Learners choosing an instructor, and people thinking of becoming one, may not know what an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) has to go through to appear on the register. This article summarises three GOV.UK pages: the step-by-step guide to becoming a car driving instructor, the page on checking whether a person can become one, and the ADI register guide. The process described applies to England, Scotland and Wales. GOV.UK says there is a different process in Northern Ireland, which the site covers in its article on learning to drive in Northern Ireland. Fees and rules change, so the figures below are those shown on the GOV.UK pages when they were read and should be checked before applying. This is general information.
Who can apply
The ADI register guide says an applicant must be 21 or over and must have held a full licence for the relevant category for at least three years. The applicant must also be a “fit and proper” person, assessed through criminal record checks and an evaluation of conduct. GOV.UK says a new Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check must be obtained to start an application, even if the person already has one. The page on checking eligibility also directs people to a suitability assessment on the Safe Driving for Life website and says applicants must agree to the responsibilities set out in the register guide.
The three qualifying tests
The route to registration is a three-part test:
- Part 1 is a theory test. The register guide says the number of attempts is unlimited, and the step guide lists the fee as £81.
- Part 2 tests driving ability and fitness to drive. The register guide says there is a maximum of three attempts, and the step guide lists a fee of £111.
- Part 3 tests instructional ability, also with a maximum of three attempts and a listed fee of £111. The site explains how it is marked in its article on how DVSA marks the ADI Part 3 test.
GOV.UK gives time limits in slightly different words on its two pages. The step guide says that once the theory test is passed, the other parts must be passed within two years or the whole process starts again. The register guide says Part 3 must be booked within two years of passing Part 1. Anyone planning their timetable should read the current wording on GOV.UK, and should assume that a slow route through the tests risks having to restart.
Trainee licence
After passing Part 2, a candidate can choose to apply for a trainee licence, which the step guide says lasts six months and costs £140 as shown. It allows a person to gain teaching experience with students before the final test. The site explains the terms in its article on trainee licences and the six-month rule. A learner whose lessons are with a trainee should know that a trainee is not yet fully qualified.
Registration and its conditions
Once all three tests are passed, a person can register as an ADI. The step guide says registration must happen within 12 months of passing the Part 3 test, and lists a fee of £300 for the first ADI certificate. Registration lasts four years, according to the register guide. It sets out the obligations that continue after registration:
- Displaying the ADI certificate while teaching.
- Remaining a fit and proper person.
- Writing to the ADI Registrar within seven days of receiving a caution or conviction.
- Taking standards checks, with at least one every four years according to the step guide.
- Updating personal details within seven days of a change.
Every four years the instructor must renew registration and get a fresh criminal records check beforehand; the step guide lists the renewal fee as £300. The standards check is explained in the site’s article on the ADI standards check.
What this means for learners
- An ADI is required to display a certificate while teaching, so a learner can ask to see it.
- Registration involves a criminal records check and a duty to report cautions and convictions within seven days, which are safeguards built into the system.
- A trainee licence holder is a separate category from a fully qualified ADI.
- Standards checks are a continuing quality check, not a one-off qualification.
For choosing between instructors after the credentials check, see the site’s guide to choosing a good driving instructor and its note on what learners should check about ADI and PDI qualifications.
Common questions
How many times can the tests be taken?
The register guide says Part 1 has unlimited attempts, while Parts 2 and 3 have a maximum of three.
Is the process the same in Northern Ireland?
No. GOV.UK says there is a different process in Northern Ireland.
How long does registration last?
Four years, after which renewal and a new criminal records check are needed.
The bottom line
Becoming an ADI in Great Britain requires a minimum age of 21, three years of full licence held, a fit-and-proper assessment with a DBS check, and three tests in sequence, with time limits that make delay costly. Registration lasts four years and carries reporting and standards-check duties. For learners, the certificate and the difference between a trainee and a full ADI are the practical checks.
Sources
- GOV.UK, “Become a car driving instructor: step by step”
- GOV.UK, “Check if you can become a driving instructor”
- GOV.UK, “Approved driving instructor (ADI) register guide”