Frequently asked questions
Whenever you are starting out on a new venture, such a career as a driving instructor, it’s important to gain as much information as possible, this is why we have set up this driving instruction career advice web site.
A good starting point is the list of ‘frequently asked questions’ below.
What opportunities are available after I pass my exam?
Your starting point is to ensure that you have a driving instructor career path that is appropriate for you, this could be working for a driving school, setting up your own school or even moving direct into Fleet Training.
Be aware that 'job promises' are not necessarily a good guide to choosing a training provider - for example, ask yourself why one of the biggest, well established companies, recruiting well in excess of 1000 instructors every year, has a driving school with less than 400 cars - what happens to all the instructors? The answer is probably that the company has a low pass rate and many of those instructors who do qualify leave to set up their own schools or join other franchises.
SmartLearners resources are used by a lot of instructors to provide the tools you need to market your own professional driving school - see the SmartLearners web site for ideas (due for a major upgrade in 2010).
There are almost always plenty of vacancies in the industry for example the AA driving school, Red and BSM are always advertising for qualified instructors. Beware however, not all schools will keep you busy. We have a special arrangement with What Car? Driving School - our instructor training company provides the professional development training for What Car? instructors.
Getting work once you are qualified driving instructor is easy ... Get the wrong training and you won't qualify - simple s that!
How long will it take me to train and qualify?
This depends on how much time you have free and how much practice you are prepared to put in. It is important to develop good habits and get sufficient practice – this will take time.
Some companies claim that you can qualify in around three months – while this is theoretically possible it is extremely rare.
The industry average is probably nearer fifteen months. We normally estimate that the driving instructor training course offered by The Instructor Training Company you will qualify within six to nine months (it is possible to do it in less time with us).
How will I know if I can pass the exam?
Any initial training/and assessment 'try out' meetings given by the trainers we recommend will help you to decide whether the job is right for you - the assessment will allow you to use your own 
commonsense and judgment to gauge your aptitude and ability – you know yourself better that we do!
Of course, we will give you the benefit of our experience to help ensure that you make a decision that is 100% right for you. If there are any doubts about your aptitude or potential ability we will highlight them early on.
Passing the exam is easy, but requires dedication... Are you someone with 'perseverance'? Can you buckle down to home study? Are you self-motivated (essential if you intend to work for yourself after qualifying)?
Almost anyone with reasonable social skills, average reading ability and a will to succeed can pass the exam. Far more important is the question 'Am I driving instructor material?" (You will find help with this question in the 'Choosing a Trainer' section.)
Can I train around my current job?
This is an ideal opportunity to start a new career without giving up your current job.
Although you will have to take some time during a working week, this is limited – around twelve days in total. The rest of the study and practice can be done at your own pace and in your own time.
Are there enough jobs for driving instructors?
You only have to look around to see busy driving instructors. New potential clients appear every week when they reach 17 years old. 15 years ago the average time to pass the L test was around 20 hours. This has now increased to around 45 hours.
On top of this there is the Pass Plus scheme for newly qualified drivers – another potential six to eight hours of lessons. As standards continue to increase, people will need more lessons - and more instructors.
But it doesn't stop there.
There is fleet driver training, taxi training, mini-bus training, advanced training or perhaps even training the trainers. New legislation and tougher driving tests are opening up more opportunities for good instructors.
In all areas you will find successful and unsuccessful instructors – those who survive on cheap lesson prices and those who sell quality at a premium price.
Getting an honest opinion
Both SmartDriving and The Instructor Training Company can arrange a fully independent assessment in most areas to advise on whether you are suited for the job - this service carries no obligation to train with a specific company
Don’t some companies guarantee a job at the end of the training?
Do not be misled. Despite the claims and ‘job placement offers’ made by many companies, no one can guarantee clients after you have qualified – by ‘job’ they simply mean a place within their driving school (where you pay a weekly fee to hire their vehicle and pay for office services).
If anyone claims otherwise, ask for a specific guarantee in writing, including a contract with full terms and minimum income guarantee (you will not get this - the message here is that if someone claims to be offering a guaranteed income they are misleading you, go somewhere else).
In most cases you could get a job whether you trained with them or not! Also, no one can guarantee that you will qualify (including ourselves). If anyone claims otherwise, they are being untruthful. Offers that you can repeat the course until you pass should set alarm bells ringing - why should you fail in the first place?
Some companies are now offering 'guaranteed business' but again this can be a bit misleading and does not mean the same as 'guaranteed minimum income'. If the business consists of low price special offer driving lessons you will make very little money.
Ultimately you will get paid for the work you do, no more, no less. Ensuring that you get good training at the outset is your best guarantee of a good income and job security for life.
Will I need a dual controlled car for my test?
No, dual-control cars are not required, even for the teaching part (Part-Three).
We usually suggest that you use your trainer's vehicles for the exams- however, you can use your own car and specialist insurance is available to cover the examiner (who will drive during Part-Three).
What is the pass rate?
Published data from the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) shows that the pass rate overall for the UK is around 28% for the final part of the examination. However, we estimate that as few as 8% of all those who start training actually complete their courses and pass.
There are a couple of reasons for such appallingly low figures;
First: some companies accept anyone for training, regardless of their aptitude or suitability for the job.
Second: many companies (including large national companies) use unskilled, untrained and inexperienced trainers.
Figures for each part of the exam (2008/2009)
- Part-One 51%
- Part-Two 50%
- Part-Three 30%
BY FOLLOWING THE ADVICE GIVEN ON THIS WEB SITE YOU CAN OUT PERFORM THESE AVERAGE PASS RATES DRAMATICALLY – THERE IS NO REASON WHY YOU SHOULD NOT QUALIFY BY PASSING EACH PART OF THE EXAM FIRST TIME.
How much will it cost?
A good starting point is deciding how much you can afford to spend ...
If the answer to this question is "less than £2000", forget it! Exam and registration fees alone add up to over £500 leaving only £1500 for training ...
There are driving instructor training companies who will claim that you can qualify at this price, however, you must remember that more people fail than pass and while there are no statistics, it's a fair guess that those who buy 'bargain basement' training make up many of the people who don't get through - you cannot earn your money back if you don't qualify.
