Company Policies

MISSION STATEMENT

To produce safe, knowledgeable drivers, and to provide quality instruction by well trained, professional instructors.  We are  members of The British Columbia College of Professional Driver Trainers Association, the largest Association of its kind in BC and we are expected to abide by all standards of excellence and integrity, placing the public’s well-being above all other considerations.

PRIVATE LESSONS

We offer private lessons to our students.  That is, under most circumstances only two people, the student and the instructor, are in the training vehicle at one time.  There may be occasions when others may have to be present due to scheduling issues or for training purposes.  However, on your road test ICBC might place multiple examiners in the car, and we cannot control what ICBC does.

LESSON DETAILS

Lessons will normally be a full 60 minutes or 90 minutes, or any other length of time agreed upon between student and instructor.  During the lesson, the student will receive both driving time behind the wheel and verbal training where the training vehicle may or may not be in actual motion due to safety considerations and each of our lessons contains at least 60% actual practice driving time.  All lessons start and end at the appointed time, although the lesson may start earlier if there is mutual agreement between the student and the instructor.  If the student is late for a lesson appointment the student loses that portion of the lesson time for which he or she was late.  If the instructor is late for a lesson appointment the student does not lose any lesson time, as the student will receive a time extension of his or her lesson equal to the time the instructor was late either immediately at the end of the same lesson or on another lesson at a future date in addition to that lesson’s normal and regular length.  Please allow your instructor a 15 minute grace period if he or she is not at the appointed place at the appointed time before contacting Alpha Driving School.  Your instructor may be delayed due to heavy traffic or due to other circumstances beyond our control, but rest assured you will always receive the time that is due to you.

ISSUE RESOLUTION

What should a student do if there is an issue with the service our driving school provides?  Firstly, talk it over with your instructor.  They are all trained professionals who know how to listen and whose job it is to make you as comfortable as possible while teaching you to be a good safe driver.  If that does not resolve the situation, then call us at Alpha Driving School and ask to speak to the office manager and we will do everything in our power to make things right for you.  And lastly, if all else fails you can write a letter to Manager, Driver Training and Assessments Standards, ICBC 910 Government Street, Victoria, BC V8W 3Y5

WITHDRAWALS & REFUNDS

All students will receive the driving time they have paid for or, in case of a prepaid package of lessons, students can receive a refund of any unused in-car portion of their package (for in-car lessons not yet received) by notifying Alpha Driving School of the intention to withdraw from all remaining lessons.  The student will be charged the regular single lesson rate (see Prices & Packages) only for the in-car lessons already taught.  There are no other service charges for withdrawing from lessons provided you cancel according to the guidelines contained in the Late Cancellation/No Show Policy.  The above refund schedule also applies to students expelled from Alpha Driving School.

LATE CANCELLATION/NO-SHOW POLICY

Scheduled lessons may be changed as to time and/or place by notifying Alpha Driving School of the intended change at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the lesson.  If a student cancels late or is otherwise unable to attend or does not show for a scheduled lesson, then the student will, at our discretion, be charged thirty ($30) dollars or else will forfeit the lesson time. This fee reflects the loss of earnings to the school and the instructor, as the lost time could have been better spent in the training of another student.  If another student can be inserted into the time we reserved for you, then there will be no charge at all.  Remember, there is NEVER a charge for lessons cancelled in a timely manner.

FEES & PAYMENT

We currently offer a variety of packages for beginners as well as for those that just need to brush up their skills or as a refresher for road test preparation along with individual in-car lessons and evaluations.  See our “Prices & Packages” page for details.  Additional lessons may be taken at any time.  Prices and/or packages may be changed without notice.  There is a $25 service fee charged for all cheques returned to us by your bank.  We accept payments via cash, cheques or e-transfers.  Please make cheques payable to Alpha Driving School and send all e-transfers to alphadrivingschoolbc@hotmail.com.

THE ROAD TEST

ICBC charges applicants $35 for a Class 7 road test, $50 for a Class 5 road test and $75 for an original license fee when an applicant passes a road test (total $110/$125).  Applicants must present themselves to ICBC at least 15 minutes before the test is to begin.  ICBC charges a $25 road test cancellation fee if you do not cancel any booked road test at least 48 hours in advance.