How to Become an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) in England

Teaching people to drive can be a rewarding career, but in Great Britain it is a regulated profession. You cannot simply start charging for lessons because you are a confident driver. You must qualify as an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) and join the official register, or hold a trainee licence while you work towards it.

This guide explains how to become an ADI in England, step by step. It covers the rules, the three qualifying tests, the DBS check, training, the optional trainee licence, registration, costs and what comes after. Everything is based on official GOV.UK and DVSA guidance, with links so you can check each point yourself.

Who can become an ADI

Before you start, GOV.UK suggests taking the driving instructor suitability assessment on the Safe Driving for Life website. It gives you an idea of what the job involves and how well you understand driving theory and practice. You can then use the official check if you can become a driving instructor service.

The DVSA ADI register guide sets out the legal requirements. To accompany a learner driver you must:

• Be 21 or over
• Be qualified to drive the same category of vehicle you are supervising in
• Have held a full licence for that category for at least 3 years

You must also be a ‘fit and proper’ person. The law does not define the phrase, but the ADI Registrar considers the personal and professional standards, conduct and behaviour that could be unacceptable to the public and other ADIs. DVSA checks things such as motoring and non-motoring cautions, convictions and fixed penalty notices, any driving disqualification, pending court proceedings, and any ban or bar on working with children under 18.

The process at a glance

GOV.UK sets out becoming a car driving instructor step by step. In summary:

The order matters. You book Part 2 after passing Part 1, and Part 3 after passing Part 2. A trainee licence is optional and can only be applied for after Part 2.

Step 1: DBS check and application

You must get a new criminal record check (a Disclosure and Barring Service check) before you start your application, even if you already have one. GOV.UK’s criminal record check page explains the process:

• It costs £5.40 and you apply online through the Complete Background Screening (CBS) website
• You need documents to prove your identity, such as a passport, driving licence, or a recent utility bill or bank statement
• If you cannot verify your identity online, you can do it at a Post Office for £12
• The result is sent to you by post, and DVSA will also contact you if your record contains criminal information

Once you have your check, you can start your application. You must agree to the responsibilities in the ADI register guide before you apply. DVSA has also said a new, mandatory code of practice will replace the current voluntary one between late 2026 and early 2027, so read the latest driving instructor guidance before you apply.

Step 2: Training options

You do not have to use a training school, but most people find structured help useful. GOV.UK says you can:

• Self-study with books and software from DVSA, also sold by most high street and online bookshops
• Take a training course with a trainer. You can use the official find driving instructor training service, which lists trainers on the DVSA register of driving instructor training (ORDIT)

The national standard for driver and rider training describes what you must be able to do and understand. It is worth reading early, because all three tests are based on it. If you are unhappy with training you have received, the register guide explains how to complain to the training organisation and then to DVSA.

Step 3: ADI Part 1 (theory test)

The ADI Part 1 test is a theory test with two parts that you book and take as a single test: multiple-choice questions and a hazard perception video test. You must pass both parts.

The questions are based on sources such as the Highway Code, Know your traffic signs, the Driving Instructor’s Handbook, the national standards and the driving instructor code of practice. See the official revision and practice page for the full list, and the booking page for current bookings. For help with booking, DVSA theory test enquiries are on 0300 200 1122, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.

Step 4: ADI Part 2 (driving ability test)

Part 2 tests your own driving to a high standard. According to GOV.UK, it has five parts: an eyesight check, ‘show me, tell me’ vehicle safety questions, general driving ability, manoeuvres and independent driving. The test takes around one hour. Read the full what happens during the test page before you go.

• Eyesight: you must read a number plate from 27 metres (new-style plate) or 27.5 metres (old-style plate), which is further than for a learner test. Failing it counts as one of your 3 attempts.
• Vehicle safety questions: 3 ‘tell me’ questions before you drive and 2 ‘show me’ questions while driving. See our guide to show me, tell me questions for the learner version.
• Manoeuvres: the examiner asks for 2 of: parallel park, reverse into a bay and drive out, drive into a bay and reverse out, or pull up on the right and reverse about 2 car lengths.
• Independent driving: about 20 minutes, following either a sat nav or traffic signs.

GOV.UK says to take the test only when you can do everything without instruction. The car rules are strict, so check them well in advance. Your car needs an extra interior mirror for the examiner and a passenger seatbelt and head restraint, with no warning lights showing, no space-saver spare tyre and the ability to reach at least 62mph.

Step 5: The trainee licence (optional)

After you pass Part 2, you can apply for a trainee driving instructor licence. It lasts 6 months and lets you gain on-road teaching experience before Part 3. You can charge for lessons to cover costs such as insurance and vehicle costs. To apply you must:

• Have passed Part 1 in the last 2 years and have passed Part 2
• Have had at least 40 hours of training from a qualified ADI, at least 10 of them in a car, recorded on the ADI 21T declaration form
• Be eligible to take Part 3

You then apply online and email the signed forms to DVSA at padi@dvsa.gov.uk. You must also choose one of two options: be supervised for 20% of the lessons you give, or complete at least 20 hours of extra training. You cannot change your choice later.

The rules are strict. You must display the licence on the nearside edge of the windscreen, you can only teach from the training establishment named on it (so you cannot set up your own school), and you must describe yourself as a ‘trainee driving instructor’ in advertising without making yourself seem fully qualified.

Step 6: ADI Part 3 (instructional ability test)

Part 3 is the test of whether you can teach. According to the official Part 3 guidance, a DVSA examiner watches you give a client-centred lesson to one of your pupils for about 45 minutes. You discuss the goals and risk management at the start (no more than 3 minutes), your pupil drives for about 40 minutes, and you give them up to 3 minutes to reflect at the end.

The examiner marks 17 areas of competence in three categories: lesson planning, risk management, and teaching and learning strategies. Each is scored from 0 to 3.

You fail automatically if you score 7 or less in risk management, or if the examiner stops the lesson because you put someone in danger. You bring your own pupil and car. The pupil can be a partly trained learner, a fully trained learner or a full licence holder, but cannot be an ADI or someone preparing for Part 3. See the what to take and car rules pages.

You have 3 attempts. If you fail the third, you must stop giving paid lessons immediately and any trainee licence becomes invalid. You would then need to pass Parts 1 and 2 again and wait until 2 years from your original Part 1 pass before retaking it.

Step 7: Registering as an ADI

When you pass Part 3 you can apply for your first ADI badge. You must apply within 12 months, or you will have to pass all three tests again. Registration costs £300 and lasts 4 years. Once registered you can charge for lessons, call yourself a ‘Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Approved Driving Instructor (Car)’, and display your ADI certificate while giving paid instruction.

Ongoing requirements include:

• Renewal: renew your registration every 4 years, for £300, and get a new criminal record check first. GOV.UK says this normally takes around 3 months.
• Standards checks: you usually have an ADI standards check at least every 4 years, and you can be removed from the register if you do not attend.
• Telling DVSA: you must tell the ADI Registrar within 7 days of any caution or conviction, and update your registration within 7 days if your name or address changes.
• Learning: DVSA encourages voluntary continuing professional development (CPD).

One recent change affects ADIs in a practical way: only learner drivers can book and manage their own driving tests, and it is against the law to book a test for someone else. Our guide to the 2026 booking rules explains how this works for learners.

Costs

These are the official fees on GOV.UK at the time of writing. They can change, so check each page before you pay.

If you passed each stage first time, the official fees above come to £608.40 without the trainee licence, or £748.40 with it. This does not include training, a suitable car, insurance, fuel, marketing or any retakes, which will vary. The register guide says how much you earn depends on your ability to market your skills, and that running costs such as fuel and tyres reduce your income. This guide does not give earnings figures, because there is no official figure to quote.

Time, effort and preparation

There is no official fixed timetable, because it depends on your training, your availability and test dates. The main official limits to plan around are:

• Your Part 1 pass lasts 2 years, and you must qualify within that time or start again
• Part 1 has unlimited attempts, but Parts 2 and 3 each allow only 3
• If you fail Part 1, you wait at least 3 working days before retaking
• You must register within 12 months of passing Part 3

Realistically, expect to put in serious study for Part 1, a lot of driving practice at a higher standard for Part 2, and real teaching practice for Part 3. The tests are designed to check you can teach safely, not just drive well. Practise with real pupils if you can, ask your trainer for feedback and do not rush a test.

ADI or driving school: what is the difference?

Qualifying as an ADI and running a driving school are two separate things. Being an ADI is your professional qualification and registration. A driving school is a business you can choose to set up afterwards.

If you choose to be self-employed, GOV.UK’s set up as a sole trader guide explains the steps, including choosing a business name, keeping records and planning for tax. The register guide also notes you will need your own dual-control car that meets the rules, and to pay for repairs and insurance. If you join a franchise, you may need to pay franchise fees.

Where to get help

Common mistakes

• Starting paid lessons too early. It is illegal to charge for driving lessons unless you are on the ADI register or hold a trainee licence.
• Forgetting the deadlines, such as the 2-year window after Part 1 and the 12 months to register after Part 3.
• Reusing an old DBS check. GOV.UK says you must get a new one.
• Booking a test before you are ready. Parts 2 and 3 only allow 3 attempts each.
• Taking the car rules lightly. Your test can be cancelled and you pay again if the car does not meet them.
• Misdescribing a trainee licence. You must call yourself a trainee driving instructor, not a fully qualified ADI.

Frequently asked questions

How old do I have to be to become an ADI?

The register guide says that to accompany a learner driver you must be 21 or over, and have held a full licence for the category for at least 3 years.

How many tests are there?

Three: Part 1 (theory), Part 2 (driving ability) and Part 3 (instructional ability).

How many times can I take each test?

Part 1 has unlimited attempts. Parts 2 and 3 each have 3 attempts.

Do I need a trainee licence?

No, it is optional. It lets you gain teaching experience and charge for lessons while you prepare for Part 3.

How long does ADI registration last?

Four years, after which you renew it and get a new criminal record check.

Can I teach in an automatic car only?

If you have an automatic licence and pass Part 2 in an automatic car, GOV.UK says you will only be able to train people in an automatic car.

Can I charge for lessons while I qualify?

Only with a valid trainee driving instructor licence. Without one it is illegal.

Is this guide official advice?

No. It is a general summary of official GOV.UK and DVSA guidance. Always check the official pages for the latest rules and fees before you apply.

Quick checklist

• Take the suitability assessment and read the ADI register guide
• Check the age, licence and ‘fit and proper’ requirements
• Get a new criminal record check and start your application
• Choose your training route and study the national standard
• Pass Part 1, then Part 2, then consider a trainee licence
• Prepare a suitable car and a pupil for Part 3
• Pass Part 3 and register within 12 months
• Diarise your 4-year renewal, DBS check and standards check