Driving Instructor Training Dartford

We try to keep the costs to you at a minimum and so offer a couple of different ways of paying for your driver instructor training in Dartford. We cannot give you an exact cost as each individual person will need more or less support/lessons than another. Books, CD Roms and other resources are available from KUDOS but we also post lots of help and advice on our blog.

Popular

Pay As You Go

£40 per hr

This is probably our most favoured option as you can spread the cost out of the course of your training.

Part 1 (Theory) Costs are – 
£75.00 – Induction & Theory Training 
£83.00   - Test Fee

Part 2 (Practical) Costs are – 
£40.00 per hour x hours you need
£111.00 – Test Fee 

A typical person will need 10 hours (plus practice) of training to get to the required standard for passing an ADi Part 2 test.

Part 3 (Teaching) Costs are –
£40 per hour x hours you need
£111.00 – Test Fee

The number of hours required will depend on your aptitude for teaching/training, but the average person will need about 40 hours of training. The more practice you do, the less time you should need. You will need to have completed 40 hours of training to qualify for a trainee licence under DVSA rules, unfortunately.

Make Enquiry

Additional hrs can be purchased at £40 per hr.

Popular

Paying by the section

£2,075

If you want to pay by the test or section the costs will be 

Part 1 (Theory & Hazard Perception) - £75.00

Part 2 (Practical Driving) - £400.00 (includes 10 hours of 1 to 1 in car training)

Part 3 (Teaching Test) - £1600.00 (This can be completed intensively or 2 hours at a time) includes the test fee

Make Enquiry

Additional hrs can be purchased at £40 per hr.

**Regardless of how you pay for your training we will organise an individual tailored training program with yourself so that the training can be built into you life rather than your life adapting to you training**

KUDOS Dartford

Dartford is a well-connected town in Kent, close to London and the Essex border, making it a distinctive location for driving instructor training. KUDOS Driver Instructor Training provides professional, supportive and flexible ADI training to help you qualify as a DVSA Approved Driving Instructor.

The town is surrounded by major routes, including the A2 to the south, the A206 through the local area and the A282 connecting Dartford with Essex. The A225 also provides a route towards Sevenoaks, giving Dartford strong connections across Kent, London and the wider south-east.

This mixture of urban roads and major routes creates a varied driving environment. For trainee instructors, becoming familiar with different road layouts, junctions and traffic conditions can help develop the skills needed to teach pupils with different levels of confidence and experience.

Driving Instructor Training in Dartford

The DVSA Approved Driving Instructor qualification is completed through three stages. Part 1 covers theory and hazard perception, Part 2 assesses practical driving ability and Part 3 focuses on your ability to provide effective driving instruction.

Each stage requires different preparation and skills. KUDOS can support you throughout your training and help you develop the knowledge, driving ability and instructional skills needed as you progress towards qualification.

A Flexible Approach to Training

Training can be arranged around your existing commitments. KUDOS offers pay-as-you-go training, allowing you to spread the cost as you progress rather than committing to a large package upfront. Depending on your circumstances, you can work towards your qualification through regular training or a more intensive approach.

Training Across Dartford and the Wider Area

Dartford's location provides access to a broad mix of driving environments. Local residential streets require careful observation and planning, while larger routes can involve heavier traffic, more complex junctions and changing road conditions.

The A2, A206 and A282 are important parts of the local road network, with the A282 providing a connection towards Essex. Routes towards Sevenoaks and other parts of Kent add further variation to the wider area.

Developing experience across different road environments can be useful when learning how to teach. A driving instructor needs to recognise what a pupil is struggling with and adapt their approach without taking over the learner's decision-making.

Developing the Skills to Teach

Being a good driver is only one part of becoming an effective instructor. You also need patience, clear communication and the ability to identify potential hazards before they develop into problems.

Pupils will have different personalities, abilities and levels of confidence. Some may need additional reassurance, while others may benefit from being encouraged to take greater responsibility for their own driving.

KUDOS can help you develop your instructional skills alongside the practical driving ability and knowledge required for the ADI qualification.

Building a Career as a Driving Instructor

Once qualified, driving instructors can organise their working lives around their pupils and availability. This can provide greater control over how you structure your working week compared with a more traditional fixed-hours role.

The job also involves regular contact with people and the opportunity to see pupils progress from their first lessons towards becoming independent drivers. For someone considering a career change, that combination can make driving instruction an appealing option.

Driving Instructor Training Across Dartford, Kent and Essex

KUDOS provides driving instructor training for people in Dartford and surrounding areas. The town's location makes it relevant to people living close to the Kent, London and Essex borders who are looking for professional ADI training.

If you are considering becoming a driving instructor in Dartford, KUDOS can discuss your current experience, explain the qualification process and help you understand the training options available.

Driving Instructor Training FAQs

How do I become a driving instructor in Dartford?

To become a DVSA Approved Driving Instructor, you need to meet the eligibility requirements and complete the ADI qualification, including Parts 1, 2 and 3. KUDOS can provide training and support throughout the qualification.

Is Dartford a good place to train as a driving instructor?

Dartford has a mixture of residential roads, urban routes and major roads connecting the town with London, Kent and Essex. This provides a varied driving environment for developing your skills.

Can I train to become a driving instructor while working?

Yes. KUDOS offers pay-as-you-go training, which can allow you to work towards your qualification around existing work and personal commitments. The time required will vary depending on your experience and progress.

Can I train with KUDOS if I live outside Dartford?

KUDOS provides training for people in Dartford and surrounding areas. If you are based elsewhere in Kent, Essex or close to the London border, contact us to discuss your location and training requirements.

How long does driving instructor training take?

The time required varies from person to person. Your previous driving experience, training requirements and progress through Parts 1, 2 and 3 can all affect how long the qualification takes.

Ready to Start Your Driving Instructor Training?

If you are considering becoming a driving instructor in Dartford or the surrounding area, speak to KUDOS about your options. We can discuss your experience, explain the training process and help you decide on the next step.

Test 1 - The Theory & Hazard Perception Test

The 1st test is, in fact, 2 separate tests that are taken during the same sitting. The Theory test is a 100-question multiple-choice test taken across the following subjects:

  • Road procedures
  • Traffic signs and signals
  • Car Control
  • Pedestrians and Mechanical knowledge
  • General road safety and Driving techniques
  • Medical knowledge

Once you have completed this, it's time to test your Hazard Perception skills. The Hazard Perception test is taken through 14 video clips from which you must identify at least 1 potential hazard. There are actually 15 potential hazards that you must identify, so 1 video will have 2 hazards in it! The scoring system counts down from 5 to zero, and the earlier you identify it, the more points you get, but if you're too early, you won't get any points.

If you fail 1 test, you fail both and must re-sit them both. These tests can be taken over 1 hour 45 minutes. The tests are run by Pearson Professional Services on behalf of the DVSA at many test centres across the country, and their staff will tell you at the end of your test whether you have passed or failed.

**Remember, from the date you pass your theory/Hazard Perception test, you have 2 years to complete the rest of the process, or you have to start all over again from the beginning**

You can read what the DVSA says about the ADi theory and hazard perception test here: Approved driving instructor (ADI) part 1 test: Booking your test - GOV.UK

Test 2 - The Practical

The driving ability test is broken down into the following categories.

An Eyesight Check

For the eyesight check you must be able to read a number plate from 26.5 metres for a new style number plate or 27.5 for an old style number plate. New-style number plates start with 2 letters followed by 2 numbers, e.g. AB51 ABC. If you fail the eyesight test it will be considered as 1 attempt but the test will be stopped straight away.

You must use glasses or contact lenses during the whole test if you need them to read the number plate.

You’ll fail the test if you don’t pass the eyesight test. It will count as 1 of the 3 attempts you’re allowed at the ADI part 2 test.

Vehicle Safety Questions

The Vehicle Safety Checks or Show/Tell questions as they are known are asked straight after the eyesight check. There are 19 potential questions and you will be asked 3 show questions. Which would be asked to “show” the examiner where the certain thing is and how it works. You will also be asked to “tell” me Questions during which the examiner will want you to tell them how to check something on the car for instance how you would check the brakes are working. You can get a minor driver fault for each question wrongly answered.

You’ll be asked 5 vehicle safety questions. These are also known as ‘show me, tell me’ questions.

The examiner will ask you 3 ‘show me’ questions where you’ll have to show them how you’d carry out the vehicle checks, and 2 ‘tell me’ questions where you’ll have to explain how you’d carry out the vehicle checks. You’ll get a driving fault for each incorrect answer you give.

You’ll get a serious fault and fail the test if you answer all 5 questions incorrectly.

You can find a full list of questions with videos at www.gov.uk/government/publications/car-show-me-tell-me-vehicle-safety-questions/car-show-me-tell-me-vehicle-safety-questions

General Driving Ability

During the driving ability part of the test you'll have to show the examiner all of the following:

  • excellent handling of the controls
  • understand correct road procedure
  • anticipation of the actions of other road users and then react appropriately
  • making good judgement of distance
  • speed and timing
  • show consideration for the convenience and safety of other road users
  • drive in an environmentally friendly manner

You’ll drive in varying road and traffic conditions, including motorways or dual carriageways where possible.

You must be able to carry out all of the following manoeuvres:

  • Pull away straight ahead or at an angle start
  • Meet or cross the path of other vehicles
  • Turn left-hand and right-hand
  • Complete an emergency stop
  • Pull up on the right and reverse back 2 car lengths
  • Reverse-park the vehicle into the space behind a parked car
  • Reverse-park into a parking bay
  • Turn the vehicle to face in the opposite direction using forward and reverse gears

You'll also have to drive without turn-by-turn directions from the examiner for around 20 minutes; this is known as the independent drive. You’ll have to follow either:

  • Traffic signs
  • A series of directions given to you before you set off
  • A combination of both

At the end of the test, you will be given your results, with feedback. To pass these, you must not get more than 6 minor driver faults.

**Remember, you only get 3 attempts at this test. If you fail all 3, you will need to wait until the 2 years are up and start all over again from the beginning**

Test 3 - The Instructional Test

The third and final test is approximately 1 hour, including the admin and feedback session; your pupil should be driving for about 40 minutes. The test is designed to test 3 things:

  • The 17 Core Competences
  • Your teaching ability
  • Instructional characteristics

You will be expected to turn up at your designated test centre 10 minutes before your test with your pupil. Leave your pupil in the car, obviously without the keys, and wait for the examiner in the test centre waiting room.

On meeting you, the examiner will ask to see your driving licence, your training notes (these are what you have done with your trainer), and then ask you who you have with you and what subject/s you will be doing in your lesson. This test is quite literally you giving a lesson to a pupil with the examiner observing you from the back seat.

You will go out to the car with the examiner, and they will introduce themselves to the pupil and explain that they are not there to look at their driving but to watch the teaching of the instructor (you). This is where you need to make sure you are prepared, as the examiner will want you to deliver a Client Centred Learning (CCL) lesson.

You will now deliver a lesson where you can show:

  • Safety/Risk Management – this is picking the right training area and you being in control all of the time to maximise safety
  • The pupil learning, which will show your teaching abilities and strategies
  • Lesson Planning – This is aligning the learning needs of your pupil to the subject you will be teaching

Once you arrive back at the test centre, you can give your pupil a short debrief on the things you have covered, both positive and negative. That’s where your bit is done, but you will be asked to accompany the examiner back into the test centre, where they will take a few minutes to complete the paperwork, and then they come back out of their office and deliver your result; that’s the nerve-racking bit, but our KUDOS trainers will be at the test centre before your test to help you keep the nerves down and a few final bits of wisdom and listen (if you want them to) to the feedback & result so they can help you understand the result.

You can read more about the DVSA Part 3 instructional test here: Approved driving instructor (ADI) part 3 test: What happens during the test - GOV.UK

Kudos Locations

Where We Train Our Driving Instructors: