Introduction To Becoming A Driving Instructor

• Skills required
• Legal requirements
• Qualifying
• How can I obtain training?
• Applying to become an approved driving instructor
• Applications from non UK driving instructors
• Emergency Control Certificates for Disabled Instructors
• How to get a starter pack and theory test book

The Register of Approved Driving Instructors (ADI) was set up in the interests of road safety in order to maintain and improve the standard of car driving instruction available to the general public.

It also ensures that the public can expect an acceptable standard of tuition from those registered as driving instructors. It is administered by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), an Executive Agency of the Department of Transport, under the provisions of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

This Act makes it illegal for anyone to charge (either money or monies worth) for instruction in driving a motorcar unless:

The legal requirements are contained in The Road Traffic Act 1988 and The Motor Cars (Driving Instruction) Regulations 2005.

Skills required

Approved driving instructors require a high standard of driving ability and a sound knowledge of the subjects related to teaching others to drive and must be able to apply these abilities.

Teaching others to drive includes being knowledgeable about:

Legal requirements

When applying to become a driving instructor, you must fulfill the following legal requirements:

Suitability policy statement

Qualifying

The qualification examination is in three parts:

You must take and pass all three parts of the examination in this order and you must complete the whole examination within two years of passing the theory test. If you are unable to complete the examinations within this time you must start again from the beginning and pass each part again. You can take the theory test as many times as you want but you are only allowed a maximum of three attempts at each of the practical tests within each two year qualification period. Additionally, you cannot start the qualifying process again until two years has passed since you last passed your theory test.

Most people undertake training with an organisation which specialises in this field and we would recommend that you do so.  This is not a legal requirement and you can apply for the examinations without having undertaken formal training.  However, you may find it difficult to pass if you don’t.  The qualifying process is not easy, and the pass rates are not high.

The pass rates for each of the three parts of the examination in 2006/2007 were:

Theory test (part 1):                            49%

Test of driving ability (part 2):             45%

Test of instructional ability (part 3):     28%

How can I obtain training?

You may already be taking a course with an ADI trainer, but included with the starter pack, you will receive a copy of the Official Register of Driving Instructor Training (ORDIT). This is a list of establishments and trainers who offer both training for those who want to become an ADI and retraining for those who feel they require it. The establishments on the list have satisfied the inspection criteria set by the driver training industry and DSA. 

Applying to become an approved driving instructor

If you decide to embark on this career, your first step to becoming a Potential Driving Instructor is to apply online using the link below

Apply to become a Driving Instructor online

or by completing the application form enclosed in the starter pack. You can use the links below to download an application form and a copy of the Notes for Guidance.

Download an ADI3 application form

ADI 3 online notes for guidance

You will need to obtain your criminal record check before submitting your application. Information about how to do this is available on the Criminal record checks section of this website. You will also need to provide details of two people who know you well and will be prepared to vouch for you when approached by the Registrar.

It should not be assumed that acceptance is an automatic process. New applications can be refused by the Registrar if they do not meet the necessary legal requirements.

Applications from non UK driving instructors

If you have been registered as a driving instructor outside the European Community (EC) then you should follow the standard application route as outlined in the ‘Applying to become an approved driving instructor’ section above.

If you wish to become a driving instructor in Northern Ireland, you should contact the Driver and Vehicle Agency

If you have been registered as a driving instructor in a country other than the UK but within the EC you should follow the process detailed below to apply to the Register of Approved Driving Instructors

1. In the first instance you should complete the form ADI37EC

Download application form ADI37EC

2. You should send the following with the completed ADI37EC form

3. Send it to us at the following address with payment of £300 for four years registration:

We will then consider your application and reply to you within 28 days. If successful, we will write to you with your certificate to practice and we will explain to you what you must do in order to remain on the GB ADI Register.

Further information on the Register is available on Transportoffice

Emergency Control Certificates for Disabled Instructors

The Road Traffic (Driving Instruction by Disabled Persons) Act 1993 came into effect on 9 September, 1996 making provision to enable persons with a physical disability to be authorised to become driving instructors. It is only open to drivers whose driving licence is restricted to automatics because of a disability. In order to apply to become an Instructor, applicants must first obtain a certificate which verifies their ability to take control of the tuition vehicle when necessary.

The Training and Development Centre at Cardington will take over the responsibility for the assessments leading to the issue of the Emergency Control Certificates (ECC) previously carried out by The Mobility Advice and Vehicle (MAVIS) with effect from April.

The assessment consists of seven exercises each of which is designed to test the Potential Instructors ability to take control of the vehicle as and when relevant in the interest of safety. The test will be carried out in an adapted car which has been transferred from MAVIS into the Cardington fleet.

To apply for an Emergency Control assessment application form. The candidate will contact:

The completed application form should be sent to:

On receipt of application a member of the Cardington team will contact the candidate to arrange the earliest convenient date and time. This will be confirmed in writing.

Cardington will carry out the assessment, issue the result and debrief. A successful candidate will be issued with an Emergency Control Certificate (ECC) which is a pre-condition to qualify in the restricted category of Approved Driving Instructors.

A copy of the ECC should then be submitted to Instructor Services & Registration Team (ADI) in Nottingham with the application for registration.

How to get a starter pack and theory test book

A starter pack is available from DSA. This includes an explanatory booklet which gives full details of the ADI Register and qualification process, an Official Register of Driving Instructor Training (ORDIT) and application form. A book giving the multiple choice questions and answers, as well as information to help you understand the answers, is also available.

To order a starter pack please call 0870 121 4202 with your credit or debit card details. The ADI Starter pack currently costs £5.00.

The theory test question books are available at £6.00 each.

Alternatively send a cheque or postal order made payable to the 'Driving Standards Agency' to: