DRIVING INSTRUCTOR TRAINING FAQS

To become an Approved Driving Instructor, you need to be able to answer YES to all the following:

• Have you held a full UK or EU licence for 3.5 out of the past 6 years?
• Can you read a normal size number plate from a distance of 27.5 metres (90 feet) with glasses if required?
• Do you have less than six points on your licence?
• You have no convictions in the past ten years that would prevent you from being on the Driving Instructors Register? For example: robbery, assault.
• You enjoy working with people.

If you can fulfil all these minimum requirements, then there should be nothing to stop you becoming a fully qualified Driving Instructor.

You will have to take a DBS Disclosure (The old CRB check) after which you can apply to join the Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) register as a Proposed Driving Instructor (PDI). You can do this by visiting https://www.gov.uk/become-a-driving-instructor

• Theory Test Part 1 (100 Questions and a 14 Clip Hazard Perception Test)
• Advanced Driving Test Part 2 (Advanced One Hour Driving Test)
• Test of Teaching Ability Part 3 (An Observed Driving Lesson)

No. You must already have registered with the DVSA before booking an ADI part 1 theory test.

Anywhere from 3 to 12 months depending on your work and family commitments. Most people train and qualify in around 9 to 12 months.

A full time driving instructor delivering 35 hours of driving lessons a week with four weeks off a year should earn around £32,000 per annum after business costs.

Training courses can vary in cost from around £1000 up to £4000. The cheapest courses normally involve you signing a 12-month franchise contract which can cost you more in the long run.

The quickest way of getting on the road as a driving instructor is to take your training as an intensive course. Passing your part 1 and part 2 tests as soon as possible and then taking your 40 hours of part 3 training. You can then start giving paid instruction on a trainee licence which is issued by the DVSA. You must apply for the licence.

A trainee licence is a 6-month licence that you can apply for once you have passed your part 2 driving test and have completed 40 hours of part 3 training. This allows you to charge for giving tuition to gain experience before taking your part 3 test of instructional ability.

A driving instructor trainee licence costs £140.

No. You must be sponsored by a driving school. There must be at least as many fully qualified driving instructors in that school as they have trainee licence holders. (PDIs)

Yes. You are required to have a further 20 hours of part 3 training within the first 3 months of your trainee licence or have a fully qualified ADI sit in on 20% of the lessons you give. Due to the cost of the ADI sitting in option, almost all trainees opt for the 20 hours extra training.

No. You can train and then take a pupil to your part 3 test. You must not charge your pupil for the lesson or any lesson you give them until you have qualified.

No. You must not charge any money whatsoever if you don’t hold a trainee or full licence to instruct.

There may be a very small number of driving instructors in the UK that are employees, but the clear majority are self-employed whether they are working on their own or working with a franchise.