You can apply for a trainee driving instructor licence after you pass the approved driving instructor ( ADI ) part 2 test . A trainee licence: helps you get experience instructing pupils to drive so you can prepare for the ADI part 3 test lasts for 6 months You can charge for lessons to cover the cost of things like your insurance and vehicle costs. Who can apply You can apply for a trainee licence if you: have passed your ADI part 1 test in the last 2 years have passed the ADI part 2 test have had at least 40 hours of training from a qualified ADI in providing driving instruction (at least 10 of which were done in a car), recorded on the ADI 21T declaration form are eligible to take the ADI part 3 test Being refused a trainee licence You can appeal to the General Regulatory Chamber if you’re refused a trainee licence. The rules and process for getting a trainee licence are different in Northern Ireland .

Options when you apply for a trainee licence

You have 2 options to choose from when you apply for a trainee licence . You must either: be supervised for 20% of all lessons you give while you have your trainee licence do at least 20 hours of extra training while you have your trainee licence You can only choose one option and you cannot change to the other after you’ve made your decision. Talk to your sponsoring approved driving instructor ( ADI ) or training organisation about which option is best for you. Option 1 - supervision of lessons In this option you have to be supervised by your sponsoring ADI for 20% of all the lessons you give. You must keep a record of the number of hours: you give lessons you are supervised The ADI 21S supervision record form must be signed by both you and your ADI . You must send it to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency ( DVSA ) when your trainee licence runs out. You can do this by email. Approved Driving Instructor Registrar padi@dvsa.gov.uk Option 2 - extra training In this option, you have to do at least 20 hours of extra training in the topics in the training programme. After you get your training licence, you must complete the training within the next 3 months and before you book the ADI part 3 test. At least 25% of the training must be practical in-car training. The training must be recorded on the instructor training declaration form . You must send the form to DVSA as soon as you’ve completed your training. If you do not send the form, DVSA can take your trainee licence away. You can do this by email. Approved Driving Instructor Registrar padi@dvsa.gov.uk If you fail the ADI part 3 test or you do not book it in time If you fail the test, you must do 5 hours of extra training before your next attempt. You have 3 attempts to pass the test. If you do not book the test within 3 months of getting your licence, you must take 5 hours of extra training before you book the test. Each time you do 5 hours of extra training, record it on a new instructor training declaration form . If you do not send the form, DVSA can take your trainee licence away.

Rules for using your trainee licence

You must: be a ‘fit and proper’ person get the required amount of supervision or extra training while your licence is still valid Displaying your licence You must display your trainee licence on the nearside edge of the front windscreen of your car while you give driving lessons. Where you train Your trainee licence shows the name and address of your training establishment. You can only give instruction from there, so you cannot work independently, such as by setting up your own school. You must not advertise yourself as an instructor. Any advertising your training establishment does must not make it seem like you’re a fully qualified instructor. Changing your driving school You must apply for a new trainee licence if you leave a driving school and join a new one. There’s no fee for doing this. DVSA will send you a new licence showing the details of your new school. You should send your old licence to DVSA as soon as you get the new one. You can still give driving lessons while you wait for your new licence. When trainee licences can be taken away The ADI registrar can take your trainee licence away before it runs out if: you break any of the rules for having a trainee licence the licence was issued by mistake or gained by fraud you fail 3 attempts at the ADI part 3 test Not using your trainee licence You should return your trainee licence to DVSA if you are not using it, for example because of a long period of illness. You will not get a refund, but DVSA will know that you have not had full use of the licence. This will be a factor in deciding whether to give you another licence in future. Lost or stolen licence You should tell the police straight away if your licence is lost or stolen. They will give you a crime reference number. You’ll have to pay £3 if you lose your licence or cannot give DVSA a crime reference number. To get a replacement, email DVSA with the following: the crime reference number your permission that DVSA can use your photocard driving licence photo or a previous photo they have on record Approved Driving Instructor Registrar padi@dvsa.gov.uk DVSA will contact you to tell you how to pay.

When your trainee licence runs out

Your trainee licence lasts for 6 months. When it runs out you must stop being paid for giving driving lessons. Getting another licence You can apply for another trainee licence , but you’ll need to pay the fee again. You cannot be paid for giving driving lessons when you do not have a valid trainee licence. You’re more likely to get another licence if you told DVSA you had stopped using the first, for example because of a period of illness. It’s unlikely that you’ll get another licence if you: just want more time to pass the approved driving instructor ( ADI ) part 3 test did not follow the rules for using your previous trainee licence You can appeal to the General Regulatory Chamber if you’re not given another licence.

Get a trainee driving instructor licence

Overview

You can apply for a trainee driving instructor licence after you pass the approved driving instructor (ADI) part 2 test.

A trainee licence:

helps you get experience instructing pupils to drive so you can prepare for the ADI part 3 test
lasts for 6 months

You can charge for lessons to cover the cost of things like your insurance and vehicle costs.

Who can apply

You can apply for a trainee licence if you:

have passed your ADI part 1 test in the last 2 years
have passed the ADI part 2 test
have had at least 40 hours of training from a qualified ADI in providing driving instruction (at least 10 of which were done in a car), recorded on the ADI 21T declaration form
are eligible to take the ADI part 3 test

Being refused a trainee licence

You can appeal to the General Regulatory Chamber if you’re refused a trainee licence.

The rules and process for getting a trainee licence are different in Northern Ireland.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Step 1 Check if you can become an instructor
Step 2 Apply to become a driving instructor
You must get a new Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to start your application, even if you already have one.
1. Get a DBS check £8.22
You need to agree to the responsibilities set out in the 'ADI register guide' before you apply.
1. Read about driving instructor responsibilities
1. Start your application
Step 3 Get a trainer
Get a registered trainer to help you prepare for the 3 qualifying tests.
1. Find driving instructor training courses
Step 4 Take the theory test (ADI part 1)
Once you've passed the theory test, you must pass the other parts of the test within 2 years or you'll have to start the whole process again.
Step 5 Take the driving ability test (ADI part 2)
Step 6 Get practice teaching
If you’ve passed ADI part 2 you have the option to apply for a 6 month trainee licence to get experience teaching students.
1. You are currently viewing: Find out about trainee instructor licences
2. Apply for a trainee instructor licence £140
Step 7 Take the instructional ability test (ADI part 3)
Step 8 Register and start working as an instructor
Once you've passed the tests you must register within 12 months.
1. Register for your first ADI certificate £300
When you have your certificate you can start charging for lessons. You can either:
- join a driving school
- set up your own business
You'll have at least one standards check every 4 years. You also need to renew your registration and get a new DBS check every 4 years.

Get a trainee driving instructor licence

Overview

Who can apply

Being refused a trainee licence

Step 1 Check if you can become an instructor

Step 2 Apply to become a driving instructor

Step 3 Get a trainer

Step 4 Take the theory test (ADI part 1)

Step 5 Take the driving ability test (ADI part 2)

Step 6 Get practice teaching

Step 7 Take the instructional ability test (ADI part 3)

Step 8 Register and start working as an instructor

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Get a trainee driving instructor licence

Overview

Who can apply

Being refused a trainee licence

Part of Become a car driving instructor: step by step

Step 1: Check if you can become an instructor

Step 2: Apply to become a driving instructor

Step 3: Get a trainer

Step 4: Take the theory test (ADI part 1)

Step 5: Take the driving ability test (ADI part 2)

Step 6: Get practice teaching

Step 7: Take the instructional ability test (ADI part 3)

Step 8: Register and start working as an instructor

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK

Step 1 Check if you can become an instructor

Step 2 Apply to become a driving instructor

Step 3 Get a trainer

Step 4 Take the theory test (ADI part 1)

Step 5 Take the driving ability test (ADI part 2)

Step 6 Get practice teaching

Step 7 Take the instructional ability test (ADI part 3)

Step 8 Register and start working as an instructor