Career opportunities

Car/Motorcycle Instructor

Car and motorcycle driving instructors tutor members of the public who want to gain their driving licence. Instructors educate them on the required driving skills, equipping them with practical vehicle and road safety skills, and helping them to develop their knowledge of road regulations.

Instructors have to plan lessons according to the specific needs of each person being tutored. They have to assess their pupils' abilities and provide constructive feedback on their development. Ultimately the aim is to provide each pupil with the required skills for driving safely on the road, so that they can pass their driving tests (theory and practical) and gain their licence.

Crucially, driving instructors do not just teach about driving technique. They are also responsible for helping their pupils to develop the ability to assess and react safely to different driving situations and for encouraging and appropriate attitude to driving.

Car driving instructors must be qualified and registered as an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) to be able to operate commercially. Newly qualified ADIs can earn around £16000 a year. With experience, and as reputation is built, this can rise to approximately £25-30000 a year.

Motorcycle instructors usually start out as 'down-trained' instructors, working for an existing training body. For this they can earn approximately £15000 for full time work. When they become a fully qualified instructor, they can earn up to £30000 a year.

Working environment

Driving instructors spend the majority of their time out on the road. Car instructors do some driving (between pupils and occasionally to demonstrate skills) but spend much time sitting in the passenger seat. Most driving instruction cars are set up with a second set of pedals for the passenger seat so that the instructor can take control of the car if required.

Motorcycle and car driving instructors can be out in all weathers and driving conditions. Due to the nature of their work and the demand from clients, they have to work evening and weekends. Most full time instructors will work between 35 and 40 hours a week, although it is not uncommon to work more than this. Part time work is quite common for this area of the industry.

Skills and interests

Driving instructors need to be interested in working with people and helping them develop. They of course need an interest in driving as well.

Particular skills that are useful for instructors include:
- interpersonal skills and the ability to motivate and provide tactful feedback
- the ability to remain calm, and to concentrate for long periods of time
- an understanding of teaching and learning techniques
- organisational and planning skills.

Instructors need experience of driving in all types of conditions, and must also have an in-depth knowledge of road safety and regulations.

Instructors should also have basic knowledge of vehicle maintenance, as the vehicles that they use are on the road for long periods of time. Instructors need to be able to check for wear and tear and to make sure that their vehicles remain roadworthy.

Entry into the role

To become a motorcycle instructor applicants need to be 21 or older. They need to have held a full UK motorcycle licence (category A) for at least 3 years and must undergo an enhanced criminal records check.

Usually the entry point for motorcycle instructors is as a 'down trained' instructor for an existing approved training body, conducting compulsory basic training courses and supervising road work on bikes up to 125cc. With experience they can then progress to take an assessment at the Driving Standards Agency's Cardington centre. With the Cardington assessment passed, instructors can conduct further compulsory basic training and can also train up new down trained instructors.

With the Cardington assessment achieved, instructors can also operate their own approved training body. After this, with further training and assessment an instructor can become a fully qualified 'direct access' instructor. This enables the instructor to deliver direct access training as well as compulsory basic training.

Those who want to become a car driving instructor must first register as a trainee. Trainees then have to pass three assessments; a computer-based theory test, a practical driving test and a test of teaching/instructing ability before they can apply to be put on the register of Approved Driving Instructors (ADI). They have two years after passing the theory test to pass the other tests and then have 12 further months to apply for registration as an ADI.

To become a trainee ADI applicants must:
- hold a full UK or European Union car driving licence
- have held the licence for at least four out of the past six years prior to entering the register after qualifying
- not have been disqualified from driving at any time in the four years prior to being entered in the register.

Trainee applicants also have to undergo an enhanced criminal records check, so that they can be checked for their suitability to be included on the register.

Many car driving instructors work independently, running their own business. There is also the opportunity to take up franchise opportunities. Some driver training companies run their own schemes for trainee ADIs. The trainees pay to be trained up, but are then guaranteed a job once they have passed all the tests and been approved for the register.

Vacancies for motorcycle and car driving instructors can be advertised in the local press or on driver training company websites. Some driver training trade associations may also carry details of vacancies and opportunities.

Opportunities

Most car driving instructors work independently, although some are employed by larger organisations. Instructors can progress to run their own business, or to expand, employing other instructors to work under their company name.

Motorcycle instructors tend to start out working for existing training organisations. As they achieve their qualifications, they can progress to running their own training school and then can employ other instructors.

Some instructors move onto become driving examiners while others expand their services to offer training in other skills, such as advanced driving, or specialist driving (eg emergency response driving).

Useful links

• Driving Instructors Association
• Driving Standards Agency
• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland

Case Studies

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  DRIVER TRAINING - driving instructor
  Raj Pillay, approved driving instructor and proprietor of Drive4Life, talks about his work.