BECOME A DRIVING INSTRUCTOR

Being a driving instructor gives you the opportunity to learn skills and be your own boss. You can have flexibility, work when you choose and have amazing job satisfaction knowing you have taken a pupil from zero driving skills through to being a safe and confident full licence holder.

You will need to train to be a driving instructor (known as an ADI - Approved Drivign Instructor). There are a few prerequisites that you need to fulfil and get approval by the Driving and Vehicle  Standards Agency (DVSA) before gaining permission to start training. Then you will need to pass three tests (known as Part 1, 2 & 3).

Part 1: Theory Test

Part 2: Practical Driving Test

Part 3: Instructional Ability Test.

 

How to become a driving instructor in the UK

Have you got what it takes to become an instructor? You should understand what is required of you as an instructor. You need to be good with people as you will be dealing with a wide range of personality types. Some will be confident whilst others may be nervous. A good driving instructor should be friendly, professional and someone that can identify and adapt their training methods to get the best out of their pupils. It's all about taking a client-centred approach.

People learn at difference paces, some have more confidence than others when learning to drive, everyone will make mistakes, it’s dealing with them to make them learning opportunities and that is all part of the process.

You will need to enjoy teaching and coaching other people. It is a great feeling when a student passes their driving test. It was YOU who helped them do that. You must enjoy teaching driving skills to others, and have a good sense of humour. You will have to develop great communication skills so you can help people at all levels of ability.

As you will be running your own business you need an entrepreneurial spirit and be prepared for everything that this entails. If you choose to be supported by ‘R’ Drive School of Motoring after you have become a driving instructor, we will provide support whenever it is required. However, we won’t forget you are the boss, so you should be prepared for the responsibility that this brings with it.

You should be prepared to work hard. Being an ADI means that you can work some strange hours, be in a car for a long period of time, deal with students at all stages of the process, be constantly vigilant when on your driving lessons by looking ahead and reading the road for any potential or developing hazards. It can also be incredibly rewarding both financially and personally.

Our reputation has grown organically. You will be taught by a Grade A instructor trainer. We pride ourselves on training students to be safe and confident drivers; we do not just teach someone to drive a car. Likewise, we teach people to be great instructors; not just to get you through some examinations!

We started training driving instructors as we felt the services offer by “bigger companies” were not adequate and they charge a small fortune upfront. We don’t. We will only charge you for each lesson at a time just like any other learner student, so you will get the right amount of training for you. This way you can go at your pace, and fit lessons to suit your situation. For example, fit lessons in with your current job so you can smoothly progress between your current job and your exciting career change.

 

Legal Requirements to be a driving instructor:

• 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 (by displaying a green badge)
• have a valid and current trainee driving instructor licence (by displaying a pink badge)

 

The three tests to pass to become an ADI:

Part 1: Theory Test

The ADI Part 1 is the theory test specifically tailored for driving instructors. It is a very similar format to the learner's theory test. However, there are some crucial differences between the two.

• The multiple-choice pass threshold is 85%
• There are 100 questions
• Hazard 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

Multiple Choice:

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 (known as bands). It is imperative that you study each section extensively:

BAND 1

1.  Road procedure (25 questions)

BAND 2 

2a. Traffic signs and signals (5 questions)

2b. Car Control (10 questions)

2c. Pedestrians (5 questions)

2d. Mechanical knowledge (5 questions)

 

BAND 3

3a. Driving test (10 questions)

3b. Disabilities (5 questions)

3c. The law (10 questions)

 

BAND 4

4a. Recommended publications (10 questions)

4b. Instruction Techniques (15 questions)

Hazard Perception:

The hazard perception tests your driving awareness skills. This is the same test as for learners, but the pass grade is higher:

• 14 one-minute video clips. 13 clips include one hazard; 1 clip contains two hazards
• You receive 5 points decreasing to 1 points for each hazard that you identify correctly
• You need 57/75 points to pass

If you don’t pass the theory test the first time, you can retake it but you are limited to a maximum of three attempts. If you fail for a third time you will need to wait two years before reapplying.

Part 2: Practical Driving Test

To become a qualified driving instructor you must demonstrate an excellent driving ability. The duration of the test is about one hour and it will include:

 

• Eyesight test
• Vehicle safety questions
• Driving ability
• Manoeuvres

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, which you will perform whilst driving. 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.

Driving Ability

You must be able to demonstrate all of the following during your driving test:

• 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
• Correct judgement of speed
• Eco friendly driving
• Be able to cope with all traffic conditions and situations
• You may also be asked to perform a controlled stop (you may know this as an emergency stop)

Reversing Manoeuvres

You must 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 traffic

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. You will pass if you get less than 5 driver errors minors and no serious or dangerous faults.

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.

The Pink Badge:

Once you have had 40 hours of instructor training signed off, you can apply for a trainee ‘pink’ badge. Having the pick badge helps you get experience by instructing real pupils to drive. ALSO: You can also legally charge pupils for lessons whilst you prepare for the ADI part 3 test. The pink badge lasts for six months, so you are expected to take the part three during this period. A pink badge will cost £140. You have 2 options to choose from when you apply for a trainee licence. You must either:

• be supervised for 20% of all lessons you give while you have your trainee licence
• do at least 20 hours of extra training while you have your trainee licence
• you can only choose one option and you cannot change to the other after you’ve made your decision

Part 3: Instructional Ability Test

The ADI part 3 test is your opportunity to demonstrate your teaching skills to a senior examiner. You will have to carry out a regular driving lesson with a real student. The examiner will sit in the back of the car and observe the lesson. You will be scored over three sections and you must score 32 or more to pass and achieve a Grade B. Or score 42 or more to achieve a Grade A. You must also score 8 or more in the risk management section to pass.

 

Your lesson must be well thought and planned and relevant for the skill level of your student to take to test.

You will be marked on the following things:

Lesson Planning

• Did the trainer identify the pupil’s learning goals and needs?
• Was the agreed lesson structure appropriate for the pupil’s experience and ability?
• Were the practise areas suitable
• Was the lesson plan adapted, when appropriate, to help the pupil work towards their learning goals?

You will be scored 0-3 points for each section. Max 12 points available

Risk Management

• Did the trainer ensure that the pupil fully understood how the responsibility for risk would be shared?
• Were directions and instructions given to the pupil clear and given in good time?
• Was the trainer aware of the surroundings and the pupil’s actions?
• Was any verbal or physical intervention by the trainer timely and appropriate?
• Was sufficient feedback given to help the pupil understand any potential safety critical incidents?

You will be scored 0-3 points for each section. Max 15 points available. Note: You must score 8 or more in this section. If you score 7 or less you will fail the part 3, even if the overall score is greater than 32/51

Teaching and Learning Strategies

• Was the teaching style suited to the pupil’s learning style and current ability?
• Was the pupil encouraged to analyse problems and take responsibility for their learning?
• Were opportunities and examples used to clarify learning outcomes?
• Was the technical information given comprehensive, appropriate and accurate?
• Was the pupil given appropriate and timely feedback during the session?
• Were the pupil’s queries followed up and answered?
• Did the trainer maintain an appropriate non-discriminatory manner throughout the session?
• At the end of the session - was the pupil encouraged to reflect on their own performance?

You will be scored 0-3 points for each section. Max 24 points available

If you pass you will no longer be a PDI (potential driving instructor), you will be an ADI (approved driving instructor) and you can then apply for your green badge. The application for a green badge is currently £350 and lasts for four years. During this period you will have to do a standards check which is essentially the same as the part 3 examination. 

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 take become a franchisee with us to support you. 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.

Call Richard on 07305 699197 if you wish to discuss anything further.