Planning on Becoming a Driving Instructor?
A career as a driving instructor can be extremely rewarding, giving you the flexibility to be your own boss and help people on their journey to becoming drivers. As well as the great work-life balance of choosing your own hours, this career also offers great security, as the UK always has a high demand of people wanting to learn to drive.
If you’re considering becoming a driving instructor, there are a few things you should know first. In this article, the team here at CA Cars will provide you with a comprehensive guide to becoming a driving instructor.
How to become a driving instructor?
The first thing you need to be aware of is the process of becoming a driving instructor. It’s a bit more detailed than simply enrolling on a driving instructor course:
- Check eligibility - To become a driving instructor, you have to be eligible. This involves:
- Be registered with the DVLA
- Be over 21 years old
- Have held a driving license for more than three years
- Have no motoring convictions
- Have a DBS
- Find a trainer - You can take the driving test to become an instructor without any training, but this is more difficult. In most cases, people find a driving instructor trainer to help them before taking the necessary exams.
- Take the theory test - Just like with your driving licence, you need to take a theory test to become a driving instructor. Known as ADI Part 1, this involves a multiple-choice question section and a hazard perception section.
- Take the driving ability test - This is ADI Part 2 and follows a similar format to a normal driving test. To pass, you must have no serious faults and no more than six minor faults.
- Take the instructional ability test - This is the third and final test to become a fully qualified driving instructor. In this test, you will have an examiner watch you giving a client-centred driving lesson to one of your pupils for about 45 minutes.
This will vary depending on your rates and whether you work for a franchised driving school. On average, driving instructors can expect to earn anywhere from £30,000 to £50,000 per year.
Choose the right car
Perhaps the most important decision you’ll have to make as a driving instructor is what car to use. While there is a growing interest in learning about automatic vehicles, manual cars still remain the preferred choice for learners, so teaching in one of these will increase your demand.
Other factors to consider include:
- Dual controls - While not a legal requirement, it is safer and best practice to have a car with dual controls.
- Reliability - Choose a car with a good reputation for reliability.
- Size - A small to medium-sized car is usually best for learners.
- Economy - Good fuel efficiency is a must for the number of miles you’ll be driving.
- Safety features - Modern cars come with a wide range of safety features, which are important for learner drivers.
At CA Cars, we specialise in supplying quality dual-control vehicles for driving instructors nationwide and can help you find the best vehicle for your needs. Whether you’re looking to buy or lease a car, we have a whole host of options to choose from, including modern vehicles of the latest make and model. To find out more, contact our team today.
See our full range of dual-control cars for hire and dual-control cars for sale.