Privacy Policy
Last updated: 05/01/2026
This Privacy Policy explains how personal data is collected, used, and protected on Driving Instructor Finder (https://drivinginstructorfinder.co.uk), a UK-based driving instructor directory.
1. Who We Are
Driving Instructor Finder provides an online platform where driving instructors can list their services and users can register and make contact. We act as the data controller for personal data collected through this website.
2. Information We Collect
We may collect and process the following personal data:
a) Driving Instructors (Business Users)
Information provided directly when registering or managing a listing, including:
- Business name
- Instructor name
- Email address
- Phone number
- Business address or service area
- Any additional information you choose to display publicly
b) Registered Users / Customers
If users register on the website, we may collect:
- First name and last name
- Email address
- Phone number
- Home address
c) Comments
When visitors leave comments on the site, we collect the data shown in the comments form, along with the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help with spam detection.
An anonymised string (hash) created from your email address may be provided to the Gravatar service to check if you use it. The Gravatar service privacy policy is available at: https://automattic.com/privacy/.
Once approved, your profile picture may be visible publicly alongside your comment.
d) Media
If you upload images to the website, you should avoid uploading images containing embedded location data (EXIF GPS). Visitors may be able to download and extract location data from images displayed on the site.
3. How We Use Your Information
Personal data is used only where necessary to:
- Create and manage user accounts
- Display instructor listings
- Enable communication between users and instructors
- Moderate comments and prevent spam
- Respond to enquiries or support requests
- Maintain website security and prevent misuse
We do not sell or rent personal data to third parties.
4. Legal Basis for Processing
Under UK GDPR, personal data is processed based on:
- Consent – where information is provided voluntarily
- Legitimate interests – to operate, secure, and maintain the directory
- Legal obligations – where required by law
5. Cookies
If you leave a comment, you may opt to save your name, email address, and website in cookies for convenience. These cookies last for one year.
When you visit the login page, a temporary cookie is set to check whether your browser accepts cookies. This cookie contains no personal data and is discarded when you close your browser.
When you log in, cookies are set to save login details and display preferences. Login cookies last two days, screen option cookies last one year, and “Remember Me” logins persist for two weeks. Logging out removes login cookies.
If you edit or publish content, an additional cookie may be stored that contains no personal data and expires after one day.
6. Embedded Content from Other Websites
Articles or pages may include embedded content (e.g. videos, images, maps). Embedded content behaves as if you visited the other website directly.
These third-party sites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed tracking, and monitor interaction with embedded content, particularly if you are logged into their services.
7. Who We Share Your Data With
We do not share personal data with third parties except:
- Where required by law
- With service providers necessary for website hosting, security, or spam detection
- If you request a password reset, your IP address will be included in the reset email
All service providers are subject to appropriate data protection obligations.
8. How Long We Retain Your Data
Comments and their metadata are retained indefinitely to allow automatic approval of follow-up comments.
For registered users, personal data is stored within user profiles. Users can view, edit, or delete their personal data at any time (except usernames). Website administrators may also access and edit this information.
Data is retained only for as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this policy.
9. Your Rights
Under UK data protection law, you have the right to:
- Access your personal data
- Request correction of inaccurate data
- Request deletion of your data
- Object to or restrict processing
- Request an exported copy of your data
- Withdraw consent at any time
These rights do not apply where data must be retained for legal, administrative, or security purposes.
10. Where Your Data Is Sent
Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service.
11. Contact
For any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your personal data is handled:
info@drivinginstructordirectory.co.uk