How to Become a Driving Instructor

Are you thinking of a change of career and considering becoming a driving instructor, but don't know where to start?
Follow our step-by-step guide below to find out all you need to know.

Changing careers can seem a very daunting thing to do, but being a driving instructor can be hugely rewarding. You will be taking back control of your life, by doing as many (or as little!) hours as you want to do, and having your own business.

Seeing your students gain confidence with their driving, through your own instruction, and eventually passing their driving tests (which can be a life changing event for many people) will fill you with pride, knowing you have had such a positive influence on their lives.

Below, we will go through the different stages you will need to complete to become a driving instructor, as set out by the DVSA (the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency), from your initial application, to the 3 assessed parts of your training, and your options for after you have passed.

Apply to become a driving instructor

First, you need to check whether you can become a driving instructor.

It's also a good idea to check whether being a driving instructor is the right career for you, and whether it will live up to your expectations.

The Safe Driving For Life website has a driving instructor suitability assessment you can take. This takes around 20 minutes to complete, and after you've answered all the questions you will get feedback to help you decide if becoming a driving instructor is right for you.

You can check if you are eligible to become a driving instructor on the gov.uk website here, or see below.

To be eligible to become a driving instructor you will need to prove the following points:

You are aged 21 or over
You have held a full car driving licence for at least 3 years
You have not been banned (disqualified) from driving in the last 4 years

Your application may be refused if you have 5 or more penalty points, or you have been convicted of any non-motoring offences. The ADI Registrar will consider whether or not you are suitable to become a driving instructor.

Your application is unlikely to be accepted if you’ve been convicted of a sexual, violent, financial or drug-related crime, or banned from working with children.

You will need to agree to the responsibilities set out in the 'ADI register guide', and declare you have read the guide, before you apply. This can be found here.

You must also get a new Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to start your application, even if you already have one.

This currently costs £5.40, and you can get one by starting on the gov.uk website here.

You are now ready to start your application to become an approved driving instructor (ADI).

Get a Trainer

Once you've applied to become an ADI, you will need to get a registered trainer to help you prepare for the 3 qualifying tests.

This is where we can help you! Please see this page for more information, and to get in contact with us. We will guide and train you through all the parts you need to take to become an ADI.

Take the Theory Test (ADI Part 1)

Part 1 - this is the first assessed part of becoming an ADI. The test is split in to two parts: multiple-choice questions, and hazard perception test.

The multiple-choice questions in the theory test are based on:

The Highway Code
Know your traffic signs
The Official DVSA Guide to Learning To Drive
The Driving Instructor's Handbook
Practical Teaching Skills for Driving Instructors
National standard for driving cars and light vans
National standard for driver and rider training
Driving instructor code of practice
Carrying out driving tests: examiner guidance - this does not include sections 2, 3, 4, 5 or 15

These books can be bought from bookshops or online, and you will need to study these to learn the rules and skills you’ll be tested on.

The hazard perception test features 14 videos, all of everyday road scenes with at least one 'developing hazard'. You get points for spotting the developing hazards as soon as they start to happen.

Cost of Part 1

£81 for an ADI part 1 test, booked through the gov.uk website.

Pass mark and test result

You'll get the result at the test centre after taking the theory test. You must pass both parts to pass the test.

To pass the multiple-choice questions, you need both an overall score of at least 85 out of 100, and at least 20 out of 25 in each of the 4 categories of questions
To pass the hazard perception test, you need at least 57 points out of 75.

If you pass, you'll get a pass certificate letter. You’ll need this when you book and take your ADI part 2 test.

Your pass certificate number lasts for 2 years. You must qualify as an ADI in that time, otherwise you’ll have to start the application process again.

Take the Driving Ability Test
(ADI Part 2)

You can book your Part 2 test after you have passed your Part 1 test. Prior to taking your Part 2 test, if you join us you will get dedicated in-car training, and guidance on how to pass the test.

The test itself takes around one hour, and there are 5 parts to it:

Eyesight test – read a number plate from a set distance
‘Show Me, Tell Me’ vehicle safety questions
General driving ability
Manoeuvres
Independent driving

Cost of Part 2 training

£45ph for in-car training (8 hours recommended)
The Part 2 test currently costs £111, booked through the official gov.uk website.

Faults and test result

There are 3 types of faults you can make.

A dangerous fault - this involves actual danger to you, the examiner, the public or property
A serious fault - something potentially dangerous
A driving fault - this is not potentially dangerous, but if you keep making the same fault, it could become a serious fault.

You'll pass your Part 2 test if you make:

No more than 6 driving faults
No serious or dangerous faults

If you pass your test the examiner will tell you what faults you made, if any, and give you a copy of the driving test report.

If you fail your Part 2 test three times you have to retake and pass the Part 1 test again. You have to wait 2 years from when you first passed the Part 1 test before you can take it again.

Get Practice Teaching

Once you have passed your Part 2 test, you can start to work towards your Part 3 test.

You will need to complete at least 40 hours training from a qualified ADI.

We will provide you with 20 hours of dedicated in-car training and full access to over 20 hours of online training and essential learning resources.

By joining our Franchise you may then be eligible, via the DVSA, to apply for a 6 month trainee licence to get experience teaching students. This is known as the Pink Badge and this will allow you to learn and earn while practising and refining your new skills.

Once you have your trainee licence it is a requirement to complete 10 hours of additional in-car training.

You will get your Green Badge once you are a fully qualified ADI.

You can charge for lessons to cover the cost of things like your insurance and vehicle costs. However, when you advertise your services you must not make it seem like you’re a fully qualified driving instructor. You must:

Describe yourself as a 'trainee driving instructor'
Say which training establishment you work at (such as DriveForward Training Academy)
Only give your training establishment’s contact details - you cannot give your personal contact details.

Cost of Training, Trainee Licence and Franchise Fee

£45ph for 20 hours of in-car training and 10 hours of additional in-car training
£360 one-off payment for 20 hours of online training (for 12 months)
£140 for the Trainee Licence, which is available by applying through the official gov.uk website
Weekly Franchise fee of £65 (once you start on your Trainee Licence)

Take the Instructional Ability Test
(ADI Part 3)

The Part 3 test is a test of your ability to teach pupils, and can be booked when you have passed your Part 2 test.

A Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) examiner will watch you giving a client-centred driving lesson to one of your pupils for about 45 minutes. The examiner will look for evidence that you meet the national standard for driver and rider training.

You’ll be marked on 17 areas of competence that are grouped into 3 categories:

Lesson planning
Risk management
Teaching and learning strategies

The 17 areas of competence are listed in the ADI Part 3 test report form, which the examiner will fill in at the end of your test.

You’ll get a score from 0 to 3 for each of the 17 competencies, which are added up to work out if you’ve passed the test, and what your grade will be.

Test result

After you give the lesson, the examiner will discuss your performance and give you your result.

The grades and scores are as follows:

A score of 43-51 is a Grade A, which means you have shown a high standard of instruction and you’ll be allowed to join the ADI register
A score of 31-42 is a Grade B, which means you’ll be allowed to join the ADI register
A score of 0-30 is a Fail, which means your performance is unsatisfactory, and you will not join the ADI register.

You automatically fail if you get a score of 7 or less in the ‘risk management’ category, or the examiner stops the lesson because you’ve put yourself or someone else in danger.

When you pass, you can apply for your first ADI badge.

You must apply within 12 months of passing the test, or you’ll have to pass all 3 qualifying tests again.

If you fail, you can take the test again after your first or second attempt. You must book the next attempt within 2 years of passing your ADI part 1 test.

If you fail after the third attempt, you will have to retake and pass Part1 and Part 2 again. You can only do this 2 years after you originally passed the Part 1 test before you can take it again.

Cost of Part 3 test

The Part 3 test currently costs £111, booked through the official gov.uk website.

Register and Start Working
as an Instructor

Once you have passed all of the qualifying Parts you must then register with the DVSA for your first ADI certificate (Green Badge), within 12 months of passing your Part 3 test.

You will then stay on your DriveForward Training Academy franchise for 6 months, to benefit from ongoing training and support. After the 6 months you can either stay on your franchise with us, or we can support you to set up your own business and be independent.

You will normally be invited to take periodic standards checks as part of maintaining your ADI registration, and you will also need to renew your registration and get a new DBS check every 4 years.

Cost to register

It costs £300 to register for your first ADI certificate
Thereafter, there are the costs to renew your registration and get a new DBS check

For more information on the stages of becoming a driving instructor, please visit the official gov.uk 'Become a car driving instructor' website.