PREPARING people to take on the roads and guiding them as they learn how to drive a car without causing an accident comes with great responsibility.
Here we tell you everything you need to know about becoming a driving instructor and how much you can earn in the UK.
How much does a driving instructor earn?
Just like in every other job, the more experience you gain, the more pay you earn.
Entry-level positions tend to be around £29,283 per year.
The average salary is around £32,063 per year, with a rate of £16,44 an hour.
As you become more experienced, you might see yourself earning £41,600 a year.
You need to keep in mind that the pay also varies between different companies.
You might find some companies that pay £25 an hour to their driving instructors, while others tend to make £30.14 an hour.
How do I become a driving instructor?
There are eight steps which you must take to become a driving instructor.
Are you eligible?
First, you will need to access the UK Government website and check whether you are eligible to even become a driving instructor.
It will ask you question such as:
- Whether you’re a registered driving instructor in Northern Ireland or an EU country.
- If you choose ‘Yes,’ then the website will ask you to first register your non-GB driving licence with the DVLA and then transfer your registration.
- If you choose ‘No,’ then it will ask how old you are.
- If you are 21 and over, it’ll ask you if you had a full driving licence for at least three years.
- Then it’ll ask if you have been banned or disqualified from driving in the last four years.
- If you choose ‘no,’ it’ll go on to ask what type of car you drive – manual or automatic.
- If you choose manual then it’ll indicate the application process.
- If you choose automatic, it’ll indicate that you can start the application process but to teach manual you need to pass that test first.
You cannot become a driving instructor if:
- you’re 20 or under.
- Haven’t had a full driving licence for at least three years.
- If you have been banned or disqualified from driving in the last four years.
Start the application
Before you start filling in the application process, you must get a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
This cost around £8.22.
After that is cleared, you can start your application.
Find a trainer
You will need to take three qualifying tests to become a driving instructor.
You would need to find a trainer to help you prepare yourself for these tests.
Find a driver instructor training course through the Government website.
Take the first two tests
Prepare to take your first two tests.
The first one would be the ADI part 1 test – the theory test, which costs £81.
Once you pass, you need to take the other two tests within two years, or else you will have to start the whole process again.
The next test would be the driving ability test – ADI part 2 – which costs £111.
Practice teaching
Once you have two tests in hand, you can apply for a six-month trainee licence.
This will help you gain experience and costs £140.
The final test
Finally, it’s time to take the instruction ability test – ADI part 3.
This is the last test of your journey and it costs £111.
Start working as a driving instructor
Now that you have passed all your tests, you can register for your first ADI certificate within 12 months.
This will cost you £300 and will enable you to either join a driving school or start your own driving instructing business.
Every four years you will need to have a standards check, a DBS check and renew your registration which will once again cost you £300.
What does a driving instructor do?
Driving instructors teach those who want to ride out on the road the skillset to do so.
They not only show students how to drive the car and what every single component does, but they also give them theoretical information.
This can vary from lane names to junctions, road laws and traffic signs and the Highway Code.
They also tell students about safe driving procedures and give them advice on what to do in difficult driving situations or emergencies.
Source: The Sun