Everything You Need To Know About Becoming A Driving Instructor
There is much more to becoming a driving instructor than having passed your own driving test. Of course, owning a driving license and being able to drive is imperative, but this alone doesn’t enable you to start teaching others to drive (unless, of course, it is your own son or daughter!)
However, if you are looking for a new career and there is nothing you enjoy more than being behind the wheel of a car – and would like to use your skills to teach others – (and the thought of a first time driver at the wheel doesn’t terrify you) you could become an approved driving instructor.
Whether you are looking to set up your own business or be your own boss under an existing one, here is everything you need to know about becoming a driving instructor:
First things first… to enable you to become a driving instructor you must be over 21 and have held a driving license for at least four years (although you can start training after three and a half). You must not have more than six points on your license and, of course, can’t have been disqualified from driving.
Start off by shopping around for driving instructor courses, as the prices can vary considerably – but it is important to note it can cost upwards of £1,000.
Then, essentially, there are four steps to becoming an approved driving instructor (ADI):
- Get a criminal record check for driving instructors.
- Apply to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to start the qualifying process.
- Take and pass the 3 ADI qualifying tests: Part 1: Tests your theory knowledge; Part 2: Tests your driving ability and fitness; Part 3: Tests your ability to instruct learner drivers.
- Apply for your first ADI badge.
*You must have your security checks before you apply for the qualifying tests, as you will need the eligibility number the DVSA send you to book on to it.
With part two and three you only get three attempts to pass and you need to qualify within a two-year period of passing part one or will need to start again.
However, once you have passed parts one and two and have undergone at least 40 hours of training with a qualified ADI, and have a qualified ADI sponsor, you you can apply for a licence – this will allow you to take paying students over a six-month period.
Once you are ready to start teaching others to drive you must be able to market yourself. Although you could get people of ages coming to you for driving lessons, your primary clientele will be youngsters – those who have been counting down the days until their 17th birthday so they can get behind the wheel.
You need to make sure you are reaching your target market, and as kids rarely have their mobile phones out of their hands, social media and text messaging are a good place to start.
Social Media: Set up a Facebook and Twitter account for your driving school and then you can tweet and post to let people know not only that you are available as an instructor, but also to promote your prices, promotions, those who have passed with you, reviews, etc.
Text Messaging: To connect, communicate and engage with your potential customers on a direct and personal level, you need an SMS marketing campaign.
Finally, it is time to get behind the wheel and help drivers of the future as they learn to find their way around a car and eventually pass their tests!