Drink-Drive Rehabilitation
Our Drink-Drive Rehabilitation (DDR) course is for convicted drink drivers referred to us by a court. The course will help you understand more about alcohol and regain your driving independence.
Reduce your ban by up to 25%
Courses delivered online via ZOOM or in a classroom
We are the largest provider in England & Wales
Welcome
If you're facing a ban for drink-driving, it's likely that the court will offer you the opportunity to participate in a DVSA-approved course. Completion of our course will make you eligible to apply for a 25% reduction in the length of your ban, getting you back on the road sooner, equipped with the knowledge you need for a future of safer driving.
Our course has been designed to provide information and support for convicted drink-drivers, and is only available to those with a drink-driving conviction, by referral from the court. The course will help you to understand the effects of alcohol and put strategies in place to avoid future conviction.
You'll also gain access to preferential quotes from IAM RoadSmart’s insurance partner which can help to offset the price of the course.
Course Summary
This 3-day course is typically scheduled over three weeks, on the same day each week. Our online and classroom courses both cover the same syllabus over the same total number of hours.
Over the three days, our friendly trainer will take you and your fellow course attendees on a journey towards understanding the effects of alcohol on driving, and you will the have the opportunity to talk about your experience with other people in the same position as you. There are a range of discussion topics including:
- The laws relating to alcohol and driving
- The impact of drink-driving
- How alcohol affects our ability to drive in a safe manner
- The broader health effects of alcohol consumption
- Dispelling myths and misunderstandings about alcohol and its effects
- Producing a realistic assessment of your own alcohol consumption
- Recognising the triggers for drink-driving and devising strategies for dealing with them
- Setting SMART goals for changing behaviour
There are quizzes and knowledge building exercises to complete throughout the course, but no tricky tests or exams.
Your questions answered
Below are answers to the most popular questions some of our clients ask. If you have any further queries, please feel free to contact our customer service team free on 0300 303 1138 or by emailing info@iamddrs.org.uk
For full Terms and Conditions, please click here.
Online
Our convenient online format allows you to attend your course via Zoom, from the comfort of your own home, and is the preferred option for most of our participants.
Download Zoom free of charge and participate on your laptop, desktop computer or tablet. Book below to secure your place.
In-person Course Venues
If you are unable to attend the course online, or would prefer to meet in a face-to-face setting, we run a limited number of in-person courses at regional centres throughout England and Wales: Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, Derby, Ipswich, Leeds, Leicester, Newport, Northampton, Norwich, Nottingham, Plymouth, Stevenage, Swansea and Worcester
Completing your course in time
You will have been issued a deadline for completion of your course. This ‘critical date’ is set by the magistrate at the time your referral order is made. It will normally be set two months earlier than the date on which your licence would be returned to you if you have satisfactorily completed the course. This two-month period is used to allow for any correspondence and administrative procedures, so that they do not impact on your period of reduction.
You are not allowed to complete your course later than this date. Therefore, we encourage you to book your place as soon as possible, as courses do tend to fill up quite quickly. The earlier you book, the more options and choices are available to you. It is your responsibility to arrange your DDR course in good time. Last-minute bookings should always try to be avoided.
Upon completion
Upon your successful completion of the course, we will issue a certificate of completion, which is sent to the court as evidence of your having attended and completed the course. The Court will then inform DVLA accordingly, and you will be able to proceed with applying to have your licence returned.
Our course itself will give you a better understanding of the reapplication process.
Getting your licence back
After a period of disqualification from driving, you will need to reapply for your licence. Full details on reapplying for your licence can be found in the DVLA’s leaflet ‘How to apply for your driving licence after being disqualified for drink driving’ (PDF)
The application process varies, depending on whether you are in the high-risk offender (HRO) category.
For non-high-risk offenders, DVLA will send you a D27 form 56 days before your disqualification period ends. You will need to fill in the form and return it to DVLA. You may need to send in a new passport-style photo with your application. You need to make sure that DVLA have your most up-to-date details.
For high-risk offenders, DVLA will send you an application form 90 working days before your disqualification ends. This will be a D1 form for car and motorbike licences, and a D2 form for bus, coach and lorry licences.
You are only classed as a high-risk offender (HRO) if you were disqualified:
- With an alcohol level of over 200 milligrams (mg) in 100 millilitres (ml) of blood, 87.5mg in 100ml of breath, or 267.5mg in 100ml of urine
- Twice in 10 years for being above the legal limit, or being unfit to drive because of drink
- For failing to supply a breath, blood or urine sample for testing
Any other driving offences are classed as non-high-risk.
Before you get your licence back, high-risk drivers must have a medical examination with one of DVLA’s appointed doctors to prove you’re fit to drive. The examination will include:
- A questionnaire about your medical history and use of alcohol
- A physical examination
- A urine test
- Blood tests
- You’ll have to pay for your medical examination
You can download the leaflet above for more information on applying after disqualification for a drink driving offence.
For non-GB licence holders, DVLA will return your licence when your disqualification period ends.
Obtaining insurance
A drink-driving conviction will almost certainly result in an increase in the cost of your insurance. IAM RoadSmart have partnered with Got You Covered, an insurance provider specialising in providing cover for drivers with unusual circumstances. Got You Covered understand the benefits of completing our course, acknowledging the completion of our course as being a worthwhile step in reducing your risk level. In many instances, the savings they offer are enough to cover your course fee.
In readiness for your return to the road, get in touch with Got You Covered to obtain a competitive quote. Even if you haven’t completed your course yet, follow the link to register your details, and one of their specialist advisors will get in touch with you shortly before you’re due to get your licence back.
Before making your booking, please make sure you have to hand:
- Your Client ID - you will find this in your invitation letter
- Your payment card - we accept all major credit and debit cards
The standard course fee is £150, for both online and in-person courses. A special rate of £95 is available for courses taking place at our Stevenage venue. You can either pay in full when booking, or spread your payments into a maximum of three instalments (subject to an additional admin fee, and you will need to make your first payment when booking to secure your place.) More information is available at checkout.
If you have any questions, please visit the FAQs section above or contact us.
Client Reviews
Contact Us
Email: info@iamddrs.org.uk - Please provide your full name and postcode when you email
Telephone: 0300 303 1138
Address: IAM RoadSmart DDRS, Building 1, Albany Place, Hyde Way, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL7 3BT
Client Resources
Below are some useful resources for people who have already signed up to our course. If you have been sent to this page by your trainer, please download each document below:
