MC DRIVER TRAINING

PRIVACY NOTICE

Effective date: 25 October 2026

1. Who We Are

MC Driver Training is an independently operated driving school based in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

The business is owned and operated by Michael Collie, a self-employed DVSA Approved Driving Instructor.

For the purposes of UK data protection legislation, Michael Collie trading as MC Driver Training is the Data Controller, responsible for deciding how and why personal information is collected and used.

Business name: MC Driver Training
Business owner: Michael Collie
Business address: 8 Carlines Wynd Elln Aberdeenshire AB41 9LB
Telephone: 07823 778050
Email: michael@mcdrivertraining.co.uk
Website: www.mcdrivertraining.co.uk

2. Personal Information We Collect

We may collect and process the following information when you enquire about, book or undertake driving lessons:

* Full name, date of birth and contact details.
* Home address and agreed lesson collection or drop-off locations.
* Driving licence information required to verify eligibility to drive.
* Emergency contact information where appropriate.
* Parent or guardian contact details where provided.
* Lesson bookings, attendance, payments and cancellation records.
* Driving lesson progress, instructor assessments, reflective learning records and driving-test results.
* Correspondence through telephone calls, text messages, WhatsApp, email and Total Drive.
* Relevant learning requirements or health information voluntarily disclosed where necessary to support safe and appropriate tuition.
* Images or video recordings where applicable.
* Information submitted through our website enquiry forms.

We only collect information that is reasonably necessary for the purposes explained in this notice.

3. Why We Use Your Information

We process personal information to:

* Respond to driving lesson enquiries and manage waiting lists.
* Verify eligibility to undertake driving lessons.
* Arrange, deliver and manage driving instruction or driver training. 
* Maintain lesson, progress and payment records.
* Provide appropriate feedback and assess driving-test readiness.
* Communicate with learners and, where appropriate, their parents or guardians.
* Arrange or support practical driving tests where agreed.
* Maintain accurate business and accounting records.
* Comply with applicable legal and regulatory obligations.
* Protect our legitimate interests, including managing disputes, insurance matters and the safety of pupils and other road users.

4. Our Lawful Bases for Processing Information

Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), we rely on the following lawful bases as appropriate:

Contract: To respond to requests for lessons, make bookings, provide driving instruction, process payments and fulfil our agreement with pupils.

Legal obligation: To maintain records or disclose information where required by applicable law, including tax and accounting requirements.

Legitimate interests: To manage enquiries, maintain appropriate business records, protect the business against disputes, support safety and prevent misuse of our services, where these interests are not overridden by individuals’ rights.

Consent: Where we specifically ask for permission, such as using identifiable pupil photographs or testimonials for promotional purposes.

Where special category personal data, such as health information, is processed, we will identify an additional applicable condition under Article 9 UK GDPR before processing it.

Consent may be withdrawn at any time where consent is the lawful basis being relied upon.

5. Driving Licence Information

Before driving lessons commence, pupils may be asked to provide their provisional or full driving licence and information needed to verify their entitlement to drive.

Where appropriate, we may ask pupils to provide a DVLA driving licence check code.

Driving licence information is used for verification, lesson administration and compliance with relevant requirements.

Access to this information is restricted to those who have a legitimate need to use it.

6. Total Drive Pupil Management System

MC Driver Training uses the Total Drive instructor management application to help administer driving lessons and pupil records.

This may include:

* Pupil contact information.
* Lesson schedules and booking records.
* Payment records.
* Driving progress and lesson notes.
* Learning resources.
* Reflective learning and instructor feedback.
* Driving-test information.

Pupils may receive access to the Total Drive pupil application to view relevant lesson and learning information.

Total Drive processes information in accordance with its applicable data protection arrangements.

7. Communications

We may communicate with pupils and prospective customers through:

* Telephone and SMS.
* WhatsApp Business.
* Email.
* Total Drive.
* Website enquiry forms.

These communications are used for enquiries, lesson administration, scheduling, payment reminders, pupil progress and other relevant driving-school matters.

We do not sell pupils’ personal information to third-party marketing companies.

We will only send direct marketing communications where permitted under applicable data protection and electronic marketing rules.

8. Dashcam Recording

The MC Driver Training tuition vehicle is equipped with a dashboard camera system.

Dashcam recording is used for road safety, security, incident investigation and insurance-related purposes.

Recording arrangements:

* The vehicle has front and rear dashcam cameras.
* Recordings may capture road users, vehicles and identifiable individuals.
* Routine recordings are normally overwritten after approximately 23 hours.
* Relevant recordings may be retained longer where necessary in connection with an accident, insurance claim, complaint, investigation or legal matter.

Footage may be disclosed to insurers, the police, legal advisers or other authorised parties where necessary and lawful.

Dashcam footage is not routinely published or used for promotional purposes.

Where audio recording is enabled, this will be assessed and appropriately disclosed.

9. Photographs, Testimonials and Social Media

MC Driver Training may request permission to use photographs, written testimonials or driving-test success announcements for business promotion.

These may be published on:

* The MC Driver Training website.
* Facebook.
* Instagram.
* TikTok.
* Google Business Profile.

Where consent is the basis for publication, individuals may withdraw that consent by contacting us.

We will stop future use and take reasonable steps to remove material under our control, subject to applicable legal limitations.

Withdrawal cannot guarantee removal of copies already shared or retained by third parties.

10. Sharing Personal Information

We may share relevant personal information with trusted organisations where necessary to provide services, operate the business or comply with legal requirements.

These may include:

* Total Drive, for pupil management.
* Wix, for website hosting and website services.
* Communication service providers, including WhatsApp and email providers.
* Banks, payment providers, accountants and accounting software providers.
* DVSA or DVLA where required or appropriate.
* Insurance providers, legal advisers or relevant public authorities where necessary and lawful.

Only information reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose will be shared.

We do not sell personal information.

11. How Long We Keep Your Information

MC Driver Training aims to retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary.

Our intended retention arrangements are:

Enquiries that do not become pupils: Normally deleted within six months of the last meaningful contact, unless a longer period is justified.

Pupil lesson and progress records: Normally retained for up to four years following the last lesson, unless a longer period is required for a specific reason.

General enquiry correspondence relating to an active or completed customer relationship: May be retained for up to three years where necessary to manage that relationship or related enquiries.

Accounting and financial records: Retained for the period required by applicable HMRC rules.

Dashcam recordings: Normally overwritten after approximately 23 hours, unless relevant footage must be preserved for an incident, claim or legal purpose.

Promotional photographs and testimonials: Retained while they remain relevant and lawful to use, subject to applicable rights and withdrawal of consent.

Some records may be retained for longer where required by law, for an ongoing dispute, or for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.

Records will be securely deleted or disposed of when no longer required.

12. Keeping Information Secure

MC Driver Training takes reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse or disclosure.

These include appropriate account access controls, secure devices, passwords and the use of reputable service providers.

Access to personal information is limited to what is needed for legitimate business purposes.

13. Website Cookies and Analytics

Our website is hosted using Wix.

The website may use essential cookies necessary for its operation and, where enabled, optional analytics or other technologies.

Where consent is required for non-essential cookies, visitors will be provided with appropriate information and controls.

Further information about cookies and available choices will be provided through the website’s cookie settings or Cookie Policy.

14. International Data Transfers

Some of the service providers used by MC Driver Training may process or store personal information outside the United Kingdom.

Where personal information is transferred internationally, we will ensure that appropriate safeguards or another lawful transfer mechanism applies as required by UK data protection legislation.

Information about applicable safeguards may be requested using the contact details in this notice.

15. Your Data Protection Rights

Depending on the circumstances and lawful basis for processing, you may have the right to:

* Request access to your personal information.
* Ask for inaccurate information to be corrected.
* Request deletion of personal information.
* Request restriction of processing.
* Object to certain processing.
* Request data portability.
* Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.

You have the right to object to processing based on legitimate interests, subject to applicable legal conditions.

Not all rights apply in every circumstance.

To exercise your rights, please contact MC Driver Training using the contact details in Section 1.

We will respond to valid requests within the timeframe required by law, normally one calendar month, subject to permitted extensions.

16. Children’s and Young People’s Information

MC Driver Training provides driving tuition to learners who may be under 18.

We explain how information is used in clear, accessible language and only collect information relevant to arranging and delivering driving tuition.

Where appropriate, parents or guardians may assist with enquiries, payments and lesson arrangements.

A parent or guardian does not automatically have unrestricted access to an older teenager’s personal information. Requests for information will be assessed in accordance with applicable data protection rights and the learner’s circumstances.

17. Automated Decision-Making

MC Driver Training does not use solely automated decision-making that produces legal or similarly significant effects on pupils.

Decisions about driving progress, lesson arrangements and readiness for practical driving tests are made by the instructor.

18. Complaints

If you have concerns about how your personal information is handled, please contact MC Driver Training first so the matter can be investigated.

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Information Commissioner’s Office
Website: www.ico.org.uk
Telephone: 0303 123 1113

19. Changes to This Privacy Notice

This Privacy Notice may be updated to reflect changes in legislation, business operations or the services used by MC Driver Training.

The latest version will be published on our website.

Last updated: 25 October 2026

© 2026 MC Driver Training — Michael Collie, Sole Trader.