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AA defensive driving certificate course

- Get your full licence 6 months earlier
- Learn to be a safer driver

Thames Driver Training dual controlled automatic car for driving lessons

Thames Driver Training instructor, Gavin Buchanan, runs AA Defensive Driving Certificate courses in Thames, Waihi and occasionally Whangamata and Katikati. 

In-house Defensive Driving Certificate courses for your school, workplace or organisation are also available by request in the Thames/Coromandel, Hauraki regions.

next course/s

WAIHI
AA DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSE
This course is held over four sessions from 6 - 8pm
 

  • Monday November 25

  • Wednesday November 27

  • Monday December 2

  • Wednesday December 4



​Waihi Course Venue:

Waihi Memorial Hall,
41 Seddon St, Waihi

Course fee $245
 

Course numbers are limited. Please register and make payment to secure your place.

Please see our course Terms and Conditions, here. Registration and payment, acknowledge your acceptance of these T&C.

THAMES
AA DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSE
This course is held over four sessions from 6 - 8pm
 

  • Tuesday November 26

  • Thursday November 28

  • Tuesday December 3

  • Thursday December 5


    Thames Course Venue:
    Jack McLean Centre,
    707-799 Rolleston St, Thames

    Course fee $245
     

Course numbers are limited. Please register and make payment to secure your place.

Please see our course Terms and Conditions, here. Registration and payment, acknowledge your acceptance of these T&C.

about the course

AA Defensive Driving logo

Included in your AA Defensive Driving Course...

  • 9 hours learning time in total held over 4 two hour group sessions. All four sessions must be attended, in sequence, with active participation to pass. 
     

  • Individual driver assessment in the comfort of your own car with your course facilitator and professional Driving Instructor, Gavin Buchanan at Thames Driver Training.
     

  • Your AA Defensive Driving Course Certificate is awarded upon attending all four sessions and completing your in-car assessment within 60 days of the start date of the course. This certificate is NZQA approved and great for your CV too!
     

  • Workbook and course materials to keep


     

Want us to email you when future Defensive Driving course dates are released?  
Easy, just click here to be advised

how to register

  1. Fill out the online registration form below using your legal name on your driving licence (even if it's not your preferred name)
     

  2. Payment details and dates etc will be sent automatically by email when you register.
     

  3. Your place will be confirmed once payment is received. Course numbers are limited. To make sure you get the course date and location you want, please register and make payment as soon as possible.


What to bring:

  • Yourself

  • A pen

  • Your current drivers Licence
     

DD Registration form

DEFENSIVE Driving CERTIFICATE registration form

future defensive driving courses

Want to know when the next Defensive Driving course is?
Pop your name and contact details on the form below to be emailed when our next course dates are, as soon as we know. 

AA Defensive Driving Course
DD interest
Inhouse DDC

in-house defensive DRiving courses

Are you a school, workplace or community organisation wanting to arrange your own in-house (or off-site) Defensive Driving Certificate course?

Thames Driver Training has run in-house Defensive Driving Courses for many businesses and organisations including Ngati Maru, Newmont, Waihi College, Thames High School, Hauraki Plains College, Whangamata Area School and Katikati College

Please contact Gavin Buchanan directly to discuss scheduling your own Defensive Driving (or Learner Licence) course in the Thames, Coromandel, Hauraki area.

DDC Terms & Conditions

in-house defensive DRiving courses

Are you a school, workplace or community organisation wanting to arrange your own in-house (or off-site) Defensive Driving Certificate course?

Thames Driver Training has run in-house Defensive Driving Courses for many businesses and organisations including Ngati Maru, Newmont, Waihi College, Thames High School, Whangamata Area School and Katikati College

Please contact Gavin Buchanan directly to discuss scheduling your own Defensive Driving (or Learner Licence) course in the Thames, Coromandel, Hauraki area.

terms & conditions

For Defensive Driving course participants
with Thames Driver Training

Cancellation
If you need to cancel and have already paid, please get in touch with us ASAP. A refund is available if cancellation is at least 48 hours ahead of the course date. If less than 48 hours notice of cancellation is given, we will arrange with you to transfer to a future AA Defensive Driving Certificate course date with Thames Driver Training. Once the course has started, no refunds can be given.

NZTA criteria to pass
All four sessions must be attended and actively participated in (discussion and provided workbook completed etc), in sequential order, to meet NZTA's requirements to gain the Defensive Driving Certificate.

The assessment drive must be passed and completed no more than 60 days past the date of your course finishing. The assessment drive is free as part of your course. However, if you fail to turn up to your agreed assessment drive appointment, or give less than 48 hours notice to reschedule (without very genuine reason), you will be charged $65 for a subsequent appointment for your assessment.

Replacement workbook
Workbooks are $65 and one is provided as part of your course, so please care for your workbook carefully until you have your Defensive Driving certificate. A replacement workbook is $65.

Replacement Certificates
If you lose your certificate, NZTA charges Thames Driver Training a fee of $30 for a new certificate. Payment needs to be made to Thames Driver Training to reimburse us for the cost of the certificate and post/courier costs (if any) before a new certificate is issued. Please note a photo copy or photo of your Defensive Driving Certificate will not be accepted by NZTA. It must be the original, so please take care of your certificate to avoid needing a replacement.

Behaviour
No alcohol, drugs, smoking or vapes. We reserve the right to ask anyone disrupting the course, or acting unsafely/inappropriately to leave the course. No refund will be given. 

Learning difficulties, anxiety or disability.
We welcome all people to do this course. If you have a disability or learning need/anxiety etc, please let us know in advance, so we can make your course experience as comfortable as possible. Most of our venues are wheelchair friendly i.e. Jack McLean Centre in Thames. Please contact us if you need to check the venue's accessibility prior to booking.

Adult Students
We welcome people of all ages in their driving journey. We have had adults in their middle and senior years do this course for their own safety and improved knowledge, even if they have held a driving licence for many years. 

Name/gender preferences
Tell us what name and/or gender you'd like to be referred to in the course and we will use that name/gender (which may be different than your legal name and/or gender on your driving licence). We provide a safe space for all regardless of gender, sexuality, race etc. We also know many people choose to use a different name "every day", rather than their legal name for example Tamara-Jane may be your legal first name but you prefer to be called TJ.

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