If you’re learning to drive or have already passed your test, then you’re already familiar with what driving instructors do. They teach other people to develop the skills and knowledge they need to pass their driving test.
But what if at some point, after you become a qualified driver, you decide that you want to become a driving instructor yourself?
Applying to become an official approved driving instructor (ADI) is a straightforward process, but there are some criteria you need to be aware of which will determine whether your application gets accepted or not.
In this guide, we go through the requirements needed to become a driving instructor and what cars are best suited for the role.
Driving instructor requirements
Before the process of becoming a driving instructor can even begin, you should first establish whether you have the basic requirements to make applying even worthwhile in the first place.
How to become a driving instructor
Anyone in Britain interested in applying to become a driving instructor needs to be at least 21 years old and must have held a full driving licence for at least three years.
If your driving licence only makes you qualified to drive automatic cars, then you can still apply to be a driving instructor, but you’ll only be able to teach people in a car with an automatic gearbox.
Assuming you meet these requirements, you’ll then have to get a criminal record check arranged before you can apply to add yourself to the ADI register. Before applying, it’s worth researching the ADI register to understand legal requirements and what is expected of you during teaching duties.
When you’re ready to move forward, you can apply to start the ADI qualifying process online, though you’ll need a criminal record disclosure number before you can apply properly.
When you’ve completed the qualifying process, you’ll then need to undertake the driving instructor course, comprising of three separate tests you need to pass. You’ll need to get in touch with a nearby registered driving instructor that can offer driving instructor training. The gov.uk website has a tool that can help you with this. Not all trainers will be able to cover all parts of the training, but most available probably will.
What are the ADI qualifying tests?
The first part of the tests to become an approved driving instructor qualifying is a theory test. It is a similar format to the theory test learner drivers have to take before they can undertake their practical driving test and earn a full driving licence. You have to answer multiple-choice questions and take a hazard perception test and perform good enough in both parts to earn a pass.
Second in the qualifying tests is a practical exam similar to the driving test you take to earn a driving licence. The test takes around an hour and includes an eyesight test, vehicle safety questions and an assessment of your driving ability.
The third and final qualifying test assesses your ability to instruct pupils. During this test, an examiner will play the role of two different pupils and you have to give the examiner various instructions and advice like you would in the role of a driving instructor. While this happening, the examiner will be assessing your instructional techniques, characteristics and core competencies.
When you successfully pass all three qualifying tests, you should then have what’s acquired to apply for and receive your ADI badge.
When you are an official driving instructor, you’ll still need to pass a ‘standards check’ every four years if you want to carry on working as an instructor.
On a side note, the process for becoming an approved driving instructor in Northern Ireland is different.
Best driving instructor cars
While you’re an approved driving instructor, you could choose to either work for a company that will supply a suitable vehicle to you or you could work independently, in which case you’ll need to lease or buy a car suitably designed for instructing learners.
Preferably you’ll want to use a car which is relatively easy to drive and is not too quirky in terms of controls compared to most other cars. You’ll also want the car to have a good record for reliability and which uses parts that are relatively cheap to replace when necessary.
Most driving instructors opt for a small car like a city car or popular supermini, which is understandable. But you may want to consider something bigger to make drivers you’re teaching more adaptable to the various size of vehicles one could end up driving, especially in light of how popular crossover SUVs are nowadays.
Here are five current cars which we highly recommend to driving instructors:
Ford Fiesta
A safe, sensible and dependable choice. The Ford Fiesta supermini is so popular in Britain mostly because it does all the basics well and the controls are easy to get use regardless of your level of driving experience.
Engine options like the 1.6-litre diesel or 1.0-litre EcoBoost turbo petrol offer a good mixture of performance and efficiency and are inexpensive to run.
Skoda Fabia
The Skoda Fabia shares the same platform with the likes of the Volkswagen Polo and SEAT Ibiza, both very appealing and popular superminis. Though it may not seem like a stand-out model, the Fabia is more affordable than the likes of the VW and is just all-round great value for money.
The interior is roomy and logically laid out and engines like the 1.2-litre TSI petrol are very user-friendly.
Hyundai i10
If you expect that you’ll be doing the majority of driving lessons in very busy urban environments, then using a city car to instruct learners does make sense.
If this is the case, the Hyundai i10 is well worth considering because it’s one of the best city cars currently around and very competitively priced. While some popular city cars like the Volkswagen up! or Fiat 500 might have an edge in, say, interior quality or design, the i10 has the performance, handling and cabin to keep up with the best in its class.
Vauxhall Astra
Though seemingly not as common as a choice as city cars or superminis, quite a few instructors opt to teach in a family hatchback. That’s probably at least partially because such cars can get you more used to what’s like to drive vehicles bigger than your everyday supermini, yet hatchbacks are still relatively easy-going.
If it’s a family hatchback your considering as an instructor car, than one of the best examples currently around is the Vauxhall Astra. The current-generation Astra offers good handling, a solid engine line-up with frugal petrol and diesel units and good all-round visibility.
Mazda CX-5
Crossover SUVs are really popular in Britain nowadays, and many cars you’ll encounter on the road are far bigger than your everyday supermini.
Therefore, it’s worth considering getting a learner driver in such a vehicle early on so they can get a good understanding on what it’s like to drive such cars. Then, if they end up looking into buying a crossover or something similar-sized in the future, they shouldn’t struggle with driving them early on.
Investing in a crossover would be more expensive than a city car or supermini, but if you have the budget then it would worth considering getting something like the very good Mazda CX-5. This is one of the most appealing and driver-friendly crossovers in its class.