We want your driving education experience to a great one. In order to make that happen, it helps when all parties understand our policies and procedures. Please take a few minutes to read them.

The BIG STUFF

These are the things you really need to know.

BEFORE YOU SIGN UP YOUR TEEN FOR CLASS, YOU NEED TO BE SURE THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO GET A VOE FROM THE ATTENDANCE CLERK AT THEIR SCHOOL! DPS WILL NOT ISSUE PERMITS WITHOUT A VALID VOE! If you go past the 90 days on your contract because they cannot get a VOE, there is an extension fee involved. We cannot guarantee driving if they only get their permit a week or so before the contract deadline as we schedule driving two weeks out!
Enrollment forms must be completed prior to class in order to save your slot. If you paid on-line, contact us and make arrangements to either come in and complete or request them to be left on our mailbox for you to pick-up, complete, and leave in mailbox. We have NO set office hours as we are in and out throughout the day giving private lessons and driver license road tests. Call, text, or email to find out when we will be there that day!
Payment for class: You can pay in-full with a card online or cash in the office.
Any service we offer may be processed under GCDA LLC, PayPal, Square, Apple Pay, or Gulf Coast Driving Academy. Your financial institution chooses which name to list on your statement.

Course Completion Deadline:

Students have 90 days (3 months) to complete the course (driving and make-up classes.)

Special Fees:

$40.00 for missed in-car lessons without 48-hour notice unless a doctor’s note is furnished. This includes ADULT driving lessons as well.
$40.00 for returned checks
$40.00 for issuance of duplicate certificate
$260 extension fee for exceeding contract limit–will give the student 30 additional days for in-car lessons to be completed Must be paid in cash & receipt given and no refunds once driving begins. If over six months, the extension is at the discretion of the director but the fee will increase. Watch your contract time limit. Remember, they must get their VOE to get a permit! We cannot guarantee driving will be scheduled within the contract limits if they don’t get permits long before the contract ends as we schedule two weeks out on driving.
Replacement/repair charge for intentional damage to the school (including, but not limited to, writing on tables/books/building, etc.)
If you are wanting to take the Third Party Testing (road test for your license), it was NOT included in the Teen or Adult course price as DPS does NOT allow that to be done. You must have a restricted license to test with a Third Party Testing facility.

Cancellation Policy

A full refund (minus any fee if paid on-line) will be made to any student who cancels the enrollment contract before midnight of the third day, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after the enrollment contract has been signed. If your child has attended any classroom days, there will be the admin fee plus any classroom day charges before a refund is issued. If you want your child to attend a different month, payments will be refunded minus payment fees, and you must re-enroll for the other month. We do not “roll-over” registration.
If you file a “charge-back” after attending class/lessons/testing, we may file for a cancellation of your permit/license as theft of services as well as small claims court. Payments made on-line can be processed as GCDA LLC, Paypal, Square, Apple Pay, or Gulf Coast Driving Academy as that is up to your financial institution.
All students/parents are responsible for contacting the location where class was attended in order to schedule driving lessons. We may attempt to contact you as a courtesy, but it is your responsibility to notify us when a permit is obtained and to schedule the lessons. A VOE, glasses, and all necessary DPS items are the parental responsibility to obtain.
We do not tolerate any verbal, physical, or mental abuse towards our employees by any individual at our establishment. Please be courteous.

Refund Policy

Refund computations will be based on the actual instruction received through the last day of attendance.
The effective date of the termination for refund purposes will be the earliest of the following:

-The last day of attendance, if the student is terminated by the school
-The date of receipt of written notice from the student

If tuition is collected in advance of entrance and, if after the expiration of the 48-hour cancellation privilege, the student does not enter school, terminates enrollment, or withdraws, the school may retain up to $50 as administrative expenses and, from the remainder, shall refund that portion of the classroom tuition and fees and behind-the-wheel tuition and fees for services not previously received by the student.
Refunds for items of extra expense to the student, including instructional supplies, books, laboratory fees, service charges, rentals, deposits and all other such ancillary miscellaneous charges will be made within 30 days after the effective date of enrollment termination, if these items are stated separately and shown as part of the data furnished the student before enrollment.
A full refund of all tuition and fees is due and refundable in each of the following cases:

-When an enrollee is not accepted by the school
-If the course of instruction is canceled by the school
-If the student’s enrollment was procured as a result of any misrepresentation in advertising, promotional materials of the school, or misrepresentation of the school.

Refunds shall be completed within 30 days after the effective date of termination.

Rules of Operation

The school does not guarantee the student a driver’s license.

The school reserves the right to reschedule a lesson (including classroom instruction) or to make available to the student an alternate instructor or car in the event of inclement weather, unavailability of the instructor, or any other factor beyond the school’s control.

The school is prohibited from issuing a certificate of completion if the student has not met all of the requirements for course completion.

Gulf Coast Driving Academy maintains business vehicle insurance as required by the Transportation Code, Chapter 601, and uninsured or underinsured coverage.

Student Conduct

A student may be dismissed or barred from the classroom and in-car instruction for the following:

Tardiness–constant tardiness for class is not acceptable. After 10 minutes, by law, they are counted absent. If late for driving, they do not drive and it’s $40 CASH as it is considered a no-call/no-show
Drunkenness or consumption of alcohol or drugs on the premises or car
Rude, vulgar or disruptive behavior on the premises or car
Smoking/vaping on the premises or car
Being generally inattentive (sleeping, reading, etc) during class or observation
Disrupting by actions or remarks both on the premises or car
Destruction of property including materials, premises, or vehicles
We do NOT allow students to use devices of any kind. This includes, but is not limited to, cell phones, Air Pods, Apple watches, etc. ALL DEVICES are placed up front in the classroom or in the console in the vehicle.
Parental disruption by physical, verbal, mental abuse to employees, staff, or other individuals at our business

Students dismissed or barred from the classroom and in-car instruction for violating rules of conduct may be admitted at the discretion of the school director.

Policies