Believe it or not, becoming a driving instructor could hold the key to the career of your dreams.

While not everybody can build and lead a traditional business to fulfil their entrepreneurial dreams, becoming a driving instructor is a lower-cost way for ambitious professionals to find independence and career satisfaction (as well as a good salary), in the process.

Let me explain why:

Imagine a job where you and you alone are in charge of your working hours, your schedule and your work-life balance. Not to mention, a career dedicated to helping people make one of the biggest transitions in their entire lives.

Sound appealing yet?

Financial gains and opportunities

A career as a driving instructor could give you the entrepreneurial freedom you’re looking for.

Driver tuition can be fulfilling and financially rewarding in equal measures. What’s more, it’s also an affordable profession to get into, with higher-end salaries often hovering around the £40,000 mark.

A competitively paid AND flexible career

Offering expert driving lessons in Manchester (as just one example, you can work wherever you’re based), can be an absolute joy – and is a million miles away from the usual nine-to-five office grind and daily public transport commutes.

If you become a fulltime driving instructor, you’ll be looking at around £40,000. Whether you’d prefer to work 19 hours per week or 39, it’s your choice.

All you need is a viable vehicle and the necessary driving instructor training to set the wheels in motion…quite literally! Here’s a brief FAQ on the basics of becoming a driving instructor:

1. What is an ADI driving instructor?

In accordance with UK law, Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) are legally allowed to charge customers for driving lessons.

An ADI driving instructor is an individual who has been trained and approved in accordance with the official Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (D.V.S.A.) standards.

But once you have received official ADI certification, you’re good to go.

2. How much do driving instructors earn?

One of the most appealing aspects of becoming a driving instructor is the extent to which you gain control of your income. If you choose to work part-time, you can expect to earn around £20,000 per year.

If you become a fulltime driving instructor, you’ll be looking at around £40,000. Your working hours are entirely up to you, so whether you’d prefer to work 19 hours per week or 39, it’s your choice.

3. Is it expensive to become a driving instructor?

Contrary to popular belief, it can be surprisingly affordable to become a fully qualified driving instructor.

Before taking the three-part Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) tests, you’ll first need to complete a specialist course of driving instructor tuition.

Surprisingly inexpensive training costs…

Worried about training costs? Don’t be…

The costs of your training will be determined chiefly by the extent of the tuition you need, though could be in the region of £2,000 including fees for the Part 1 Theory test and Parts 2 & 3 Practical tests.

These figures are based on the assumption that you pass each part of your exams on the first occasion. You would be allowed three attempts to pass each exam but bear in mind that each attempt incurs further costs.

Nonetheless, they are highly competitive costs, when you consider the fact that you are effectively starting a new life-long career with high earnings potential.

4. Can I get any help in paying the costs of becoming a driving instructor?

To assist you in achieving your ambition, one driving school in Manchester, (for example), Manchester Driver Training, will pay for all of your training costs and exam fees, subject to receiving a suitable application form from you and successfully passing their short-listing and interview process.

On becoming a driving instructor you would be required to remain with their Driving School as a franchised driving instructor for a period of two years.

Once you have sufficient paying pupils, which are provided by them, then you would be required to repay your training costs at a nominal amount per week and completely interest-free!

5. How long does it take to become a driving instructor?

Again, it depends on your experience to date and the amount of training you require. It is a legal requirement that you must have held a full UK driving licence for a minimum of three years.

You also can’t have more than one lot of three penalty points, after which the training process usually takes around six months to complete if you pass all of your exams at the first attempt.

Getting the paperwork right…

Before undergoing your training for the three-part Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) tests, you’ll first need to obtain a current Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau Certificate and then successfully register with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (D.V.S.A.).

Depending on where you intend to undergo driving instructor tuition, there may also be a waiting list at your preferred school to take into account.

6. How old do you have to be to become a driving instructor?

While it is legal for individuals age 17 and over to drive on public roads in the UK, the minimum age for a qualified driving instructor is 21.

Again, it is also important to note that you must have held a full UK driving licence for a minimum of three years, and not have more than one lot of three penalty points, in order to qualify.