Privacy

If you are a learner

When you send us an enquiry, we collect your name, phone number, email address and postcode, along with what you tell us about the lessons you want, such as manual or automatic, when you'd like to start and whether you have a test booked. We also note the page you arrived on and, if another website sent you to us, which one. So we can see which parts of the site help learners most, we also keep a note of how you found the school or instructor you contacted, for example through our search or a list of local schools.

What we do with it

We use your enquiry to find you an available instructor. If you chose a school or instructor, it goes to them first, and only to others nearby if they can't take you and you agreed we could try.

The instructors we ask see your enquiry. Whoever takes you on gets your contact details, and we email you theirs. We never sell your details.

Our lawful basis

Legitimate interests: you asked us to put you in touch with a school, and passing on your enquiry is how that happens. You can object at any time by emailing us.

Who else sees it

The instructors we ask about your enquiry. Our email provider, Resend, and our text message provider, Twilio, which deliver the messages. Our hosting provider, Amazon Web Services, which runs the site and database.

How long we keep it

We remove your name, phone number and email address 24 months after your enquiry. We keep the rest, such as which school you contacted and when, to understand how well the service works. Once your contact details are removed, what is left no longer identifies you.

If you are a driving school or instructor

We hold your business contact details so we can list you and pass on enquiries from learners in your area. That means your business name, address, phone number, email address and website, together with the details shown on your listing.

Where we got them

For driving schools, from your public business listing. For instructors, from the DVSA's public register of approved driving instructors. If you asked us to add you, then from you.

Our lawful basis

Legitimate interests. Learners are looking for lessons in your area and we pass those enquiries to you. The information we hold is business contact information, already published so that customers can reach you, and we use it only for that purpose.

How we contact you

By email, or by text message if we have no email address for you. Our SMS provider is Twilio, our email provider is Resend, and our hosting provider is Amazon Web Services.

How to stop it

Email megan@usedrivepal.com and we will stop contacting you and remove your listing. You can also update the availability on your own listing, which stops learners enquiring in the first place.

How long we keep it

For as long as you are listed. If you ask us to remove you, we keep only a record that you asked, so that we do not add you back.

Cookies

We use one cookie, and only for driving schools. When a school signs in to manage its listing, that cookie keeps it signed in. It is necessary for that to work, so it does not require consent.

We do not use analytics, advertising or tracking cookies, and we do not share information with advertising networks. We count visits to each page by the website that sent them, as daily totals, without storing anything on your device or anything that identifies you.

Searches

We count the searches made on the site, recording what was typed and whether it found anyone, so we can improve the search. These counts are not linked to you, your device or any enquiry.

Where your data is held

The site and database are hosted in the UK. Some of our providers, including Resend, may process data outside the UK and EU. Where that happens it is covered by the safeguards those providers have in place for international transfers.

Your rights

Under UK data protection law you can ask us to:

• tell you what personal data we hold about you, and give you a copy
• correct anything that is wrong
• delete it
• stop or limit what we do with it
• provide it in a portable format

You can also object to us processing your data. Email megan@usedrivepal.com and we will respond within one month. There is no charge.

If you're unhappy with how we've handled your data, email us and we'll put it right. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk.