Driving instructor

Driving instructors teach driving skills, road sense and safety to people who are learning how to drive.

Work activities

Driving instructors teach people how to drive cars safely. They take bookings and plan the lessons carefully, according to the learner’s ability and skills. The driving instructor sits next to the learner driver and explains and demonstrates good driving technique, such as the correct use of gears and particular manoeuvres. It is the instructor’s responsibility to make sure that the lesson is run safely, and dual-pedal controls are used to assist in this. During lessons, instructors correct and advise on any mistakes made. They instruct people on things such as the correct action to take at roundabouts, dual carriageways and junctions. Instructors also advise learners on the Highway Code, and make sure they are prepared for their driving theory test. All instructors must keep a record of lessons booked and money paid and owed. Most people learn to drive over a period of months. However, some driving schools offer more intensive courses lasting a week or fortnight. Instructors also provide post-test driver training and training for people who want to take an advanced driving test.

Personal qualities and skills

To do this job well, you’ll need:

• To be a confident and skilled driver with the ability to pass your skills on to learners.
• A patient and calm manner with people who are nervous.
• To be able to explain instructions and give directions clearly.
• Assessment skills to identify whether a learner is ready to take their driving test.
• To be alert to potential hazards and able to respond quickly and safely.
• Basic knowledge of vehicle maintenance that you can pass on to learners.
• Number skills if you are self-employed and dealing with your own accounts.

The following future skills shortages have been identified:

• Foreign languages.
• IT skills.
• Disability awareness.

Pay and opportunities

Most driving instructors are not on a fixed salary. Their income levels depend on the number of students they are teaching. However, they can expect to earn between £15,000 and £30,000 per year. Petrol, insurance, road tax and car maintenance costs come out of an instructor’s income, and possibly a franchise payment to a driving school.

Demand for driving instructors is steady. An area of growth has been the increase in the number of female driving instructors; some concentrate solely on instructing female learners. There may be opportunities for promotion to management or training posts within driving schools. There are further career opportunities to train advanced fleet drivers and trainee instructors.

Employers are driving schools. However, most driving instructors are self-employed, and some work on a franchise basis for driving schools. They pay a set weekly franchise fee or give a percentage of their earnings to the school, in return for marketing/branding and other business support.

Opportunities for driving instructors occur in driving schools in towns and cities throughout the UK.

What’s happening in this work area?

Driving instructors/examiners have been reporting a downturn in business over recent years. There is some evidence that more people may be being attracted into the industry after being made redundant, resulting in more instructors chasing less work. However, eco-driving and fuel-efficient driving techniques are becoming more popular and the industry is experiencing increasing demand for training of this type. For instance, eco-driving tips now form part of the police force driving school manual. This has opened up a new market, and one that is predicted to grow in the future. The driver training industry has suffered with the high cost of fuel. Fluctuation in fuel prices in recent years has had an impact on running costs and therefore profit margins.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised on all the major job boards, on the Government’s Find a Job service. You will also often see advertising campaigns in the media to recruit trainee driving instructors.

Entry routes and training

To accompany a learner driver, you must: be 21 or over, be qualified to drive the same category of vehicle you’re supervising them in, have had a full licence for that category for at least 3 years.

The steps towards becoming a driving instructor are:

• Apply to become an approved driving instructor.
• Find a trainer: See the Approved Driving Instructor Register Guide.
• Pass the approved driving instructor part 1 and part 2 exams. You'll then get a licence to give instruction and legally charge for lessons.
• Pass the part 3 exam to join the register of approved driving instructors.

Many driving instructors become self-employed after working for a company. Some instructors become driving examiners.

Qualifications

No academic qualifications are needed to enter this job. Driving instructors must hold a full and current driving licence.

Adult opportunities

Age limits apply to this occupation: to accompany a learner driver, you must be 21 or over.

Applicants must have held a driving licence for four out of the last six years. All new applicants must pass a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) [formerly CRB] check. A clean, current driving licence and several years’ driving experience are essential. Some previous experience working with the public, for example, in a training or teaching role is an advantage.

Related careers

• Driving examiner
• Riding instructor
• Road safety officer
• Teacher