How do you become a driving instructor? Why would you want to? Is it the draw of high income and flexibility, well for most people it is. If you can drive and have done for sometime, then it does seem like a good career move, just don’t give up the day job yet.

The thought of going back to being my own boss with my own hours seemed good, and after reading the ads several times I followed the direction of most people. I went to The Instructor College. High budget for advertising means that is the ad you see first, it is a good place to go for an induction, but personally I’d say that is all.

It was a cold February morning, but I’d made up my mind, this was going to be my chance to decide if it was for me, I’d rang the number on the ad the day before, all I’d wanted to know was how much. The first words on most peoples lips. The very polite woman on the phone couldn’t be moved on that one, she suggested I attend a no obligation induction the next day, well I’m suspicious when I hear the words no obligation, but went anyway.



So now I was in Brentwood, and it wasn’t what I was expecting, the entrance was in an alley at the back of the high street, there was no obvious sign I was in the right place and stopped someone to ask. It wasn’t the glam I had expected but the office itself was quite smart, it reminded me of a comedy sketch with the girl on the desk filing her nails and a room full of silent hopefuls. In fact for a minute I thought maybe I’d turned up at the dentist.

“He won’t be long. Coffee?” She pointed at the machine, and I shook my head, I glanced around the room but no-one caught my eye and I wondered if any of them had the personality for a driving instructor . After all, you’re in a car for at least an hour at a time, with someone you don’t know, you’ve got to be able to communicate.
“I’m sorry. Who won’t be long?” I asked.
“Paul.” She replied starring at me, obviously not a question that was often asked. “Oh.” Of course. Silly me. I nearly asked who Paul was, but decided that conversation wasn’t going to be invited, not quite what I had expected. Then another prospective ADI bowled in, this one was double the personality of all the others and in my view definitely had the potential. By the end of the morning I’d be happy knowing I’d never have to see him again.

Then Paul arrived, fashionably late, seemingly so busy he could just fit us in before he rushed off to train. Seeing as no-one moved not even 'Mr Personality' I went in first, foolishly, I got sat at the front, and what had started off as a dental surgery had now turned into al anon. Paul thought that before we start we should all say our names, how old we were (?), passed on that one, and why we were there. He then picked me to start, oh joy.

“Okay. Hi everybody, my name is Anne, I mean I want to be a driving instructor.”
“Why do you want to be driving instructor?” Prompted Paul, and I hesitated. Was that a question or a statement.
“I don’t know if I do yet. I’m hoping you’ll convince me. I did start to train as an examiner last year, but decided it wasn’t for me.”
“Why wasn’t it for you?” Now we were moving out of the safe zone, I was not about to tell him I couldn’t back round the right corner and look over my left shoulder at the same time, something I have since mastered. Or that the SE who took me for the driving test told me I wasn’t going to pass before we got to the car.
“It just wasn’t.” I gave him my best attempt at a glare and he moved on.
,br> The room had a white board with several figures that looked impressive, if you worked part time you could still earn hundreds of pounds a week, this looked like it could be the job for me.

To make a course seem attractive the outlay has to pale into insignificance compared to the rewards, so after an hour when we all began to get a bit fidgety , Paul asked us each how much we thought the course would be, but nobody wanted to commit themselves. So the mumbling at the back, where I should have sat, when the projector revealed £2995 plus VAT rose. Paul asked us all what we thought. Starting with me of course. I had to say it was too expensive, I thought it was then and I still do now. So then came the news we’d all been waiting for, we could apply for credit, and ease the expense, as obviously if you wanted to earn mega bucks you had to have some outlay. So there was the stick, but where was the carrot.

Paul then told us that we would have to have a driving assessment to see if we were eligible, this was the point that I knew this was no more than a smooth operation, designed to take your cash. No-one was going to tell me to keep the three thousand pounds in my pocket because I wasn’t any good. We were all there because we could drive.

So as I couldn’t wriggle out of the test drive, I booked for the next day, knowing that I still liked the idea of instructing, but not the idea of paying more than I needed to. I knew I wasn’t coming back and I’m sure Paul did too, he had already talked Mr Personality into the residential course, and that was enough money to cover the ones that didn’t want to sign on the dotted line.

So now the seed was planted I had to look into this more carefully. On from the well known to the local. I stopped at a local driving school called the Cardrome, a large site with make believe roads and traffic lights, they offered lessons on site to under 17’s and regular lessons on the road for the legal road age drivers. The site is open to the public at a cost of £12, for unlimited time, but how long would you want to spend with your kids in a car without dual controls.

This was the other end of the spectrum. There was a counter no chairs, and reminded me a bit of the go karting centre, but the guy I spoke to was very helpful, although they could no longer offer a course, apparently there is so much competition in London that they couldn’t compete. Tell that to the Instructor College. They said I could have a job when I qualified if I wanted one, but when would that be, if ever.

But the information was good, another local school did a course for £999. Incl. His parting words were, why not do it on your own, why pay someone else. That inspired me for the first time, why not do it alone. But how? Well I went onto the DSA website where you can order a start up pack (ADI 14) for five pounds, now that was my sort of outlay. Then waited for it to arrive.

Mean time I worked my way through the phone book, and found that although a lot of independents offered training for ADI’s, getting hold of them was another story. I left a message on three different answerphones, one year later I’m assuming they won’t be getting back to me.

I also approached two other schools, both offered a pay as you go deal, this allows you to do each part as you can afford it. Though if you leave too much of a gap there’s a danger of losing track. These are schools local to North and East London and Essex. Neither deal was remarkable, and every one with no exception was interested in the financial deal, whether I could afford it , not what they could do for me.

When I asked how I went about becoming an instructor, I couldn’t get anyone, even with prompting to tell me about the DSA requiring references and to check out my background regarding any sort of criminal record I may have. So would they take my money anyway. I went to find out. The answer was yes. I could pay up begin studying for the theory test whilst my application was processed. Processed by who? One person told me, don’t worry, leave it to us.

So proceed with caution, contact the DSA before you do anything, get your information pack and bank of questions for the theory test, and read it through, then decide if it’s for you. The hours are flexible, the hourly rate can be good, but the tests require a huge commitment and will dominate your life until the final exam.

The drop out rate during part one is quite high, even higher in part two as your driving will need to be perfected however good you think you are. This is where the schools make their money, taking you on knowing in some cases that it won’t suit you. If it’s an easy ride you are after then this isn’t for you, it can be fun and rewarding, it can also be stressful especially at times of year when work is slow.

The requirements are, you have to be over twenty-one and have held a full licence for four years, you need two character references and have to sign a disclosure about any criminal record. The first test is a hundred questions on the theory of driving, it also covers instructional techniques and disabilities and law. The questions are broken down into banks of 25, and you need to make sure that in each bank you get a score of 20. Then there is the hazard perception test, and if I had to say just one thing about that, it’s watch the video clip twice before you start.

The questions are mixed up in the DSA book into random sets, it is easier if you break the questions down into each category, it’s easier to remember. You can’t know them too well, when you can be asked random questions by someone and know the answer straight away you’re ready for the test. Don’t waste fifty pounds if you think you are, you need to know you are fully prepared.

I eventually joined a school, the cheapest deal I could get that was flexible, or appeared to be at the time. I did benefit from the company of other people, however only one person from that class has gone on to part three apart from me. I was desperate to do it alone, but wasn’t sure where to go with the level of driving required. So if you’ll benefit from company then take a course, but make sure it is good value for money, I know it’s difficult if you don’t revolve in those circles, or to get someone to recommend one, but don’t take the dearest thinking it’s the best, it probably isn’t.

become a driving instructor

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