Refund policy

Payment, Refund and Cancellation Policy

Prices are subject to change without any prior notice at the sole discretion of The Sideways Experience.

Refundable Deposits

After the booking, the car will be checked to ensure no damage has been sustained. This may take a few days, depending on the time of the year. The refundable deposit will be returned in full if no damage is sustained to the vehicle. The refundable deposit will be processed within 21 days of the conclusion of the booking date. Damages will be charged at labour + market price of the part/s, and the refund may take longer to be returned due to the availability to assess the damage and order the suitable parts.

Rental Cars

A 50% deposit is required to secure a rental car booking. Upon receiving the deposit, the booking is scheduled for the agreed-upon date. The final 50% payment must be received by The Sideways Experience 14 days before the scheduled rental car date. Booking dates can be changed once without incurring a fee, subject to availability. Any further changes will incur a ¥10,000 change fee.

To apply for a refund on a rental car, The Sideways Experience must receive notice 21 days or more before the rental date. Refunds will be granted at the discretion of SidewaysX management.

Cancelling 21 days from your booking date will incur a 25% forfeit of the deposit, 14 days before your booking will result in a 50% forfeit, and cancelling a booking within 14 days will result in a 100% forfeit of the deposit. Not showing up to the booking will incur a 100% cancellation fee, and rescheduling will require another full payment to be made. All refunds will incur a ¥10,000 administration fee and 10% to cover relevant fees. Any customer credits for rebooking will be held for one year without being subjected to our service price changes. Beyond one year, price changes may affect the booking amount.

SidewaysX Schools

A 50% deposit is required to secure your place in the experience. Upon receiving the deposit, the booking is scheduled for the agreed date. The final 50% payment is to be received by The Sideways Experience 30 days before the scheduled school date. Transferring to another school date is possible at the discretion of SidewaysX management subject to availability.

For a refund on a SidewaysX school, refunds will be granted at the discretion of The Sideways Experience management team in extenuating medical or personal circumstances. Refunds granted will incur a cancellation fee of 30% of the deposit and ¥20,000 in administration fees and bank charges. The deposit will be forfeited within 90 days or less before a SidewaysX school to cover SidewaysX commitments.

The Sideways Experience does not provide refunds for change of mind. In all cases, no refunds will be given for ‘no shows’. Refunds will only be issued to the person who made payment and will be granted at the discretion of The Sideways Experience management team in extenuating medical or personal circumstances. A refund must be applied for via written communication. We will consider any supporting documents, such as a medical certificate. If a refund is accepted, the refund will be processed within 21 days of accepting the request (bank dependent).

All other refunds will incur a 10% administration fee.