Choosing your driving instructor

Driving instructors come in all colours, genders, shapes and sizes.

You no longer have to have an instructor who wears a cardigan and smokes a pipe if you don't want to. You will spend anything up to £1000 learning to drive ...

Spend the first £50 shopping around

Some people learn to drive with friends and relatives, but as roads get busier it’s wise for all learners to have some lessons with a professional instructor. Make sure that your instructor is qualified to teach you.

It is illegal for anyone who is not an Approved or Licenced driving instructor to charge a fee for driving tuition (see below).

Your instructor will guide you carefully through your training and ensure that you are fully prepared to drive safely after passing your test. Another valuable reason for taking lessons with an ADI is that you might be able to save money on your motor insurance after taking a post-test Pass-Plus course.

Your instructor must be Approved or Licenced ...

Approved Driving Instructors (ADI's) have passed a searching examination in order to demonstrate their skills ...

They are also checked and graded regularly. You can recognise an ADI because he/she will display a green badge in the tuition vehicle's front windscreen.

Grading ranges from '1' to '6'. The highest grade is '6' and the minimum acceptable grade is '4'. Instructors who have a grade of '3' or lower are under review and risk having their tuition licences revoked due to poor teaching practice.

Instructors are issued with a certificate which shows their grade, they should be happy to show this if asked.

Licenced instructors are in the final stages of training and qualification. These instructors have undergone a minimum required training programme and but have not yet passed the final qualifying examination.

While Licenced Instructors are expert drivers and have learned the basic teaching skills, they have less than six months experience in the job. You can recognise a licenced instructor because he/she will display a pink badge in the windscreen.

It might be worth noting that although Licenced Instructors lack experience, they are invariably enthusiastic and have been trained to the latest standards.

Your instructor's photograph will be displayed on the rear of the pink or green badges (although a bit like passport photos, they might look like convicts!).

Some instructors will have further qualifications such as special advanced driving certificates, teaching diplomas and even industry related degrees. Generally speaking, better qualified and experienced instructors will offer better value (although the might charge a bit more), however, take note of the warning advice below.