Driving school switch fees can hit €300 in Spain
Changing driving schools can bring a penalty of up to €300 in Spain. The Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU) issued the warning in Madrid on 15 September after reviewing contracts and complaints involving some driving schools. It says ‘all-inclusive’ deals can hide costs and limits on practical lessons.
Driving schools must clearly state the full price including VAT, the OCU says. They must also say whether it covers fees charged by the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT), required certificates and other administrative costs.
The contract should set out how many practical lessons are included and how long they last. Packages can contain between 8 and 22 lessons, each lasting from 45 to 90 minutes.
The cost behind an ‘all-inclusive’ deal
An offer for a B2 licence at €650 described as all-inclusive is not acceptable if exam fees are added later, according to the OCU. Those fees cost about €100.
It also says schools must not leave out the limit on practical lessons. Around 25 lessons are usually needed, at an average price of €30 each. Offers must also spell out how long they remain valid, any right to withdraw and the rules for exam appointments and tests.
Paid lessons should not disappear
The OCU highlighted terms that allow a school to keep money when a pupil leaves, while offering no equivalent protection if the school itself closes. It also flagged charges of up to €300 for paperwork such as transferring a pupil’s file to another driving school.
Other concerns include costly procedures or excessive deadlines for leaving or switching school, and the expiry of paid practical lessons when the school has no availability. The group also criticised price or contract changes imposed without prior agreement.
The OCU says pupils who dispute a charge should submit their complaint to the driving school in writing, keep a record of what happened and ask for a solution. It says consumer authorities at regional and municipal level should monitor potentially unfair terms and, where appropriate, impose sanctions.
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Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com