Get a trainee driving instructor licence

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1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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:

You can appeal to the General Regulatory Chamber if you’re not given another licence.