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

Book your drink-drive course Login/Manage existing booking

 

 

 

Welcome

Our DVSA-approved course has been designed to provide information and support for convicted drink-drivers. The course will help you to understand the effects of alcohol and put strategies in place to avoid future conviction.

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.

You'll also gain access to preferential quotes from IAM RoadSmart’s insurance partner which can help to offset the price of the course.

return to driving

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.

 

FAQs

 

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 1134 or by emailing enquiries@iamdra.org.uk

For full Terms and Conditions, please click here.

DRA Course FAQs

Do I have to be referred by a court to attend a DDR Course?
When will I hear from IAM RoadSmart about my referral?
Can I pay for my course in instalments?
English is not my first language. Can I still attend?
Can I extend my critical date in order to complete a course?
What happens if I’m late for a session?
Can I change my course dates after I’ve booked?
Can I take the course with another provider closer to my home address?
I have paid a deposit for a course and now wish to use an alternative provider. Do my fees transfer on to the new provider?
I have hearing difficulties. Can I still attend the course?
Will I have to take a medical before I get my licence returned?
I have a disability. Will I be able to gain access to the venues?
I have learning difficulties. Will this stop me from attending?
I have just received a ‘Notice of Non-Completion’ – what does it mean?
What happens if I can’t attend my course?
Will I be able to get insurance?

 
Venues

 

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.

online drink-drive

Classroom 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 classroom-based courses at six regional centres across the UK:

  • Stevenage - Robertson House
  • Birmingham - Comfort Inn
  • Cardiff - Holiday Inn
  • Swansea - Grand Hotel
  • Nottingham - Jurys Inn
  • Leeds - Jurys Inn

Courses at Stevenage are available at the special price of £95. The standard price for courses at other venues or online is £150.

Book below to secure your place.

 

After the Course

 

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.

 

 

Book Your Drink-Drive Course

Please choose from the options below to make your booking. If you have any questions please view the FAQs section above or contact us.

The fee for our course is £150 and covers all sessions and course materials.

A special rate of £95 is available for courses taking place at our Stevenage venue.

Flexible payment: You can either pay in full when booking, or secure your place with a £20 deposit and pay the remainder in instalments, subject to a £10 administration fee. More information is available at checkout.

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Online Courses

To book an online course, click the button below, then enter your Client ID and postcode.

In the list of venue options, simply select 'Area 00 Online Courses’.

Book an online course

Classroom Courses

To book your classroom course, click the button below, then enter your Client ID and postcode.

You will be shown a list of courses taking place at the classroom venue closest to you.

Book a classroom course

 

Client Reviews

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“The course content was very good and educational. It has definitely changed my attitude towards drink driving and road safety in general.”

– Course attendee, Online, 2022

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“When I first started the course I was a bit apprehensive. The trainer and everyone else on the course soon made me feel at ease.”

– Course attendee, Online, 2022

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“This course really opened my eyes and helped me in more ways than I thought. I’m now in a good state of mind and excited about the future.”

– Course attendee, Online, 2022

Contact Us

Email: enquiries@iamdra.org.uk - Please provide your full name and postcode when you email

Telephone: 0300 303 1138

Address: IAM RoadSmart DRA, 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:

pdf

 

DVSA approved

 

Terms and Conditions

IMPORTANT INFORMATION – BY BOOKING YOUR COURSE WITH US YOU AGREE TO ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Booking your course

You can find details of all our courses and book your place online at iamdra.org.uk, or call our team on 0300 303 1138. We will send you confirmation of your booking and payment within 7 days, either by email or post, according to your preference. If you have not received your confirmation after 7 days, it is your responsibility to let us know so that we can reissue your documents. You must check the documents upon their arrival to ensure that your details are correct and inform us of any changes. Course places are subject to availability. We advise that you book as early as possible to secure a place on a course which takes place before your critical date as set by the court. By law we can only book you to attend a course which ends on or before your critical date.

Payment

You can pay your course fee in full when booking, or pay in instalments (either by phone or online), subject to a £10 administration fee. We accept payment using all major credit and debit cards, or by cheque. We cannot accept cash payments.

  • If paying in instalments, a minimum deposit of £20 is required upon booking to secure your place. You are free to spread payments of the remainder as you wish. Note that you are responsible for managing your payments; we do not offer Direct Debit.
  • Whichever method you choose, you must ensure that you have paid the full fee no later than 28 days before the start of your course, or your place will be cancelled and you will forfeit any fees paid to date.
  • Occasionally, places may be available on courses commencing within the next 28 days: in such cases you will be required to pay in full when booking your place.
  • We reserve the right to modify, update or run promotions on courses at any time. We reserve the right to change the price of any course at any time. Once you have booked your place on a course, the price you have paid will remain fixed for your booking; under no circumstances can we refund the difference should the price of that course subsequently decrease.

Changes, cancellations and refunds

There is a 14-day cooling-off period after booking, during which time you may cancel and be refunded in full. If you cancel after the cooling-off period, or fail to attend or complete your course, you will not be eligible for a refund. If you wish to change your course date or venue, you must let us know at least 28 days before the start of your booked course; changes are made free of charge but are strictly subject to availability. Any changes made within 28 days of your start date are subject to a £45 administration fee, and you must notify us of any such changes by midnight on the day before the start of your course, or your place will be cancelled and you will forfeit your full course fee.

In the unlikely event that we are unable to deliver your course on the dates you have booked, we will reschedule your course as soon as possible at no additional charge, or you will have the option of cancelling and receiving a full refund. IAM RoadSmart cannot be held liable for any other financial costs that you may incur resulting from a change of course dates.

Special requirements

If you have any special accessibility requirements then you must notify us when booking, so that we can arrange to accommodate them. We cannot be held liable for the failure to accommodate your special requirements if we have not been notified in advance.

Courses are conducted in English. If necessary, you may arrange for an interpreter to accompany you. Your interpreter may be a professional, a friend or a family member. They must be at least 18 years of age, and we must be notified of their name and have authorised their attendance before the course commences. At the discretion of your trainer, you may be removed from the course if it is apparent that your understanding of the content is not of a satisfactory level.

Attending your course

Courses take place over 3 sessions (2 full days and one half-day) spread across a 3-week period. To complete the course, you must attend all sessions. If attending the course online, we recommend using a computer, laptop or tablet. If you do not have access to any of these, you may request permission via our support team to attend using a mobile phone with Zoom capability. Your device must have sufficient power, reliable internet connection and speed, and sound and video capability. You must ensure that you are in a private room (not in a vehicle or public place), away from noise and distractions. There must be no one else present in the room at any time. Virtual backgrounds and filters are not permitted, and you must be in full view of the camera for the duration of your course. When attending your course, whether online or in-person, you must abide by the following conditions:

  • Arrive at the course venue, or join your online sessions, on time. You will not be permitted to join the course if you arrive after the scheduled start time. You will also be expected to return punctually from all breaks between course sessions.
  • You will be required to show original versions of valid photo ID such as a current passport, other travel permits or work ID. Printed or digital copies will not be accepted. If you do not have valid photo ID, please show 2 forms of non-photographic ID such as a signed bank card or a utility bill. It is a criminal offence for another person to attend in your place. Impostors will be reported to the police.
  • You must not drink alcohol before or during the course or be under the influence of drugs. If your trainer suspects that you are intoxicated in any way, they will remove you from the course.
  • You must wear appropriate clothing which will not cause embarrassment or offence to yourself or others.
  • Participate actively in the course and contribute constructively to discussions and activities. You must be awake, not overly fatigued, and concentrate fully on the course content for the duration of each session.
  • You must not smoke or vape (other than in designated areas, or in your own home) or bring children or pets to the course.
  • Remain respectful to staff and to other course attendees: any inappropriate language, or abusive, threatening or disruptive behaviour will result in your immediate removal from the course.
  • The use of recording equipment or electronic devices (e.g. mobile phones, Amazon Alexa) other than the device used for attending the course online is not permissible. Recording or sharing any part of the course content or attendees is strictly prohibited.

Non-attendance

If you fail to attend any of your course days, are refused entry or are removed at any time during the course, a notice of non-completion will be issued. In the event that illness, bereavement or other exceptional circumstances prevent you from attending, you must let us know at the earliest opportunity and provide supporting documentation (e.g. a letter from your GP or solicitor). IAM RoadSmart management will review such cases individually and may, at their discretion, offer to refund course fees or move you to a new course (where permitted by your critical date).

Course completion

When you have successfully completed your course, we will notify the court on your behalf. You will then be able to apply for the return of your driving licence. If you are designated as a ‘High-Risk Offender’ under the Drink-Drive Rehabilitation Scheme, you will also need to undergo a medical examination with a DVLA-appointed doctor. IAM RoadSmart does not arrange or provide medical examinations.

Your privacy and our terms of service

At IAM RoadSmart we are committed to protecting your privacy. We adhere to the principles of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and aim to maintain the highest levels of security in the processing of personal data. Details on the collection and use of the personal information you share with IAM RoadSmart can be found at www.iamroadsmart.com/privacy-notice.