Trainee driving instructor licence

Working On A Trainee Driving Instructor Licence

The trainee licence helps you get real world experience teaching learners how to drive. This is useful because you are under supervision from your ADI trainer who can help you develop your skills and confidence in the early stages of taking students for driving lessons.

You are required to have a driving instructor or driving school to sponsor you while on a trainee licence.

When you take you part three test, you will be asked to give a client centered lesson to a learner or full licence holder, while the senior driving examiner observes the lesson from the rear seat of your training vehicle.

Of course you don’t need to take the option of a driving instructor trainee licence. If you have friends or family members who you can practice your teaching with, they will help you develop your skills and knowledge.

If you decide to take the trainee licence option, you will be able to charge for every driving lesson you take to help you cover the cost of giving them.

 

What are the benefits of using a driving instructor trainee licence?

The trainee licence helps you get real world experience teaching real learners to drive. This is useful because you are under supervision from your ADI trainer who can help you develop your skills and confidence in the early stages of taking students for driving lessons.

When you take the part three test you will be required to give a client centered lesson to a learner or full licence holder, while the senior driving examiner observes the lesson from the rear seat of your training vehicle.

Of course you don’t need a trainee licence if you have friend or family you can get practice with. But a there’s no better experience than real learners.

While on a trainee licence you will be able to charge for driving lessons to help you cover the cost of giving them.

 

The conditions of a trainee driving instructor licence:

You have 2 options to choose from when you apply for a trainee licence. You must either:

• be supervised for 20% of all lessons you give while you have your trainee licence
• do at least 20 hours of extra training while you have your trainee licence

Talk to your sponsoring approved driving instructor (ADI) or training organisation about which option is best for you.

 

Option 1 – supervision of lessons

In this option you have to be supervised by your sponsoring ADI for 20% of all the lessons you give.

You must keep a record of the number of hours:

• you give lessons
• you are supervised

The ADI 21S supervision record form must be signed by both you and your ADI. You must send it to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) when your trainee licence runs out. You can do this by email.

Option 2 – extra training

In this option, you have to do at least 20 hours of extra training in the topics in the training programme.

After you get your training licence, you must complete the training within the next 3 months and before you book the ADI part 3 test.

At least 25% of the training must be practical in-car training.

The training must be recorded on the instructor training declaration form.​

You must send the form to DVSA as soon as you’ve completed your training. If you do not send the form, DVSA can take your trainee licence away. You can do this by email.

 

Once you’ve passed the part three test you can register to start working as an instructor, but you must register within 12 months.

Registration is £300 for four years on the ADI register

When you have your certificate you can start charging for lessons. You can either:

• join a driving school
• set up your own business

You’ll have at least one standards check every 4 years. You also need to renew your registration and get a new DBS check every 4 years.