It’s one of the toughest, most challenging careers you can choose. It’s also one of the most rewarding. Becoming a driving instructor means the freedom to develop your business as you want to, while getting the personal satisfaction knowing that you’re teaching your students to be responsible, skilled and above all, safe road users.
It’s not an easy career, and you’ll worked hard to get qualified, build your business and play your part in helping the 1.6 million people taking their tests each year become confident and happy drivers.
But what about Driving School Insurance? How do you make sure you always have the best deal, the right cover and the best policy that saves you money? Here are five tips to give your driving school insurance a tune-up and get the best deals for you and your school.
1. Get the right type of insurance from a specialist dealer
Just like any other field, the sheer amount of different types of insurance cover available for driving instructors can be baffling. It all depends on whether you’re an independent trader or solo operation, run a school with more than one instructor, or are part of a franchise. A specialist dealer will be able to put together a tailor-made package that can include:
- Driving Instructor Car Insurance
- Dual Controlled Car Insurance
- ADI Insurance
- PDI Insurance
- Driving School Insurance
- Fleet Insurance
- Breakdown Cover for Driving Instructors
- Gap Insurance for Dual Controlled Cars
- Public Liability Insurance for Driving Instructors
Call us now on 0117 955 6835 for a quote.
It’s entirely up to you how you put together your package, but by bundling all your cover into one package, you could save far more than if you bought each type of insurance individually.
2. Remember to add in employer’s liability insurance if you take on new instructors
While all vehicles (including instructors’ training vehicles) must be insured by law to operate on the public highway, the only other type of insurance that you are legally obliged to have if you employ others within the context of your business is employer’s liability. This applies even if you have instructors sub-contracting for you, or instructors that are only working part time. Remember, not only do you have to have employer’s liability insurance by law, but a single claim brought against you as an employer could cost you far more than the annual premiums, as well as jeopardising your business by landing you with a criminal record, something the DSA does not look kindly upon!
3. Look for flexible deals that grow with your business
A driving school can grow very quickly, especially if you get a good reputation for high quality teaching and a great pass rate! While it may take a while at first, expect your business to grow in leaps and bounds once the word gets out. That means your driving school insurance needs to be flexible enough to grow and adapt with your business. So, while it may be tempting to go for the cheapest possible option at the start, paying a little more for insurance that will provide you with good cover as your business grows could actually be cheaper in the long run.
4. Talk to the right broker
It’s easy to go online and check out comparison sites if you’re looking for cheap car insurance. But if you need specialist insurance for your driving school then you need to talk to a broker experienced in that particular field. They will be able to use their position and contacts within the industry to find you the best price, as well as looking out for group discounts or bundles that could save you hundreds of pounds on your annual premiums.
Not only do specialist brokers have an in-depth understanding of the insurance industry and how to find the best deals that might not be advertised online, but they understand your business too. You’re talking to a real person, and have a direct point of contact at any stage during the life of your premium should you need to update your cover.
5. Group policies for schools or individual driving instructor insurance?
Your business has grown, you’re part of a successful school and you’re now managing a busy organisation. So do you go for a group policy or ask your instructors to get their own insurance? If you want to make sure there are no unexpected problems further down the line, it may be best to ensure everyone is covered by an umbrella policy that includes all of your instructors under one policy.
Not only does this ensure that everyone has proper coverage, but it can also be much cheaper in the long run too. It can also enable your instructors to use any of your school’s vehicles, especially if you include fleet insurance into your package.
At Park Insurance, we have over 30 years’ experience in providing expert help and specialist insurance to businesses, including driving instructor insurance and driving school cover. To find out more about how we can help you, simply contact our friendly team today.
Call us now on 0117 955 6835 for a quote.