Becoming a driving instructor offers you the chance to learn a new profession, enjoy the freedom of being your own boss, set your own working hours, and experience job satisfaction. When you join a reputable company like ours, you also become an essential part of a supportive business community, surrounded by colleagues who share your passion.

Before applying, there are certain requirements you need to meet. Once approved, you’ll need to pass three separate tests conducted by the Driving Standards Agency (DVSA). The process may take a few months due to the comprehensive training involved. Here are the three tests you must successfully complete:

Part 1: Theory Test

Part 2: Practical Driving Test

Part 3: Instructional Ability Test.

These tests ensure that you have the necessary knowledge, driving skills, and instructional abilities to become a qualified driving instructor. At Only Automatic Driving School, we’ll guide you through each step of the process, providing the support you need to succeed.

Do You Have What It Takes to Become an Instructor?

To help you gain a deeper understanding of your potential career as a driving instructor, we’d like to offer some advice based on our extensive experience in the field. Let’s explore the requirements from the DVSA, as well as the qualities and mindset needed for success:

Good People Skills

·          As a driving instructor, you’ll interact with individuals from diverse backgrounds, some of whom may feel nervous. It’s important to be friendly yet professional, making your students feel at ease while bringing out their best during the learning process.

Patience and Compassion

·          People learn at different speeds, and mistakes are inevitable. A great driving instructor possesses the emotional intelligence to handle such situations calmly and professionally. Your ability to reassure learners and maintain their confidence is crucial.

Enjoyment of Teaching

·          Witnessing your students pass their driving tests is a truly rewarding experience. Being passionate about teaching driving skills and possessing the qualities of an effective educator—like a good sense of humour, teaching effectiveness, professionalism, and strong communication skills—will contribute to your success in guiding learners of all abilities.

Entrepreneurial Spirit

·          Even when working for a company, being a driving instructor requires a certain level of independence. You should be prepared for the responsibilities that come with being your own boss. While we provide continuous support, you need the drive and determination that sets you apart from typical employees.

Hard Work and Reward

·          Let’s be honest, being an ADI (Approved Driving Instructor) can involve irregular working hours, long periods of sitting, handling students at various stages of learning, maintaining constant vigilance during lessons, and maintaining professionalism. However, the job can also be highly rewarding both financially and personally.

With the right mindset, dedication, and our support, you can embark on a fulfilling career as a driving instructor.

Building a Reputation for Excellence

Our reputation has grown organically over the years, and there’s no sign of it slowing down. We attribute this to our exceptional instructors who are all trainer-certified. Not only do we prioritise getting our students through their driving tests quickly, but we also ensure our new instructors receive comprehensive training without compromising on quality.

Training Our Own Instructors to Maintain High Standards

Recognising the need for higher standards, we began training our own instructors. We found that other ADIs didn’t meet the level of excellence we require from our team. Additionally, we noticed that many of the “bigger companies” charged exorbitant fees for qualification, but we don’t believe in that approach.

At Only Automatic Driving School, we are committed to providing the best training at a reasonable price. Our focus is on maintaining high standards, producing skilled instructors, and ensuring the success of our students.

Driving Instructor Legal Requirements

·          You need to have held your license for a minimum of three years

·          Your license needs to be in the category that you intend to teach in

·          You cannot have 5 or more points on your driving license

·          You must be over 21 years of age

·          You must be able to read a license plate from 90 feet away (wearing glasses to do this is fine)

·          You must have not been convicted of a sexual, violent, financial or drug-related crime or have been banned from working with children

Before you can legally charge money (or monies worth) for driving instruction in a car, you must either:

·          be a recognised ADI on the official register

·          have a valid and current trainee driving instructor licence

Part 1: Theory Test

The ADI Part 1 is the theory test specifically tailored for aspiring driving instructors. It is part 1 of the three tests that you need to take in order to become a fully qualified driving instructor. 

PART 1: Theory Test

The driving instructor theory test is formatted in the same way that the learner driver theory test is laid out however, there are some crucial differences between the two. Here are some of the differences between the driving instructor theory test and the learner driver theory test: 

·          The multiple-choice pass threshold is 85%

·          There are 100 questions 

·          Hazzard perception pass threshold is 57 out of 75 

·          There are 2 sections to the test, to pass you have to pass the multiple-choice and the hazard perception on the same day 

Hazard Perception and Multiple Choice Test 

The multiple-choice section of the test has 100 questions that you have to answer. You must achieve:

·          An overall score of at least 85 out of 100

·          At least 20 out of 25 in each of the 4 categories of questions

The ADI Driving Instructor Multiple Choice Test Categories are as follows: 

·          Road procedure (you need to have in-depth knowledge on this topic) 

·          Traffic signs and signals, vehicle controls and some understanding of car maintenance 

·          Driving test, the law and disabilities( you will need to be well versed on the most recent laws and regulations) 

·          Teaching techniques and understanding how to convey information to learner drivers 

To pass the multiple-choice section of the test, you need to get 85 out of 100. You need to score 85% to pass overall, a minimum of 20 out of 25 in each of the 4 categories. It is vital that test candidates study each section extensively because you must score at least 20 on each category to pass. You cannot get 20 on 3 categories and then a lower mark on the other section, you would fail the test. 

In order to pass the driving instructor theory test, you must take, and pass the hazard perception section of the test too. The hazard perception tests your driving awareness skills which is crucial if you want to be a fully qualified driving instructor. This is what the hazard perception test consists of: 

·          14 video clips (you need to spot the hazard in each clip) 

·          All the clips include one hazard 

·          One clip contains 2 hazards 

·          You receive 5 points for hazards that you identify correctly 

·          You need 57 points to pass the hazard perception test 

You can book your driving instructor part 2 test, which is the practical portion of the test once you have passed your theory test. 

If you don’t pass the theory test the first time, you can retake it as many times as you like until you pass. However, with the other driving instructor tests, you are limited to a maximum of three attempts. 

Part 2: Practical Driving Test

To become a qualified driving instructor you need to be able to demonstrate excellent driving ability. Part 2 of the 3 driving instructor tests is the driving ability practical test. The duration of the test is one hour and it will include: 

Part 2: Practical Driving Test

·          Eyesight test 

·          Vehicle safety questions 

·          Driving ability 

Eyesight Test Requirements

You must take an eyesight test to ensure you can read a number plate – 26.5 metres for vehicles with a new-style number plate and 27.5 metres for vehicles with an old-style number plate.

Vehicle Safety

The test examiner will ask you a series of five questions. Three of these questions are known as “tell me” questions. The remaining two questions are “show me” questions, here you will have to demonstrate your ability to take instruction and perform the required driving manoeuvre. If you become a driving instructor, these are the same questions that you will be asking your students. You will get a minor fault for providing a wrong answer, you will get a major fault for losing control of the vehicle when you are answering the show me questions. 

·          3 ‘tell me’ questions (where you explain how you’d carry out a safety task) at the start of your test, before you start driving

·          2 ‘show me’ questions (where you show how you’d carry out a safety task) while you’re driving

Driving Ability 

This is the most important part of the test and you must be able to demonstrate all of the following: 

·          A skilled handling of vehicle controls 

·          Understand and demonstrate correct lane discipline and road procedures 

·          Ability to anticipate and plan for potential hazards 

·          Ability to consider all road users 

·          The correct judgement of speed 

·          Eco-friendly driving 

·          Be able to cope with all traffic conditions and situations 

·          You might be asked to perform an emergency stop 

Reversing Manoeuvres 

You will need to be able to demonstrate your manoeuvre capabilities with expert precision because you will be teaching these same manoeuvres to your learners. Your test examiner will ask you to do two of the following manoeuvres. 

·          Reverse parking into a bay 

·          Drive into a parking bay and reverse out of the bay 

·          Parallel parking 

·          Stop on the right side of the road and reverse for two car lengths then rejoin the traffic 

·          Pull up next to a car and reverse into the space to the rear of the car. You need to be able to stop near the curb and within two car lengths of the car 

To pass, you need to be able to demonstrate expertise and the ability to maintain all-around observation and consideration to other drivers and pedestrians. 

When the test is over, you will be given your test score. If the examiner gives you less than 5 minors and no major fault, you would have passed part 2 of the driving instructor test. You can now take part 3, the teaching ability test. 

Note: You can only take this test 3 times. If you fail all 3 tests, you cannot take another test until 2 years have passed. The 2 years is counted from the date you passed your theory test. 

Part 3: Instructional Ability Test

The ADI part 3 test allows you to demonstrate your teaching skills to an examiner. For this you will have to carry out a driving lesson with a real learner, the examiner will sit at the back and observe the lesson. 

Your task will be to choose a subject for your learner, your lesson must be well thought out and planned and you must fully focus on the needs and abilities of the learner driver. 

You will be marked on the following things: 

Note: you need to fully understand the test marking sheet as you will need to take the ADI check test in the first two years after you qualify as a driving instructor. 

Lesson Planning 

Did you correctly recognise the learner’s targets and needs? 

This part of the assessment is very important, you would need to be able to correctly identify your learner driver’s needs and goals before you can plan a lesson that meets those specific needs. 

Was the lesson plan right for the student’s past knowledge and ability? 

You and the learner driver must come to an agreement regarding the format of the lesson. However, it is up to you to create a fully functional plan to meet the student’s needs. The goal is to ensure that you teach, and the student learns. 

Was the route you chose suitable for the learner? 

You need to make sure that the route you choose is appropriate for the ability of the learner driver. You need to challenge the learner, but safety is the number one priority here. 

Did you adapt the plan when necessary to help the student meet their learning objectives? 

You might need to tweak your plan during the lesson for example if you planned to focus on roundabouts but they missed some crucial mirror checks along the way, you will have to work on correcting this before you move on. 

Total marks for this part of the test = 12 

Risk Management 

Did you explain risk management to the student? Both you, the trainer and the student are responsible for managing risk. 

Explain the responsibilities to the learner driver, you also need to provide the learner driver with information regarding dual controls.

Did you give clear and concise instructions to the pupil? 

This is vital, you need to speak clearly and make sure your pupil understands the instructions you are giving them. 

Were you fully aware of the surrounding area, did you plan ahead? 

As the trainer you need to be able to plan ahead, you should be able to anticipate potential hazards and make sure that the pupil is doing all the right things to prepare for potential hazards too. 

Did you intervene at the appropriate times? 

Sometimes it is necessary to intervene either vocally or physically. Did you carry out these interventions at the right time? 

Did you provide enough feedback to aid the pupil’s understanding of any potential safety issues? 

You are responsible for ensuring that the pupil fully understands critical safety issues, you should be able to explain what went wrong, and why it was a crucial safety issue. 

 Total marks for this part of the test = 15 

Teaching and Learning strategies

Did you correctly identify the learner’s needs, and teach using the appropriate style? 

Did you encourage the pupil to think critically and take responsibility for their own progression as learner drivers? 

It is your responsibility to encourage your learner driver to think critically, analyse situations and solve problems. 

Did you use real-life examples to reinforce certain learning objectives? 

There are plenty of chances to use real-life examples to solidify what you have taught them verbally. 

Did you provide the student with the correct information? 

You should always provide the student with correct information. 

Did you provide feedback and praise at the right times during the lesson? 

Give the pupil the correct feedback at the appropriate time. Provide praise when they do the right thing and encourage them to question why they made certain mistakes. 

Did you listen to the student and provide answers to the questions they needed answers to? 

It is your responsibility to answer questions at the appropriate time. Provide the student with comprehensive, well thought out answers to help the student fully understand anything he/she is having problems with. 

Did you treat the student well during the lesson?  

The way you treat your pupil is crucial, you can actually score 3 points for treating the pupil well. 

Did you encourage self-reflection at the end of the lesson? 

When the lesson is over you should sit with the student to briefly analyse the lesson. Ask them how they felt about the lesson, and encourage them to reflect on what went well and how they could improve. 

Total marks for this part of the test = 24 

To score 100% you need to get 51 points in total. However, if you get 43 or more,  you will pass with an A grade. 31-42 you will get a B, less than 31 will be deemed a fail. 

Note: You can also take advantage of the opportunity to use a trainee licence to prepare for the exam. Here you will get to teach real learner drivers and get paid to do so. 

How Long Does It Take To Become A Driving Instructor?

It will take most people at least six months to complete their ADI qualification to become fully qualified driving instructors. Nonetheless, before you can sit the ADI tests you need to have held a full, clean driving licence for three or more years.

One of the questions that people often ask when thinking about becoming an ADI is “how long does it take to become a driving instructor?”.

It takes at least 6 months to become a driving instructor, 6 months is the minimum amount of time and it could take up to 12 months depending on how much time and effort you put in.

But the benefits are fantastic to those who qualify and you can earn around £50,000 per year, work the hours you prefer, be part-time and yet still effectively operate as your own boss.

Here are some other questions that you may have in mind before you take the plunge into the world of becoming a driving instructor (by the way we are currently training and hiring driving instructors and our fees start at only £650, have a look at our instructor training page or give us a call for a friendly chat to find out more).

Can I Become A Driving Instructor In Less Than 6 Months?

It IS possible if you work really hard but we want to train you so that you are an instructor makes a difference.

This means that we don’t want to speed you through the process but rather ensure that you can keep up our good name and of course your own.

Why Does it Take 6 Months To Train As An Instructor?

Learning to be a driving instructor is a skill. If you could learn it quickly then everybody would do it and the industry would quickly become saturated.

If we could teach you everything that we know about teaching people to drive in a week or a month what would that say about the quality of our service or your ability to become a good instructor?

Six months to learn a skill that you can use to earn a living for the rest of your life is not a big investment in the long run and well worth your time, patience and perseverance.

Can I Train Around My Current Job?

Yes, this is how a lot of new driving instructors actually set out. If you have a job that allows you to have time out then once you are qualified there’s no reason why you couldn’t ease yourself into your new role either.

The hours that you work are up to you, we recommend you work to make a good income and keep clients happy but ultimately it is up to you which hours you put in which means you can work at another job until you are ready to go full time with your ADI work.

What Can Prevent Me From Completing My Training Within 6 Months?

Other than the effort you put in the likely outside influences are:

·          Delayed DBS checks

·          Exam dates

These are at the mercy of the agencies that control them and beyond your control and so although the delay shouldn’t theoretically be too great, they still pose a potential delay period for your training completion.

Of course, you could also fail exams and have to retake them which could add a further delay. Perhaps if you don’t have the time to be able to study as much as you would like too – this could delay progress.

Is It Possible To Train On A Part-Time Basis?

Yes, this is possible but it will take longer than expected. We are currently recruiting new instructors and will even refund your training costs to get you on board as one of our ADI’s so although you could train on a part-time basis we are keen for our team to put in 100%  effort to join us.

Can I Delay My Training?

Yes, you could although for the same answer as the previous question we would prefer things to move at a normal pace.

How Much Money Can You Make?

As a fully qualified driving instructor, you can earn approximately £50k per year, depending upon how many hours you work.

What Are The Pros & Cons?

Pros of Becoming a Driving Instructor

There are many advantages to becoming a driving instructor, here are just a few of them:

·          Be your own boss

·          Set your own hours

·          Meet new people

·          Provide a valuable service

·          See new places

·          Part-time or full-time hours

·          Job satisfaction

Cons of Becoming a Driving Instructor

The pros by far outweigh the cons

·          Being self-employed means you have to take care of your own taxes (some people might not like this)

·          You may have to work the occasional early evening

Once I Qualify As An ADI Should I Work For Myself or With A Franchise?

Being a self-employed driving instructor is highly rewarding, however, without the backing of an established brand like Only Automatic Driving School it can be challenging.

Here are some of the challenges you might face working for yourself:

·          Difficulty attracting clients

·          Being forced to charge low rates to attract customers

·          Learning everything about running a driving instruction business on your own without the backing of a highly experienced franchise

It is possible to have a successful driving instructor career without the backing of a franchise however, working with a Franchise like ours makes things a whole lot easier.

How Much Does It Cost to Become a Driving Instructor?

A question we often get asked by people considering a career with us is how much does it cost to become a driving instructor? For those skim readers amongst you, our full instructor course costs just £1,800 for the entire program. Better still, you receive a full refund of this amount when you join our team. This course is perfect if you want to get started on your new career fast, plus we’re hiring!

There are many things to consider when deciding on a career as a driving instructor, ranging from how long it takes, to the requirements and the assessment stages. Of course, the price is a huge consideration for any decision you make, whether business-related or not. 

Instead of listing the prices without any information or context to accompany them, we decided to create a full guide to answer the question including prices, payment options, the time it takes to complete and much more information integral to your decision. 

How long does it take to become an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI)? 

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and nobody can learn to be a driving instructor overnight. The overall time it takes to become a fully certified instructor depends on the amount of time you can put in during your training stage. A realistic timescale for qualification is about 6-12 months in total.

You can achieve the certification in less than six months; however, we prefer that you learn at a natural and comfortable rate to ensure that you become an instructor that reaches our high standards! With all things considered, taking 6 months out to train in a career that has the potential to earn you over £50,000 per year is more than reasonable.

The great thing is you can train to be an instructor with us, alongside your current job. If you have a job that provides a fair amount of flexibility, we can lay out a plan that meets your requirements. This provides the much-needed assurance that you can earn money while learning the skills needed to start your new career as a driving instructor.  

Some things can delay your qualification, such as exam date availability and delayed DBS checks; however, this is something our expert trainers will foresee and amend before it becomes a significant issue!

Driving Instructor Checklist

In order to become a driving instructor, you need to make sure you meet a few requirements:

1.   Have held a driving licence for at least three years.

2.   Be able to read a car’s licence plate from 90 feet away (glasses and contact lenses are allowed).

3.   Have no more than 6 points on your driving licence.

4.   Allow the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to complete a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check.

There are several more requirements involved in becoming a driving instructor, and you’d be best suited to take a look at our other articles that break down the processes in much more detail. Our articles provide everything from assessment descriptions, reasons to become a driving instructor and much more. You can find our blog page here: www.onlyautomatic.com

Stick with the franchise, or go it alone? 

Some people decide to go it alone after they have qualified as an instructor, instead of joining the team of an established brand. While this is certainly an option, and you are well within your rights to explore these options, they might not always be the best idea. Here’s why: 

·          You may experience some difficulty in attracting clients without many reviews and recommendations as a new instructor. 

·          You may be forced to work at much lower rates due to your lack of attraction. 

·          The pressures of running business functions outside of your instruction may weigh heavy on you. This could include the accountancy aspects, advertisement and other clerical tasks. 

What are my next steps? 

Your next step is to give us a call or send us a message through the website, and we’ll be in touch. You can ask any questions, get some advice and organise a time to come in for a chat with no obligation. 

Our instructors are all Grade A DVSA registered, which is the highest attainable grade available. The key highlight to our training school is the speed at which we can get you to work. We specialise in getting you qualified, working for yourself and earning money as quickly as possible, while maintaining the highest industry standards. Our programs are provided on a 1 to 1 basis, with no car sharing involved, meaning you get a personalised and dedicated training program.

We offer driving lessons across the North East of England but we’re also very keen to bring onboard new members of the team from almost any location. We have 25 years of experience in the industry, and a training program with us will ensure you’re amongst the best instructors in the country.

We guarantee you a job with us after you’ve completed your training meaning you don’t only get the best instruction available, but you begin your career with one of the most respected schools to work with.

Our unique training and instructional courses are embedded in our dedication to providing courses that suit the needs of our potential driving instructors. Our extensive experience in the industry and in training new instructors gives us the ability to teach you a new skill that you can implement to begin a new, lucrative and rewarding career.

To take that first step, contact us for more information on becoming a fully qualified driving instructor.

Summary

Being a driving instructor is rewarding, challenging and exciting. You must have patience, an entrepreneurial spirit, compassion and you must also be willing to work hard to become the best driving instructor you can possibly be. You need to be dedicated to studying for the ADI driving instructor tests which include both theory and practical assessments.

You can make a decent living as a driving instructor as long as you are willing to put in the work and dedicate yourself to the job. Once you are fully qualified, you can either choose to work for yourself or for an established franchise like Only Automatic Driving School. Either way, being a driving instructor offers excellent job satisfaction, flexibility, good pay and you get to meet new people and escape the usual 9 to 5 way of working.

People Also Ask:

Can I become a driving instructor with a criminal record?

You can become a driving instructor with a criminal record but the DVSA will carry out a risk assessment before they give you approval. There are certain steps that you need to take if you have a criminal record.

·          Disclose your criminal record by providing your enhanced Disclosure and Barring service certificate when you apply to become an ADI

The DVSA will take certain factors into consideration:

·          Whether the caution or conviction you received is relevant

·          The severity of the offence

·          Was it your first offence?

·          What steps have you taken to change your life since the conviction?

Your application will probably be declined if your offences include the following motoring offences:

·          You have been disqualified from driving within the last 4 years

·          Found guilty of a DUI(driving under the influence of drink or drugs within the last 4 years)

·          You have been issued with a single fixed penalty notice where 5 or more penalty points have been maintained

·          Your licence has more than 6 penalty points within the last 3 years

What qualifications do I need?

You need to hold full clean driving licence for three years before you can take the ADI official exams. Once you have taken and passed your ADI exams, you will be qualified to teach.

How often are instructors assessed?

Driving instructors have to take at least one ADI standards check during each 4-year period that they are registered as an ADI. You can get struck off the ADI register if you do not book or attend your ADI standards check.

We can support your build up to your DVSA Standards Check with personal additional training and useful media

We can provide training to support your current skills to help you maintain your standards and meet new challenges. We can cater for what you want. Discuss with one of our ORDIT registered trainers

Contact us for information for our CPD courses (all done by our ORDIT Instructors)

We do one to one sessions where you can spend time with one of our ORDIT registered trainers on bespoke sessions or in group sessions with other Approved Driving Instructors to help you achieve continued personal development. Just ask :)