Driving Instructor Training (UK)

The content of this page is copyright of CDT (author) January 2012. Please DO NOT copy or reproduce elsewhere either in print or online.

* All graphics and photographs copyright Clearway Driver Training (unless otherwise stated) and used with permission

The reason I've written all this is simple. I run a driving school myself and I've encountered a disturbing number of people in real life and on the internet, who've been misled or had bad experiences with certain driving instructor training companies. I want to try to let people have as much information as possible about what's REALLY involved, so that they don't end up having similar experiences which can prove both distressing and costly.

My aim here is a simple and honest one - to provide the FACTS about becoming a driving instructor and to list as many useful information resources as I can so that those contemplating driving instructor training can make an INFORMED decision about what they are doing.

You can click the following links to jump straight to subjects which seem to be very popular with visitors to this page;

Driving Instructor TV & Newspaper Adverts & Training Company Sales Patter/Hard Sell Techniques - Is What They Claim True?

Driving Instructor Earnings - How Much Money Do Driving Instructors Make?

Is There A Shortage Of Driving Instructors?

...or alternatively, if you want to explore in more depth, EVERYTHING I can think of that's involved in the process of becoming a driving instructor step by step, then please see the index below to see all the topics I've covered here. You can then go through them one at a time or click on whichever topic you'd like to know more about.

This site was intended as "the whole picture" though, so if you don't want to plough your way through the whole lot, please be aware that you might miss something important you really should know about so that you can take it into consideration!

1. QUALIFYING AS A DRIVING INSTRUCTOR ISN'T EASY
There are three exams to pass separately within a two year time limit. DO NOT UNDER-ESTIMATE THE DIFFICULTY OF THESE EXAMS (especially Part 3).

In the Driving Standards Agency's own words; "The qualifying process is not easy, and the pass rates are not high..."

Please see ADI Exam Pass Rates for details of the latest pass rate figures released by the DSA.

You will need to study independently a great deal and to take a lot of practical training (at least 60 hours "hands-on" with a trainer) plus practice in your own time. Training to be a driving instructor requires a considerable committment in terms of time and energy

There are limits on how many times you can fail exams too - you get as many goes as you need at Part 1, but a maximum of only three attempts at both Part 2 and Part 3...if you fail Part 2 three times, you have to start all over again...if you pass Part 2 and then fail Part 3 three times, you have to start all over again...from the very beginning.

If you do not pass Parts 2 and 3 of the qualifying exams within two years from the date you pass Part 1, you will have to start all over again.

2. BECOMING A DRIVING INSTRUCTOR ISN'T CHEAP
Amongst the things you will have to pay for are the following:
* ADI Theory Test question book - £6.00
* practical training and/or training materials for Part 1 - (costs of training & materials vary depending on what you choose)
* fee for the Part 1 Test - £90.00 (payable again if you fail an attempt)
* practical training and training materials for Part 2 - (costs vary depending on how much training you need, but training sessions are likely to cost in the region of £25 to £40 per hour)
* fee for the Part 2 Test - £110.00 - (payable again if you fail an attempt)
* when you pass the Part 2 test you can then apply for a 6 month trainee licence (PDI licence) if you wish. - (The cost of a trainee licence is currently £140.00)
* practical training and training materials for Part 3 (costs vary depending on your choice of training provider. A reputable, experienced ADI Part 3 trainer may charge in excess of £30 per hour. You are likely to need at least 60 hours training for Part 3)
* fee for the Part 3 Test £110.00 - (payable again if you fail an attempt)
* when you pass Part 3 - you then have to apply to join the register as an ADI and receive your ADI licence. This costs £300.00 and you will have to pay to renew your ADI registration every four years.
It can cost thousands of pounds to train to be an ADI depending on how you go about it and how much training you need.

3. TRAINING AS A DRIVING INSTRUCTOR ISN'T QUICK
Forget any ideas of getting from zero to ADI in a few weeks...it will take you between 6 months to 2 years...at least...

4. WORKING AS A DRIVING INSTRUCTOR IS SELF-EMPLOYMENT
With very few exceptions, driving instructors are SELF-EMPLOYED, so they don't get a regular steady weekly wage or a monthly salary.

The "guaranteed jobs or placements" mentioned in driving instructor training company adverts refer to taking out a SELF-EMPLOYED FRANCHISE with a driving school, NOT a salaried job.

If you are used to working as an employee and knowing how much money you're going to get every week or every month, you'll need to be able to adapt to the uncertainty of self-employment, where regular work CANNOT be guaranteed and therefore neither can a regular, steady income.

5. DRIVING INSTRUCTORS HAVE TO WORK HARD...AND THEY HAVE TO WORK "ANTI-SOCIAL" HOURS
Teaching someone to drive requires a great deal of concentration and mental effort. It is not just about sitting in a car all day, chatting to your pupils while driving round enjoying the view...you must be alert and "on the ball" at all times. This can be exhausting.

Some customers can be VERY challenging...and the job can be VERY stressful.

You will find yourself with "dead-time", i.e, the time taken to travel from one pupil to the next. Unless you teach in a big city or town where pupils are located geographically close together, you may find yourself travelling quite long distances throughout the day, criss-crossing the area you operate in. This can make for a long day...and you will not get paid anything for the time you spend travelling.

You might want to work when it suits you but in reality you'll have to work when your customers are available...they have lives too and if they are only available at 7:00am or 9:00pm, that's when you will be working.

You must be prepared to work on work-related tasks when you are not physically out on the road teaching, e.g your accounts, "paperwork", phone calls to pupils, keeping your car clean and well maintained etc...all this is done in your "free time".

6. THERE IS NOT A SHORTAGE OF DRIVING INSTRUCTORS
Claims made by driving instructor training companies that there is a shortage of driving instructors are FALSE!

There are an awful LOT of driving instructors out there already and tens of thousands more in training - don't be misled into thinking that there are lots of people queueing up to take driving lessons and not enough instructors to cope with demand. The opposite is true.

Please see Is there a shortage of driving instructors? for the official figures.

7. DRIVING INSTRUCTOR TRAINING COMPANIES WANT TO SELL YOU THEIR TRAINING COURSES - THEY DO NOT OFFER IMPARTIAL CAREERS ADVICE
Driving instructor training company adverts and sales pitches may lead you to believe all sorts of things which turn out to be very different from the actual situation.

Read - Driving instructor training is BIG business for more details.

8. DRIVING INSTRUCTORS ARE AFFECTED BY THE RECESSION JUST AS MUCH AS ANYONE ELSE IS
The economic downturn is hitting everyone, yet some training companies are making silly claims such as "driving instructors are credit crunch proof". It's nonsense, so don't be fooled.

9. DRIVING INSTRUCTOR EARNINGS RARELY BEAR ANY SIMILARITY TO THE FIGURES SUGGESTED BY TRAINING COMPANIES
The amount any driving instructor can earn depends on how much work they can get and how many hours they are prepared to work.

The fees that pupils pay are not disposable income. As a self-employed person, you will be responsible for running your own business and paying your own tax, national insurance and business expenses. You must know how to run your own business and aware of the responsibilities involved (or prepared to find out - this is an area which is often dealt with inadequately or even not at all, by training companies).

You will need some means of sourcing customers and/or advertising yourself. This will cost money.

It takes time and effort to get a full diary of pupils and you may find that work is very sporadic in the early days and your income is accordingly low...unfortunately a low income does not go hand in hand with low expenses...

It takes a lot of time and effort to get a good enough reputation so that satisfied customers recommend you to others.

In many areas of the country, there is simply not enough work available for the number of driving instructors working in those areas.

Driving instructor internet messageboards nowadays frequently have messages posted by worried driving instructors who can no longer get enough work to make a living and who are struggling, taking second jobs if they can find them, or simply packing in driving instruction as a career.

The recession is having a significant impact on existing driving instructors. Fewer people can afford driving lessons so driving lesson prices are falling massively as instructors compete for what work there is.. Overheads are increasing - fuel prices are soaring and some instructors offer lessons so cheap in an effort to keep in business that it actually costs THEM money.

It's harder than it's ever been to make a living as a driving instructor...yet the adverts still highlight income claims of up to £40,000...I'll be blunt and say that for the majority of instructors, there's not much chance of being able to make anything like that much - it was only ever possible for those prepared to put in a LOT of hours, but the work needed to earn that sort of money just isn't out there at the moment...

I've taken a closer look at this subject in the section on Driving instructor earnings

10. THERE ARE FEW "PERKS" IN BEING A DRIVING INSTRUCTOR
No paid holidays, no sick pay, no company pension, no Christmas bonus, no healthcare schemes, no staff discounts, no coffee breaks, no canteen, no 9 to 5 Monday to Friday routine, no fancy job titles and no "prestige"...

...but the joy on the face of a pupil who has just passed their test does kind of make up for it...a bit!

Read on to find out everything else you need to know before you decide that trying to become a driving instructor is the right choice for you...

Above figures supplied by: www.businesslink.gov.uk

"All you need is a driving licence & you're ready to start your training" - if you've read even a little of what's further up the page, you'll know it's a lot more complicated than that...and they don't mention that you'll also need somewhere in the region of £2000 to £4000 to pay for the training course...

"It's easy to become a driving instructor" -
it's not easy to become a driving instructor. It's difficult...very difficult in fact and many people underestimate how hard it is to their cost, in terms of money, time and broken dreams...

"There's a shortage of driving instructors"
THERE IS NOT A SHORTAGE OF DRIVING INSTRUCTORS - if anything there's a surplus. In 2010/11 there were 47,008 people on the ADI register and 11,595 new applications to become driving instructors ...hardly a shortage is it?

A fall in the birth rate from the late 1980's onwards has meant less 17-25 year olds (the age group of most learner drivers) needing driving lessons. The recent massive rises in car insurance premiums for under 25s mean that a young driver can expect to pay several thousands of pounds to insure a car and that, added to the huge rise in fuel prices, means that a lot of young people cannot AFFORD to drive and so put off starting driving lessons. Combined with the endless churning out of new instructors generated by training companies, an already bad situation is now a whole lot worse. In some areas of the country even established driving instructors with good reputations & years of experience struggle for enough work. Many driving schools & instructors have gone out of business.

"You can work the hours that suit you"/"I fit my career around my family life. It's totally flexible" - "total flexibility" of working hours is an appealing idea. In principle, you can work the hours that suit you - BUT remember that pupils may not necessarily be available to suit your convenience. They have lives and committments too. You MUST be realistic and understand that driving instructors (with few exceptions) work what many people consider to be "anti-social" hours, i.e, early mornings, late into the evening & weekends, because that's when pupils are available for lessons...

If you have family committments, and are restricted in how many hours a day you can work because you need to be around before and after school hours, ask yourself how many other people with "real lives" are available during the daytime? Common sense will tell you that most people are busy at work, school, university, college or looking after their families...for a driving instructor, daytime lesson slots are the hardest to fill.

If you restrict yourself further and can only work in termtime, are your pupils are going to be very happy to have weeks at a time when you are not available for lessons?

Driving instruction isn't really all that flexible a career when you think about it...

"I fit the training around my previous job" - again, yes this is possible in principle. In reality, it's actually not that easy...

Part 1 requires quite a bit of disciplined study in your own time, so most people can fit that into their spare time as long as they don't have too many distractions and are prepared to forego a fair bit of leisure time.

Part 2 will require you to achieve an advanced standard of driving. Most people will not be up to the standard required without some professional training. It's usually possible for most people to be available for training sessions around their current job in their spare time in the evenings, weekends, or if they take some leave. Whether they can get training at those times though, depends on the flexibility or availability of the trainer rather than the trainee. Many of the big training companies are notoriously inflexible, with their trainers booked up in advance for long periods and only able to fit training sessions in when it suits them (and often this will be weekdays during office hours), rather than the person needing the training.

It's Part 3 where most people get a very nasty shock...Part 3 requires LOTS and LOTS of training. On average around 60 hours practical training. Yes, 60 HOURS in person with a trainer...PLUS diligently practicing what you learn in the training sessions in your own time out on the roads in your own car...PLUS preparing your own lesson plans, diagrams, a lot of reference book reading and hours spent studying all the pre-set tests in any spare time you have left...it requires a MAJOR committment in terms of time, effort and mental and physical energy. The same problem I outlined for Part 2 also occurs to an even greater extent - the availabilty of trainers needing to coincide with the availabilty of the trainee...

It's nowhere near as easy to fit in the training around another job as the adverts make it sound...

"You'll get a 'guaranteed placement' with a driving school" - this one is a bit naughty. Having a 'guaranteed placement' sounds great doesn't it? They're "guaranteeing" you a job aren't they? Well, no, that's not strictly true I'm afraid. You need to understand that hardly ANY driving instructors are EMPLOYED by a driving school on a salaried basis. Nearly all driving instructors are self-employed (I'd guess at least 98%) - some work on their own as independent ADI's (usually "one-man/woman bands" working solo and handling all their own advertising, pupil enquiries, phone calls, vehicle costs and so on), or alternatively take out a FRANCHISE with a driving school (which means paying a fee on a weekly or monthly basis to a driving school in exchange for which they allow you to conduct business using their name and company logos, source pupils, handle advertising, provide an office/admin service and often provide a vehicle). So what a 'guaranteed placement' actually means, is that the training company will arrange for you to take out a franchise with a driving school (either their own if they have one or another independent driving school local-ish to you) - and, as I've described above,
YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS - AND SOME FRANCHISE FEES ESPECIALLY WITH THE "MARKET LEADERS" ARE VERY HIGH INDEED. Franchise fees can vary from under £50.00 per week for an independant local school, to a jaw-dropping amount in excess of £350.00 a week from one of the Big Schools of Motoring. You have to pay your franchise fee whether you earn that amount in a week or not. Doesn't sound quite the same now does it?...

"Earn up to £30,000 a year" - £30,000 sounds great and for some people it's the kind of money they can only dream of. It may surprise you that I am not going to immediately say "No, you can't earn £30,000 a year as a driving instructor". You can earn £30,000 a year as a driving instructor...BUT there are a few things you need to be aware of before you start planning how to spend all the money you think you'll be earning when you qualify. Remember that they are not talking about £30,000 disposable income. Driving Instructors are usually self-employed, so that magic figure of £30,000 is before tax, national insurance, vehicle costs, petrol costs, maintenance costs, car insurance, professional membership fees, advertising, franchise fees and a lot more.

No-one's going to be handing you a nice pay cheque at the end of every month with your tax, NI and company pension deducted for you. You earn according to how much work you do and if you don't work or can't get work, you earn less...or nothing. You will also have to work very hard to earn anything like £30,000. Driving lesson fees vary throughout the country, but using a figure of £22.00 per hour & 4 weeks holiday/year, you need to work about 28.5 hours a week at that rate in order to earn just over £30,000 in a year. Doesn't sound too bad...but remember that you won't be working a 9 to 5 type job to make those 28.5 hours a week. You'll be doing them to fit in with the availablity of pupils, so you'll be working in the evening and weekends when all your friends and family are doing other things.Then there's travelling time between lessons. Unless you live in a big city, you'll spend as much time travelling between your pupils, spread out over what might be a large area, as you do teaching. So a 28.5 hour week in terms of hours you are receiving payment for, becomes a 48.5 hour week when you add in all the travelling time (that you don't get paid for).

"Be your own boss" - yes, it's nice - but it carries responsibilities. You'll need to have some grasp of how to run your own self-employed business (even if you take out a franchise , you'll still need to sort out your own finances, tax, national insurance etc). You need to be organised, forward thinking & prepared to work after you've finished teaching, updating pupil records, accounts, managing your diary, dealing with anything that cannot be covered while you're on the road, phone calls and 101 other things that no-one else will do for you, but which nevertheless have to be done. As I said, it's not a 9 to 5, Monday to Friday job where you can opt to leave your work worries behind when you go through the door at the end of the working day...you also get no "perks" when you're self-employed such as paid holidays, sick pay or a pension etc...

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All of the above are recent Google search terms that have brought people to this site. There's been a massive increase in visitors to this site over the last few months, and it seems that many are wanting to know about the financial aspect of being a driving instructor!

The first thing you need to understand is that the overwhelming majority of driving instructors are SELF-EMPLOYED (I'd guess at least 98%).
Hardly any driving instructors are employed on a salaried basis by a driving school. Driving instructors do not "work for" a driving school, they work for themselves.

When you see a driving school which seems to have lots of driving instructors working for it, those instructors have, almost certainly, taken out a FRANCHISE with that school.

A driving school franchise means that the instructor has to pay the driving school a fee every week or every month and in return the driving school usually tries to source pupils for them (although there's often a clause in the contract that pupil supply cannot be guaranteed), advertising, allows the instructor to use the company name and sometimes provides a vehicle. The instructors themselves are responsible for their own accounts, tax, national insurance, business expenses, fuel costs etc.

When you see TV and newspaper adverts talking about a "guaranteed placement" with a driving school, they are NOT referring to a "job" with a weekly wage or a monthly salary...they are talking about a FRANCHISE, for which the instructor has to pay anything from under £50.00 per week for a small local school, to in excess of a staggering £370.00 per week with a nationwide Big School of Motoring. Some franchises do not include a supply of pupils and make an additional charge per pupil supplied on top of the franchise fee..

DRIVING INSTRUCTORS DO NOT RECEIVE A REGULAR WEEKLY WAGE OR MONTHLY SALARY

The ONLY way driving instructors make money is from the fees their pupils pay them for teaching them to drive.

If an instructor charges, say, £20 per hour for a lesson, that does not mean that £20 is theirs to spend - at least half of that sum will be spent out on their business expenses such as franchise fees, fuel and vehicle costs, insurance, advertising etc, leaving them with around £10 an hour out of which they then have to pay tax and national insurance.

As a very rough guide, the net hourly income for a driving instructor after business overheads, tax and national insurance is around £7 or so. I've based that rough calculation on the basis of 30 hours of paid work, so if an instructor works more hours, the net hourly income will increase and if they work less hours, it will decrease.

While it follows that the more lessons an instructor gives, the more money they will earn, unfortunately it's not always that simple...if an instructor works in an area where there are lots of other instructors in competition with them, they may find there is not enough work to go around. If an instructor becomes ill or otherwise unable to work, THEY GET PAID NOTHING AT ALL...however expenses such as franchise fees etc still have to be paid and if they are not, legal action is likely to follow.

Being self-employed means no paid holidays, sick pay, pensions or any other "perks" that people who are employed might get.

The TV adverts talk about "earning up to £30,000" a year. Note the use of the term "up to"...

You will have to work very, very hard to earn anything like £30,000. Up until recently, the advice I used to give was that in the first few years of a driving instructor's career, it would be unrealistic to expect to earn anything approaching that sum on the grounds that it takes time to build up a successful business and good reputation and in the early years overheads can be high as a supply of work needs to be obtained via advertising and/or a franchise, both of which can be expensive. In later years, as a good reputation is steadily gained and word of mouth recommendations increase, overheads decrease to some extent as less advertising is needed to get a sufficient supply of pupils. This advice, while still true, has now been affected by external economic influences and for many driving instructors, it is now even harder to earn a decent living.

In the current economic climate with people getting increasingly concerned about the recession, global financial problems, job security and the rising cost of living, there has been a significant drop in the number of people wanting professional driving lessons as they "tighten their belts" and economise on their spending.

With less people wanting the service that driving instructors supply and the fact that there are already over 47,000 fully qualified driving instructors, plus several thousand trainee driving instructors out there teaching on temporary trainee instructor licences, for many, earning anything approaching £30,000 is impossible as there simply is not enough work available. It's one thing to be prepared to chase a goal of £30,000 by working your socks off and putting in long hours, but if there isn't enough work available, then it simply isn't possible to achieve this aim.

Driving lesson fees vary throughout the country, but using a realistic figure of £20.00 per hour and assuming 4 weeks holiday a year, you need to work about 32 hours a week at that rate in order to earn just over £30,000 in a year (assuming you can get that amount of work...at the moment, many instructors can't, no matter how much they'd like to work, the demand for driving lessons simply isn't there to the extent that it was even a few months ago at the start of 2011). 32 hours doesn't sound too bad does it?...but remember that you won't be working a 9 to 5 type job to make those 32 hours a week. You'll be doing them to fit in with the availablity of your pupils, so you'll probably be working during the evening and at weekends when all your friends and family are doing other things...and then there's the travelling time between lessons. Unless you live in a big city, you'll spend as much time travelling between your pupils, spread out over what might be a large geographical radius, as you do teaching...so a 32 hour working week in terms of hours you are actually receiving payment for, becomes a 50+ hour week when you add in all the travelling time (that you don't get paid for)...

Whatever you do manage to earn, as a self-employed person you will be responsible for your own tax, NI and numerous other things that eat into your earnings, such as franchise fees, cost of your vehicle purchase, hire fees or loan repayments, vehicle maintenance & servicing, insurance, advertising and many more things besides.

Here's a link to another discussion about Driving Instructor Earnings

If you are considering a career as a driving instructor, please take some time to read through this site as the TV and newspaper adverts are somewhat simplistic to say the least, in their portrayal of what is involved in becoming a driving instructor, the earnings potential and the hours that driving instructors work...

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* Photo used under a Creative Commons licence from Handolio

Red Driving School...BSM...The AA Driving School...Bill Plant Ltd...LDC...Passmasters...you see adverts for driving instructor training courses virtually every time you turn on the TV, open a newspaper or surf the internet these days...there are loads of other similar adverts from other less well known companies too...a quick search on Google brought up 655,000 results for "driving instructor training"!

They're all trying to sell a dream...a dream of a well-paying career, a nice car, flexible working hours and job security...it's no coincidence that as the worldwide financial crisis started to hit ordinary people that suddenly that there were a series of Red Driving School driving instructor training adverts on the TV promising that becoming a driving instructor would ensure you a "job for life".

I originally wrote this section in 2009 when new driving instructor training companies were popping up all over the place - since then the bubble has burst and both BSM and RED (and their former parent company LVG Ltd) have experienced significant difficulties leading to both companies being sold. However, they and many other companies still provide instructor training and still operate in a way that causes concerns for many, so I'm leaving this section in as it is still relevant at the moment.

The most important thing you must know before you go any further is this...training driving instructors is (or was!) BIG BUSINESS...and I mean BIG...it is (or was!) quite literally a goldmine and possibly one of the nearest things you'll get to a licence to print money...

Up until fairly recently, ordinary driving schools did virtually all the instructor training in the UK and there were only a few small independent instructor training organisations.

However since then, seeing a niche in the market and the potential to make lots of money, a number of large instructor training companies have sprung up.

Nowadays nearly all the big driving schools including the AA, BSM, and Red Driving School, make a great deal of their money from driving instructor training courses. Many smaller companies seeing the potential have also jumped on the driving instructor training bandwagon. Up until recently (2010/2011) ADI training was a VERY lucrative source of income for them...possibly even more lucrative than their "traditional" role of teaching people how to drive.

At it's peak there was an advert in the media from one driving instructor training company (GoDriveUK) emphasising potential commission based earnings of £40,000 to people who can "...interview and recruit new driving instructors"...THAT'S a measure of just how big the driving instructor training industry had got...there are still literally hundreds of companies large and small, who know that there will be lots of job losses due to the current economic climate and they want a share of the resulting redundancy cheques...never mind the reality of an industry already saturated with driving instructors even before the credit crunch came along and reduced the number of customers wanting or being able to afford driving lessons...or the fact that those they "interview and recruit" may well find earning a living difficult because of this, all these types of companies want is to convince people to sign up for their driving instructor training courses and thereby make themselves loadsamoney in the process.

It can cost up to £4000 for a driving instructor training course run by a big training company and the failure rates are extremely high - "As many as 90% of those who pay £1000's in fees for driving instructor training never qualify and take up their 'job promises'...There is a high ADI failure rate amongst the top advertised driving instructor training companies." (source: SmartDriving)

The "guaranteed job" or "guaranteed placement" training companies mention in their adverts brings them in even more of your money...what they actually offer is not a job in the sense that most people think...there's no "guaranteed" work, or a salary or contract of employment - what they're actually providing is a FRANCHISE with them (definition:- "Franchise - the right or license granted by a company to an individual or group to market its products or services in a specific territory"). Virtually all of the driving school cars you see with "BSM", "AA Driving School", "Red Driving School" etc written all over them are not driven by people who "work" for these companies - they are self-employed driving instructors who have taken out a franchise with those companies (and that's the norm for the entire driver training industry - at least 98% of driving instructors are self-employed either working independently, or as franchisees of a larger drivng school).

Some of the big driving schools charge a LOT of money for their franchises - close to a staggering £400 a WEEK in the case of the market leader (which you have to pay whether they supply you with enough work for you earn that amount or not.)

That's why phrases such as "new driving instructors urgently needed" are used in adverts for driving instructor training...you might think it's because there is loads of work...in reality instructors are "urgently needed" by these companies for the income they bring in to them by means of the franchise fees they pay...

There is nothing illegal about what these companies do...they do train people to become driving instructors and they do provide work for their franchisees (although they will not, and more to the point cannot, guarantee this)...what I (and many others) have an issue with, is the "simplistic" (and some would say downright misleading) manner in which their advertising suggests that it is easy is to become a driving instructor, the level of the potential earnings, the supply of work and the potential flexibility and future of driving instruction as a profession.

PLEASE understand that these companies are NOT offering you "impartial careers advice", or even to train you in a new skill prior to giving you a "job" with them. They are trying to SELL YOU THEIR PRODUCT - A DRIVING INSTRUCTOR TRAINING COURSE...they are offering this training because it is a way of making money...for THEM.

The people who you talk to on induction meetings are sales-people and they will use sales pitches and sales tactics to sell you their product (the training course). They will more than likely flatter you...tell you that "you're ideally suited" or "exactly the sort of person" they are looking for. They will big up the positives and neglect to tell you about the negatives. You may be taken out on a "test drive" - I've only heard of two people not passing this bit with flying colours and even then they were told that whatever they had done wrong could be "ironed out with a little bit of work" and the rest of the sales pitch was carried on regardless!

You may be told things like it's possible to do a 2 week intensive course to cover "everything" you'll need for Part 3...this is so wide of the mark, so misleading and so WRONG that polite words temporarily fail me...

You may well also be offered some kind of inducement to sign up for the course there and then...there'll be a discount offerred which just so happens to be "only available today" or the sales rep will go away and negotiate a "deal" for you with his/her manager if you sign up on the spot...sometimes "by chance" an ADI who has been trained by the company will "just happen to drop in" and in the course of conversation will be only too pleased to tell you how easy it all is and how much money they are making!

PLEASE don't get carried away by attractive sales-pitches...do your research and always bear in mind the saying "if something seems to be too good to be true, it probably is"...

Here's a few links to some blogs and internet discussions of real experiences people have had with driving instructor training companies;

Intensive Driving Instructor Courses

Becoming a Driving Instructor - Don't do it

The Great Tuition Rip-Off

THINKING OF BECOMING A DRIVING INSTRUCTOR WITH BSM THINK AGAIN!!!!

Red Driving School (LVG) latest accounts - Red driving schools TV ads pays off big time - according to latest published accounts

Please read on for more detailed information about the issues raised in this section...

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In recent years there have been several TV consumer programmes who have carried out investigations into driving instructor training and the companies who offer ADI training courses.

The Register of Approved Driving Instructors (ADI) was set up in the interests of road safety in order to maintain and improve the standard of car driving instruction available to the general public.

It also ensures that the public can expect an acceptable standard of tuition from those registered as driving instructors. It is administered by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), an Executive Agency of the Department of Transport, under the provisions of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

This Act makes it illegal for anyone to charge (either money or monies worth) for instruction in driving a motorcar unless:

* their name is on the Register of Approved Driving Instructors

* they hold a trainee's "Licence to give instruction" issued by the Registrar

The legal requirements are contained in The Road Traffic Act 1988 and The Motor Cars (Driving Instruction) Regulations 2005.

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* Approved Driving Instructor logo used with permission of the Driving Standards Agency (DSA)

When applying to become a driving instructor, you must fulfill the following legal requirements.
You must:

* Be over 21 years of age

* hold a full UK or European Union (EU/European Economic Area (EEA) unrestricted car driving licence

* have held that licence for a total of at least four out of the past six years prior to entering the Register after qualifying

* not have been disqualified from driving at any time in the four years prior to being entered in the Register

* be a "fit and proper" person to have your name entered in the Register. All convictions, motoring and non-motoring, will be taken into account when the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) assess suitability to be entered on the Register. You will be required to have an enhanced level criminal record check. The information from this check will be used by the DSA to assess the suitability of persons applying for inclusion on the Register of Approved Driving Instructors. To help you decide if any conviction you may have could affect your suitability to become a driving instructor, please see: Business Link - "How the Approved Driving Instructor Registrar deals with criminal records"

*Read a number plate at a distance of 27.5 metres or 26.5 metres depending on the width of the lettering (with glasses if normally worn for driving)

* Pass three examinations - (one theory, one practical test of driving ability and one practical test of instructional ability) - the two qualifying practical examinations must be passed within two years of passing the theory examination

* Apply for registration within 12 months of passing the final part of the examination

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What does it take to be a good driving instructor?

Just because you know how to drive doesn't necessarily mean you'll be able to teach others how to do it!

It's not as easy as sitting next to someone and telling them when to switch on their indicators, brake, change gear or turn left...there's a great deal more to it than that!

I often come across people who say "I want to be a driving instructor because I love driving and I like people" - that's a good start, but there's a lot more to consider!

"Loving driving" is great, but as a driving instructor, YOU won't be doing that much driving! You'll be in the passenger seat concentrating hard on someone else doing it. Will you "love" doing the same sort of thing over and over again, day in and day out? Turns in the road, reversing round corners, spending most of a lesson trying to help a pupil get the hang of turning right, an hour spent going round and round all the roundabouts in the town centre from all the different approaches...there's not much "pedal to the metal" or freedom of the open road" in it for driving instructors!

"Liking people" is also great, but you won't be in a nice relaxed social situation, where you can do much chatting on a "getting to know you" basis. You'll be sitting next to a novice driver, who is in charge of a motorised metal killing machine travelling at speed...It's often pretty hard to like people who seem to want to kill you!

Not every pupil you have will be "likeable" by any means...nor will they necesarily do what you ask them...nor will they always appreciate what you do...unlike the TV adverts, "real people" do not often rush out to the car, smiling in eager anticipation of their forthcoming wonderful driving lesson with their wonderful driving instructor which will ultimately lead to even bigger smiles and lots of hugs of gratitude at the driving test centre when they pass their driving test. "Real people" don't always find learning to drive easy....real people get nervous and stressed and do things "wrong"....real people get emotional, lose their temper, don't always listen or do what they've been asked to do....real people scrape your tyres on the kerb or knock off other people's wing mirrors or go the wrong way round a roundabout...real people worry about the cost of their driving lessons...real people cancel driving lessons at short notice leaving you out of pocket....real people sometimes mess you around big time!...in other words, if you think the job is all smiles and charming, grateful pupils, then I'm afraid you're in for a bit of a shock!

"Loving driving and liking people" are "nice to haves", but there are far more important qualities needed...

You may be able to drive pretty well, but do you possess the ability to TEACH others effectively?

Do you have the interpersonal, verbal, motor and cognitive skills required to be a driving instructor?

Can you, with complete confidence, KNOW that that you would be able to remain patient, calm and professional, either in a dangerous situation while out on the road, or with a person who could not or would not do what you asked them?

Driving instruction is self-employment, so you also need to possess all the skills required to run your own business, such as;

mathematical skills (you need to handle money, keep accounts, pay your own tax and national insurance, organise budgets for advertising and personal training etc),

good communication skills, both verbally and in writing (you need to be able to communicate clearly and effectively on many different levels, with government departments such as the DSA and HM Revenue and Customs, professionals such as accountants and driving examiners, parents of younger pupils and pupils of varying ages from 17 to 70 and from all walks of life, face to face and by telephone, letter and email),

organisational skills (you need to be able to manage your time by means of a diary system for pupil appointments and to control all the necessary "paperwork" that goes with running your own business),

knowledge of self employment (you need to know about self-employed franchises, or if you work as an independent, you'll need to get your head around advertising and business administration etc)

There's a lot of skills and personal qualities required by driving instructors that the TV adverts and the sales patter don't bother to go into and which, for many people, seems to come as a surprise - often a nasty one.

You'll need to possess all of the following personal qualities too;

* be articulate - you MUST be able to express yourself verbally both clearly and concisely. You need to be able to give easily understandable instructions very quickly. Driving instruction is NOT a job for those who like to waffle or for those who cannot get their point across to others. You must be able to speak English fluently - if someone cannot understand what you are saying, either because your command of English is poor or because they cannot understand your accent, it can lead to stressful and even dangerous situations...

* patience - not everyone "gets it" first time, or second time, or even third time...

* understanding - you need to be able to understand the needs and feelings of your pupils - being able to interpret "body language" is important too

* calmness and self-control - you will frequently find yourself in stressful and difficult situations, but you must be able to deal with this in an adult and professional manner. Driving instruction is NOT the right career for those prone to losing their temper or getting stressed

* reliability - your customers pay you to turn up on time and to give them your attention and professional expertise for the whole of their alloted lesson. There are lots of driving instructors out there and if you can't or won't be reliable, your pupils will soon find an instructor that will

* diplomacy - tact and diplomacy will keep your pupil diary full...bluntly telling the pupil "That turn in the road was absolute rubbish..why don't you listen and do as you're told?" won't...

* a sense of humour - humour diffuses stress and helps pupils (and you) relax. Lessons that are enjoyable and fun are more effective too

* an open mind - as a driving instructor you will know very little about any of your pupils before they get into your car for the first time. If you have a tendency to harbour prejudices or irrational dislikes about any sector of society, this isn't the job for you

* honesty & integrity - your pupils will be paying you large sums of money. Take care of it and keep proper accounts

* business acumen - you will be self-employed, either on a franchise or working as a sole trader. You must have knowledge of what is involved in running your own business and the ability to do so

* be prepared to study (a lot) and self-motivate - both when you train and even after you qualify. Good driving instructors keep up to date with training methods, legislation and gain additional qualifications (the latter, also known as Continuous Professional Development or CPD, is likely to be made mandatory by the DSA for all ADI's as part of their 4 yearly re-registration process)

Don't make the mistake of thinking that any or all of these personal qualities and vital skills are going to be adequately assessed by companies that offer driving instructor training. Many of them are far more interested in you handing over your money, than whether you're really a suitable person to start training as a driving instructor. Even the ones that offer "induction days" or "candidate screening" often do this merely as a sales ploy to get you there in person to listen to their sales pitch and usually the "induction/screening tests" are little more than a formality. Nearly everyone manages to pass these so called "assessments" and for those that fall short, there are usually reassurances that whatever is lacking isn't really important and can be "sorted out" somehow. This is one reason why the ADI Exam Pass Rates are so low - people drop out of training when they realise that there's more involved than they were led to believe, or they fail to meet the standards required, usually after a LOT of time, expense and heartache...

My advice is to be brutally honest with yourself.

If you're easily flustered, impatient, don't express yourself very well, lack confidence, find it hard to "think on your feet", find the thought of handling money, paperwork or running your own business daunting, don't like studying or taking exams, have restrictions on your free time, want a "quick fix career", or think that being a driving instructor is "easy", then you're going to find things difficult...

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The qualification process to become a driving instructor is in three parts:

* Part 1 - a computer based theory and hazard perception test

* Part 2 - a practical test of your driving ability

* Part 3 - a practical test of your ability to instruct

You must take and pass all three parts of the driving instructor qualifiying exams in order as above and you must complete the second and third part within two years of passing the theory test. If you do not pass all three parts within this time you must start again from the beginning and pass each part again.

You can take the theory test as many times as you want but you are only allowed a maximum of three attempts at each of the practical tests within each two year qualification period. Additionally, you cannot start the qualifying process again until two years has passed since you last passed your theory test.

The Government website Business Link: Driving instructing as a career states the following:

"You should consider that following a career in driving instruction can be difficult. The qualifying process is tough, the pass rate is low and it can be expensive. The qualifying process will usually take many months to complete".

The pass rates for each of the three parts of the driving instructor examinations in 2010/2011 (the latest figures published on Business Link) were:

Theory test (part 1): 47%

Test of driving ability (part 2): 48%

Test of instructional ability (part 3): 34%

(source: Business Link: Driving instructor exams pass rates)

Let's go into a little more depth and look at what's involved in each of the three parts of the exam process in the next three sections...

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ADI Part One - The Theory and Hazard Perception Test

YOU MUST PASS BOTH THE MULTIPLE CHOICE AND HAZARD PERCEPTION PARTS AT THE SAME TIME. If you pass one part and fail the other, you will have to take both parts of the test again.

Theory Test
This is a computer touch screen test of 100 multiple choice questions banded into 4 main areas as follows;
1) Road procedures
2) Traffic signs and signals, car control, pedestrians, mechanical knowledge
3) The driving test; disabilities, traffic law
4) Publications and instructional techniques

The questions appear on a computer screen and you touch the screen (or use the mouse if you prefer) to select your answer or answers from the selection given. You can navigate between questions and 'flag' questions that you want to come back to later in the test.

You will be given the opportunity to work through a practice session lasting up to 15 minutes to familiarise yourself with the system before the test.

The overall pass mark for the test is 85%. However, you must reach a minimum mark of 80% in each of the 4 subject areas. Therefore you must get at least 20 out of 25 in each band - for example, a score of 25, 25, 25 and 19 would give you 94% but you would fail the test as you had not scored over 20 in each band.

You are allowed 90 minutes for this part of the test.

Hazard Perception Test

The hazard perception part of the test commences after a break of up to three minutes.

You are shown a tutorial video first that explains how the test works.

For this part of the test, you will need to wear the headphones provided.

The test itself consists of 14 video clips of around a minute each.

Each clip contains numerous hazards including parked cars, pedestrians, moving vehicles and so on. When you see a hazard developing that might result in the driver having to take some action, specifically changing speed or direction, you should click the mouse. The earlier you respond to the situation arising, the better and the higher you will score.

You won't be able to review your answers to the hazard perception test - in order for the test to be as much like real driving as possible, you only get one chance to respond to the developing hazard.

The maximum score for each hazard is 5.

13 of the 14 clips contain one hazard with the other clip containing two hazards.

In order to pass the Hazard Perception element of the Part One test you must score 57 or more out of a possible 75.

The Hazard Perception part of the test lasts approximately 15 minutes.

Your Theory Test pass certificate is valid for TWO YEARS from the date you pass. You must pass Parts 2 and 3 of the ADI qualifying exams within that two year period, or you will have to start the qualification process all over again from the beginning.

How Much Does It Cost To Take The ADI Part 1 Test?

The cost of the Part One test is currently £90.00 (2012)

How Many Attempts At ADI Part 1 Do I Get?

You are allowed unlimted attempts at this examination - you can take it as many times as you need.

Where Can I Take The ADI Part 1 Test?

The test is carried out by Pearson VUE on behalf of the Driving Standards Agency at around 160 theory test centres throughout the country.

You can choose to take your test at whichever test centre you like!

Click the following link to find UK Theory Test Centres: Theory Test Centres

Do I Need Professional Training To Get To The Standard Required For The ADI Part 1 Test?

Probably not! The Part 1 test is very similar to the Theory Test that learner drivers take (the multiple choice part has double the amount of questions and the topics covered are extended to include areas relevant to driving instruction, but the Hazard Perception part is exactly the same).

You will need a thorough knowledge and understanding of The Highway Code and other relevant publications which will help you with the rest of your training.

Driving Test Success All Tests 2012 Edition (PC)

You will certainly need some kind of commercial software to help you practice for the Hazard Perception part of the test.

What you don't need is to pay a training company several hundreds of pounds for what turns out to be home study materials which you could source yourself for under £10! - the .product on the right ("Driving Test Success") is all I and the driving instructors who work for me used to successfully study for and pass the ADI Part 1. It costs around £7.50 and I highly recommend it!

Booking A Part 1 Test

The test is booked by contacting the Driving Standards Agency (DSA).

You will need;
1) A valid, signed UK driving licence
2) A valid debit or credit card for payment (Visa, Mastercard, Delta, Visa Electron, Switch/Maestro and Solo cards are accepted)

Online Booking - Information Pages and link to Online Test Booking Service

Phone Booking - You can book a theory test over the phone using the numbers below, from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm except on Bank Holidays.
Theory test booking line - 0300 200 1122
Welsh language booking line - 0300 200 1133
Minicom booking line - 0300 200 1166
Fax booking line - 0300 200 1177

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ADI Part Two - The practical test of driving ability consists of tests of eyesight, safety questions and driving technique. The test will last for about one hour. You must pass all parts of the test at the same time.

You must first demonstrate that you can read a car number plate from a distance of 26.5 metres for the new style plate or 27.5 metres for the old style. If you do not pass the eyesight test, you will not be allowed to take the driving ability element. The test will be marked as a fail and will count towards your three attempts.

If the eyesight test is successfully completed, you will then be asked a series of vehicle safety questions by the examiner. You can download (and print out) a PDF of all the vehicle safety questions (including the paired combinations in which they are asked) from the Practical test for cars explained - Vehicle safety questions section of the DirectGov website

The practical driving test then commences lasting for approximately one hour.

You must drive to an advanced standard, making no more than 6 minor driving faults within the test (as a comparison, learner drivers can make up to 15 driving faults in the learner driver test which only lasts for around 40 minutes).

How Much Does It Cost To Take The ADI Part 2 Test?

The cost of the Part 2 test is £111.00 (2012)

How Many Attempts At Part 2 Do I Get?

You are allowed three attempts within two years from the date the Part One was passed.

Where Can I Take The ADI Part 2 Test?

The test is carried out by the Driving Standards Agency at various test centres throughout the country.

You can choose to take your test at whichever test centre you like!

Click the following link to see the full list of UK Practical Test Centres; Practical Test Centres

Do I Need Professional Training To Get To The Standard Required For The Part 2 Test?

You need to demonstrate that you can drive to an advanced level, so some kind of professional training is sensible. You don't necessarily need any "specialist" training as an "ordinary" ADI can probably help you as they should be driving to that sort of standard themselves and should know from their own experience what is required! However, you might feel happier with a specialist trainer, but be aware they may well charge more...

The Official DSA Guide to Driving: the essential skills (Paperback)

Additionally, it is advisable to invest in a copy of The Official DSA Guide to Driving: the essential skills as this book describes the methods and style of driving you will be required to demonstrate on your Part Two test and throughout your career as a driving instructor. You can buy this book for less than £10 - see the link immediately below for other suitable training materials for Part Two.

Booking A Part 2 Test

The test is booked by contacting the Driving Standards Agency (DSA).

You will need;
1) A valid, signed UK provisional driving licence
2) Your Theory Test Pass Certificate number
3) A valid debit or credit card for payment (Visa, Mastercard, Delta, Visa Electron, Switch/Maestro and Solo cards are accepted)

Online Booking - Link to Online Test Booking Service

Phone Booking - You can book a practical test over the phone using the numbers below, from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm except on Bank Holidays.
Test booking line - 0300 200 1122
Welsh language booking line - 0300 200 1133
Minicom booking line - 0300 200 1144
Fax booking line - 0300 200 1155

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ADI Part Three - For the ADI Part 3 Instructional Ability test, you will be given two Pre-Set Tests (PST's).

You will be tested on the quality of your instruction and your ability to pass your knowledge on to pupils. The test is in two parts, each of which lasts about half an hour. You must pass both parts on the same test.

You will be asked to demonstrate your knowledge and ability by giving practical driving instruction to a senior grade driving examiner who will first take on the role of a pupil who is a beginner, or a learner driver with limited driving knowledge, and then a pupil who is about test standard.

Details of the subjects covered in the "Pre-Set Tests (PST's)" for Part Three can be found on Business Link - What you'll be tested on in part three of the Approved Driving Instructor test

How Much Does It Cost To Take The Part Three Test?

The cost of the Part 3 test is £111.00 (2012)

How Many Attempts Do I Get At Part 3?

You are allowed three attempts within two years from the date the Part One was passed.

Where Can I Take The Part Three Test?

The test is carried out by the Driving Standards Agency at various test centres throughout the country.

You can choose to take your test at whichever test centre you like!

Click the following link to see the full list of UK Practical Test Centres; Practical Test Centres

Do I Need Professional Training To Get To The Standard Required For The ADI Part 3 Test?

The Driving Instructor's Handbook (Paperback)

YES!

You CANNOT skimp on training for this part.

You need PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND LOTS OF IT (sorry for shouting - but I can't emphasise the need to train properly for Part 3 enough...Parts 1 and 2 are a walk in the park compared to Part 3...

There are very good study materials you can buy which can help a great deal, but they should be used to supplement training by a good ADI Part Three trainer.

The best way of finding a good trainer is to ask other ADI's for recommendations, so you could try contacting ADI's in your area - or if you don't want to do that, have a look at some of the helpful driver training forums on the internet and ask for advice there - Online Advice Forums For Those Wanting To Become A Driving Instructor

How Much Professional Training Will I Need For Part 3?

Experienced, independent ADI trainers whose opinions I trust, tell me that most people grossly underestimate how much training is required for Part 3. I am told that most people should aim for around 60 hours of training and possibly more...

How Do I Book A Part 3 Test

The test is booked by contacting the Driving Standards Agency (DSA).

You will need;
1) A valid, signed UK provisional driving licence
2) Your Theory Test Pass Certificate number
3) A valid debit or credit card for payment (Visa, Mastercard, Delta, Visa Electron, Switch/Maestro and Solo cards are accepted)

Online Booking - Link to Online Test Booking Service

Phone Booking - You can book a practical test over the phone using the numbers below, from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm except on Bank Holidays.
Test booking line - 0300 200 1122
Welsh language booking line - 0300 200 1133
Minicom booking line - 0300 200 1144
Fax booking line - 0300 200 1155

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Having (hopefully) read all the previous sections here, you now fully understand what the Register Of Approved Driving Instructors is, what the legal requirements are for those wishing to become driving instructors, the skills and personal qualities that are required in order to be a driving instructor, that there are three separate qualifying examinations that are by no means straightforward and the fact that statistically very, very few of those who apply to commence driving instructor training actually manage to successfully qualify by passing all three qualifying exams...if not, or if you are in any doubt, please go back and read the previous sections again, as from this point in the process onwards, your ambition to become a driving instructor is going to start costing you money...

OK then, assuming you're happy with all the requirements, what do you do next?

You can't simply start studying and book an appointment to take the Part One Theory & Hazard Perception exam as you won't be able to book a Part One test unless you have been accepted by the DSA as a suitable person to begin the ADI qualification process.

The first thing you have to do is to apply to the Driving Standards Agency to get your name put on the Register...

Applying to join the ADI Register is a 3 part process;

1) Apply to register as a Potential Driving Instructor (PDI)

You can apply online at the following link:
Apply to start the Approved Driving Instructor qualifying process and register as a Potential Driving Instructor.

Alternatively you can download an ADI3 application form from the Department for Transport website

You will be asked to declare that you have read the ADI starter guide 'Your guide to the approved driving instructor register' sometimes referred to as the ADI 14. You can download the ADI14 from the Directgov website

2) Obtain your Criminal Record Check (Enhanced CRB check)

Once you have read the AD14 and decided that being a driving instructor is for you, you must next obtain your enhanced level criminal record check (also known as a "disclosure"). You must obtain your criminal record check before filling in and submitting your application form (ADI13) to register as a PDI..

You can apply online or fill in a disclosure application form and send it to Capita Recruitment Vetting Service (CRVS) - one of the Driving Standards Agency's (DSA) criminal record checks contractors. To request a disclosure application form or details of how to apply online call the CRVS Helpline on 0870 850 2455.

For more information please see Applying for your driving instructor criminal record check

3) Fill in the application form

Complete the application form (ADI 3) (see Stage 1 above) and send it to the Registrar - if you don't put your Criminal Record disclosure reference number on it, it won't be accepted - this is why you have to wait intil the disclosure process is complete.

You will also have to provide two character references from people who know you well and who would be prepared to vouch for you if contacted by the Registrar.

Then you sit back and wait to see if you're accepted onto the register and given permission to start the qualification process by applying for the Part One exam...

If your application is successful you may wish to buy the ADI Part 1 theory test question bank.

The Theory Test question and answer book contains all of the questions and answers for the ADI Part 1 test complete with information to help you understand the answers. The book costs an additional £6.00

The theory test book is available from the Driving Standards Agency by using any of the following methods:

Phone: 0300 123 1126 (you will need a credit or debit card with you when you call)
Post: Send a cheque or postal order made payable to the "Driving Standards Agency" (enclose a letter asking for the ADI Part 1 Theory Test question and answer book!) to:

Driving Standards Agency
PO Box 280
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE99 1FP

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You won't get very far in researching how to go about getting Driving Instructor training without coming across the acronym "ORDIT" or seeing this logo -

What is ORDIT?

ORDIT stands for The Official Register of Driving Instructor Training
The objective of ORDIT is to establish and maintain acceptable standards of driving instructor training. The Register is run by the Driving Standards Agency.

DirectGov:The Official Register of Driving Instructor Training (ORDIT)
ORDIT Directory - directory of trainers who are ORDIT registered.
The Undercover ADI:ORDIT. What Does It Really Mean?

Does an organisation offering Driving Instructor training have to be on the ORDIT register?

No. ORDIT is a voluntary register and at the present time there is no legal requirement to be ORDIT registered. Many VERY good driving instructor trainers are NOT ORDIT registered - they don't need to be!

How Do I Find A Good Training Company?

There are literally hundreds of organisations large and small, offering driving instructor training, so take your time and do your research thoroughly.

The best way of finding a good trainer is to ask other ADI's for recommendations, so you could try contacting ADI's in your area - or if you don't want to do that, have a look at some of the helpful driver training forums on the internet and ask for advice there. Here are some links you may find useful;
Driver Training Today - Forums
UK Driving Instructors Confederation - Forums
2Pass - Becoming An ADI Forum

BEWARE - some training companies (including some who are ORDIT registered!) may use "high pressure" selling techniques to persuade you to sign up for their instructor training course.

Be very wary of being invited for "an interview" or "open day" where you may find yourself flattered and assured that you are "exactly the sort of person they are looking for" or told that you are "ideal driving instructor material" etc! There may be some kind of "test" or "driving assessment" involved (I've never come across anyone who has failed to pass!).

There may well "coincidentally" be "current trainees" or "recently qualified instructors who trained with the company" present who've "just dropped in" and who you'll find only too willing to recommend the training course....

You may be told that there is a "discount" available, or a "deal" will be negotiated "especially for you" or you may be offered some other incentive to make a quick decision and sign up on the day.

PLEASE THINK VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING ANY FORM OF CONTRACT OR AGREEMENT...it's best to go away without signing to give yourself time to think about what's been offered and check it out before agreeing to something you may regret!

How Much Does Driving Instructor Training Cost?

Fees vary.
Some companies offer Pay-as-You-Go-Training, so you pay for the training you require as and when you need it.
Other companies have set course fees and may require payment for the entire course in advance (which can often mean asking you for amounts in the region of between £2000 and £4000). Some of the latter companies also will not give any form of refund should you change your mind and decide to stop training for any reason. Always check whether a refund or partial refund is available and avoid companies that won't give them.

Is There Any Way Of Keeping The Cost Of Training Down?

To an extent, yes. Here's how...

Driving Test Success All Tests 2012 Edition (PC)

ADI Part 1 (Theory and Hazard Perception Test)

Generally speaking, for the ADI Part 1 Theory Test, most people don't need any "formal" training and can study for this part themselves using the wide variety of books, DVD's and software available commercially.

In my experience, having done this myself successfully, perfectly suitable training materials can be bought for under £10.00 - then all you have to do is put the time in to study and pay the fee for Part One!

The total cost of getting through Part 1 training (including the test fee) need therefore be no more than £120.00 or so depending on which study materials you choose.....I have seen instructor training companies advertising Part 1 training for £500 or more...I can't begin to imagine how they justify that - OK so they may offer some kind of personal contact to discuss any queries or difficullties, but let's be brutally honest here, if you can't organise yourself to study for and pass Part 1 by yourself, you probably don't have the skills or committment to get through the rest of your training and should seriously consider whether you're cut out for everything that being an ADI involves...harsh perhaps, but sadly true...

The Official DSA Guide to Driving: the essential skills (Paperback)

Part 2 requires an advanced level of driving.

Most good ADI's can get you to the standard required for ADI Part 2, as that's the standard they have achieved themselves, so you may be able to get away with not using a specialist training organisation (who usually charge higher fees) for this part.

You'll definitely need to get hold of a copy of The Official DSA Guide to Driving: the essential skills, as this book describes the methods and style of driving you will be required to demonstrate on your Part Two test and it will be essential throughout your career as a driving instructor!

ADI Part 3 (Test Of Instructional Ability)

Do I Need Professional Training To Get To The Standard Required For The ADI Part 3 Test?

The Driving Instructor's Handbook (Paperback)

For ADI Part 3 you really do need a competent ADI trainer.

Part 3 is by far, the hardest part of the qualification process to get through and skimping on good quality training for this part is likely to end in disappointment and additional expense in the long run.

Experienced independent ADI trainers whose opinions I trust, tell me that most people grossly underestimate how much training is required for Part 3. I am told that most people should aim for around 60 hours of training and possibly more...

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Fully qualified instructors are called Approved Driving Instructors (ADI's)
Trainee driving instructors are called Potential Driving Instructors (PDI's)

If they wish, a PDI can apply for a short-term licence to give driving tuition for money after they have passed the second part (ADI Part Two - Test Of Driving Ability) of the three qualifying exams. This licence is only granted for a six month period (but in some special circimstances can occasionally be extended for a longer time period by the DSA).

For more about the Trainee (PDI) licence, see the section, Should I Take Out A Trainee Licence After Passing Part Two? .

A fully qualified Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) must display their licence (green octagon) on the windscreen of his/her tuition vehicle at all times when giving driving tuition in exchange for payment.





If the instructor is a trainee (Potential Driving Instructor/PDI), they must display their licence (pink triangle) on the windscreen of his/her tuition vehicle at all times when giving driving tuition in exchange for payment.



It is illegal for anyone other than a DSA licenced driving instructor to give driving instruction in exchange for money.

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The most significant development in recent years has been the announcement in late 2011 by Transport Minister Mike Penning, that there will be major changes in the way that trainee driving instructors are allowed to operate. Under the present system they are allowed to apply for a trainee instructors licence valid for six months which will allow them to accept payment for driving lessons. Under the proposed new system all trainee instructors will have to be supervised whilst giving driving tuition. This is likely to mean that most driving instructor training companies will find this financially prohibitive as both the trainee and the trainer will need to be paid, so it is expected that the use of the trainee instructor licence will be massively reduced.

After you pass Part Two you may be tempted (or "persuaded") to pay for a trainee licence (colloquially known in the driver training industry as a pink badge, pink licence, "going on a pink" or a pinkie!) so that you can start to give tuition to pupils and receive payment for doing so.

There are some conditions you need to be aware of;

* Before you can apply for a licence you must receive 40 hours of instructional training with a qualified ADI and at least 25% of this must be in-car training.
* The trainee licence is only valid for 6 months (although in certain circumstances the DSA can extend this period, but don't bank on it). This means that you must take and pass your Part Three test within that time.
* Within the first 3 months of your trainee licence being issued, you must receive a further 20 hours of instructional training with a qualified ADI

You cannot however, advertise yourself as a qualified driving instructor, so don't rush off and set up your own driving school or put up cards in your local post office or make a website...unless you make it clear that you are a trainee.

How Much Does A Trainee Licence Cost?

You have to pay for a trainee licence. From 24 April 2009, the cost is £140.00 payable to the DSA

Will Taking Out A Trainee Licence Help Me Pass Part Three?

You'd be forgiven for thinking that taking out a trainee licence makes a lot of sense as you'll get valuable experience which surely must help you when training for Part Three, but research has shown that there is very little difference in Part Three pass rates between those who have taken out a trainee licence and those who haven't. You'll find lots of interesting information and data related to this fact (and the Trainee Licence in general) in this report from the website of the Department For Transport

Also, many PDI's get so absorbed (or in many cases, bogged down) with the realities of teaching real pupils that they have little time or energy left to actually do "proper" Part Three training as they're too busy/tired/stressed, so a trainee licence can actually be counter-productive...

It's one thing teaching a few pupils to drive in your spare time while still allowing yourself sufficient time to concentrate on YOUR own training needs, and another matter to take on too many pupils in order to start earning some money...an awful lot of people get a bit carried away with the "prestige" of being able to give driving lessons and forget that that they're still in training themselves...

Taking Out A Trainee Licence Is A Good Way Of Getting Some Of The Money Back I've Paid Out For Training Isn't It?

Remember that while you are allowed to charge money for giving driving tuition when you hold a trainee licence, you are not allowed to advertise yourself as a qualified driving instructor - you must make it clear that you are a trainee - and that fact can put potential pupils off. Without any paying pupils you won't recoup anything, so you need some way of sourcing pupils who will pay you to teach them. Many PDI's on trainee licences take out franchises with sponsoring driving schools. The school may or may not decide to tell the pupils they pass on, that the instructor they are referring them to is a trainee, which can lead to problems if the pupil is unhappy with this.

Many PDI's find that they are suddenly "thrown into the deep end" and expected to teach pupils with little or no support. In turn, pupils will object if they feel that the instructor doesn't seem to know what they are doing.

Always be clear about what support and supervision you will be getting if you take out a PDI licence.

More info about trainee licences can be found at the following link; Business Link - Apply for a trainee licence to give driving instruction

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From the makers of "Driving Test Angel", PART 3 TEST ANGEL, aims to help PDI's overcome anxiety and nerves;



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CONGRATULATIONS!!!

YOU'RE FINALLY AN ADI (at last...)!

Registering As An ADI

After you pass the Part 3 test you can apply to join the Register. You cannot give paid for driving instruction until you are registered as an ADI and have received your "green badge", UNLESS you still have a valid trainee licence, e.g, if you pass Part 3 and have been teaching on a trainee licence while you were a PDI, as long as your pink licence hasn't expired, you can carry on teaching up to the expiry date of the PDI licence while you wait for your green badge to come through. If you didn't go down the "pinkie" route, or your trainee licence has expired, you must not give tuition in exchange for money (or monies worth, i.e gratuities or favours etc), until you receive your green ADI licence.

You must apply for your ADI registration within your one year of passing your Part 3 test, or your qualification will become invalid and you would have to apply to start the qualifying process again.

Either use the form you were given by the examiner when you passed or apply to register as an Approved Driving Instructor online at Driving Instructor Online Services

Once registered, you will be sent your green ADI licence which you must display in the windscreen of your vehicle at all times whilst giving driving tuition in exchange for payment.

Will It Cost Me Anything To Register As An ADI?

Yet again, there is a charge for the privilege, this time it will cost £300.00 payable to the DSA!

How Long Will My ADI Registration Last?

Your registration will last four years, then you will have to undergo another Criminal Record Check and pay the £300.00 registration fee again for another four years on the ADI Register.

Is That IT?.. Am I Qualified As A Driving Instructor For Life Now?

No!...In each four year registration period you will also have to undergo at least one "check-test" on the quality of your instruction. This will be performed by a senior grade driving examiner (SEADI) and will consist of the SEADI either observing you during a lesson with a pupil or if you prefer, the SEADI can "role-play" the part of a pupil for you to teach (similar to the Part Three test).

Your first check test is often referred to an an "educational" check test and is usually carried out roughly 6 months or so after you qualify. You will receive a grade on this check test - but if do not achieve a grade 4, 5 or 6, rather than grade you below a 4, the examiner can grade you as "E" to allow for your lack of experience. If you are graded "E", you will be expected to undergo another check test within a short period and it will be graded as below.

You will have to undergo periodic check-tests as long as you are a registered ADI. The frequency between check-tests depends on the grade you achieved on the previous check-test - generally speaking, the higher the grade achieved, the longer the interval between checks. You must however, achieve a grade 4 or above.

If you don't get a standard grade 4 at your check-test, then you will be asked to take another check-test within a certain time limit. These are:
* grade 3 - further check-test with six months
* grade 2 - further check-test within two months
* grade 1 - further check-test within a month

If you're given a grade 1 after three check-tests, you will be formally told that you will be struck off the ADI Register.

How Do I Start Work As A Driving Instructor?

Either take out a franchise with a driving school (easiest option while you find your feet), or start up on your own.

If you choose the former, check all terms and conditions associated with the franchise very carefully and don't sign anything until you fully understand what is provided and the responsibilities both you and the franchisor have.

If you choose the latter, remember that it will take quite some time for you to gain a reputation, so you will need a means of sourcing pupils. Advertising can be very expensive and some forms of advertising can be hit and miss...think carefully about what forms of advertising are likely to be effective in the area you live in...

You will also have to get yourself a vehicle suitable for tuition purposes and to register as self-employed with the Inland Revenue.

Think about how you are going to handle your accounts and finances and consider taking some form of training if you are unsure how to do this. The Inland Revenue can be of great help in this matter and even run training sessions for small businesses. Contact your local Inland Revenue office for details.

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Become an Approved Driving Instructor: And Set Up Your Own Driving School (Paperback)

Become an Approved Driving Instructor: And Set Up Your Own Driving School
(Paperback)
by Colin Crane (Author), Paul Pearson (Author)

Paperback: 162 pages
Publisher: How To Books Ltd (29 May 2009)

"This title offers practical accessible information on how to become an Approved Driving Instructor (car) and how to set up and run your own driving school. It is suitable for aspiring or trainee driving instructors as well as experienced instructors who want to make the transition from working with another school to developing their own independent business.

Find out how to:
* become a driving instructor while keeping training costs to a minimum
* prepare your clients to pass their test - and enjoy a high pass rate
* choose the best training areas
* save £s on your ADI training and future business costs
* choose the most suitable training cars
* run your business profitably and professionally
* avoid time-consuming and frustrating pitfalls."

'Well structured and full of useful information." - ADI News

"Sound stuff, well written, and clearly benefitting from expert industry knowledge." - Driving Magazine

Practical Business Skills for Driving Instructors (Paperback)

Practical Business Skills for Driving Instructors
(Paperback)
by John Miller (Author)

Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Kogan Page (3 May 2010)

"Practical Business Skills for Driving Instructors provides solid, practical advice to help you set up your own driving instructor business. Topics include preparing a business plan, financing the business, choosing and maintaining a car, book-keeping, sales and marketing.

Over 20,000 people apply to become an Approved Driving Instructor each year, but whether you are a sole trader or franchisee, you will need more than just the instructional skills that are tested in the official DSA qualifying exams. Practical Business Skills for Driving Instructors, by the author of the definitive Driving Instructor s Handbook, provides solid, practical advice to help you set up your own business. Each business topic is dealt with in the author s down-to-earth style including: preparing a business plan, financing the business, choosing and maintaining a car, book-keeping, sales and marketing, and presenting a professional image. Whether you are just considering becoming a driving instructor, or have just passed your ADI exams, Practical Business Skills for Driving Instructors will help you ensure your new career is a huge success."



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