Rated Excellent on Trustpilot
Over 105 Years Experience
Committed to Sustainable Tourism
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot
Over 105 Years Experience
Committed to Sustainable Tourism
SMC Terms & Conditions
Skills Motor Coaches Limited aims to operate a reputable and reliable service, requiring passengers to conduct themselves appropriately. These Terms and Conditions establish the contract between passengers/guardians and the company. By purchasing a space on contracted services, you agree to be bound by these terms. Skills Motor Coaches reserves the right to report non-compliant passengers to relevant parties and refuse future travel.
The contract exists between Skills Motor Coaches and the parent/guardian paying for services. By booking through the SMC Pass Portal or Search My Coach application, you confirm you have read these Terms and Conditions in their entirety and agree to be bound by them.
Valid QR Codes must be purchased through the Portal or App before travel.
Codes may be downloaded to smart cards, printed as single-use passes, or loaded to the App.
Valid QR Codes must be scanned on ticket machines when boarding.
Lost Smart Cards incur a £5.00 replacement charge and must be reported immediately.
Skills Motor Coaches will report passengers attempting to manipulate the Portal, App, or QR Codes to schools.
Passengers booked on services will be named in the vehicle smart ticket system.
Pupils without valid QR Codes may travel; parents/guardians will be invoiced at current daily rates.
All passengers must wear seatbelts while travelling — a legal requirement.
Drivers cannot assist children with seatbelts.
Buses operate to strict timetables allowing 5-minute margins for arrivals.
Every scheduled service operates as timetabled.
Route, service, or stop terminations require no less than 6 weeks' notice.
Terminated services result in repayment of unused travel charges.
Passengers may only travel on services they have booked and paid for.
Pupils must comply with school behaviour policies and these Terms and Conditions.
Passengers cannot be removed from vehicles except by police/emergency services or to protect safety.
Serious misconduct or repeated lesser misconduct may result in temporary or permanent travel refusal; unused charges are non-refundable.
Misconduct reports go immediately to schools; schools handle sanctions.
Misconduct includes failing to remain seated whilst using a service.
Smoking and vaping devices are prohibited on board.
Children below 11 years should sit near the vehicle front.
Parents/guardians cannot accompany pupils or board buses without written permission from schools or Skills Motor Coaches (permitted only for pupil assistance).
Complaints should not be directed to drivers; instead contact the SMC booking team.
Complaints are acknowledged within one working day and investigated.
Contact: smc.bookings@skills.co.uk or 0115 9770 080.
Schools set travel charges, reviewed annually.
Booking is available annually or for daily ad hoc travel.
Payment by single annual payment or instalments (automatically deducted from recorded payment cards before each term).
Failed payments incur £25.00 administrative charges; only three collection attempts are made.
A third failed attempt cancels the instalment plan; outstanding charges immediately fall due.
No unused travel repayment is permitted unless school-approved.
Changes require written notification; a £10.00 administration charge applies if changes reduce charges.
Annual charges include no reductions for holidays, sickness, snow days, breakdowns, late running, school closure, or unplanned early finishes.
Charges account for reduced term length during exam periods.
All drivers undergo enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks upon commencement and every three years thereafter (some schools/colleges require 12 or 24-month intervals).
Annual full audited risk assessments are conducted for each vehicle, route, and stop.
Vehicles meet Driver and Vehicle Services Agency standards, comply with legislation, and are clean and well maintained.
Promptly inform Skills Motor Coaches of changes to names, addresses, phone numbers, emails, and physical requirements.
Providing personal data grants consent for recording, retention, use in correspondence, and disclosure to schools, police, and other legally-required parties.
Full privacy policy available at skills.co.uk/Privacy-Policy.
Skills Motor Coaches Limited cannot accept any responsibility for lost property.
Lost items are logged and stored for four weeks through the lost property department.
Unclaimed items are disposed of after four weeks (destroyed or sent to charity).
The lost property department operates 09:00–17:00, Monday to Friday.
Collections should be arranged before arriving at the depot.
Other arrangements may apply through schools/colleges.
Full repair costs for vandalism-caused damage will be recovered from parents/guardians of responsible passengers/pupils.
Vehicle locations are displayed in real time on the App; delayed passengers should consult the App.
Skills Motor Coaches provides updated App information to ensure waiting passenger safety.
Breakdowns or substantial delays receive a replacement service.
App failure or access issues: call 0115 9777426 for updates.
School closure notifications are sent via App push notifications.
Services continue through bad weather, subject to safety requirements.
Direct complaints to smc.bookings@skills.co.uk.
Responses are provided within two working days.
Route changes or terminations due to force majeure prevent refunds, compensation, or expense coverage.
No liability is accepted where performance is prevented or affected by force majeure events.
Force majeure is defined as unforeseen events beyond reasonable control, including war, riot, civil strife, terrorism, industrial disputes, natural disasters, pandemics, and adverse weather.
