal obligation. Information already shared with another authorised platform is also handled under that platform's privacy arrangements.

8. Your rights

Under UK GDPR you have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your data (subject to legal retention requirements)
• Object to or restrict processing
• Data portability
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details on our Contact page.

9. Security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, loss, or destruction. Our systems use encryption, access controls, and secure hosting.

10. Cookies and website usage

Our website uses essential cookies for session management and security. We also use analytics cookies (Google Analytics 4) to understand how visitors use the site, but only after you give consent. Analytics data is anonymised and we do not track individuals across the site. For full details, see our Cookie Policy.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date.

12. Contact

If you have questions about this privacy policy or your personal data, please contact us at [email protected] or call 0800 011 2122.