How to Become a Driving Instructor in the UK

Becoming a driving instructor offers the potential for a good income, flexible hours, and freedom from desk work. If you love driving, becoming a driving instructor is a very tempting career path. However, before you take the plunge, it's well worth doing some serious research first because it's also a long and arduous route (if you'll pardon the pun) to getting that DSA ticket.

According to the government website, there are approximately 38,000 approved driving instructors in the UK as of 2025. Correspondingly, there are millions of Provisional Licence holders waiting to take their test to get their full licence. The demand for driving tests is exceptionally high, highlighting just how essential driving instructors are to keeping the UK moving.

Good driving instructors will find their phone ringing seven days a week with learners looking to pass their test, but before you decide to become an instructor, there's a lot of time and money to invest in your career first.

How long does it take to become a driving instructor?

Get ready for some hard work because it takes around six to 12 months on average to become a fully qualified driving instructor. As well as the training, there are three exams to pass and you cannot move forward to the next one without passing each one in turn.

Training will depend on your ability and your availability. Intensive training is the quickest way to launch a career as a driving instructor, but this may mean you will have to give up your current source of income to train. That could mean six months without any income. The best way to train is to spread it over a year and carry on working in the meantime to guarantee your income doesn’t diminish.

Talking of cost...

So, how much does it cost to become a driving instructor? It's not cheap, but you are investing in a career that could generate a good source of income and great job satisfaction. Expect to invest around £3,000-£4,000, which includes training, registration with the DVSA and your ADI test fees. If you're setting up on your own, you'll also need to invest in a specially adapted car (with dual controls), as well as maintenance and insurance costs. Don't forget you'll need a website and advertising budget, too, so becoming a driving instructor costs a lot of money initially.

What are the legal requirements for being a driving instructors in the UK?

Before you even think of starting to train to become a driving instructor, you need to meet legal requirements, including:

• You must have held a licence for a minimum of three years
• Your licence needs to be in the category that you intend to teach in (so if you want to teach HGV novice drivers, you must have a full HGV licence yourself)
• You must have no more than 5 points on your driving licence
• You must be over 21 years of age
• You must be able to read a licence plate from 90 feet away (wearing glasses or contact lenses to achieve this is acceptable)
• You must have not been convicted of a sexual, violent, financial, or drug-related crime or have been banned from working with children

Once you've qualified, you can only charge for driving lessons if:

• You are a certified and recognised ADI on the official register
• Have a valid and current trainee driving instructor licence
• Have the correct insurance

What about personal skills?

Becoming a driving instructor isn't just about getting your ADI 'ticket'. You also need to have a strong skill set that includes not only being an excellent driver, but a good teacher too. That means you need some serious personal skills.

As a teacher, you need to be able to communicate clearly and in an engaging manner so that even the most nervous novice driver understands your commands. It's important to remember that the person at the wheel is a novice, and there's a lot of new information they need to absorb and process. Being a driving instructor isn't just about telling the pupil to turn left at the junction. It's about explaining all the other data they need to understand, too, such as the approach speed, road positioning, hazard perception, and even mechanical tasks such as changing gear.

To do all this, you need to have a friendly, reassuring and calm demeanour and a lot of patience! Novices make mistakes, and how you react to those errors can make a huge difference to the learner's training journey. It's up to you to teach them the art of driving and not just go 'through the motions'. So, a calm, compassionate and professional attitude is essential.

The feel-good factor that teaching brings

The benefits of teaching go both ways, and when a pupil passes their test, it's a gratifying experience. Job satisfaction and a sense of achievement are two of the biggest perks of 'the job', which is why most driving instructors stay within the profession for much longer.

Don't be under any illusion - being a driving instructor is hard work. Yes, you can set your own hours (if you work independently of a school), but you'll need to be available at weekends, evenings and whenever your students need you. Dedication and commitment are essential to build up your reputation as a good instructor. During lessons, you need to be constantly aware not just of your surroundings but what your pupil is doing, anticipate their next move and be instantly able to correct mistakes to keep you, them and everyone else safe on the road.

It takes a certain mindset to learn how to become a driving instructor. But if you have that mindset, it can be one of the most rewarding careers you can choose.

The training process - step-by-step

Firstly, you have to find a training school. Look for a school with a reputation for high standards and with Grade A trainer-certified instructors.

The Theory Test

Your first hurdle will be the ADI Theory Test. This is designed for aspiring driving instructors and is similar to the learner theory test but with some notable differences:

• The multiple-choice pass threshold is much higher at 85%
• You will have to answer 100 questions (and get at least 85 of them correct!)
• The multiple-choice section is broken down into four categories:
  • Road procedure
  • Traffic signs and signals, vehicle controls and some understanding of car maintenance
  • Driving test, the law and disabilities
  • Teaching techniques and understanding how to convey information to learner drivers
• The Hazard Perception section of the test has a pass threshold of 57 out of 75 (again, much higher than the learner theory test). You have to identify the hazards in 14 video clips.

Both parts of the Theory test must be taken on the same day. Without passing this test, you cannot proceed to the next section.

If you don't pass the Theory test the first time, don't worry - you can retake the test as many times as you need. However, with Parts 2 and 3 of the ADI test, you only have a maximum of three attempts at each, so bear this in mind if you're not good under test conditions!

Part 2 - Practical driving test

If you're determined to become a driving instructor, your driving skills must be exemplary. You're setting the standard for your pupils, so your own abilities will be thoroughly tested before you're allowed to pass on your skills and knowledge as an instructor.

The practical driving test involves an eyesight test where you'll need to be capable of reading a number plate at 26.5m distance for the new style plate and 27.5m for the old-style number plate. You can use glasses or contact lenses.

You'll then be asked a series of five questions on vehicle safety. These consist of three 'tell me' questions, where you're required to explain how you'd carry out a safety task, and two 'show me' questions, where you demonstrate how you'd carry out a safety task while driving.

The third part of the practical driving test is driving ability, where you must be able to show skilled handling of vehicle controls, demonstrate correct lane discipline and road procedures, and show how you plan and react to hazards. You'll also need to show the examiner a correct judgement of speed and the ability to cope with all types of road conditions.

In today's greener world, you'll also have to show how you perform eco-friendly driving, as well as your consideration for other road users, especially vulnerable ones like cyclists, pedestrians, horse riders, and motorcyclists. Your instructor may also ask you to carry out an emergency stop.

You'll also be asked to carry out a series of reversing manoeuvres. If you can pass all of the requirements with a score of fewer than five minor faults and no major faults, you'll have passed the second part of the test. You have three attempts before you have to wait for two years to try again.

Part 3 - Teaching ability

If you want to become a driving instructor, you also have to know how to teach. This is perhaps the most challenging test of all and involves taking a lesson with a real learner at the wheel and the examiner sitting in the rear passenger seat.

You are required to choose a subject for the learner and plan a lesson, correctly identifying the learner's targets and needs, taking into account the pupil's past knowledge and level of ability. You'll have to show that the route taken was appropriate to the skills of the learner driver and that you can adapt and adjust your plan if necessary during the lesson.

The ability to explain risk management is also crucial, as well as making your instructions clear and easy to understand. If you have to intervene, the examiner will assess whether it was appropriate to do so. As well as every other aspect of the lesson (including your interaction with the pupil at the end of the lesson and the 'debrief', the feedback you give the pupil will be assessed, especially concerning safety issues.

A total of 51 points are available during this test, and if you get 43 or more, you pass with an A. Less than 31 is regarded as a fail.

So, after all that hard work, exam stress and constant assessment, is it worth it?

Is becoming a driving instructor a profitable career choice?

Once you've qualified as a driving instructor, you have the potential to earn around £50,000 a year, depending on whether you work for a school or set up your own business. The more pupils you teach, the more you'll earn. To start with, you may be earning less until you build up your reputation and your client base. But if you work for a school, then you'll also have the advantage of a steady salary right from the outset.

Can I train part-time?

Training to be a driving instructor takes at least six months, but there is the option of training part-time while keeping your 'day job' going to avoid a massive drop in income. This may mean that the process takes longer, perhaps up to 12 months or even longer. But it does mean you don't risk your financial security while you're training.

Should I be self-employed or work for a school?

Setting up your own driving school business is the aim of most people who want to become driving instructors. However, at the start of your career, that may not be financially feasible due to the high costs and initial outlay of buying a purpose-fitted car. So, to start with, many instructors begin by working as contractors for an established school.

The advantage of contracting is that the vehicle is usually supplied by the school, as are the pupils. This allows you to build your reputation as a good instructor while keeping your initial costs to a minimum. However, you will have to give up a proportion of your earnings to the school, and your hours may not be as flexible as if you worked for yourself.

Setting up your own driving school is the alternative, which will give you far more flexibility, and everything you earn is yours (apart from the usual taxes). The initial costs are higher as you'll have to supply your own vehicle and have it modified to take dual controls, as well as setting up your marketing and finding those elusive first pupils. So there are pros and cons for both setting up your own business and working as a contractor for an established school.

How do I find clients for my business?

Word-of-mouth recommendations are the most crucial tool for building up a career as a driving instructor. While a good website is virtually essential, showing your qualifications and pricing structure, it's your reputation that's all-important.

If you want to start your career with a school, contact some in your area to see if they have any vacancies. It's always hard to get a foot on that first rung of the ladder, but once you're known as a reliable, professional and good instructor, you should find pupils beating a path to your door!

Don't forget about your insurance

Once you've qualified as a driving instructor, you'll need a bespoke driving instructor insurance package that covers you and your assets (if you're running your own school). At Park Insurance, we've been providing specialist insurance for driving instructors for decades. Our trained and qualified brokers don't just understand insurance - they understand what your business needs.

We work with some of the largest insurance providers in the UK to put together packages specifically designed for your business. You can find out more by visiting our Driving School Insurance page. Or contact one of our team today and let us help you get on the road to success. Whether you're just starting out or running your own school, Park Insurance can build a tailored insurance package to protect you and your business. Get a free, no-obligation quote today.