Road Traffic Act 1972

126 Driving instruction for payment to be given only by registered or licensed persons

(1) No instruction, for the giving of which payment of money or money's worth is, or is to be, made by, or in respect of, the person to whom the instruction is given, shall be given in the driving of a motor car unless the name of the person giving the instruction is in the register of approved instructors established in pursuance of section 23 of the [1962 c. 59.] Road Traffic Act 1962 (hereafter in this Part of this Act referred to as " the register ") or he is the holder of a current licence granted under this Part of this Act authorising him to give such instruction.

(2) Instruction in the driving of a motor car, being instruction which is given free of charge, to a person who is not the holder of a current licence to drive a motor vehicle granted under Part III of this Act (other than a provisional licence within the meaning of that Part), by, or in pursuance of arrangements made by, a person carrying on business in the supply of motor cars, and in connection with the supply of a motor car in the course of that business, shall, for the purposes of subsection (1) above, be deemed to be given for payment of money by the person to whom the instruction is given.

(3) If instruction is given in contravention of subsection (1) above, the person by whom it is given, and, if that person is employed by another to give that instruction, that other, as well as that person, shall be guilty of an offence.

(4) In proceedings against a person for an offence under subsection (3) above it shall be a defence for him to prove that he did not know, and had no reasonable cause to believe, that his name or, as the case may be, that of the person employed by him, was not in the register at the material time.

(5) Any reference in this Part of this Act to a current licence is a reference to a licence which has not expired and has not been cancelled, revoked or suspended.