Frequently Asked Questions

It can take as long as you want it to. If you are working on your training full-time, then you can get through the process in 6 months to a year. All we can really advise is that you will get out what you put in. However, it’s important to remember that the process must be finished within 2 years of being accepted onto the driving instructor register. Please note that at this time there are delays in issuing tests for the Part 2 & 3 tests by the DVSA due to a lack of examiners.

It depends on what you were convicted of, how many points you have accumulated, and how long ago it was. You must declare them when applying, as the DVSA will check. Normally, the DVSA considers 5 or more points a concern and may consider you not to be a fit and proper person to be a driving instructor if you have a number of points.

You will be allocated a mentor for the process who will be your main contact at KUDOS throughout becoming a driving instructor, but your training may be given by another trainer, as some of us specialise in certain aspects of the process.

*Remember, we will still be there for you to ask questions or have additional training even after you have qualified as a driving instructor.

If you have paid for all 3 parts to gain a discount, you do take the risk of losing the value of these if you fail. If you wish to start the process again after the 2-year registered period, we will hold the value until you have passed the relevant parts. We will support you through retaking the tests. If you are uncertain if you want to take the risk then it is probably best you choose the pay as you go option.

It depends on whether you wish to work by yourself as a sole trader or whether you wish to work with a driving school. We have many connections with nationwide driving schools and more regional ones too, so we will be able to guide you on which driving school is best for you. We also offer courses on marketing and sales as well as many other business aspects (these are free). You must remember that, however you choose to work, you will be self-employed. All driving schools work on a franchise basis. It is important that you pick the right option for you and how you want to work. What works for one person may not work for another.

The cost of training to become a driving instructor will depend on your ability and how much work you do without your trainer. We can pair you up with a training partner to practice some elements of the training.

There are some fixed costs which are:

• The costs of the tests
• Being added to the Driving Instructor Register
• Training Materials
• DVSA mandatory training

Unfortunately, the answer is simply "yes". As driving instructors, we have to have Standards Check tests, which are an hour-long test by the DVSA, on your teaching ability. This is done with a real pupil, and the examiner sits in the back of your lesson. The good news is that these only happen every 3 or 4 years. KUDOS will support you through these if you wish. A Standards Check is almost the same as a Part 3 test (your final test to becoming an ADi). If you prepare properly, a Standards Check should not be a concern.

The only time a Standards Check is brought forward is if you hit certain DVSA triggers, e.g., your pupils consistently get too many serious or dangerous marks in their learner test.

No, you can use the trainer’s car to train in and take your test if you wish, but if you are going to instruct learners under a trainee/pink licence, you will need your own dual-controlled car as well as the relevant insurance. We can give you guidance on this.

As a self-employed driving instructor you can earn for every hour you work so the more you work the more you earn. Remember there is a limit on how many hours you can instruct for before you burn out and your instruction becomes less effective and potentially dangerous.

You will also need to cover overheads like:

• The cost of buying/leasing the car
• Fuel
• Insurance
• Servicing

and all of this before you pay tax and National Insurance. You can use our simple earnings calculator to work out roughly how much you could potentially earn.

*Remember to get that work-life balance, or you will not stick at this career.

Of course you can, but you may find parts of learning and teaching more difficult than others. This shouldn’t put you off, as we have taught and worked with many people who have very successfully become driving instructors and have all sorts of challenges. You never know; you may be able to help learners progress more, as you may understand their challenges better than an instructor who does not have these challenges.

If you want to improve your CV then yes but it will not help towards the process of becoming an ADi as the driving techniques used are different.