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 - 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 600 cars - what happens to all the instructors? The answer is that the company has a low pass rate and of those instructors who do qualify,very few stay with them for long ...

Our own SmartLearners programme: This project will provide the tools you need to market your own professional driving school - see the SmartLearners web site.

Other places: There are plenty of vacancies in the industry for example the AA driving school, Red and BSM are always advertising for qualified instructors.

Getting work once you are qualified driving instructor is easy ... Get the wrong training and you won't qualify - simple as 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 estimate that following our programme, subject to exam waiting lists, you will qualify within six to nine months.

How will I know if I can pass the exam?

Our initial training/and assessment 'try out' meetings will help you to decide whether the job is right for you - our assessment allows 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.

On a slightly selfish note - it is not in our best interests to have students who fail!

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.

SmartDriving can arrange a fully independent assessment in some areas to advise on whether you are suited for the job - this service carries no obligation to train with a specific company (Remember that SmartDriving does not offer practical driving instructor training from scratch - our advice is independent and impartial)

 

But don’t some companies guarantee a job at the end of the training?

Do not be misled. No one, despite the claims and ‘job placement offers’ made by many companies, 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).

In most cases you could get this 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.

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.

How much will it cost?  

Courses range from around £1600 to £3,500, depending on how much practical training is involved.

Our best recommendation is that you find a good, reliable trainer running his/her own small business, this way you will get dedicated support and a better guarantee of quality training - email to see if there is a SmartDriving accredited trainer near to you.

Small companies also offer 'pay as you go' - fees vary between £25 and £40 per hour. The quality trainers who we recommend usually charge around £30 to £35 per hour.

You can save a lot of money by studying for Part-One yourself using the SmartDriving Online ADI Foundation Course - the online course is free for SmartDriving Members and also includes a seven week driving development programme to help you develop your own driving skills (thus reducing the cost of training for the driving element of the exam).

Using the SmartDriving Online resources could save you over £1000 in driving instructor training fees.