My road to becoming a driving instructor

timbob

timbob

timbob

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27 Nov 2002
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I thought I'd start up a blog-style thread for any of you folks who might be interested in what it takes to train and qualify to become a driving instructor. Hopefully it might be informative, and dispel some of the myths about the profession.

First off, I'll outline the qualifying process:

The first stage is to apply. The DSA will "vet" each applicant, first by way of an enhanced CRB check which I had done a couple of months ago. You then apply to be accepted onto the register of Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) as a PDI (Potential Driving Instructor). They check your driving license history to ensure you are a "fit and proper person" to be accepted. Pretty much anything bar an SP30 is going to make this a no-go, and 6+ points is a definite "no". Thankfully, in 10 years and 250,000 miles of driving, I've not picked up any points, so I was accepted.

I will still need to be careful, as the DSA keep track of ADIs, and if I were ever to reach 6 points, they would revoke my license.

The next stage is the first of three exams. It's called the "Part 1", and is an extended theory test, much the same as for when you take your L test. There are 100 theory questions split into 4 bands. You need 85% overall to pass, but must score at least 20/25 in each band. Therefore if you score 25/25/25/19, you will get 94%, but still fail.

There is also a hazard perception part, 14 clips, 15 scoreable hazards (one clip has 2). 5 points if you click early enough in the scoring window, counting down to 1 if you only click when the car in the video's screeched to a halt! Pass mark for ADIs is 57/75, as opposed to 45/75 for an L test.

I passed the theory test this afternoon, with a score of 99/100 for the theory questions (which is annoying, as I was confident I had answered everything correctly), and 72/75 for the hazard perception, only dropping 3 marks on the whole test - so I'm pretty pleased.

:)

cont...
 
Next up is the Part 2 test. This is an extended driving test, conducted over an hour, to a much higher standard than the L plate test. I will have to do all the manoeuvres, and make no more than 6 minor faults in the hour long test.

To all intents and purposes, I need to aim for a "perfect" drive, when measured by the DSAs own guidelines. This is considered an "advanced" test, but not in the same way as the IAM test. For example, no straight-lining empty roundabouts etc.

I've been training and driving "by the book" for a couple of months now (with an independent chap, I won't pay £4,000 to Red for the privilege!), and have perhaps a couple more months to go before I'm ready to guarantee passing my test. This is important, as you only get 3 attempts. If I fail 3 times, I will need to wait 2 years, and then pass the theory test again before starting over.


The Part 3 test, which I'm aiming to do next spring time is a test of instructional ability, where the examiner role plays being a student, and I must deliver 2 half hour lessons. More on that as the time approaches!
 
shifty_uk said:
The question on everyones mind is, will you earn anywhere near the £30k+ per year the adverts claim? :p
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One of my ex's did it... turns out that if you want 30k a year you have to dedicate your life to it, best way to get close to the money is to become qualified then open your own school.
 
VinceB1 said:
One of my ex's did it... turns out that if you want 30k a year you have to dedicate your life to it, best way to get close to the money is to become qualified then open your own school.
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That's the idea - I've never entertained the idea of doing anything except going independent. You can pay some companies in the region of £300-£400 PER WEEK for a franchise(!).

No targets of wages yet, I'm in a position where I'm fortunate enough to be able to start the business slowly and let the pupils build up steadily.
 
I've always wondered about the £30k+
To make that you surely must have to be one of the instructors you see teaching at 9 o'clock on a Sunday morning!

You say you don't want to join a franchise but like most "starting your own business" advise it may be worthwhile to join a local school. Get your name known and get more or less your books filled by then. Get known and when poeple are contacting you directly for lessons think of moving off from there?
I'm sure every place is different but where I went to we popped into the shop asked about booking lessons and it was a case of "I think Joe Bloggs has a slot free during that time, I'll phone and ask" and that was me with my driving instructor. How the guy knew about the free slot I don't know as the intructor was old school and kept a diary.
 
Things is, the cost of lessons is crazy now, but then so is running the car, insuring it, etc. Back in my day, a driving lesson was £9.50 an hour, now it's like £20 an hour. That's not a bad wage, if you work 7-10 hours a day
 
£20 an hour isn't crazy at all, in fact the going rate round here is £22-£23. It's been the same for 7-8 years, during which time the cost of fuel has nearly doubled. After overheads such as fuel, and servicing, I'm probably looking to take £13-£15 an hour from instructing. For those on a franchise, the earning isn't much above minimum wage.

If lesson fees had kept touch with inflation and fuel prices, lessons would be in the £30-£35 region I think - either way, they're very good value for money at present :)

In comparison, I can earn £25 an hour as a saxophone teacher, and the students come to my house, there are zero running costs, that £25 is pure profit. It's a shame there aren't more sax players, and the recession has hit luxuries (such as private instrument lessons) quite hard.
 
My Pass Plus tutor was a taxi driver so couple days a week and driving instructor the others. Said about surprising how the taxi business helps the DI side.
 
Rotty said:
nah, my brother in law has just had to pack it in due to hardly making any money
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Just cant see how anyone can make a good living from this unless they do bonkers hours. 8 working hours in a day, you'll get what, 5 lessons in? If you do a 5 day week and charge £20 an hour thats £24k a year before:

a) Tax
b) NI
c) Car running costs
d) Fuel
e) Insurance

Just can't see how it works :(
 
[TW]Fox;20485244 said:
Just cant see how anyone can make a good living from this unless they do bonkers hours. 8 working hours in a day, you'll get what, 5 lessons in? If you do a 5 day week and charge £20 an hour thats £24k a year before:

a) Tax
b) NI
c) Car running costs
d) Fuel
e) Insurance

Just can't see how it works :(
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An instructor I know is pretty regimental about it and keeps bookings geographically close but he is popular so can pick who he takes on to fit in with his diary, not sure how many he got a day but it would certainly be about 7-8 possibly more over six days I think. He uses staggered 'slots' etc normally people were no longer than 15 mins away. You've got pass plus and stuff like that if it's still about too. Have no idea on his actual earnings but he is happy enough. Car gets changed every so often and so forth.
 
[TW]Fox;20485244 said:
Just cant see how anyone can make a good living from this unless they do bonkers hours. 8 working hours in a day, you'll get what, 5 lessons in? If you do a 5 day week and charge £20 an hour thats £24k a year before:

a) Tax
b) NI
c) Car running costs
d) Fuel
e) Insurance

Just can't see how it works :(
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You wont find a driving instructor who works 8 hours a day Monday to Friday as his main profession.
 
nichorob said:
Well technically you could do obviously but it's not a wage you could support a family and a mortgage from. Hence why most stories you hear are 60+ hours a week. Also surely there is a bigger demand for evening and weekend bookings anyway.
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Oh yeah don't get me wrong I think you have to approach it a bit like doing shifts on a taxi. If you are good at instructing and getting people passed quick you'll get known by word of mouth, you'll be busier than a street cabby too I would imagine. Probably earn more as well, up here anyway.
 
[TW]Fox;20485244 said:
Just cant see how anyone can make a good living from this unless they do bonkers hours. 8 working hours in a day, you'll get what, 5 lessons in? If you do a 5 day week and charge £20 an hour thats £24k a year before:

a) Tax
b) NI
c) Car running costs
d) Fuel
e) Insurance

Just can't see how it works :(
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wasn't close, was struggling to break above minimum wage after costs :eek:
 
My sums aren't sooo gloomy! Working 20 hours of tuition a week (13-14 students, as 90 minute lessons are the norm in the countryside round here), I should gross over £24k a year.

More experienced friends reckon a gallon of fuel per lesson, so £100 per week, plus insurance and other car costs should tot up to around £500 a month. That leaves £18k before tax, which should sit quite nicely alongside my private music teaching.

Anyway, more questions on the job itself, less on the validity of my sums! ;)
 
timbob said:
My sums aren't sooo gloomy! Working 20 hours of tuition a week (13-14 students, as 90 minute lessons are the norm in the countryside round here), I should gross over £24k a year.
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So £25 an hour. Seems.. reasonableish I guess. Realistic expectations there with regards to earnings.

More experienced friends reckon a gallon of fuel per lesson, so £100 per week, plus insurance and other car costs should tot up to around £500 a month.
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So thats outgoings of £900 a month.

So that leaves you with profit of £1100 a month before tax.

That leaves £18k before tax, which should sit quite nicely alongside my private music teaching.
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Not sure it even works out to that but assuming it was £18k before tax - that really sums up everyones point surely?

£18k before tax for a job which isn't guaranteed income and has no sick leave, no holiday pay and considerably more risk than a conventional job.

I just can't see how it works or why its worthwhile :(
 
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