How do I become a driving instructor?
Training as a fully qualified driving instructor isn’t an easy process. However, as long as you’re prepared to work hard and you find the right driving instructor trainer for you, you have a great chance of passing.
There are 3 exams you need to take and pass each one within 3 attempts. You also have 2 years to complete all 3 exams from the date you pass the first exam – ADI Part 1.
What are the 3 tests to become an ADI?
Part 1 - Theory and Hazard Perception
The ADI Part 1 is similar to the learner driver theory test. However, as a more experienced driver you will be tested with more questions and the required pass mark will be higher.
The learner’s theory test is 50 questions with a pass mark of 43, whereas the ADI theory test is 100 questions with a pass mark of 85.
Part 2 - Test of Driving Ability
The ADI Part 2 is again similar to the practical driving test for learner drivers, though, as an experienced driver, you will be expected to have a greater knowledge and understanding.
On a learner’s driving test, the candidate can make up to 15 driver faults (previously known as minor faults) compared to the ADI Part 2 test where you can only make 6 driving faults over the course of 1 hour.
Part 3 - Test of Instructional Ability
The ADI Part 3 will test your instructional ability and teaching skills. For this part of the test, you will be observed by an examiner as you train a pupil.
You can pass all 3 exams in as little as 3 months, though trainees typically take between 6 to 12 months if they have an existing job and are doing their training in between.
The benefits of becoming a driving instructor
- Be your own boss and set your own hours.
- Work when you want, take days off when you want.
- Work around your current commitments such as children, family, partners, existing job, part-time job, hobbies and more.
- Pursue extra qualifications once you have qualified and go into more advanced instruction such as driving instructor training, fleet training, commercial, trailer towing, ambulance training and more.
- Every lesson presents a different challenge.
- Meet new people every day.
- Earn between £30,000 – £65,000 a year.
- Job satisfaction, seeing pupils pass their driving test and teaching them safe driving for life.
Training and course options
We have several ways to train to become a driving instructor with driveJohnson’s. We offer the following driving instructor training:
- Local one-to-one training
- Fast track one-to-one training
- Fast track two-to-one training
- Rescue training for those who have failed the Part 2 and 3 tests and seek a new trainer
- Pay as you go training for those who are changing trainers and would like to use a driveJohnson’s Approved Trainer
- Standards Check Training
- Online training sessions with our in-house Ex-DVSA ADI Enforcement Examiner
Requirements to become a driving instructor
- You should be at least 21 years of age.
- Have held a UK manual driving licence for at least 3 years. You should have at least 4 years of driving experience before entering the ADI register.
- You should not have been disqualified from driving in the last 4 years before joining the ADI register.
- You should have no more than 6 penalty points on your licence.
- You should be fit and healthy – this is quite vague, so if you’re unsure, ask during the application stage.
- Complete and pass a DBS check, which has to be renewed every 4 years.
Criminal Records/DBS Check
Can you be a driving instructor with a criminal record? This depends on:
- How serious the offence is.
- When the offence occurred.
- If your conviction/offence is relevant.
- Assess if there is a pattern of offending behaviour.
- Your personal circumstances involved with the offence, also if there are any other explanations or defence on your behalf.
Your application is unlikely to be successful if you have been convicted of offences involving drugs, violence, drugs, sexual or financial situations. If your name is/has been on the ‘Sex offenders’ register or you have been prohibited from working with children your application is also unlikely to be successful.
Disabilities and becoming a driving instructor
Having a disability doesn’t prevent you from becoming an ADI.
If you possess an unrestricted driving licence you can still apply through the normal process. However, if your licence is restricted to driving an automatic vehicle, you will not be permitted to teach people to drive in a manual car.
You will have to carry out an ‘emergency control assessment’ before the DVSA will consider your application. This is done in order to assess your ability of how you would take control of a vehicle in case of an emergency from the passengers seat.
What is it like being a driving instructor and are you suited to the job?
It’s an important question you might want the answer to, so we asked one of our most loved driving instructors, Rob Bostridge, what it is like being a driving instructor and what makes a good driving instructor. Watch the video to find out if Rob has any regrets about becoming a driving instructor.
Request a call back
If you’d like us to give you a call about becoming a driving instructor, fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
3 top tips to find the right training for you
You can crawl most of the recruitment websites, such as Reed and Indeed, today and you will find some big sharks advertising – simply preying on the naive. We aren’t saying that all companies on the recruitment sites are bad, but when you register your interest with them, you’ll receive a call from a sales person who often isn’t clued up on what they are selling and do not have your best interests at heart as a result.
Here are some questions you should ask to find out if they know the product they are selling:
- How many hours of the training course is one-to-one practical training vs. classroom training or online?
- What’s the name of the trainer who will be training you?
- Will your trainer be an ORDIT registered trainer?
- Can they promise and put it in writing you won’t be subbed out to an external instructor to deliver your training?
- If they are going to sub you out, who will be your trainer and how long have they been working with the company?
- If the training company offers cash backs, find out exactly what the terms are – they often don’t end in the consumer’s favour!
Some driving schools have in excess of 1000 driving instructors working under their umbrella. What do you think the company ethos is? Are they playing a numbers game and trying to recruit as many instructors as they can? Does it worry you they might train up too many instructors in your area at some point, leaving you with little to no work? If you have a problem, do you think you can talk directly with a decision maker who can actually help you?
What are the franchise terms with the company in question? Most of the time, the small print says that once you qualify with the company you trained with, you will have a further 18-24 months of your contract to serve. Many PDIs just think about the 6 months, but the terms of the contract are extended once you qualify.
For more advice on choosing a training provider and your franchise, we have 5 more tips for you here.
FAQs answered for you
Watch the video below where the company’s director and office manager, Anthony Johnson and Nicki Custance respectively, discuss the most frequently asked questions by potential driving instructors.
Frequently asked questions
What if I fail my Part 1 theory test?
It’s not ideal, but you have unlimited attempts at the Part 1 test, unlike the Part 2 and 3 tests. If you fail your theory test, you will receive a catch-up call from your dedicated trainer, and if necessary we will show you extra resources if you need them.
Why don’t you pay for an additional 20 hours like some of the other companies?
We don’t tie you in to a long contract like the other companies do. Mostly all the companies offering free extra 20 hours training require you to sign a contract between 18-24 months. You will pay in the region of £18,000-£24,000 during your contracted time to save in the region of £650-700 on 20 hours training.
We advise everyone to think of the long game. Do you know where you will be in 2 years? Are you 100% sure you will be happy with your training/franchise provider in 2 years?
We receive hundreds of calls every year from unhappy instructors who are tied into long term agreements wanting to join us. Therefore, we are offering an alternative way to train and franchise with us. Visit driving school franchise for more information.
What if I don’t want to join you after my training?
You are welcome to use us just for the training and source a franchise elsewhere if you wish. There are no hidden tie ins.
Can you guarantee me a place with your school when I qualify?
As you are proceeding through your training, you will need to let us know if you would like to join us. The more notice we have, the higher the chance we can accommodate your franchise needs. A straight and honest conversation between you and the manager can take place as early as you like to discuss your franchise plans.
What if I need extra training, can I pay as you go?
Yes, you can. The cost per hour will be at favourable/reduced rate for you.
How long do you have to qualify?
You have two years to qualify. This starts the moment you have passed the Part 1 theory test. After two years, you will need to go back to the beginning, unfortunately.
How can you guarantee I will be busy on my trainee licence?
We offer a two-week trial and just four weeks notice to leave thereafter. That’s our way of putting our money where our mouth is in regards to pupil supply.
The pressure is on us to deliver you pupils, if we ultimately fail then all of our instructors could leave with just four weeks notice and our business is finished.
As far as we are aware, no other driving school offers this flexibility to trial us first and leave us with just four weeks notice.
Do you offer a residential course where you can train in just 1 week?
Yes, we do. Our head office is based in Milton Keynes. We can offer you the following:
- Part 2 – 2-day intensive course
- Part 3 – 5-day intensive course
These courses are generally in Milton Keynes. We will try to provide a course which is closer to your home. Please call us if you would prefer this and we will manage your expectations honestly and truthfully based on current availability.
If you are travelling for more than 1 hour for your training, then we recommend a residential course where we can offer 4-star hotel accommodation, including breakfast for £50 a night.
In most cases for the Part 2 training, you will finish your training and then take your test in your hometown where you will normally know the area well. We can arrange for a Part 2 test to be taken in Milton Keynes if you prefer.
In most cases for the Part 3 intensive training, you will proceed onto a trainee licence to gain extra experience and start earning money ASAP. Again, we can arrange for a test immediately after your training in Milton Keynes.
Can I go at my own pace with my training?
Yes, you can within reason. Just bear in mind you only have two years to qualify after passing the theory test.
How long does the average person take to qualify with driveJohnson’s?
The average trainee qualifies with us within 6-9 months of passing their theory test.
What’s the fastest time someone has qualified with driveJohnson’s?
The fastest person to qualify with us after passing the theory test (part 1) was Ian Taylor from Nottingham. It took him just six weeks to qualify, and he chose our fast track option.
Do you have to pay to be on the ADI register?
You will have to pay a fee to join the ADI register and you will need to renew your registration every 4 years. The cost of your first ADI certificate is £300 and renewal every 4 years is £300. You will also need a trainee driving instructor licence which costs £140.
How old do you have to be to be a driving instructor?
In order to become a driving instructor in the UK, you must be aged 21 or over and have held a full UK driving licence for a minimum of three years.
Here’s what others say about our driving instructor training…
Read just some of the reviews left by now fully qualified driving instructors after receiving their training from us.
Sam Zafar
Babar Raja
Rizwan Ashraf
