Driving instructors offer guidance to their students on how to drive a vehicle safely on the roads, enabling learner drivers to gain a full understanding of all aspects of driving in order to gain a full driving licence or increase their skills in a particular area. The fundamental role of the instructor is to provide tuition to students who either want to improve the standard of their driving or pass their driving test. However, the bulk of the average driving instructor’s workload will involve learner drivers seeking to pass their driving test in a car.

As more and more people find they are attracted to the idea of working for themselves, this sector is becoming increasingly competitive. However, bear in mind that the hours can be long and demanding, and driving instructors often work alone, on a self-employed basis, even if they are running a franchise for a larger driving school. This means that the only hours for which payment is received are those when instruction is actually taking place, so any time between lessons is unpaid – which is worth bearing in mind. Some instructors work part-time, fitting their driving instruction work around another job.

The biggest outlay for those working as driving instructors is their car: fuel and maintenance can be expensive. However, those instructors operating as part of a franchise system may be provided with a car as part of the deal, particularly if the franchise fee is high.

Getting registered as an ADI

It is illegal for anyone to charge money for instruction in driving a motor car unless either their name is on the register of Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) or they hold a Trainee Licence issued by the ADI Registrar. Once registered, an ADI may work for a motoring school or become self-employed. Some ADIs choose to take additional qualifications so that they can train drivers of large goods vehicles, say, or fleet drivers.

Before they can apply to join the ADI Register, a Potential Driving Instructor must pass three qualifying tests (see under ‘Qualifications and training’, below). An ADI is someone who has passed all three parts and is currently registered with the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) (see below).

If you want to become an ADI, you will need to apply to the Registrar before you start the qualifying tests. Once you have passed the second part of the qualifying examination – the driving ability assessment – you can apply for a Trainee Licence. This allows you to be legally paid for giving driving instruction, but it is not an alternative to registering as an ADI.

Once registered, an ADI must also pass special tests – ‘check tests’ – at certain intervals. These are to satisfy the Registrar that they still meet the DSA’s standards for ability and fitness to give instruction. Registration lasts for four years and costs £300 (you will need to pay the same fee to extend your registration for a further four years).

The DSA produces a publication called Your Guide to the Approved Driving Instructor Register. You can download this from the ‘Motoring’ section of www.direct.gov.uk.

The Driving Standards Agency

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is one of the executive agencies that forms the Motoring and Freight Services group within the Department for Transport (DfT). It is a national organisation, delivering tests from more than 400 driving test centres and 158 theory test centres. It has statutory responsibility for setting standards, and conducting theory and practical driving tests. It is also responsible for:

• the statutory regulation of driving instructors and trainers
• the promotion of voluntary registers and non-statutory activities to improve driving standards.

It aims to promote road safety by improving driving standards, testing drivers and riders, maintaining instructor registers and supervising basic motorcycle training. It also runs a register of inspected ADI training establishments and carries out a number of driving tests each year.

As well as its theory and practical test centres, it has an instructor training centre at Cardington in Bedfordshire. Multi-purpose test centres (plus a smaller number of part-time centres) are being, or have been, built to replace much of the former testing infrastructure. As well as those people on the DSA’s compulsory Register of ADIs for car instruction, it also runs voluntary registers for LGV instructors and fleet driver trainers, as well as carrying out tests for taxi drivers in some areas.

Driving tests

Driving tests continue to evolve, with the screen-based theory element of multiple-choice questions now followed by a hazard perception test – a selection of 14 one-minute video clips showing real road scenes that feature hazards. The practical test for cars takes 40 minutes, with routes designed to include a range of road and traffic conditions. The practical motorcycle test is split into two separate modules: the off-road module and the on-road module. Both can be booked at the same time, however module one must be passed before learners take module two.

In October last year, the DSA introduced a new ‘independent driving’ element to all practical driving tests. Candidates are now asked to drive without step-by-step instruction from their examiner for about ten minutes, showing that they can make decisions by themselves in unfamiliar contexts. In practice this means either following a series of verbal directions, following traffic signs, or a combination of both. To help candidates visualise the directions, the examiner may also show them a simple diagram.

Driving instruction in the Services

Each Service has its own driving instructors based at the Defence School of Transport, its satellite establishments, single-Service bases and with units – all of them trained and qualified to DSA standards. Some will be on the appropriate register, others may not be. However, virtually every motor transport pool is able to instruct people to drive the vehicles it manages. With the vast range of Service vehicles, there are people holding every conceivable licence and others who have trained them.

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

Driving instructors need to be accomplished drivers; they also need flexibility, imagination and commitment. A Service background, with its social interaction and self-discipline, offers very good preparation. The ability to teach is vital, as are a high level of driving skills, a knowledge of how people learn, an ability to assess the performance of others, and communication and interpersonal skills.

Qualifications and training

You will be accepted onto the ADI Register if you:

• hold a full UK or European Union (EU/European Economic Area) unrestricted car driving licence
• have held it 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 and it is necessary to have an enhanced level criminal record check before applying to start the qualifying process
• pass the two qualifying practical examinations within two years of passing the theory examination
• apply for registration within 12 months of passing the final part of the examination.

The three tests that you have to take to become an ADI are:

1. theory (part 1)
2. driving ability assessment (part 2)
3. test of instructional ability (part 3).

Part 1, the theory test, comprises two parts: a multiple-choice section and a hazard perception section; 90 minutes are allowed for the first part, which consists of 100 questions banded into four areas (the overall pass mark is 85%, with a minimum of 80% in every area):

1. road procedure
2. traffic signs and signals, car control, pedestrians, mechanical knowledge
3. driving test, disabilities, law
4. publications, instructional techniques.

The second part is the driving ability assessment test, consists of an eyesight test and a test of your ability to drive to a very high standard. It will prove whether or not you have a thorough understanding of good, safe driving techniques, and that you can also demonstrate them. Part 3 is the test of instructional ability, which measures your ability to give effective instruction and is generally considered the most difficult of the three qualifying tests. You should make sure you are well prepared before attempting the test as you are limited to three attempts.

As noted earlier, Parts 2 and 3 must be passed within two years of passing Part 1; each may be taken up to three times, but three failures in either means that the individual cannot restart the qualifying process until the two years are up. There are some other complex rules, and an ongoing requirement to take check tests to remain qualified. The ADI qualification lasts four years. You will have to apply to renew your registration before the end of your current registration period, and have another criminal records check.

Pass Plus is a scheme is aimed at new drivers to help them become better drivers. ADIs may register with the DSA to deliver Pass Plus, which aims to encourage better driving practices in new drivers by offering six extra lessons covering driving in and out of town, on motorways and dual carriageways, in all weathers and at night. For a payment, ADIs can obtain Pass Plus packs from the DSA.

Motorcycle instructors may be trained directly by Approved Training Bodies (the only organisations that can teach the Compulsory Basic Training) and/or complete a two-day assessment by examiners at a specified DSA centre. Further qualification is required to teach Direct Access courses.

LGV instructors, who wish to be on the DSA’s voluntary Register take a similar series of exams to those for ADIs. They can be certified for four years, after which time they will need to re-register.

Lift truck instructors should pass a course with a trainer accredited by the Health & Safety Executive.

Blue light vehicles (police, fire, ambulance and MoD) are now recognised as a specialist category for the training of drivers who are competent in emergency situations. The three core competencies are:

1. assessing the need for an emergency response

2. driving the vehicle safely to emergencies

3. demonstrating the correct attitude when responding to emergencies.

Fleet driver training also has a voluntary registration scheme for trainers. Fleet driver trainers, qualified to a higher level, teach more advanced driving, usually in the corporate market; the register was introduced to set standards for those who specialise in providing this type of training, and to help raise the profile of the training on offer to fleet drivers and their employers. ADIs can qualify for the register through a three-part exam comprising a touchscreen-based theory test, a practical driving test and a practical instructional test, or they can complete and pass an accredited course.

FINDING A TRAINING PROVIDER

Potential instructors should ensure that the training provider they use is reputable. The Official Register of Driving Instructor Training (ORDIT) contains suitably qualified and inspected trainers and establishments, and anyone seeking ADI training can approach them knowing that they have achieved the required standards. Training costs can vary. You should contact several ADI training providers to compare costs and decide which course offers the best value for your personal circumstances. Many companies advertise in the press, and there is no requirement to be registered. Alternatively, you could contact a CTP preferred supplier.

Employment

Once qualified, there are several options:

• move into the profession gradually by fitting instruction around another employment
• launch immediately as a sole trader
• become a franchisee with a local or national school
• enter a partnership with other instructors and pool efforts.

Working for a franchise

If you decide to work as a driving instructor on a franchise basis, fees are likely to vary from a low of around £75 per week to a high of about £250–£300 per week, depending on what is included. (Clearly, this may account for a significant proportion of an instructor’s earnings, so will need to be given careful consideration.) If paying a fee that is on the high side, check the sorts of benefits this includes. For example, will you get:

• a car included in the cost (although not fuel expenses)
• brand recognition
• a guaranteed supply of students
• a higher hourly rate?

The marketplace is very diverse. As well as training learner drivers to pass both the theory and practical elements of the test, there is the Pass Plus Scheme, the Driver Improvement Scheme and retraining people who have fallen foul of motoring laws.

KEY CONTACTS

Department for Transport, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR Tel: 0300 330 3000 Website: www.dft.gov.uk Twitter: @transportgovuk

Driving Standards Agency, The Axis Building, 112 Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham NG1 6LP Tel: 0300 200 1122 Website: www.dft.gov.uk/dsa Twitter: @DSAgovuk

Health & Safety Executive, Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge, London SE1 9HS Tel: 0845 345 0055 Website: www.hse.gov.uk Twitter: @H_S_E