Thames | Ngatea | Waihi | Paeroa | Whangamata
Driving Lessons & Defensive Driving Courses with Gavin Buchanan
Next Defensive Driving course: To be advised
AA defensive driving certificate course
- Get your full licence 6 months earlier
- Learn to be a safer driver
Thames Driver Training instructor, Gavin Buchanan, runs AA Defensive Driving Certificate courses in Thames.
In-house Defensive Driving Certificate courses for your school, workplace or organisation are also available by request in the Thames/Coromandel and Hauraki regions.
next course
ON HOLD...
Due to government changes to the driver licensing system, we are no longer offering the AA Defensive Driving Certificate (DDC).
A new replacement advanced driver certification course is currently being developed by several providers to replace DDC, but none are yet in place.
Thames Driver Training intends to offer and facilitate that advanced course locally in Thames etc, as we have run AA Defensive Driving since 2018.
As soon as the new course is developed, approved and released, we will offer it.
Watch this space for updates.
Meanwhile, if you need to do a Defensive Driving course, check AA for course availability. As at 5 Oct 2026, some DDC courses are still being offered in South Auckland (including Pukekohe) and in Hamilton
Want us to email you when future Defensive Driving course dates are released?
Easy, just click here to be advised
future defensive driving courses
Want to know when the next Defensive Driving course is?
Pop your name and contact details in the form below to be emailed our next course dates, as soon as we know them.
in-house defensive DRiving courses
Are you a school, workplace or community organisation wanting to arrange your own in-house (or off-site) Defensive Driving Certificate course?
Thames Driver Training has run in-house Defensive Driving Courses for many businesses and organisations including Ngati Maru, Newmont, Waihi College, Thames High School, Hauraki Plains College, Whangamata Area School and Katikati College
Please contact Gavin Buchanan directly to discuss scheduling your own Defensive Driving (or Learner Licence) course in the Thames, Coromandel, Hauraki area.
terms & conditions
For Defensive Driving course participants
with Thames Driver Training
Cancellation
If you need to cancel, please contact AA ASAP. All bookings and payments are done via AA, not Thames Driver Training. We deliver the course for AA. Please see AA Defensive Driving Certificate terms and conditions here
NZTA criteria to pass
All four sessions must be attended and actively participated in (discussion and provided workbook completed etc), in sequential order, to meet NZTA's requirements to gain the Defensive Driving Certificate.
The assessment drive must be passed and completed no more than 60 days past the date of your course finishing. The assessment drive is free as part of your course. However, if you fail to turn up to your agreed assessment drive appointment, or give less than 48 hours notice to reschedule (without very genuine reason), you will be charged $75 for a subsequent appointment for your assessment.
Replacement workbook
Workbooks are $65 and one is provided as part of your course, so please care for your workbook carefully until you have your Defensive Driving certificate. A replacement workbook is $80.
Replacement Certificates
If you lose your certificate, NZTA charges Thames Driver Training a fee of $35 for a new certificate. Payment needs to be made to Thames Driver Training to reimburse us for the cost of the certificate and post/courier costs (if any) before a new certificate is issued. Please note a photo copy or photo of your Defensive Driving Certificate will not be accepted by NZTA. It must be the original, so please take care of your certificate to avoid needing a replacement.
Behaviour
No alcohol, drugs, smoking or vapes. We reserve the right to ask anyone disrupting the course, or acting unsafely/inappropriately to leave the course. No refund will be given.
Learning difficulties, anxiety or disability.
We welcome all people to do this course. If you have a disability or learning need/anxiety etc, please let us know in advance, so we can make your course experience as comfortable as possible. Most of our venues are wheelchair friendly i.e. Jack McLean Centre in Thames. Please contact us if you need to check the venue's accessibility prior to booking.
Adult Students
We welcome people of all ages in their driving journey. We have had adults in their middle and senior years do this course for their own safety and improved knowledge, even if they have held a driving licence for many years.
Name/gender preferences
We provide a safe space for all regardless of gender, sexuality, race etc. We also know many people choose to use a different name "every day", rather than their legal name for example Tamara-Jane may be your legal first name, but you prefer to be called TJ.