A few questions about being a driving instructor

What is an ADI driving instructor?

ADI stands for Approved Driving Instructor. An ADI is somebody who has been tested and certified by the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to instruct learner drivers. Driving instructors are Graded either A or B with Grade A being the highest achievers.It is against UK law to charge for driver training services before you are a fully qualified ADI. Some trainee driving instructors can also charge for driving lessons if they go onto a trainee license as part of their training.

How much can a driving instructor earn?

As a guideline you can expect to earn £18,000 to £22,000 part time and £38,000 to £44,000 full time.

There are plenty of benefits to becoming a driving instructor other than your earnings, such as being your own boss and enjoying a better work-life balance. But when it comes to earnings, it’s the same as most things in life – the more you put into something the better the results you get. This is equally true of being a driving instructor, the better you are at your job, the more you care about your pupils the high referral rate you will have. Remember that out of your earnings you need to pay all your costs and any tax due on the remaining amount.

How long does it take to become a driving instructor?

For most people to complete their ADI qualification it will take at least six months. However before you can take the ADI exams you do need to have held a full, clean driving licence for three or more years.

How long it takes to qualify as a driving instructor all depends on two factors. Firstly the size of the waiting list for the ADI exams, some areas have very long waiting lists whilst others do not. The amount of time you are realistically able to dedicate to studying and preparing for each exam is another factor.
Most people start their training to become a driving instructor alongside working either part or full time. This way they are still earning a wage as they are training. Once you have done your 40 hour part 3 training most will go onto a trainee license. This means experience can be gained teaching real pupils and earn money from those lessons as well.

Am I old enough to be a driving instructor?

You need to be at least 21 years old and have had your full car license for at least 3 years. Preferably you should have a clean license but to check follow this link https://www.gov.uk/become-a-driving-instructor