DriveStar NZ Changes, Cancellations & Refunds Policy
Last Updated:
11 August 2026
DriveStar understands that plans sometimes change. Our cancellation and rebooking charges are intended to reflect reasonable losses where reserved places or instructor time cannot be reused. They are not intended as penalties.
1. Theory Cancellation – 5 or More Working Days Before Day 1
1.1 You may request a full refund of your DriveStar course fee.
1.2 Alternatively, you may request one transfer to another available equivalent course.
1.3 Any separately disclosed third-party fee already paid and unable to be recovered may be excluded from the refund.
2. Theory Cancellation – 2 to 4 Working Days Before Day 1
2.1 DriveStar will normally offer one transfer to another available equivalent course.
2.2 If you request a cash refund instead, DriveStar may deduct an amount reasonably reflecting the loss caused by the late cancellation.
3. Theory Cancellation – Less Than 2 Working Days
3.1 DriveStar may retain up to the full course fee where the reserved place cannot reasonably be filled.
3.2 Any amount retained will be based on DriveStar's reasonable unrecoverable loss.
3.3 Exceptional circumstances may be considered.
4. Theory No-Shows
4.1 If you do not attend Day 1 and do not contact DriveStar, your booking may be treated as a no-show.
4.2 Your course fee may be forfeited where your reserved place could not reasonably be filled.
4.3 Serious illness, bereavement or genuine emergencies will be considered.
5. Missing a Theory Course Day
5.1 Learners must attend all four theory training days.
5.2 If you miss your normal morning or evening session, you may attend the other session that same day where space is available.
5.3 If you miss the entire day, you cannot complete that week's course.
5.4 You will normally need to re-enrol into another available weekly course.
5.5 The new course fee is normally $250 including GST.
5.6 DriveStar may waive or change this requirement because of serious illness, bereavement or another genuine emergency.
6. DriveStar Recommends Delaying Your Theory Test
6.1 DriveStar may recommend that you do not sit your official test yet.
6.2 If you accept our recommendation, you may rebook into the next available theory course for $100 including GST.
6.3 If you choose to sit the official test against DriveStar's recommendation, you accept responsibility for that decision.
6.4 If you do not pass and want to complete another full DriveStar theory course, the normal $250 including GST course fee applies.
6.5 Official NZTA/VTNZ test and resit fees are separate.
7. Practical Course Package
7.1 The practical course costs $500 including GST.
7.2 The package contains five individual sessions.
7.3 Each session represents $100 of the package.
7.4 Each session is scheduled for one hour.
7.5 Sessions should normally be completed within one training week.
8. First Practical Schedule Change
8.1 Your first practical schedule change is normally free.
8.2 You must give DriveStar at least 2 full working days' notice.
8.3 The replacement appointment is subject to instructor availability.
9. Further Practical Schedule Changes
9.1 A second or later change may incur a $50 rebooking fee.
9.2 Learners should still provide at least 2 full working days' notice.
9.3 The fee reflects additional administration and schedule disruption.
9.4 DriveStar may reduce or waive the fee where appropriate.
10. Late Practical Cancellation or No-Show
10.1 A practical session cancelled with less than 2 full working days' notice may be treated as a late cancellation.
10.2 A learner who does not attend may be treated as a no-show.
10.3 DriveStar may retain the $100 value of the session where the reserved instructor time cannot reasonably be reallocated.
10.4 Your remaining sessions will stay active.
10.5 A replacement session may be booked for $100 including GST.
10.6 Replacement sessions are subject to instructor availability.
11. Arriving Late
11.1 DriveStar will make reasonable efforts to continue your lesson if you are less than 15 minutes late.
11.2 Your lesson may still finish at the original scheduled time.
11.3 If you are more than 15 minutes late, your individual session may be treated as missed.
11.4 The $100 allocated value of that session may be forfeited where the instructor's reserved time cannot reasonably be reused.
11.5 Your remaining sessions will stay active.
11.6 A replacement session may be booked for $100 including GST.
12. Vehicle Does Not Meet Safety Requirements
12.1 DriveStar may stop the session if the vehicle is unsafe or does not meet the disclosed requirements.
12.2 DriveStar will normally provide one free course reschedule.
12.3 DriveStar can hold your paid course fee for up to 30 calendar days while the vehicle is brought to the required standard.
12.4 You must contact DriveStar within the 30-day period to arrange the replacement training week.
12.5 If you cannot provide a suitable vehicle within 30 days, DriveStar may cancel the course.
12.6 DriveStar may refund the remaining amount less up to $100 where this reasonably reflects unrecoverable scheduling and administration loss.
12.7 DriveStar may reduce or waive this amount in exceptional circumstances.
13. Official Test Fees
13.1 Official NZTA, VTNZ and AA fees are separate from DriveStar course fees.
13.2 These organisations control their own:
13.2.1 Test fees.
13.2.2 Resit fees.
13.2.3 Cancellation rules.
13.2.4 Rebooking rules.
13.2.5 Test availability.
13.2.6 Licensing requirements.
13.3 DriveStar cannot refund money paid directly to an official licensing organisation.
14. If DriveStar Cancels
14.1 DriveStar will not charge a cancellation fee for a paid service that DriveStar itself cannot provide.
14.2 Depending on the circumstances, DriveStar may provide:
14.2.1 A reschedule.
14.2.2 A transfer.
14.2.3 A credit.
14.2.4 An appropriate refund.
14.3 Where practical training is postponed because of unsafe weather, road conditions or an emergency, it will normally be rescheduled without a learner change fee.
15. Funded Learners
15.1 If another organisation paid for your course, you cannot personally receive a cash refund for money you did not pay.
15.2 DriveStar will manage the refund or credit directly with the funding or referring organisation.
15.3 A funded learner does not automatically become personally responsible for the course fee if funding ends.
15.4 The learner only becomes a self-pay customer where they separately agree to continue on that basis.
16. Exceptional Circumstances
DriveStar may waive or reduce normal fees because of:
16.1 Serious illness.
16.2 Hospitalisation.
16.3 Bereavement.
16.4 Significant family emergency.
16.5 Another genuine event outside the learner's reasonable control.
16.6 Please contact DriveStar as soon as possible.
17. Refund Processing
17.1 Approved DriveStar refunds will normally be initiated within 3 working days.
17.2 Refunds will normally be returned through the original payment method where reasonably possible.
17.3 Banks and payment providers may take additional time to return the funds.
17.4 Third-party fees can only be refunded where the relevant third party allows the amount to be recovered.
18. Requesting a Change, Cancellation or Refund
When contacting DriveStar, please provide:
18.1 Your name.
18.2 Your course.
18.3 Your booking date.
18.4 Your scheduled course or session date.
18.5 The change, cancellation or refund you are requesting.
021 045 0068