Driving instructor
Discussion
I looked into it last year. Only reason I didn't go any further is because I got another job I wanted more. But im considering doing my ADI training still.
It's expensive! Part one (theory) is £60 I think. Plus the revision material you'll need (£60 to £100).
Part two is a driving test. Higher standard than your first one. Around £120 I think for that. Same for part three (instructor part).
Part one and two you could do yourself without any help. Part three you have two options.
Green licence - get sponsored by a ADI. You can teach real people for money. For a max of six months before you have to take your part three.
Or go without getting sponsored and get your green licence. You'll then be fully qualified. But you can't charge when training (but can give free lessons).
I was going down the franchise route to start once I had passed. I think it was £160 a week, but that includes everything including vehicle.
If my maths was right I was planning to do five hours a day five times a week. Around here that would be around £750 a week. Of course I'll need to take fees and fuel out of that.
Hope that helps!
It's expensive! Part one (theory) is £60 I think. Plus the revision material you'll need (£60 to £100).
Part two is a driving test. Higher standard than your first one. Around £120 I think for that. Same for part three (instructor part).
Part one and two you could do yourself without any help. Part three you have two options.
Green licence - get sponsored by a ADI. You can teach real people for money. For a max of six months before you have to take your part three.
Or go without getting sponsored and get your green licence. You'll then be fully qualified. But you can't charge when training (but can give free lessons).
I was going down the franchise route to start once I had passed. I think it was £160 a week, but that includes everything including vehicle.
If my maths was right I was planning to do five hours a day five times a week. Around here that would be around £750 a week. Of course I'll need to take fees and fuel out of that.
Hope that helps!
I stopped being an ADI this year after doing it for 13 years. Although I was successful and built up a solid business I would not recommend anyone to choose being an ADI as a career unless you have an additional income. Also consider that with the introduction of electric cars and maybe self driving cars that in the future people will not need as many lessons to learn to drive.
Hopefully shed some light if you still need it, I do marketing for the family run driving school, my brother is an ORDIt trainer too.
Depends on area, but at the moment we are really busy, we have 13 manuals and 1 automatic, but we could probably get 4 autos and still have enough work.
it's a consumer focussed role so expect to be busier evenings and weekends, we have cheaper daytime lessons (£26 daytime, £28 evening £30 weekend)
Your biggest expense will be your car, you can lease, buy your own or go with a franchise, we do the full package for £180 but the car is slightly used (2-6 years old) or you can new lease from us for £220 per week. We try and get PDI's to do a short 6-7 month lease (CA Cars, Surepass etc do them) or buy a cheap car, latest PDI used a £1200 peugeot 207 2012, the first years insurance did cost £3000 though.
as for training, part 1 is easy enough to DIY, get access to something like theory test pro ADI, once you have passed that find a trainer who can assess you then do your brush up lessons, we actually find 10 hours max is more than enough, we also give them a roofsign so they are more likely to drive under the proper conditions.
Part 3, 40 hours + 20 additional hours whilst you're on your pink, being on a pink is worthwhile to get experience / money if you are out of work, but we have had people pass without ever teaching - she passed first time too.
You get 3 attempts at pt2 and 3, it's always a nervous time expecially if you rely on it for your sole income, we have done a fair bit of part 3 rescue, PDI's who have basically been let down by their previous school.
I would suggest find a good trainer, we're based in the northwest, but if you're not local look up Lou & Blaine Walsh on facebook, really good trainers and will know someone local to you
Depends on area, but at the moment we are really busy, we have 13 manuals and 1 automatic, but we could probably get 4 autos and still have enough work.
it's a consumer focussed role so expect to be busier evenings and weekends, we have cheaper daytime lessons (£26 daytime, £28 evening £30 weekend)
Your biggest expense will be your car, you can lease, buy your own or go with a franchise, we do the full package for £180 but the car is slightly used (2-6 years old) or you can new lease from us for £220 per week. We try and get PDI's to do a short 6-7 month lease (CA Cars, Surepass etc do them) or buy a cheap car, latest PDI used a £1200 peugeot 207 2012, the first years insurance did cost £3000 though.
as for training, part 1 is easy enough to DIY, get access to something like theory test pro ADI, once you have passed that find a trainer who can assess you then do your brush up lessons, we actually find 10 hours max is more than enough, we also give them a roofsign so they are more likely to drive under the proper conditions.
Part 3, 40 hours + 20 additional hours whilst you're on your pink, being on a pink is worthwhile to get experience / money if you are out of work, but we have had people pass without ever teaching - she passed first time too.
You get 3 attempts at pt2 and 3, it's always a nervous time expecially if you rely on it for your sole income, we have done a fair bit of part 3 rescue, PDI's who have basically been let down by their previous school.
I would suggest find a good trainer, we're based in the northwest, but if you're not local look up Lou & Blaine Walsh on facebook, really good trainers and will know someone local to you
stevensdrs said:
I stopped being an ADI this year after doing it for 13 years. Although I was successful and built up a solid business I would not recommend anyone to choose being an ADI as a career unless you have an additional income.
Or plan on starting up your own school with other ADI's contracted. But, yes, I agree you'll never get rich being an ADI.I did the full training 5 years ago but will probably retire by end of March next year.
I went via the sponsored franchise route; all up probably cost me £3k plus , of course, buying the car and getting dual-controls fitted. Bit surprised by the figure of £3k quoted for insurance. I'm paying £300!
I think you need to decide up front whether you'll be happy being tied to a franchise or going independent at the first opportunity. One factor will be how much capital you've got. I started with the intention of going independent so made sure the sponsorship deal didn't tie me in to a long-term franchise/car lease deal. My deal meant I paid a relatively small amount (<£1000) for the Pt2 and Pt3 training but was committed to paying around £85 per week on my pink ticket. The benefit here was i was earning whilst paying the franchise fee so didn't have to dig in to reserves. On passing Pt3 I split from my sponsor and have never looked back.
A few years back there was loads of driving instructors around, at least partly fuelled by adverts promising high income and easy money when only needing a driving licence.
The reality was/is that being a driving instructor isn't easy.
You have to run a business and doing that well (independently at least) takes time and patience.
I have a relative that got into it some 10 years ago. Couple of tips from him:
You need to ensure you're a good trainer. Nevermind the actual technicalities of being a driving instructor - are you patient? Can you explain things in a way that people relate to? Do you get irate when people get things wrong?
Consider that not every pupil is a born driver...
Be prepared to work evenings, weekends and holidays. Chap I know has a wife working shifts, so it suits him to work in the evenings, etc.
It will take time to build a reputation and therefore get a decent amount of work. Learning to drive is pretty expensive now so, like any trade, people go on recommendation. My guy now has a 4 month waiting list, but it wasn't always like that.
Use social media. Young people are always on it so it's where you're most likely to be seen.
The reality was/is that being a driving instructor isn't easy.
You have to run a business and doing that well (independently at least) takes time and patience.
I have a relative that got into it some 10 years ago. Couple of tips from him:
You need to ensure you're a good trainer. Nevermind the actual technicalities of being a driving instructor - are you patient? Can you explain things in a way that people relate to? Do you get irate when people get things wrong?
Consider that not every pupil is a born driver...
Be prepared to work evenings, weekends and holidays. Chap I know has a wife working shifts, so it suits him to work in the evenings, etc.
It will take time to build a reputation and therefore get a decent amount of work. Learning to drive is pretty expensive now so, like any trade, people go on recommendation. My guy now has a 4 month waiting list, but it wasn't always like that.
Use social media. Young people are always on it so it's where you're most likely to be seen.
Muzzer79 said:
A few years back there was loads of driving instructors around, at least partly fuelled by adverts promising high income and easy money when only needing a driving licence.
The reality was/is that being a driving instructor isn't easy.
Damned right. The Pt3 test and standards check every 2-4years keeps you on your toes. I naively thought I could qualify in a few weeks as I could devote full time to training. The reality was it was 14 months from start to qualifying (although the last 6 months I was earning)The reality was/is that being a driving instructor isn't easy.
Muzzer79 said:
You have to run a business and doing that well (independently at least) takes time and patience.
I didn't have an issue with running my own business but for some this could be a major consideration hence why they opt for the franchise route and have someone else organise them.Muzzer79 said:
I have a relative that got into it some 10 years ago. Couple of tips from him:
You need to ensure you're a good trainer. Nevermind the actual technicalities of being a driving instructor - are you patient? Can you explain things in a way that people relate to? Do you get irate when people get things wrong?
Consider that not every pupil is a born driver...
All good points and areas that the Pt3 is designed to evaluate hence why I took 3 goes to pass You need to ensure you're a good trainer. Nevermind the actual technicalities of being a driving instructor - are you patient? Can you explain things in a way that people relate to? Do you get irate when people get things wrong?
Consider that not every pupil is a born driver...
Muzzer79 said:
Be prepared to work evenings, weekends and holidays. Chap I know has a wife working shifts, so it suits him to work in the evenings, etc.
Fortunately the demand at the moment is such that I can be very choosy when and how much work I take on. I don't do weekends and I finish by 4pm during the winter!
Muzzer79 said:
It will take time to build a reputation and therefore get a decent amount of work. Learning to drive is pretty expensive now so, like any trade, people go on recommendation. My guy now has a 4 month waiting list, but it wasn't always like that.
Use social media. Young people are always on it so it's where you're most likely to be seen.
This in spades although the social media presence normally generates the 'I want a lesson tomorrow at 3pm. How much?' kind of enquiry. Personal recommendation has generated 90% of my business over the years.Use social media. Young people are always on it so it's where you're most likely to be seen.
Thesprucegoose said:
looking online you charge about 26 per hour, after all costs i guess that is around 10-12 quid a hour. Interestingly the cost hasn't changed for 20 odd years.
The maximum lessons you can achieve in a year is about 1500. If you can charge £30 an hour that's £45000 gros income. Realistically though it might only be £25/hour so £37,500. If you can keep your costs down by not spending much on unnecessary items and use a modest car you might just net the £30k per annum. Allowing for dead time between lessons you need to work 2000 hours so you will only net £15 hour.You may feel that is not enough recompense to put up with all the crap you will have to deal with.
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